76-628: (Redirected from Good Neighbors ) Good Neighbours or Good Neighbors may refer to Good Neighbors (1975), a British television series, also called The Good Life "Good Neighbors" , a 2005 episode of the American animated series SpongeBob SquarePants Good Neighbours (2010), a Canadian black comedy-drama/thriller film Good Neighbors (organization) , an international humanitarian organization based in South Korea Good Neighbours,
152-504: A goat (Geraldine) and a cockerel ( Lenin ). They generate their own electricity with methane from animal waste, and attempt to make their own clothes. They sell or barter surplus crops for essentials they cannot make themselves. They cut their monetary requirements to the minimum, with varying success. Their actions horrify their kindly but conventional neighbours, Margo and Jerry Leadbetter. Margo and Jerry were intended to be minor characters, but their relationship with one another and
228-428: A housewarming party , the comedian invited the previous occupant, a widow who could not afford to keep the house up and had moved to a smaller house in the village. The comedian's account of the lady, and the conversation he had with her, Spence later described as a "perfect description" of Audrey. A few years later, following the success of The Good Life , Spence was asked by BBC Radio to come up with an idea for
304-422: A magistrate . This means that money is a constant problem and Audrey has to learn to live within her means and new circumstances. During the second series, Brabinger is away ill; and Ned, whose tied cottage is being renovated by Richard, takes over as Audrey's butler. Ned, a gardener and "outside man", has worked on the estate all his life and finds working indoors difficult to get used to and he tends to lack
380-567: A 1977 episode of The Good Life . Peter Bowles had been asked some years earlier to play Jerry Leadbetter , the husband of Keith's Margo, in The Good Life . Owing to prior commitments, Bowles turned down the role, but had he played Jerry, it is unlikely he would have been offered the part of Richard; as Bowles later said, "There's no way I could have played Penelope Keith's screen husband in two separate sitcoms." However, in 1987 Bowles replaced Geoffrey Palmer as Keith's onscreen husband in
456-487: A British musical duo best known for their 2024 song " Home " See also [ edit ] All pages with titles containing good neighbor All pages with titles containing good neighbour The Good Neighbour (disambiguation) Good Friends (disambiguation) Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Good Neighbours . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
532-459: A TV series. When writing the TV series, Christopher Bond was brought in as the script associate and helped to adapt the series from radio to television. The American character was changed, and the idea of a character who appeared to be an English gentleman, but turns out not to be, was thought of. It was then decided that this character needed someone who could reveal his real background, and his mother
608-649: A couple of reactionary stereotypes, confirming the myth that everyone in Britain is a lovable middle-class eccentric. And I hate them!" Giles Coren and Sue Perkins worked together on a four-episode series Giles and Sue Live the Good Life , broadcast to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the original series. In the series, they recreated an attempt by two city-dwellers to adjust to country life, in ways such as raising their own barnyard animals, creating their own Christmas decorations and knitting their own clothing. In late 2020,
684-472: A crush on DeVere. Marjory, who was at school with Audrey, is still a schoolgirl at heart and a committed countryside campaigner. Marjory has no organisational ability, which leads to her being nicknamed "Muddlesome Marj" by some. Despite Marjory's encouragement, Audrey refuses to get a job, saying her only job could be running the Grantleigh Estate and doing other public service, which includes her being
760-614: A heart of gold. She involves herself with organisations such as the Pony Club and the Music Society, always wishing to play the lead role, although frequently the Goods' activities frustrate her attempts to impress her social circle. Margo is occasionally made aware of her faults by others, including her husband, and is not too proud to apologise. Andrew, "Andy" or "Sir", is managing director of JJM. He feigns ignorance of Tom's existence ("Mr Ummm of
