List of Only When I Laugh episodes
Only When I Laugh is a British sitcom starring James Bolam, Peter Bowles, Christopher Strauli, Richard Wilson and Derrick Branche.[1] It was first broadcast on ITV between 1979 and 1982. The series revolves around Roy Figgis (Bolam), Archie Glover (Bowles) and Norman Binns (Strauli) who were long-term residents at an NHS hospital, the other regular characters were NHS surgeon Gordon Thorpe (Wilson) and nurse Gupte (Branche). Each episode was written by Eric Chappell.[1]
Series overview
| Series | Episodes | Original Broadcast | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series premiere | Series finale | |||
| Series 1 | 7 | 29 October 1979 | 10 December 1979 | |
| Series 2 | 7 | 29 April 1980 | 10 June 1980 | |
| Series 3 | 7 | 2 September 1981 | 14 October 1981 | |
| Special | 1 | 24 December 1981 | ||
| Series 4 | 7 | 4 November 1982 | 16 December 1982 | |
Episode list
Series 1 (1979)
| # | Title | Director | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "A Bed With a View" | Vernon Lawrence | 29 October 1979 | |
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Norman arrives at the ward and is given the bed next to the window. A game of musical beds ensues as Figgis and Archie want it too... | ||||
| 2 | "Operation Norman" | Vernon Lawrence | 5 November 1979 | |
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Norman's due for his appendix operation and is rather upset about it. He turns to Figgis for comfort in his hour of need... | ||||
| 3 | "The Rumour" | Vernon Lawrence | 12 November 1979 | |
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Figgis overhears Doctor Thorpe telling Gupte that his dog may not live much longer. Unfortunately, Figgis didn't hear the 'dog' bit and thinks it's about him... | ||||
| 4 | "The Man With the Face" | Vernon Lawrence | 19 November 1979 | |
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Archie's lothario-like tendencies are coming back to haunt him when he's convinced he's being stalked by a Greek madman for besmirching his fiancée... | ||||
| 5 | "Let Them Eat Cake" | Vernon Lawrence | 26 November 1979 | |
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The trio can stand the daily menu no longer and go on hunger strike. What they hadn't bargained for, however, was how hungry they would get... | ||||
| 6 | "Tangled Web" | Vernon Lawrence | 3 December 1979 | |
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Archie is craving female company and is heartened to see an attractive new nurse. So is Norman... | ||||
| 7 | "Is There a Doctor in the House?" | Vernon Lawrence | 10 December 1979 | |
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Tired of sitting in bed all day, Figgis disguises himself as a doctor and goes for a walk. Unfortunately, he's mistaken for a real doctor... | ||||
Series 2 (1980)
| # | Title | Director | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | "Whatever Happened To Gloria Robins?" | Graeme Muir | 29 April 1980 | |
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The trio get into a lather when a glamorous film star arrives on the ward. | ||||
| 9 | "Where There's a Will" | Graeme Muir | 6 May 1980 | |
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A rich patient becomes popular when the other patients learn he's about to make his Will... | ||||
| 10 | "It Can Damage Your Health" | Graeme Muir | 13 May 1980 | |
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Despite being warned on a frequent basis, the patients are undeterred by the risks of smoking. | ||||
| 11 | "The Cosmic Influence" | Vernon Lawrence | 20 May 1980 | |
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Figgis becomes interested in astrology and star signs which doesn't go down well with others. | ||||
| 12 | "The Visitors" | Vernon Lawrence | 27 May 1980 | |
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It's visiting day and Norman's mother has another dreary girl lined up for him, much to the others' amusement! | ||||
| 13 | "The Lost Sheep" | Vernon Lawrence | 3 June 1980 | |
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Figgis admits he's not been christened but sees the light when he meets a vicar. | ||||
| 14 | "Last Tango" | Vernon Lawrence | 10 June 1980 | |
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The "regulars" plan a party, but unexpected guests turn up... | ||||
Series 3 (1981)
| # | Title | Director | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | "A Day in the Life of" | Vernon Lawrence | 2 September 1981 | |
|
A film crew are at the hospital making a documentary about Gordon Thorpe, however, the other patients are determined to have themselves appear on TV. | ||||
| 16 | "Adam's Rib" | Vernon Lawrence | 9 September 1981 | |
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When a new young female doctor arrives on the ward the trio and Thorpe are split in their opinions of her. | ||||
| 17 | "The Right Honourable Gentleman" | Vernon Lawrence | 16 September 1981 | |
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A Member of Parliament arrives on the ward for treatment, however he is refusing to sign a petition to stop the hospital from closing. | ||||
| 18 | "Postman's Knock" | Vernon Lawrence | 23 September 1981 | |
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Agony Aunt Clare Butterfield receives a letter from Worried of Ward 3, but her reply only confuses things... | ||||
| 19 | "Accident" | Vernon Lawrence | 30 September 1981 | |
| 20 | "Dear Diary" | Vernon Lawrence | 7 October 1981 | |
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Figgis, Glover and Thorpe are determined to find out what Norman has written about them in his diary. | ||||
| 21 | "These You Have Loved" | Vernon Lawrence | 14 October 1981 | |
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The trio are fed up with hospital radio and attempt to do a better job at presenting it themselves. | ||||
Christmas Special (1981)
| # | Title | Director | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | "Away for Christmas" | Vernon Lawrence | 24 December 1981 | |
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It's Christmas at the hospital and although not everyone is enjoying the festive spirits, the trio take a keen interest in a new patient on the ward. | ||||
Series 4 (1982)
| # | Title | Director | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | "Blood Brothers" | Vernon Lawrence | 4 November 1982 | |
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Illness strikes Archie Glover, and Dr Thorpe insists he have a blood transfusion, but knowing who the donor is makes the invalid feel even more poorly. | ||||
| 24 | "Conduct Unbecoming" | Vernon Lawrence | 11 November 1982 | |
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A female patient falls for Dr Thorpe's bedside matter, and caught in a compromising position, he turns to the men's ward occupants for help : but will they come to the aid of a friend in need? | ||||
| 25 | "All in the Mind" | Vernon Lawrence | 18 November 1982 | |
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Figgis dabbles in amateur psychiatry and deduces that Norman is suffering from sexual repression. | ||||
| 26 | "In Sickness & in Health" | Vernon Lawrence | 25 November 1982 | |
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Norman's fiancee visits to discuss the wedding arrangements – but her suggestions force him to take matters into his own hands. | ||||
| 27 | "Escape" | Vernon Lawrence | 2 December 1982 | |
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The regulars are terrified by the admission of a convict onto their ward. | ||||
| 28 | "When Did You Last See Your Father?" | Vernon Lawrence | 9 December 1982 | |
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An inebriated man collapses in reception, and Figgis is employed to find out more about the mysterious visitor. | ||||
| 29 | "The Reunion" | Vernon Lawrence | 16 December 1982 | |
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The boys are discharged from hospital, and promptly arrange a reunion under more enjoyable circumstances. | ||||
References
- ^ a b "Only When I Laugh – Production Details". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 12 August 2010.