Never the Twain

Never the Twain

Never the Twain is a British sitcom that ran for eleven series from 7 September 1981 to 9 October 1991. It was created by Johnnie Mortimer, and was the only sitcom he ever created without his usual writing partner, Brian Cooke. Mortimer wrote the entirety of the first two series and four episodes out of six of the eighth, with the rest being mainly written by Vince Powell and John Kane. It starred Windsor Davies and Donald Sinden as rival antique dealers, and also starred Derek Deadman, Zara Nutley, Robin Kermode, Tacy Kneale, Julia Watson, Honor Blackman, Teddy Turner and Maria Charles. The title is taken from the Rudyard Kipling poem; The Ballad of East and West.

Comedy

Seasons

Families At War

1. Families At War

Air Date: 1981-09-07

The feuding fathers find out about the relationship between their son and daughter and consider taking steps to prevent a marriage.

Of Meissen Men

2. Of Meissen Men

Air Date: 1981-09-14

Veronica appears on the scene - causing Simon and Oliver to compete for more than antiquities.

A Night At The Opera

3. A Night At The Opera

Air Date: 1981-09-21

Veronica wants to go to the opera in Edinburgh. Simon and Oliver each compete to be her date. Simon has to find a replacement au pair.

A Matched Pair

4. A Matched Pair

Air Date: 1981-09-28

Oliver's antiques shop is burgled. A pair of pistols is reported missing, but when these mysteriously turn up in Simon's shop Oliver turns this misfortune into an opportunity to make money from an insurance claim. Simon is arrested when a police officer spots the pistols in his shop window. To encourage Oliver to assist him in getting the charges dropped he agrees to help Oliver get membership at his golf club.

Nothing But The Truth

5. Nothing But The Truth

Air Date: 1981-10-05

Oliver beats Simon to a painting they both want. But is it a Constable or not? David confesses propositioning another woman, jeopardising their engagement.

Father Of The Groom

6. Father Of The Groom

Air Date: 1981-10-19

Simon holds a dinner for Oliver, Lyn and David, his ulterior motive being to expose Oliver's lack of etiquette. Lyn prepares for her move into Simon and David's home. David and Lyn's wedding day arrives.

Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed ?

1. Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed ?

Air Date: 1982-09-07

Simon nominates Oliver for membership of his golf club. Oliver holds a function for the committee members to win their support. Lyn and David are on their honeymoon and return to find Oliver and Simon quarrelling over their wedding presents.

As Young As You Feel

2. As Young As You Feel

Air Date: 1982-09-14

Simon and Oliver seek to win Veronica's affections. Oliver reaches the age of 50. Lyn is concerned about her father being lonely, but David is concerned about the amount of time she spends with him.

A Woman's Place ...

3. A Woman's Place ...

Air Date: 1982-09-21

David and Lyn quarrel about her taking a full-time job. Oliver seeks a new cleaner. Simon is losing to Oliver in a telephone chess game and becomes suspicious about Oliver's apparent skill at the game.

Blood Brothers

4. Blood Brothers

Air Date: 1982-09-28

Simon needs a blood transfusion, but he has a rare blood type. Oliver has the same blood type and agrees to donate in return for favours from Simon, including dating Veronica.

lf You Knew Susan

5. lf You Knew Susan

Air Date: 1982-10-05

Simon's sister visits him and Oliver immediately falls for her. Simon and Oliver each purchase one of a pair of figurines and then attempt to purchase the others to make a valuable pair.

The More We Are Together

6. The More We Are Together

Air Date: 1982-10-12

Oliver and Simon each separately consider reforming their partnership due to the poor state of their accounts and the imminent arrival of the taxman.

Taking Stock

1. Taking Stock

Air Date: 1983-10-10

Oliver and Simon have re-entered their partnership. They decide to do a stocktake. Oliver meets up with an old school friend, Bethan. Confusion ensues over a fake watch and a "pair" of candlesticks.

Partners

2. Partners

Air Date: 1983-10-17

Simon receives an offer for his shop. Oliver thinks that Ringo has won the pools and breaks his partnership with Simon, offering Ringo a partnership. However, thinks are not what they seem for either man.

A Nose For Quality

3. A Nose For Quality

Air Date: 1983-10-24

Both Simon and Oliver believe that they have appointments to meet Lady Deveraux with a view to purchasing some of her antiques.

The End Of The Line

4. The End Of The Line

Air Date: 1983-10-31

Oliver and Simon discuss the issue of grandchildren. David claims to have had a vasectomy. Oliver and Simon join a dating agency as an alternative route to continuing their family lines.

The Welsh Connection

5. The Welsh Connection

Air Date: 1983-11-07

Simon and Oliver go on a health kick. An auction in Wales causes disagreement between the two men.

Not On The Same Wavelength

6. Not On The Same Wavelength

Air Date: 1983-11-14

Simon and Oliver are invited as guests onto a radio show. The two men become convinced that Lyn is pregnant.

