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Jeeves and Wooster

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Jeeves and Wooster
Series title card
StarringHugh Laurie
Stephen Fry
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of episodes23
Production
Running time55 minutes
Original release
NetworkITV
Release22 April 1990 –
20 June 1993

Jeeves and Wooster is a British humorous television series adapted by Clive Exton from P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves stories. The series was produced by Picture Partnership Productions for Granada Television and screened on the ITV network from 1990 to 1993. It starred Hugh Laurie as Bertie Wooster, a jovial but empty-headed young gentleman, and Stephen Fry as Jeeves, his improbably well-informed and talented valet. The stories are set in England and the United States in pre-World War II 20th century (there are aspects of the Edwardian era, 1920s and 1930s).

Wooster is a well-to-do bachelor, and he and his friends are helped out of all manner of scrapes by the genius "life-saver" Jeeves. This situation arises because in Gilded-Age England and America, many of-age gentlemen were financially dependent on their uncles or aunts, who naturally interfered in their affairs. For example, if a friend of Wooster's fell in love, he might want Jeeves's help with some scheme for getting his uncle's permission to marry her. The comic outcomes and eventual resolution of these schemes are the plot of the show. Often, there are multiple agendas and schemes afoot, and there are also "good and deserving aunts" whose wishes are to be considered in a favorable light.

Four series were produced with 23 episodes in total. The programmes were produced by Brian Eastman and all are available on DVD.

The theme music was composed by Anne Dudley.

Characters

Actors' names are given with the series in which they appeared.

Stephen Fry as Jeeves & Hugh Laurie as Bertie Wooster

Recurring characters

Other characters

File:Madelinebassett.jpg
Elizabeth Morton as Madeline Bassett

Episodes

The titles are taken from the DVD collections.

Series 1

Directed by Robert Young.

# Title Original airdate # Season
1"Jeeves Takes Charge"April 22, 1990101

Bertie Wooster's Aunt Agatha orders him to marry Honoria Glossop, who Agatha believes will "reform" him. Bertie finds his friend Bingo Little is infatuated with her, but his scheme to get them together fails. His capable new valet Jeeves steps in with a plan to convince Sir Roderick and Lady Glossop that their potential son-in-law is unfit to marry their daughter.

Also called "In Court After the Boat Race" or "Jeeves' Arrival." Adapted from

  • "Jeeves Takes Charge"
  • "The Pride of the Woosters is Wounded" (from The Inimitable Jeeves)
  • "Introducing Claude and Eustace" (The Inimitable Jeeves)
  • "Sir Roderick Comes to Lunch" (The Inimitable Jeeves)
  • "The Hero's Reward" (The Inimitable Jeeves)
2"Tuppy and the Terrier"April 29, 1990102

Bertie is determined to propose to Bobbie Wickham. When Barmy defeats him at golf, Bobbie recommends a water-bottle trick that backfires. Bertie is made to watch Aunt Agatha's over-pampered dog McIntosh. He is horrified when Bobbie gives the dog to the son of a Broadway producer.

Tuppy Glossop is infatuated with an opera singer, Cora Bellinger, and has dropped Bertie's cousin Angela. Her mother, Aunt Dahlia, wants this affair over with. Jeeves produces a plan which involves Bertie singing in public.

Also called "Bertie is in Love" or "The Golf Tournament." Adapted from

  • "Jeeves & the Yuletide Spirit" (from Very Good, Jeeves)
  • "Episode of the Dog Macintosh" (Very Good, Jeeves)
  • "Jeeves and the Song of Songs" (Very Good, Jeeves)
3"The Purity of the Turf"May 6, 1990103

Bertie's Uncle George wishes to marry a young waitress. Aunt Agatha is dismayed and, through Bertie, offers the girl ₤100 to break off the engagement. Instead, Bertie meets Maud Wilberforce, who has a connection with his uncle.

Bertie visits Twing Hall, where Lady Wickhammersley has banned all gambling after Lord Wickhammersley lost the East Wing in a game. Rupert Steggles has surreptitiously arranged to take bets, however, on the events at a village fair. Bertie and Bingo Little place bets on the competitors, only to find Steggles has rigged the events. Jeeves must sort things out.