836-638: A live audience. The opening theme was composed by Burt Rhodes (1923–2003). On his 40th birthday, Tom Good is no longer able to take his job seriously and gives up work as a draughtsman for a company that makes plastic toys for breakfast cereal packets. With their house in The Avenue, Surbiton , paid for, he and his wife Barbara adopt a sustainable , simple and nearly self-sufficient lifestyle while staying in their house. They turn their front and back gardens into allotments , growing soft fruit and vegetables. They introduce chickens, pigs ( Pinky and Perky ),
SECTION 10
#1732863176024912-449: A mockup of the Goods' kitchen. The Good Life features in an episode of The Young Ones titled " Sick " where Vyvyan (played by Adrian Edmondson ) rips apart the title page after the first ten seconds of the opening credits of this show while criticising it, saying, "It's so bloody nice! Felicity 'Treacle' Kendal and Richard 'Sugar-Flavoured Snot' Briers! What do they do now?! Chocolate bloody Button ads, that's what! They're nothing but
988-494: A native here and to the manner born, it is a custom more honoured in the breach than the observance".) In To the Manor Born , Penelope Keith (who was previously best known for her role as social-climber Margo Leadbetter in the suburban sitcom The Good Life ), plays upper-class Audrey fforbes-Hamilton. Upon the death of her husband, Audrey is forced to sell her vast country estate, Grantleigh Manor. However, she then moves into
1064-466: A podcast celebrating sitcoms of the 1970s – The Sitcom Archive Deep Dive Overdrive — was launched. The weekly show examines and celebrates every episode ever made of The Good Life made throughout its first series. Some have connected the increasing popularity of hobby farms to the success of TV shows like The Good Life . The complete series of The Good Life was made available in the US ( Region 1 ) under
1140-405: A programme to feature Keith. Thinking of Keith's character in The Good Life , Spence had the idea of inverting the character of Margo Leadbetter (who was middle-class but trying desperately to climb the social ladder; Audrey on the other hand genuinely was from an aristocratic, upper class background, but had lost her fortune and was forced into a more humble existence) and, from the account from
1216-419: A whole series of it but as a one-off event it was surprisingly welcome". The British Comedy Guide was more critical saying that "whilst it gained great viewing figures it really wasn't a patch on the original episodes." The writer Peter Spence wrote two books that accompanied To the Manor Born . While they were based on the TV episodes, both books did differ with added conversations, changed storylines and
1292-579: Is Felicity Kendal?" Two novelisations of The Good Life were written, both by Esmonde and Larbey. The first, The Good Life , was published in 1976 by Penguin Books , and novelised the first series. The second, More of The Good Life , was published in 1977, also by Penguin, and featured three episodes from series two and four episodes from series three. The series broadcast in Australia on ABC and in Canada on CBC. It
1368-499: Is an equally dictatorial acquaintance and a fellow member of the Pony Club. Mr and Mrs Pearson, the Leadbetters' gardener and housekeeper, are mentioned in several episodes. Mr Weaver, the husband of Mrs Weaver, is mentioned but not met in episode 6 of season 2, when Margo speaks of Mr and Mrs Weaver. The Good Life aired for four series and two specials from 4 April 1975 to 10 June 1978. The final one-off episode, "When I'm Sixty-Five",
1444-427: Is his idea, but Barbara, after expressing concerns, supports him. Tom is determined to succeed at self-sufficiency, and is mostly cheerful about his new lifestyle. Despite being an eternal optimist most of the time, Tom can also be obstinate and pigheaded, often to Barbara's detriment or irritation. On the few occasions that he is pessimistic, Barbara becomes the optimist. Barbara is a normal, middle-class housewife when
1520-446: Is not seen again. In series 4 it is revealed she has moved away, leaving the house empty, but with a half-full tank of heating oil in the garden. The Goods telephone her and she agrees to them taking the oil, but they discover the leaking tank has destroyed their garden. Several characters are mentioned but unseen. Margo is at odds with Miss Dolly Mountshaft, dictatorial leading light of the Music Society. The overweight Mrs Dooms-Paterson
