The early 1970's was a great time for British television comedy, particularly the B.B.C.'s output. Alongside 'Dad's Army', 'Steptoe & Son', 'Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?', 'Dave Allen At Large', 'The Goodies', and, of course, 'Monty Python's Flying Circus', there was also 'Some Mothers Do Ave Em'. The title comes from a popular expression in use at the time - if you witnessed someone making a fool of themselves by say, falling over in the street, you exclaimed: "some mothers do ave em!". The show was the creation of Raymond Allen. It starred Michael Crawford as a walking disaster area called 'Frank Spencer'. Ronnie Barker and Norman Wisdom were offered the role first, but luckily for us, they turned it down. Dressed in a beret and mackintosh, and equipped with one of the most irritating voices imaginable, Frank took on the world each week - and usually lost. He could not keep down a job, sometimes he would be fired on the very first day. Some claim 'Some Mothers Do Ave Em' pokes fun of a retarded man. It does not. Frank is the world's biggest loser, but he is no more retarded than say, 'Mr.Bean'. The one good thing about his life is that he is happily married to the lovely, loyal 'Betty' ( Michele Dotrice ). At the end of the second series, she gave birth to little Jessica ( Emma Ware, later Jessica Forte ), and the final series in 1978 concluded with the Spencers preparing to emigrate to Australia.
Not many episodes were made, but it hardly matters - each is packed with amusing incident, funny dialogue and some of the most amazing stunts ( many performed by Crawford himself ) British television has broadcast.
My favourite episode had Frank training to be a P.R. man, and stirring the students into mass revolt. Crawford was hilarious as Frank ( the character was a natural for comic impersonations ), Michele Dotrice marvellous as the long-suffering wife, and the guest-stars included James Cossins, George Baker, Bernard Hepton, Richard Wilson, and Fulton Mackay. Raymond Allen may never have sold another series to the B.B.C., but I'm sure he is not too bothered. The fact that Miranda Hart is struggling unsuccessfully to copy it is in itself a compliment.
Not many episodes were made, but it hardly matters - each is packed with amusing incident, funny dialogue and some of the most amazing stunts ( many performed by Crawford himself ) British television has broadcast.
My favourite episode had Frank training to be a P.R. man, and stirring the students into mass revolt. Crawford was hilarious as Frank ( the character was a natural for comic impersonations ), Michele Dotrice marvellous as the long-suffering wife, and the guest-stars included James Cossins, George Baker, Bernard Hepton, Richard Wilson, and Fulton Mackay. Raymond Allen may never have sold another series to the B.B.C., but I'm sure he is not too bothered. The fact that Miranda Hart is struggling unsuccessfully to copy it is in itself a compliment.