Also called "The Village Sports Day at Twing" or "The Gambling Event." Adapted from

4"The Hunger Strike"May 13, 1990104

Aunt Dahlia coerces Bertie into giving the prizes at Market Snodsbury Grammar School by threatening to withhold the services of her master chef, Anatole.

Newt-fancier Gussie Fink-Nottle comes to Jeeves for advice about Madeline Bassett, with whom he is enamored. Since she is staying at Brinkley Court with Aunt Dahlia, Bertie delegates Gussie to give the prizes.

Bertie also tries to sort out Tuppy Glossop and Angela Travers' relationship, Gussie and Madeline's relationship, and an issue Aunt Dahlia has with her husband, all without the help of Jeeves. Disaster follows when he recommends they go without dinner.

Also called "How Does Gussie Woo Madeline?"

Adapted from Right Ho, Jeeves.
5"Brinkley Manor"May 13, 1990105

Jeeves returns to London to persuade Anatole to return to Brinkley Court. Bertie goes to Brinkley Court to reconcile Angela Travers with Tuppy Glossop, who is growing increasingly suspicious and jealous of Bertie.

In order to bolster Gussie Fink-Nottle's courage to deliver the prizes and to propose to Madeline Bassett, both Bertie and Jeeves spike his orange juice.

Jeeves finally sorts out all the fractured relationships with a plan to set off the fire alarm.

Also called "Will Anatole Return to Brinkley Court?", "The Matchmaker" or "Jeeves' Arrival."

Adapted from Right Ho, Jeeves.

Series 2

Directed by Simon Langton.

# Title Original airdate # Season
1"Jeeves Saves the Cow-Creamer"April 14, 1991201

Aunt Dahlia sends Bertie to "sneer" at an antique cow-shaped cream dispenser in order to keep its price down. He accidentally brings the antique to the attention of rival collector Sir Watkyn Bassett, who buys it. Dahlia sends Bertie to get the creamer back at all costs.

Amateur fascist dictator (and root enthusiast) Roderick Spode is interested in Madeline Bassett, and Gussie Fink-Nottle wishes Bertie to help keep the two separate. Jeeves finds a way of keeping Spode from beating Bertie into a jelly.

Also called "The Silver Jug."

Adapted from The Code of the Woosters.
2"A Plan for Gussie"April 21, 1991202

Gussie Fink-Nottle has been keeping a notebook containing insulting thoughts of Sir Watkyn Bassett and Roderick Spode, in order to keep his courage up about them. When he loses the notebook, he calls on Bertie to help find it.

The Rev. Harold "Stinker" Pinker and Stephanie "Stiffy" Byng wish to marry, but Stiffy's guardian Sir Watkyn doesn't approve. Stiffy blackmails Bertie into helping her convince her guardian otherwise.

Meanwhile Bertie comes into possession of a policeman's helmet.

Also called "The Bassetts' Fancy Dress Ball."

Adapted from The Code of the Woosters.
3"Pearls Mean Tears"April 28, 1991203

Aunt Agatha intends to engage Bertie to "a nice quiet girl" named Aline Hemmingway. Bertie is forced to spend some time with Aline and her brother, Rev. Sidney Hemmingway, but finds them dreary. After Sidney loses money at the races, he borrows £100 from Bertie with Aline's pearl necklace on deposit. Coincidentally, Aunt Agatha's pearl necklace goes missing.

Biffy Biffen literally cannot find a girl he was engaged to. He comes to Jeeves for help, but Jeeves, who knows the girl and misunderstands Biffy's intentions, doesn't wish to help.

Also called "The Con." Adapted from

4"Jeeves in the Country"May 5, 1991204

Bertie's insistence on playing the trombone drives Jeeves to give notice. Bertie hires a less satisfactory valet, Brinkley. Bertie's friend, Baron "Chuffy" Chuffnell, quickly snaps Jeeves up.

