After Henry
After Henry is a British sitcom written by Simon Brett, and starring Prunella Scales and Joan Sanderson. Originating as a radio programme on BBC Radio 4 from 1985 to 1989, it was adapted for television by Thames Television. Sarah is the 42-year-old widow of GP Henry France. She lives in an often volatile family situation with her elderly mother Eleanor Prescott, and her daughter, 18-year-old Clare, with both of whom she shares a house. Following Henry's death, the family have to find a way to cope with each other as best they can. The BBC was initially hesitant to produce a series but after three successful runs on BBC Radio 4, it was commissioned for the small screen. The series was surprisingly popular, attracting over 14 million viewers. Four seasons were made, with the last transmitted after the death of Sanderson, who died on 24 May 1992.
Seasons
1. The Older Man
Air Date: 1988-01-04
Sarah hears via her mother's geriatric gossip network that Clare is secretly meeting an older man and feels that she has to find out what's really going on.
2. Phone Calls
Air Date: 1988-01-11
Sarah thinks she has finally found the perfect way to stop her mother from snooping in her part of the house. Unfortunately, she hasn't reckoned with Eleanor's devious behaviour.
3. The Teapot
Air Date: 1988-01-18
Eleanor is undecided about the terms of her will, and, of course, sees this as a wonderful opportunity to play her daughter against her granddaughter.
4. Security
Air Date: 1988-01-25
A lapse of security forces Sarah to install a burglar alarm, but Eleanor, needless to say, has other ideas as to how their property should be protected.
5. Romantic Complications
Air Date: 1988-02-01
Sarah finds herself caught in the middle as both her daughter and her mother force her to listen to endless confidences about their love lives.
6. The Birthday
Air Date: 1988-02-08
A major celebration is approaching for Eleanor, and Sarah has secret plans for making the occasion memorable. But is it actually possible to keep anything secret from her mother?
7. A Quiet Christmas
Air Date: 1988-12-26
Sarah plans a traditional Christmas but finds that Russell isn't interested at all. And Eleanor has her own slightly outdated take on 'traditional'!
0. A Quiet Christmas
Air Date: 1988-12-26
Sarah plans a traditional Christmas but finds that Russell isn't interested at all. And Eleanor has her own slightly outdated take on 'traditional'!
1. Intellectual Aspirations
Air Date: 1989-01-17
Clare gets into an intellectual challenge with her new boyfriend whom she believes to be terribly brainy. Eleanor decides it's a contest she can't be left out of.
2. Open Secrets
Air Date: 1989-01-24
When Sarah is invited out for lunch by a man, she has to make contingency plans to prevent her mother's 'Geriatric Mafia' finding out about it.
3. Memory Games
Air Date: 1989-01-31
It's quiz night and Clare and Eleanor are in opposing teams, while Sarah seems to be having problems with the accuracy of her memory.
4. The Cold
Air Date: 1989-02-07
Sarah feels lousy, but in her family she's last on the list of casualties allowed to be treated if other people feel ill as well.
5. Wedding Bells
Air Date: 1989-02-07
Eleanor wants to have a family wedding because she has heard that Vera Polling is having one and that, of course, puts the pressure on Sarah and Clare.
6. Lines of Communication
Air Date: 1989-03-07
Sarah and Eleanor have fallen out and there seems little chance of a reconciliation. But Clare decides to use one of her old school games to alleviate the problem.
7. Gossip
Air Date: 1989-03-14
Sarah is accused of scandal-mongering after inadvertently starting a rumour about the pension counter's sister.
8. Out on a Limb
Air Date: 1989-03-14
With Eleanor off to the Bridge Club dinner and dance with Vera Polling, Sarah decides to invite Dr. Sam Greenland over for a quiet dinner but things do not go according to plan.
9. Upstagers
Air Date: 1989-03-21
With Eleanor off to the Bridge Club dinner and dance with Vera Polling, Sarah decides to invite Dr Sam Greenland over for a quiet dinner. But the best laid plans...