1596-631: Is tried to its limits. Peter Bowles was originally cast to play Jerry but was unavailable. (He later starred opposite Penelope Keith in To the Manor Born .) Hannah Gordon was considered for the role of Barbara but was ruled out, having recently played a similar role in the BBC sitcom My Wife Next Door . Esmonde and Larbey chose Felicity Kendal and Penelope Keith after seeing them on stage together in The Norman Conquests . Outdoor filming took place in
SECTION 20
#17328631760241672-527: The ITV sitcom Executive Stress . The series also features many recurring characters , who are either estate workers or members of Audrey's social circle. Celia Imrie , who makes two appearances as supermarket cashier Polly, later became known for her work with Victoria Wood , including the sitcom Dinnerladies , as well as roles in Kingdom and After You've Gone . The 2007 Christmas special features four of
1748-462: The 1979 and 2007 Christmas specials, of To the Manor Born have been released in the UK ( Region 2 ). The first series and the 1979 Christmas special were released on 5 May 2003, followed by Series Two on 29 December 2003 and Series Three on 14 June 2004. The DVDs feature an interview with Peter Spence. The 2007 Christmas special was released on Region 2 DVD on 11 February 2008. The complete original series
1824-415: The 2007 Anniversary special as "so cosy and old-fashioned that I could easily have dismissed it with a cynical wave". However, he says he found himself enjoying it "about halfway through" and said "it was a real pleasure to see Peter Bowles and Penelope Keith, for both of whom I feel great affection, once again sparring on the small screen". Julius finished his review by commenting "Not that I'm saying I'd like
1900-449: The BBC invited Queen Elizabeth to attend a recording of a television programme for the first time to mark her Silver Jubilee and to this end, the royal household was asked to confirm her favourite entertainment show. Reputedly, this was The Good Life , but this was problematic as the series had ended before it was possible to facilitate the Queen's attendance. Thus a 'Christmas Special' episode
1976-452: The BBC's Television Centre in Shepherd's Bush , London. The manor, Cricket House, was at the time of the original series owned by the father-in-law of Peter Spence, the show's creator and writer. Some interior scenes were also filmed inside Cricket House. The Old Lodge, which on screen was at the end of the manor's drive, is in fact about one mile away and called West Lodge. A false gatepost
2052-502: The BBC's Light Entertainment Music Director who composed the theme tunes for many sitcoms around this time. The programme was very popular with viewers. Several episodes received extremely high audience figures, especially the first series. This was partly due to the fact that ITV , the main rival channel to BBC1 in the United Kingdom , was in the middle of a protracted strike which started in early August 1979. This saw nearly all of
2128-733: The Cavendish Foods supermarket chain, though Audrey calls him a costermonger and sees him simply as a grocer . DeVere brings his domineering mother, Maria Poulouvicka (who is nicknamed by Audrey as 'Mrs. Poo'). She reveals to Audrey, who does not like foreigners, that she and her son came to Britain in 1939 from Czechoslovakia , and that Richard, whose real name is Bedřich Polouvicek, is half- Polish (on his late father Lazlo's side) and half- Czech . Mrs. Polouvicka tries hard to fit into British country life, but her accent often leads to many mispronunciations and she frequently comes out with sayings from her "old Czechoslovakia". From early on in
2204-494: The Fourth Floor"), but once Tom leaves, Andy becomes desperate to bring him back. His wife, Felicity, is more relaxed. She is one of the few characters to support the Goods and finds their attempt at self-sufficiency exciting. She says, "I wanted to do something exciting when I was young, and then I met Andrew and that was the end of that." They have one son, unseen, called Martin. Andrew calls Tom and Barbara "Tim and Fatima", but in
2280-412: The Goods became an essential element of the series. Under the influence of the Goods' homemade wine, called " peapod burgundy " (the strength of which becomes a running joke), their intermingled attractions to one another become apparent. Tom's career has been as a draughtsman, a job he thoroughly dislikes. He feels his life is meaningless, nothing more than work and consumption. Becoming self-sufficient
2356-613: The Grantleigh Manor Estate, which her family, the fforbes-Hamiltons, have controlled for 400 years. Her joy is short-lived though, as her solicitor, Arnold Plunkett, informs her that Marton was bankrupt and that the manor will have to be sold to pay off the debts. Audrey tries to buy back the manor at auction , but is outbid at £876,000. The new Lord of the Manor is Richard DeVere, a recently widowed self-made millionaire who started his career on an East End fruit barrow and founded
