The Lovers (1970 TV series)
The Lovers | |
---|---|
![]() Opening title card | |
Genre | Comedy |
Created by | Jack Rosenthal |
Written by | Jack Rosenthal Geoffrey Lancashire |
Directed by | Michael Apted (Series 1) Les Chatfield (Series 2) |
Starring | Paula Wilcox Richard Beckinsale Robin Nedwell Joan Scott |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 2 |
No. of episodes | 13 |
Production | |
Running time | 30 minutes |
Production company | Granada Television |
Original release | |
Network | ITV |
Release | 27 October 1970 18 November 1971 | –
The Lovers is a British television sitcom by Jack Rosenthal, starring Richard Beckinsale and Paula Wilcox as a courting couple, Geoffrey and Beryl. It was made between 1970 and 1971 by Granada Television for the ITV network. A spin-off feature film was released in 1973. The series was also given a repeat run on Channel 4 in 1996.
The show is based on the struggles of the two protagonists as they develop their relationship, particularly in the area of sex (which Beryl calls "Percy filth", Percy being an alternative name for the male member). Beryl is a slightly dizzy character obsessed with marriage, while Geoffrey is instead determined to bed her.[1]
Episodes
[edit]The series ran for 13 episodes over two series. Michael Apted directed Series 1, while Les Chatfield directed Series 2.
Series 1 (1970)
[edit]- "Sardine Sandwiches" (27 October 1970)
- "The Date" (3 November 1970)
- "Freckle Face" (10 November 1970)
- "Brainwashing" (17 November 1970)
- "A Pipe and a Moustache" (24 November 1970)
- "The Truth Game" (1 December 1970)
Series 2 (1971)
[edit]- "The Engagement" (7 October 1971)
- "Breaking It Off" (14 October 1971)
- "Birthday" (21 October 1971)
- "Joint Bank Account" (28 October 1971)
- "The Better Homes Exhibition" (4 November 1971)
- "A Trial Marriage" (11 November 1971)
- "The Best Laid Plans..." (18 November 1971)
Cast
[edit]Character | Actor |
---|---|
Geoffrey Scrimshaw | Richard Beckinsale |
Beryl Battersby | Paula Wilcox |
Mrs Battersby | Joan Scott |
Roland Lomax | Robin Nedwell |
Film spin-off
[edit]The series was used as the basis for a feature film. The Lovers! was released in 1973 and featured Beckinsale, Wilcox and Scott, together with Susan Littler, Rosalind Ayres and John Comer (as Geoffrey's father).[2]
See also
[edit]DVD release
[edit]The Lovers was released on DVD by Network in 2007 and featured all episodes from the two series runs.
Bibliography
[edit]- Evans, Jeff (2001). The Penguin TV Companion. Harmondsworth, England: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-051467-8.
References
[edit]- ^ "BFI Screenonline: Lovers, The (1970-71)". www.screenonline.org.uk.
- ^ "The Lovers! (1973)". BFI. Archived from the original on 28 March 2018.
External links
[edit]- The Lovers at IMDb
- The Lovers at British Comedy Guide
- The Lovers at the BFI's Screenonline
- 1970s British sitcoms
- 1970 British television series debuts
- 1971 British television series endings
- British English-language television shows
- ITV sitcoms
- Television series by ITV Studios
- Television shows adapted into films
- Television shows produced by Granada Television
- British comedy television series stubs