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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wish we had more TV like this?

451 replies

SaintlyLady · 17/12/2025 08:19

Last night I watched The Two Ronnies Xmas Special from 1982 and Sorry! from 1988.

i literally laughed out loud at some of the sketches in the Two Ronnies -

and Sorry! is an excellent example of my VERY favourite TV genre -

Home Counties set,
middle class,
middle aged,
middle England, ‘
’middle of the road’
sitcoms 🙌

AIBU to want these programmes back on linear BBC1 and ITV?

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5
Notthisagainyouidiot · 17/12/2025 23:06

I loved To the manor born, open all hours and george and Mildred.
Complete side note but I once seriously considered buying a house that Penelope Keith had built. I would have had a framed portrait of Audrey in the downstairs loo.

tobee · 17/12/2025 23:52

"It's just as well I checked! I mean do I look like someone who drinks milk stout?!"

Mrmojorising71 · 18/12/2025 00:03

Bread is my absolute favourite, you can laugh and cry in the same episode, it doesn't appear on the TV enough!

Oldwmn · 18/12/2025 01:52

Dollymylove · 17/12/2025 20:59

The drivel that masquerades as "comedy" these days is about as funny as a dose of the clap 🤣🤣

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It's terrible isn't it,? Ever since they invented Channel 4 ...
All these sitcoms nowadays where people aren't 75 & living in 1973. - it's shocking!

🙄

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SaintlyLady · 18/12/2025 05:31

I’ve been thinking about this as regards the Good Life! I think the issue was that I thought the theme of the sitcom was that Tom and Barbara were working/ lower class while Jerry and Margo were posh middle class. I didn’t grasp the ‘self sufficiency’ theme at all!

This isn’t surprising as because I was born in 1972 so much too young for the original airing - I’d only likely seen repeats. As a young kid, I could grasp a crude understanding of ‘social class’ but I wouldn’t understand the concept of a suburban couple going ‘self sufficient’ as quite simply I’d never have seen it in real life so wasn’t aware if was a ‘thing!’ - the. concept totally went over my head!

on another note, I’ve just been speculating that the main cast must’ve earned a fortune in repeat fees alone over the years!

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SaintlyLady · 18/12/2025 05:32

Mrmojorising71 · 18/12/2025 00:03

Bread is my absolute favourite, you can laugh and cry in the same episode, it doesn't appear on the TV enough!

Although I watched it - I never really took to it as it only started in 1986 which was ‘after my time!’

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SaintlyLady · 18/12/2025 05:33

Notthisagainyouidiot · 17/12/2025 23:06

I loved To the manor born, open all hours and george and Mildred.
Complete side note but I once seriously considered buying a house that Penelope Keith had built. I would have had a framed portrait of Audrey in the downstairs loo.

I LOVE George and Mildred and still want their gorgeous open plan living room!

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Original poster
SaintlyLady · 18/12/2025 05:34

LaDamaDeElche · 17/12/2025 22:29

I remember when I was a little kid watching Last of the summer wine with my great grandparents and loving it!! Terry and June too 😂

Yes love these 2 !

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SaintlyLady · 18/12/2025 05:37

KettleOn919 · 17/12/2025 21:41

Does anyone remember The Upchat Line, with John Alderton?

Edited

No!! I thought I was fairly well up on sitcoms but this completely eludes me!!

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dottiedodah · 18/12/2025 05:52

Ahh th Good Life ! Watch now and never tire of Margo .As a teenager I felt I would love to be like that! DifficDifficult as 5 foot nothing and not exactly Twiggy!

everdine · 18/12/2025 07:14

Maddyisqueen · 17/12/2025 22:40

I just watched the Christmas tree snippet on you tube

she takes the cigarette out of the delivery man’s mouth 😂

when she asks him what he’s got to say for himself he replies “I like this wallpaper” 😂😂

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She was hilarious! They don’t make ‘em like Margo anymore! 🤣🤣

everdine · 18/12/2025 07:22

SaintlyLady · 18/12/2025 05:31

I’ve been thinking about this as regards the Good Life! I think the issue was that I thought the theme of the sitcom was that Tom and Barbara were working/ lower class while Jerry and Margo were posh middle class. I didn’t grasp the ‘self sufficiency’ theme at all!