Good Neighbours - Misplaced Pages Continue
2432-460: The Manor Born is a BBC television sitcom that first aired on BBC1 from 1979 to 1981. A special one-off episode was produced in 2007. Starring Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles , the first 20 episodes and the 2007 special were written by Peter Spence , the creator, while the final episode in 1981 was written by script associate Christopher Bond. The title is a play on the phrase "to the manner born," from Shakespeare 's Hamlet ("Though I am
2508-743: The Manor Born , which began in September 1979. Eddington joined Nigel Hawthorne and Derek Fowlds in Yes Minister and its sequel Yes Prime Minister . Kendal, who had become something of a sex symbol, went on to join Elspet Gray in Solo and Jane Asher in The Mistress . Briers later starred alongside Penelope Wilton and Peter Egan in the popular sitcom Ever Decreasing Circles again written by Larbey & Esmonde, and notable for Briers' character being
2584-676: The PAL format typical in Australia. The series 4 release (on two DVDs) also contains an interview with Briers as well as the Royal Command Performance episode. A stage adaptation of the sitcom premiered at the Theatre Royal, Bath , before embarking on a UK tour in October 2021. It was written and directed by Jeremy Sams and starred Rufus Hound as Tom Good. To the Manor Born To
2660-538: The Somerset Rifles and a former Desert Rat , is another local landowner and friend of Audrey's and the Master of Foxhounds and, like Audrey and Marjory, has an interest in nature conservation and cricket. Arnold Plunkett and his wife Dorothy are friends of Audrey, while Arnold is also the family solicitor . Grantleigh's local estate agent is J.J. Anderson, of Anderson and Fish, who appears at manor parties. During
2736-465: The TV version, replaced many of the by then deceased original television cast members. The series has subsequently been repeated on BBC 7/BBC Radio 4 Extra . All ten episodes, collected, are now available for purchase on Audible and iTunes . The character of Richard de Vere, and his fictional company Cavendish Foods were reportedly a thinly veiled dig at businessman Sir James Goldsmith and his company Cavenham Foods . All three series, including
2812-516: The UK in the 1970s, and the highest for a non-live event. The following year, 21.55 million people watched the last episode of series two, the fifth-highest viewing figure for the 1980s. The final episode in 1981 received 17.80 million viewers. The 2007 Christmas special garnered 10.25 million viewers and ranked as the 6th most watched programme in the UK for that week. Writing in the Sunday Express on 30 December 2007, Marshall Julius described
2888-805: The United States) is a British sitcom, produced by BBC television. It ran from 4 April 1975 to 10 June 1978 on BBC 1 and was written by Bob Larbey and John Esmonde . Opening with the midlife crisis of Tom Good, a 40-year-old plastics designer, it relates the joys and setbacks he and his wife Barbara experience when they attempt to escape a modern " rat race " lifestyle by "becoming totally self-sufficient " in their suburban house in Surbiton . In 2004, it came 9th in Britain's Best Sitcom . The lead roles are taken by Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal . John Esmonde and Bob Larbey wrote The Good Life for Richard Briers ,
2964-409: The character it has taken for Tom to leave the system. He is henpecked at home but has the strength to make his case. Margo cannot understand her neighbours' lifestyle, but their friendship is important to her. As a child, she was bullied at school for having no sense of humour. A social climber, staunchly Conservative and unafraid to challenge anyone who gets on her nerves, Margo nevertheless reveals
3040-471: The characters being given different personality traits. The first book, published in 1979 by Arrow Books , is entitled To the Manor Born and is based on the first series episodes 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7. In this book, Brabinger's first name, which is never mentioned in the TV series, is revealed as Bertram and Ned's surname revealed as Peaslake. The second book, titled To the Manor Born Book 2 , was published by
