Ever Decreasing Circles

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

This is being shown on UK Gold. It’s very interesting to watch as an adult now but I have to ask why Ann is with Martin. I mean he’s great to watch but as a person he’s just awful. I mean, if I were her, I would have had a wild fling with Paul but never expect anything serious from him.

I cannot for the life of me work out how old they are meant to be either?

Love this series. I have seen someone comment that at some point Ann makes a remark about how she'd had a difficult past and Martin had rescued her from that. I need to re watch and look out for that!

No one on the Close has children. That's odd in age terms as it's more common in sitcoms where the characters aren't obviously young for the scenario to be that they have adult children who have moved out that you never see, eg Terry and June.

I’m sure I remember an episode where Ann had a miscarriage which is why I’m confused about their age as they seem older than a couple just starting a family. Not as old as Howard and Hilda though.

Yes the possibility of pregnancy does feature which I agree is odd. Have you watched it before? Checking so I don't spoiler.

My dad loved this programme so I got into it too. I'd love to watch it again. Love Richard Briers & Penelope Wilton. I remember once scene when Martin ends up sleeping in the same bed as Peter but thinks it's Anne. He says the next morning "I didn't feel you kiss me goodnight". Peter replies "I'll kiss you now if you like".

I don’t mind spoilers as I’m just dipping in and out. I remember fancying Paul as a child. He’s everything Martin isn’t.

We uses to joke that my dad is just like Martin!

Oh I remember this and Howard and Hilda especially

Watching it now as an adult, I love the subtlety of Paul and Ann. However I find I feel sorry for Martin as Paul enjoys goading him. I used to love it but poor old Martin just can’t catch a break. Paul is quite smarmy really. I know Martin is absolutely exasperating though. Love the psychiatrist episode.

I love it but it's actually quite depressing and makes me feel anxious!

Gosh this is a blast from childhood. I am going to rewatch. Funny the trend for vague couple swapping notions in the 70s/80s (see also The Good Life and Duty Free and probably many others).

We used to tease my mum that she was like Martin. She'd have a paddy if the bananas were in the fruit bowl 'upside down' or there was a ruck in the rug - so my brother used to do it deliberately.

I think Ann cared for Martin more in a parental way. I really must rewatch this, because I remember loving it but thinking that Martin obviously had problems with control.

the one where they go to a holiday cottage and Martin gets stuck in the loft

There was once a "pensioners i would do" thread on here Peter Egan was on it

Martin is very frustrating (ok, annoying!) but it is a lovely, gentle sitcom in the way they used to be made.
Have the full set on DVD and watch them from time to time.
A baby does come into the storyline but if you don't know how I won't elaborate.

The same could be said about Victor Meldrew In One Foot In The Grave.
A horrible character and how did Margaret live with him all that time? There was a child but they lost him very young (circumstances unknown).

Are you not thinking of ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ when Emmett gets his head stuck in the roof at the apartment in the mansion block?

No Definately EDC

It’s a good point about the lack of children. Same could be said for the good life. I suppose it would change the dynamics entirely but does seem weird.

This is a brilliantly observed but much underrated comedy. I love Martin. He’s so vulnerable under all that guff and mansplaining.

It was a very clever show. So far as the childlessness is concerned in 1982 when the show first aired, approximately 15% of couples were infertile and unable to conceive. Obviously the Peter Egan character was single but it’s not all that weird that neither Martin and Ann nor Howard and Hilda had children. As for The Good Life, that was made pre IVF so the rates then would have been even higher.

DH and I keep accidentally wearing matching running socks, and I always refer to Howard and Hilda when it happens! 😁

I absolutely loved this programme when it first aired. Thanks for the heads up will watch them all again. I love all of them but my favourites are neighbourhood watch and the one where Martin thought he had committed adultery.

I love this programme, all the characters were such gems, and quirky in their own way. Yes, I remember the loft one, hilarious.

I always suspected that the baby Ann is expecting at the end is Paul’s.

I don’t know how old they were ‘meant’ to be but if I’ve done the sums right, at the start of the series Richard Briers was 50 and Penelope Wilton was 39.

Lack of children on sitcoms was possibly largely a practical matter! There were a few which had older teens

Thanks for the heads up. We saw a few of these back in the 1980s. The only thing I can reliably remember about it now is the matching jumpers.

Re absence of children: it wouldn't just be down to infertility. The Pill and other forms of contraception had been widely available for a long time and some people made an active choice not to have children. The really jarring thing from a modern perspective is that a wife who didn't have children to look after had not found even a 'little' part-time job to keep her busy and to earn a bit of pin money.

Just remembered one detail I loved at the time - there was a scene where Ann was chopping vegetables very, very slowly, and when someone, probably Paul, asked why, she said she needed something to do to fill up her time. I laughed, but that's actually a very sad line.

I must look for that one! I loved EDC. I think Ray Winstone was in an episode. The theme tune was great too!