A Home of Your Own

1. A Home of Your Own

Air Date: 1984-11-08

David and Lyn have moved to Canada. Simon needs to find someone to rent his flat quickly before his Aunt Eleanor moves in.

The Royal Connection

2. The Royal Connection

Air Date: 1984-11-15

Oliver attempts to gain the Royal Warrant for his shop from the Prince of Wales. Simon investigates his family tree in the hope of finding that he has blue blood.

Words and Music

3. Words and Music

Air Date: 1984-11-22

Oliver and Simon volunteer to perform at a Vet Circle luncheon for Caroline.

No Flame Like An Old Flame

4. No Flame Like An Old Flame

Air Date: 1984-11-29

Simon's life becomes complicated when an old sweetheart pays him an unexpected visit.

Love's Neighbours' Lost

5. Love's Neighbours' Lost

Air Date: 1984-12-06

Oliver and Simon duel over a woman, Caroline. But they find that there is another man vying for her affections.

Come Fly With Me

6. Come Fly With Me

Air Date: 1984-12-13

In Whom We Tryst

1. In Whom We Tryst

Air Date: 1986-01-08

Going, Going, Gone!

2. Going, Going, Gone!

Air Date: 1986-01-15

Thicker Than Water

3. Thicker Than Water

Air Date: 1986-01-22

Kung Who ?

4. Kung Who ?

Air Date: 1986-01-29

Reading Between The Lines

5. Reading Between The Lines

Air Date: 1986-02-05

Definitely Not Cricket!

6. Definitely Not Cricket!

Air Date: 1986-02-12

Feed A Cold

1. Feed A Cold

Air Date: 1987-01-15

Going To Pot

2. Going To Pot

Air Date: 1987-01-22

Love ls A Many Splendoured Thing

3. Love ls A Many Splendoured Thing

Air Date: 1987-01-29

A Night To Remember

4. A Night To Remember

Air Date: 1987-02-05

The Battle Of Deveraux Dale

5. The Battle Of Deveraux Dale

Air Date: 1987-02-12

Affair of the Heart

6. Affair of the Heart

Air Date: 1987-02-19

Settled Out of Court

1. Settled Out of Court

Air Date: 1988-01-27

The Wagers Of Sin

2. The Wagers Of Sin

Air Date: 1988-03-03

Betrothed, Bothered And Bewildered

3. Betrothed, Bothered And Bewildered

Air Date: 1988-02-10

The Second Time Around

4. The Second Time Around

Air Date: 1988-02-17

Born To Blush Unseen

5. Born To Blush Unseen

Air Date: 1988-02-24

Fasten Your Seat Belts

6. Fasten Your Seat Belts

Air Date: 1988-03-02

Grandfathers-In-Law

1. Grandfathers-In-Law

Air Date: 1988-10-24

Nursery Times

2. Nursery Times

Air Date: 1988-10-31

Whose Baby ?

3. Whose Baby ?

Air Date: 1988-11-07

Never Say Die

4. Never Say Die

Air Date: 1988-11-14

Moving On

5. Moving On

Air Date: 1988-11-21

It's A Long Way To Friern Barnet

6. It's A Long Way To Friern Barnet

Air Date: 1988-11-28

Just The Ticket

1. Just The Ticket

Air Date: 1989-09-06

A Question Of Honour

2. A Question Of Honour

Air Date: 1989-09-13

A New Lease Of Life

3. A New Lease Of Life

Air Date: 1989-09-20

Aspects Of Love

4. Aspects Of Love

Air Date: 1989-09-27

Neighbours

5. Neighbours

Air Date: 1989-10-04

Bonjour Paris

6. Bonjour Paris

Air Date: 1989-10-11

A Winter's Tale

7. A Winter's Tale

Air Date: 1989-12-28

X Marks The Spot

1. X Marks The Spot

Air Date: 1990-09-05

S.W.A.L.K.

2. S.W.A.L.K.

Air Date: 1990-09-12

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

3. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

Air Date: 1990-09-19

Happy Holiday

4. Happy Holiday

Air Date: 1990-09-26

There But For The Grace Of God

5. There But For The Grace Of God

Air Date: 1990-10-03

A Car By Any Other Name

6. A Car By Any Other Name

Air Date: 1990-10-10

Viva Espana

1. Viva Espana

Air Date: 1991-09-04

The Best Laid Plans

2. The Best Laid Plans

Air Date: 1991-09-11

Born Again

3. Born Again

Air Date: 1991-09-18

There Goes The Bride

4. There Goes The Bride

Air Date: 1991-09-25

Two Fools And Their Money

5. Two Fools And Their Money

Air Date: 1991-10-02

The First Of The Queue

6. The First Of The Queue

Air Date: 1991-10-09

Select an episode to start watching

Rating

6.6/10

Release Date

1981-09-07

Episodes

67 (11 seasons)

Status

Ended

Cast