3116-471: The comedian, came up with Audrey fforbes-Hamilton. Instead of a Cockney comedian as the new owner of the manor, Spence decided on an American who sees the manor while in England looking for his roots. The American later discovers he is descended from the fforbes-Hamiltons. This was made into a radio pilot in 1976 with Bernard Braden as the American, but was never broadcast because of the interest to make it into
Good Neighbours - Misplaced Pages Continue
3192-455: The course of the three series, Audrey and Richard grow closer. Hostile to each other at the start, they grew to understand and respect each other, as both try to adapt to each other's ways. The last two 1981 episodes show Richard having problems at his company Cavendish Foods. With his board of directors refusing to let Richard buy a refrigeration plant in Argentina , he seriously considers selling
3268-424: The episode "Anniversary" admits he has always known their names and pretends to forget – "an old executive ploy to put people at a disadvantage." Andrew appears alone after series 1 with one more reference to Felicity by Jerry and Margo in the episode "Mutiny". Mrs Weaver buys the house next door to Tom and Barbara in series 2, much to the relief of Margo, who approves of Mrs Weaver's conservative values as opposed to
3344-481: The estate's small, modest lodge house (where she can keep an eye on the estate's new owner) and manages to keep her butler and her much loved Rolls-Royce 20/25 car. The manor is bought by Richard DeVere (played by Peter Bowles), a nouveau riche millionaire supermarket owner originally from Czechoslovakia . DeVere and fforbes-Hamilton have a love-hate relationship. The programme proved popular and it received high audience figures for many of its episodes, especially
3420-417: The first month after the strike had ended, ITV found it hard to win back viewers who preferred to remain with the BBC, as ITV was airing repeats and filler programmes until new content was made from November 1979. This gave To the Manor Born a huge advantage with the viewing public. In 1979, the last episode of the first series received 23.95 million viewers, the fourth-highest figures for any programme in
3496-470: The latter's displeasure. Richard visits his mother's grave to develop a plan to win Audrey back. He decides to allow a rock concert to be held on the estate. When the licence application is up before the magistrates' court , Richard changes his mind. The following day, their anniversary, Marjory leads Audrey to a surprise party organised by Richard. New characters in the 2007 Christmas special include Emmeridge,
3572-436: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Good_Neighbours&oldid=1213131217 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Good Neighbors (TV series) The Good Life (known as Good Neighbors in
3648-452: The local rector , who is not unhappy when Audrey loses the manor, hoping that it will prevent the dominating Audrey from having a say in the running of the church and local causes. The rector favours Richard, who is frequently generous when it comes to donations to church funds. The village shop is run by Mrs. Patterson, the local gossip who also favours Richard and does not get on with Audrey. The typically English Brigadier Lemington, of
3724-590: The local ITV companies go off air, with no programmes being aired from the network (except Channel Television in the Channel Islands ), leaving only BBC 1 and BBC 2 as the channels left for the British public to watch until Wednesday 24 October 1979, when ITV returned to air, with the strike ending in a pay agreement. However, many viewers remained with the BBC and with shows such as To the Manor Born , as ITV took some months to get going again with new programmes. For
3800-496: The manor back. Now back home and on her own turf, Audrey asks Richard to marry her. Taken aback, Richard says yes and they are married in the final episode, broadcast on 29 November 1981. As Richard and Audrey plan to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary , each planning a surprise party for the other, Richard confesses to Audrey that he owns Farmer Tom, a company that has been putting the neighbouring estates out of business. Audrey leaves him and goes to stay with Marjory, much to
3876-438: The manor to raise the money to buy the plant himself. Trying to help Richard, Audrey asks her uncle, a well-respected and connected member of the financial community, to lend Richard a hand. Thanks to him, things begin to go Richard's way. Unfortunately, Audrey's uncle dies before the deals are signed. Richard decides to sell the manor to pay for the refrigerated plant. By a twist of fate, Audrey inherits her uncle's fortune and buys
SECTION 50