10. Idle Speculation
Air Date: 1989-03-28
Sarah, Eleanor and Clare are enlisted by the local amateur dramatic society when it suddenly loses its leading players.
11. Efficiency
Air Date: 1989-04-04
Eleanor is left in charge of the bookshop when Russell and Sarah go off for a special lunch. She initiates an efficiency drive, which goes badly wrong.
12. Going Away
Air Date: 1989-04-11
Eleanor is left in charge of the bookshop when Russell and Sarah go off for a special lunch. She initiates an efficiency drive, which goes badly wrong.
13. A Week of Sundays
Air Date: 1989-12-25
Sarah makes plans to escape to Portugal for two weeks with her glamorous friend, Alison. But Eleanor brings all her emotional blackmailing skills to the fore to scupper the plans.
1. Mr Right
Air Date: 1990-01-23
Christmas at home will never be the same without Henry, so Sarah, Eleanor and Clare decide to accept all the invitations they’re offered. Anything to get out of the house...
2. Curiosity
Air Date: 1990-01-30
Clare’s love life has been rocky in the past, but at last she has a boyfriend who seems perfect in every way. But is he too perfect for Sarah?
3. Home Comforts
Air Date: 1990-02-06
Sarah knows her mother answers the phone for her, and also suspects Eleanor reads her mail. Russell decides to catch her out…
4. Relative Movement
Air Date: 1990-02-13
For years, Eleanor has said that everyone would be happier if she moved into a home, and now, finally, she goes with Vera to investigate the delights of ‘The Sycamores’.
5. The Dinner Party
Air Date: 1990-02-20
Sarah asks some friends round for dinner, but finds that Clare is giving a party on the same day.
6. Mr Fixit
Air Date: 1990-02-27
Clare feels insulted when her new boyfriend pays more attention to fixing up her new car than to her.
7. Charity
Air Date: 1990-03-06
Sarah figures out how she can use her fund-raising activities for the local hospital as a way of securing a nice quiet evening with a nice quiet man.
8. The Mysterious Affair at Bygone Books
Air Date: 1990-03-13
When a crime occurs at Russell's shop, Eleanor brings her experience of reading Agatha Christie novels to bear in solving the case.
9. Party Politics
Air Date: 1990-03-20
Eleanor intends to show off her social skills by giving a party, but Sarah is not on the guest list. Unfortunately, she involves Vera in the preparations.
10. Unforseen Circumstances
Air Date: 1990-03-27
Sarah meets a smooth-talking gentleman who uses astrology as part of his chat-up routine but doesn't reckon with any of his predictions coming true.
11. Family Album
Air Date: 1990-04-03
When Eleanor's sister Lilian visits, Eleanor's version of her past life is called into question.
12. Last Chances
Air Date: 1990-04-16
Sarah suddenly finds her uneventful life at a crossroads when she is offered a chance to change it completely. But can she take it...?
1. Dependent Relatives
Air Date: 1992-07-20
Eleanor's social life has lost its spark but Sarah is unable to find out why.
2. Poor Relations
Air Date: 1992-07-27
Eleanor plays Lady Bountiful when Vera's young relatives come to visit.
3. A Fully Extended Family
Air Date: 1992-08-03
When Clare returns from Australia she refuses to talk about her experience out there. It is left to Eleanor to venture at the real reason for her silence.
4. Yes and No
Air Date: 1992-08-10
Clare's confidence is low after her split with Edward and so Sarah suggests she take an assertiveness course to rebuild her shattered morale.
5. The Married Man
Air Date: 1992-08-17
Clare tries to blot out the memory of her broken affair with Edward by taking up with someone totally unsuitable.
6. The Other Married Man
Air Date: 1992-08-24
Having sorted out the problem of Clare seeing a married man, Sarah now finds herself in an alarmingly similar situation. Of course Eleanor jumps to the wrong conclusion.
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Rating
5.7/10
Release Date
1988-01-04
Episodes
39 (4 seasons)
Status
Ended
Cast
Production Companies
Thames Television