Bertie rents a country cottage from Chuffy in Devon and practices his horn. Chuffy is intent on selling Chuffnell Hall to J. Washburn Stoker, so that he can afford to marry Stoker's daughter Pauline. He discovers, to his concern, that Pauline was once engaged to Bertie—and that Washburn wants Bertie to stay away from his daughter.

Jeeves produces a plan to get Pauline and Chuffy together that results in the destruction of Bertie's cottage.

Also called "Chuffy."

Adapted from Thank you, Jeeves.
5"Kidnapped!"May 12, 1991205

Bertie's club, the Drones, are electing a new dining committee chairman. Bertie wishes to be elected, but discovers no one with a criminal record can stand.

Pauline Stoker is being stalked by a mysterious stranger. Bertie, always chivalrous, is called upon to protect her on her way back to Chuffnell Regis. The trip results in startling results, including an encounter with several Drones in blackface.

Because Chuffy Chuffnell cannot get permission to turn Chuffnell Hall into a hotel, Pauline tries to persuade Sir Roderick Glossop to turn it into a sanatorium.

Also called "The Mysterious Stranger."

Adapted from Thank you, Jeeves.
6"Jeeves the Matchmaker"May 19, 1991206

Bertie is interested in parenthood, and decides to begin by marrying Bobbie Wickham. Jeeves does not approve; but Bobbie is too preoccupied with other things to give Bertie due attention. Meanwhile Bertie must put up with her niece Clementina, who has a ferocious appetite.

Tuppy Glossop has broken off with Angela Travers again and is infatuated with dog-lover Daisy Dalgleish. Tuppy is convinced he can impress her in a rugby match, but Jeeves interferes.

Bingo Little is also in love, with a tea shop waitress. His obstacle is his allowance from his Uncle Mortimer, who may not approve the match. Jeeves recommends his uncle be regularly read romance novels to soften him up. They do—too much.

Also called "Wooster with a Wife." Adapted from

  • "Bertie Changes His Mind" (from Carry on, Jeeves)
  • "Jeeves and the Kid Clementina" (from Very Good, Jeeves)
  • "The Ordeal of Young Tuppy" (from Very Good, Jeeves)
  • "Jeeves Exerts the Old Cerebellum" (from The Inimitable Jeeves)
  • "No Wedding Bells for Bingo" (from The Inimitable Jeeves)

Series 3

Directed by Ferdinand Fairfax.

# Title Original airdate # Season
1""Bertie Sets Sail""March 29,1992301

Adapted from

2"”The Full House”"April 5, 1992302

Adapted from

3"” Introduction on Broadway""April 12,1992303

Adapted from

4"” Right Ho, Jeeves”"April 19, 1992304

Adapted from

5"” Hot Off the Press”"April 26, 1992305

Adapted from

6"“Comrade Bingo”"May 3, 1992306

Adapted from

Series 4

Directed by Ferdinand Fairfax.

# Title Original airdate # Season
1"” Return to New York”"May 16, 1993401

Adapted from

2"” The Once and Future Ex”"May 23,1993402

Adapted from

3"” Bridegroom Wanted!”"June 6, 1993403

Adapted from

plus a good deal of Clive Exton's artistic licence

4"” The Delayed Arrival”"June 6,1993404

Adapted from

5"” Trouble at Totleigh Towers”"June 13,1993405

Adapted from

6"” The Ties That Bind”"June 20,1993406

Adapted from

plus a good deal of Clive Exton's artistic licence


Locations

Trivia

  • Bertie Wooster's car is an early 1930s Aston Martin.
  • Chuffy Chufnell drives a Lagonda in series 2.
  • Because the lead actors Fry (6 foot 5) and Laurie (6 foot 3) are particularly tall, the supporting players were cast with this in mind and are almost uniformly tall themselves.
  • One of the unique elements of the TV show that are not present in the books is Wooster's (Hugh Laurie's) skill at piano playing. Several memorable scenes in the TV show feature Laurie playing a humorous piano song to the consternation of Jeeves, who would prefer more "appropriate" pursuits for an English gentleman of his description.

External links

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