Pardon the Expression

Pardon The Expression! is an ITV sitcom made by Granada Television, that was first broadcast from Wednesday 2 June 1965 to Monday 27 June 1966. The sitcom was one of only four spin-offs from the highly popular soap opera Coronation Street. Pardon the Expression itself had a spin-off: Turn out the Lights broadcast in 1967. There wasn't to be another spin-off until the 1980s with The Brothers McGregor, which reused two characters who appeared in a single episode. Leonard Swindley was the central character. Formerly the manager of the fashion retail store "Gamma Garments" in Coronation Street, in this series he is the deputy manager of the department store Dobson and Hawks. His boss in the series was Ernest Parbold played by Paul Dawkins who was replaced by Wally Hunt played by Robert Dorning in series 2. Other regulars were Betty Driver as canteen lady, Mrs Edgeley and Joy Stewart as Miss Sinclair, the boss's secretary.

Comedy

Seasons

1. The First Day

Air Date: 1965-06-02

Leonard Swindley starts his new job as Assistant Manager at Dobson and Hawks Department Store. He soon becomes attached to his job in more ways than one when store boss Ernest Parbold sends him to the bank to deposit his specimen signature and collect some change. However when he reaches the bank he realises that he has lost the key to the handcuffs for the money bag he is carrying.

2. The Headmistress

Air Date: 1965-06-09

Leonard Swindley tries his hand at super salemanship. His task from Mr Parbold is to land a big order for Dobson and Hawks for a school uniform concession from the headmistress of the local girls school, Miss Buxton, known at all as "Frankenstein's Grandmother". Swindley's old-world charm has made him a big hit with the ladies of Dobson and Hawks.

3. The Trouble With Ada

Air Date: 1965-06-16

4. Mannequin Parade

Air Date: 1965-06-23

5. The Dance

Air Date: 1965-06-30

6. The Wedding

Air Date: 1965-07-07

7. The Pensioner

Air Date: 1965-07-14

8. The Visitor

Air Date: 1965-07-21

9. Birthday Present

Air Date: 1965-07-28

10. Little Boy Lost

Air Date: 1965-08-04

11. The Old One Two

Air Date: 1965-08-11

12. The Brain Drain

Air Date: 1965-08-18

1. The Economy Drive

Air Date: 1966-01-10

2. January Sale

Air Date: 1966-01-17

3. The Resignation

Air Date: 1966-01-24

4. Self Defence

Air Date: 1966-01-31

5. The Stocktaking

Air Date: 1966-02-07

6. The Home Help

Air Date: 1966-02-14

7. Big Hotel

Air Date: 1966-02-21

8. The Jailbirds

Air Date: 1966-02-28

9. Night to Remember

Air Date: 1966-03-07

10. Whose Baby Are You?

Air Date: 1966-03-21

11. The Take-Over Bid

Air Date: 1966-03-28

12. Between the Cover

Air Date: 1966-04-04

13. Heads Down

Air Date: 1966-04-11

14. A Sheik In The Night

Air Date: 1966-04-18

15. Rustle Of Spring

Air Date: 1966-04-25

16. The Ghost Of Batsworth Castle

Air Date: 1966-05-02

17. The Sailor Home From The Sea

Air Date: 1966-05-09

18. The Dinner Party

Air Date: 1966-05-16

19. Man's Best Friend

Air Date: 1966-05-23

20. Thunderfinger - Part 1

Air Date: 1966-05-30

21. Thunderfinger - Part 2: Swindley Strikes Back

Air Date: 1966-06-06

22. The Switched-On Scene

Air Date: 1966-06-13

23. The Cup That Cheers

Air Date: 1966-06-20

24. On Health Farm Sommet Stirs

Air Date: 1966-06-27

Select an episode to start watching

Rating

6.0/10

Release Date

1965-06-02

Episodes

36 (2 seasons)

Status

Ended

Cast