British Comedy: Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

Years: 1973-1978
Broadcaster: BBC
Genre: Sitcom
Written by: Raymond Allen, Michael Crawford
Stars: Michael Crawford, Michele Dotrice
Episodes: 22
Episode Average: 8.182*

BEST EPISODES:
The Job Interview (1973), George's House (1973)

*including specials

SERIES ONE

(1973)
7 episodes
Series Score: 59
Episode Average: 8.43
Perfect 10's: 3

S1E1

THE JOB INTERVIEW

Originally broadcast: 15 February 1973
Directed by: Michael Mills
Written by: Raymond Allen

Betty's mother is being driven mad by Frank's ability to break everything he touches, and Frank goes for a job interview.

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

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

S1E2

GEORGE'S HOUSE

Originally broadcast: 22 February 1973
Directed by: Michael Mills
Written by: Raymond Allen

Betty and Frank are at her brother's for the weekend, who's hoping to impress a building boss with his futuristic home to win a contract.

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

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

S1E3

LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR

Originally broadcast: 1 March 1973
Directed by: Michael Mills
Written by: Raymond Allen

Betty's mother turns up and collapses after leaving her husband, and Frank makes his first of many visits to his stressed out neighbour to phone for the doctor.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

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

S1E4

HAVE? A BREAK, TAKE A HUSBAND

Originally broadcast: 8 March 1973
Directed by: Michael Mills
Written by: Raymond Allen

Frank and Betty have a second try at a honeymoon, only for Frank to completely destroy their room.

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

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

S1E5

THE HOSPITAL VISIT

Originally broadcast: 15 March 1973
Directed by: Michael Mills
Written by: Raymond Allen

Frank blows up his pudding before visiting Betty in hospital, where a mix-up causes mayhem.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

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

S1E6

THE PSYCHIATRIST

Originally broadcast: 22 March 1973
Directed by: Michael Mills
Written by: Raymond Allen

Frank visits a psychiatrist, who he tells how he met Betty, and later her mother.

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 7

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

S1E7

THE EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE

Originally broadcast: 29 March 1973
Directed by: Sydney Lotterby
Written by: Raymond Allen

The new manager of employment exchange bets he can find Frank a job, and goes to great lengths to try to win the bet.

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 6

SERIES TWO

(1973)
6 episodes
Series Score: 50
Episode Average: 8.33
Perfect 10's: 2

S2E1

CLIFFHANGER

Originally broadcast: 22 November 1973
Directed by: Michael Mills
Written by: Raymond Allen

Frank gets a company car complete with his latest job, and heads for the coast for a picnic with Betty, but things soon go wrong.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

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

S2E2

THE RAF REUNION

Originally broadcast: 29 November 1973
Directed by: Michael Mills
Written by: Raymond Allen

Frank looks back at his time in the RAF after the annual reunion.

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 7

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

S2E3

THE PUBLIC RELATIONS COURSE

Originally broadcast: 6 December 1973
Directed by: Michael Mills
Written by: Raymond Allen

Betty persuades Frank to go on a public relations course, but even that proves disastrous.

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 7

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

S2E4

FRANK AND MARVIN

Originally broadcast: 13 December 1973
Directed by: Michael Mills
Written by: Raymond Allen

After finding out that he's going to be a father, Frank tries his hand as a holiday camp entertainer, where his act includes a fiery finale.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

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

S2E5

FATHER'S CLINIC

Originally broadcast: 20 December 1973
Directed by: Michael Mills
Written by: Raymond Allen

Betty helps prepare Frank for fatherhood by taking him to meet two young children who they plan to take out for the day, but not before he tries the father's clinic again, after passing out the first time.

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

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

S2E6

THE BABY ARRIVES

Originally broadcast: 27 December 1973
Directed by: Michael Mills
Written by: Raymond Allen

Frank's worried about the birth and frustrates the doctors with a series of false alarms.

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

SPECIALS

(1973)

SPECIAL

JESSICA'S FIRST CHRISTMAS

Originally broadcast: 25 December 1974
Directed by: Michael Mills
Written by: Raymond Allen

Frank gets a new job but finds he's working with a neighbour that he doesn't get on with, and he loses his role in the nativity play, instead working behind-the-scenes... until somebody pulls out at the last minute.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 9

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

SPECIAL

LEARNING TO DRIVE

Originally broadcast: 25 December 1975
Directed by: Michael Mills
Written by: Raymond Allen

After being fired from his job as a pixie, Frank receives a letter from the BBC inviting him to be part of a DIY show, and he prepares for his tenth driving test.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 7

SERIES THREE

(1978)
6 episodes
Series Score: 46
Episode Average: 7.67
Perfect 10's: 1

S3E1

MOVING HOUSE

Originally broadcast: 11 November 1978
Directed by: Sydney Lotterby
Written by: Raymond Allen, Michael Crawford

The council force the Spencers to move house when theirs is deemed unfit after years of Frank's repairs, but things get off to a bad start when Frank gets on the wrong side of his new neighbour.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

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

S3E2

WENDY HOUSE

Originally broadcast: 18 November 1978
Directed by: Sydney Lotterby
Written by: Raymond Allen, Michael Crawford

Whilst waiting for the insurance assessor, Frank decided that a woodwork class might help him replace some of his damaged furniture himself, where he also starts work on a gift for Jessica.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

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

S3E3

SCOTTISH DANCING

Originally broadcast: 25 November 1978
Directed by: Sydney Lotterby
Written by: Raymond Allen, Michael Crawford

Frank becomes secretary of the local Liberal party, but is annoyed when the chairman leaves him out of a special dance performance for a visiting MP.

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 6

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

S3E4

MEN AS WOMEN

Originally broadcast: 2 December 1978
Directed by: Sydney Lotterby
Written by: Raymond Allen, Michael Crawford

Frank receives a letter from Australia, Dr. Mender appears to be having some sort of personal crisis, and Jessica swallows the Queen's head.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

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

S3E5

KING OF THE ROAD

Originally broadcast: 9 December 1978
Directed by: Sydney Lotterby
Written by: Raymond Allen, Michael Crawford

Frank lands up in court when the boss of the courier firm he gets a job with is arrested, and after a disagreement with his solicitor, he defends himself.

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

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

S3E6

AUSTRALIA HOUSE

Originally broadcast: 16 December 1978
Directed by: Sydney Lotterby
Written by: Raymond Allen, Michael Crawford

Frank tries to take elocution lessons, and applies to move to Australia.

HOLY GODIVA 2 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 6

SPECIALS

(1978)

SPECIAL

LEARNING TO FLY

Originally broadcast: 25 December 1978
Directed by: Sydney Lotterby
Written by: Raymond Allen, Michael Crawford

Frank starts his flying lessons, but the instructor ends up unconscious.

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 9

FRANK SPENCER

Played by Michael Crawford

BETTY SPENCER

Played by Michele Dotrice