British Comedy: Six Dates with Barker

Years: 1971
Broadcaster: ITV
Genre: Sitcom (standalones)
Written by: Gerald Wiley*, John Cleese,
Ken Hoare, Hugh Leonard, Bernard McKenna,
Spike Milligan, Mike Sharland
Stars: Ronnie Barker
Episodes: 6
Episode Average: 7.167

BEST EPISODE:
The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town (1971)

*pseudonym of Ronnie Barker

RONNIE BARKER

1937 A.D. THE REMOVALS PERSON
as... FRED

1899 A.D. THE PHANTOM RASPBERRY BLOWER...
as... INSPECTOR ALEXANDER
(also played various other characters)

1970 A.D. THE ODD JOB
as... ARTHUR

1915 A.D. LOLA
as... LOLA

1971 A.D. COME IN AND LIE DOWN
as... DR. SWANTON

2774 A.D. ALL THE WORLD'S A STOOGE
as... PRINCE BOFFO

SIX DATES WITH BARKER

(1971)
6 episodes
Series Score:
Episode Average:
Perfect 10's:

EPISODE 1

1937 A.D.
THE REMOVALS PERSON

Originally broadcast: 8 January 1971
Directed by: Maurice Murphy
Written by: Hugh Leonard

THIS WAS LATER TURNED INTO THE SERIES 'CLARENCE'

MORE OF THE CAST

TRAVERS
Played by Josephine Tewson

MRS. VAILE
Played by Joan Benham

ANGELA
Played by Gillian Fairchild

ALBERT
Played by Christopher Timothy

A short-sighted removal man is left to do a job on his own on coronation day, a friendly housemaid stays close at hand to prevent any disasters, and a problem with the telephone leads to thoughts of a suicidal nature.

"Oh, sorry, Miss. I was just trying to guess your weight, actually. Yes, you'll be about a single wardrobe, I should think. Yeah, about 9st7. That's without drawers, of course."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

EPISODE 2

1899 A.D.
THE PHANTOM RASPBERRY
BLOWER OF OLD LONDON
TOWN

Originally broadcast: 15 January 1971
Directed by: Maurice Murphy
Written by: Spike Milligan

THIS WAS LATER TURNED INTO A SERIAL FOR THE TWO RONNIES

MORE OF THE CAST
(some play more than one character)

THE PHANTOM
Played by Alan Curtis

SERGEANT BOWLES
Played by Larry Noble

THE PRIME MINISTER'S BUTLER
Played by John Sharp

THE DUCHESS
Played by Christine Ozanne

HIGGINS
Played by Moira Foot

The Prime Minister's butler falls victim to a mysterious raspberry blower, the Home Office get involved after an attack on a Dowager Duchess, and a team of decoys are assembled in an attempt to protect Queen Victoria.

"What is it, Bowles? Can't you see I'm in the middle of questioning an eyewitness?"

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

EPISODE 3

1970 A.D.
THE ODD JOB

Originally broadcast: 22 January 1971
Directed by: Maurice Murphy
Written by: Bernard McKenna

THIS WAS LATER TURNED INTO A FILM STARRING GRAHAM CHAPMAN

MORE OF THE CAST

KITTY
Played by Joan Sims

CLIVE
Played by David Jason

A man decides to commit suicide when his bored wife walks out on him, an odd job man is paid to bump him off when options begin to run out, and an unexpected change of heart leaves him fighting to stay alive.

"The neighbours haven't stopped laughing about the last time. Swallowing fifty senna pods instead of sleeping tablets."

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

EPISODE 4

1915 A.D.
LOLA

Originally broadcast: 29 January 1971
Directed by: Maurice Murphy
Written by: Ken Hoare, Mike Sharland

MORE OF THE CAST

KAISER WILHELM
Played by Dennis Ramsden

CAPT. OTTO VON DIESEL
Played by Graham Armitage

CORPORAL
Played by Hugh Walters

GERMAN PRIVATE
Played by John Parker

TICKET COLLECTOR
Played by Donald Groves

SECRET AGENT
Played by Peter Stephens

WAITRESS
Played by Rita Burton

FRENCHMAN
Played by Freddie Earlle

MAJOR RUPERT YAPPE
Played by Freddie Jones

LORD KITCHENER
Played by Valentine Dyall

Kaiser Wilhelm gives orders for his shorthand typist to be executed, a German captain is given 24 hours to locate a missing female agent, and an unconvincing imposter is sent to Paris to deliver a coded message.

"He did do, Sir, but as soon as his chicken ran out of bullets, I overpowered him."

HOLY GODIVA 2 - ONION JACK 2
TOTAL: 4

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

EPISODE 5

1971 A.D.
COME IN AND LIE DOWN

Originally broadcast: 5 February 1971
Directed by: Maurice Murphy
Written by: John Cleese

MORE OF THE CAST

GAS MAN
Played by Michael Bates

IMAGINARY MAN
Played by Ian Trigger

A man walks into a psychiatrist's office claiming to be the gas man, a confession comes with details about a man in a Robin Hood hat, and things get complicated when the mysterious figure suddenly appears.

"He said he wasn't even there, and only a loony would think he was. And how can he go away if he wasn't there? He'd have to arrive first."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 9

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

EPISODE 6

2774 A.D.
ALL THE WORLD'S A STOOGE

Originally broadcast: 12 February 1971
Directed by: Maurice Murphy
Written by: Ronnie Barker

MORE OF THE CAST

ARCH FUNSTER
Played by Michael Hordern

PRINCESS HYSTERIA
Played by Joyce Grant

CHEEKY
Played by Lesley-Anne Down

DOCTOR
Played by Jack Tripp

TARTY
Played by Joy Stewart

ATLAS
Played by Victor Maddern

The people of Happy Happy Land watch on as their leader slips away, his son tells his family that he's sick of having to be funny all the time, and an order is given for reindoctrination before he can take to the throne.

"For humour is laughter, and laughter is happiness. That of all the creatures on the earth, man is the only creature that can laugh... apart from hyenas... they don't count. But man can laugh, and count."

HOLY GODIVA 1 - ONION JACK 1
TOTAL: 2