This isn’t surprising as because I was born in 1972 so much too young for the original airing - I’d only likely seen repeats. As a young kid, I could grasp a crude understanding of ‘social class’ but I wouldn’t understand the concept of a suburban couple going ‘self sufficient’ as quite simply I’d never have seen it in real life so wasn’t aware if was a ‘thing!’ - the. concept totally went over my head!

on another note, I’ve just been speculating that the main cast must’ve earned a fortune in repeat fees alone over the years!

I can understand you not grasping the concept as a child. I imagine all the actors must’ve done very well out of it. They filmed a Royal Command performance in front of the Queen in 1978!

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SaintlyLady · 18/12/2025 07:26

everdine · 18/12/2025 07:22

I can understand you not grasping the concept as a child. I imagine all the actors must’ve done very well out of it. They filmed a Royal Command performance in front of the Queen in 1978!

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Blimey didn’t realise this !

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everdine · 18/12/2025 07:31

SaintlyLady · 18/12/2025 07:26

Blimey didn’t realise this !

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The Good Life had quite a following. People started to become self sufficient because of it! There was an article about it some years ago. When I first watched it I quite fancied that way of life too!

GuyForksAndKnives · 18/12/2025 07:50

Things like On the Buses aren't funny. I've seen that on one of the channels that shows old shows, and Mind your Language is quite shocking the things they say.

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SaintlyLady · 18/12/2025 07:55

GuyForksAndKnives · 18/12/2025 07:50

Things like On the Buses aren't funny. I've seen that on one of the channels that shows old shows, and Mind your Language is quite shocking the things they say.

I must admit I did watch and like Mind Your Language

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everdine · 18/12/2025 08:15

Notthisagainyouidiot · 17/12/2025 23:06

I loved To the manor born, open all hours and george and Mildred.
Complete side note but I once seriously considered buying a house that Penelope Keith had built. I would have had a framed portrait of Audrey in the downstairs loo.

To the Manor Born was excellent! Penelope Keith was brilliant in it.

Made me laugh imaging a photo of Audrey in your downstairs loo! 🤣

dontcallmelen · 18/12/2025 09:07

Anyone else remember Stanley Baxter he has recently died R.I.P was reading an article on how his shows cost an absolute fortune to produce at the time as tv didn’t really have the technology as he played all the different characters he was a genius.

JoeyJava · 18/12/2025 09:32

Too many snowflakes nowadays. It's a shame.

CoraPirbright · 18/12/2025 09:34

SeaAndStars · 17/12/2025 09:04

"I'll see you at lunch!"

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Omg the most recent one with Miranda Richardson and Anna Chancellor was brilliant!! Daaahling Lulu!! I think I will rewatch to get into the Christmas spirit. So sad that they didn't make any more.

SerendipityJane · 18/12/2025 09:34

JoeyJava · 18/12/2025 09:32

Too many snowflakes nowadays. It's a shame.

Snowflakes ? Or people who weren't steeped in the culture of the day providing a different take on what they see ? As should be - and is - their right.

SeaAndStars · 18/12/2025 09:40

CoraPirbright · 18/12/2025 09:34

Omg the most recent one with Miranda Richardson and Anna Chancellor was brilliant!! Daaahling Lulu!! I think I will rewatch to get into the Christmas spirit. So sad that they didn't make any more.

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It's utterly brilliant. Mark Gatiss, Paul Ritter, Steve Pemberton, Frances Barber, and Felicity Montagu.....all wonderful too.

Joanna Scanlan and Katie Brand's characters are some of my favourite fictional characters ever.

The final snowy scene is fabulous. Enjoy.

JoeyJava · 18/12/2025 09:54

SerendipityJane · 18/12/2025 09:34

Snowflakes ? Or people who weren't steeped in the culture of the day providing a different take on what they see ? As should be - and is - their right.

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Definitely snowflakes

KimberleyClark · 18/12/2025 09:54

dontcallmelen · 18/12/2025 09:07

Anyone else remember Stanley Baxter he has recently died R.I.P was reading an article on how his shows cost an absolute fortune to produce at the time as tv didn’t really have the technology as he played all the different characters he was a genius.

Yes I remember him well. As you say,a genius. And really quite subversive for his day. His impressions of the Queen and his other female characters went far beyond drag. The Towering Inferno send up was brilliant.

everdine · 18/12/2025 09:58

dottiedodah · 18/12/2025 05:52

Ahh th Good Life ! Watch now and never tire of Margo .As a teenager I felt I would love to be like that! DifficDifficult as 5 foot nothing and not exactly Twiggy!

She was so stylish, had some lovely frocks!