#17328631760243952-480: The northern Greater London suburb of Northwood , although the series was set in Surbiton , south-western Greater London. The producers searched extensively for a suitable pair of houses, eventually chancing on Kewferry Road, Northwood. The grounds of the Goods' house were returned to their original state after the filming of each series' inserts, and all livestock removed at the end of each day's filming. Interior scenes were filmed at BBC Television Centre in front of
4028-455: The only cast member who was well known before the series was broadcast. Larbey and Esmonde were inspired by Larbey's 40th birthday, which seemed to them a milestone in most people's lives. Their story has the Goods' decision to pursue self-sufficiency conflicting sharply with the habits of the Leadbetters, who live next door. The conflict between the neighbours, balanced with an increasingly close friendship, creates comic tension as that friendship
4104-457: The original cast members: Penelope Keith, Peter Bowles, Angela Thorne, and Gerald Sim as the Rector. New characters include Alexander Armstrong as Adam fforbes-Hamilton, Audrey's nephew-by-marriage and godson ; Alan David as Emmeridge, Audrey and Richard's outspoken butler; and Michael Cochrane as Archie Pennington-Booth, a neighbouring landowner. While the Rector makes only a brief appearance,
4180-566: The original series are Angela Thorne (playing Audrey's old friend Marjory), Daphne Heard (Richard's mother, Mrs. Polouvicka), John Rudling (Brabinger the butler), Michael Bilton (Ned, the odd-job man) and Gerald Sim (the Rector). Rudling was absent in the 1979 Christmas special and for much of the second series due to his ill health; his character was temporarily replaced as butler by Ned. Rudling died in 1983. Angela Thorne had worked with Keith before when she had played Lady "George" Truscott in
4256-531: The original series. The 2007 special was co-produced by Gwenlan and Justin Davies. During the filming, many cars were used; but the BBC continued to use the same vintage Rolls-Royce through the entire series, including the opening titles for the show. The Rolls-Royce (BMG443) has also been used in other BBC programmes such as Dad's Army . The cast is led by Penelope Keith as Audrey fforbes-Hamilton and Peter Bowles as Richard de Vere. The other main cast members in
4332-539: The other three original characters are main characters throughout and are credited in the opening credits. To the Manor Born is set in the fictional village of Grantleigh in Somerset , near the fictional town of Marlbury. The series begins with the funeral of Marton ( sic ) fforbes-Hamilton, the Lord of the Manor of Grantleigh. Audrey, his widow (and apparently also his cousin), is far from distraught, as she now has control of
4408-520: The outspoken butler replacing Brabinger; Adam fforbes-Hamilton, Marton's nephew and Audrey's godson, who has recently moved to Grantleigh to learn how to run an estate; and Archie Pennington-Booth, a neighbouring landowner driven to bankruptcy by Farmer Tom. Marjory now lives in the Old Lodge that Audrey occupied during the original series, and she and Adam develop a romantic interest in each other. A small acknowledgement of Bertie and Brabinger appears in
4484-561: The polar opposite of Tom Good. In 1992, Kendal and Eddington reunited in the Channel Four adaptation of Mary Wesley 's The Camomile Lawn . In 2003, the BBC broadcast the mockumentary Life Beyond the Box: Margo Leadbetter , describing Margo's life since the series had finished, although the original actors appear only in archive footage. In 2007, Briers and Kendal were reunited on ITV1 series That's What I Call Television in
4560-404: The programme's original intended medium. The episodes, originally aired on Saturdays on BBC Radio 2 from 25 January to 29 March 1997, were written by Peter Spence, six adapted from TV episodes and four new episodes. Keith and Thorne returned as Audrey and Marjory, while Keith Barron replaced Bowles as Richard. Other actors, including Frank Middlemass and Nicholas McArdle, who played Miller in
4636-471: The refined characteristics that a trained butler such as Brabinger possessed. Other estate staff include the estate foreman Mr. Miller, the new estate manager Mr. Spalding and the cook Mrs. Beecham. Another character, Polly, originally works at the local "Cavendish Foods" supermarket and then at the doctors' surgery, while Linda Cartwright works in the stables and as a domestic . The postman, Mr. Purvis, appears in two episodes. Other characters include
SECTION 60
#17328631760244712-521: The same day as Tom. (Jerry and Tom knew each other for at least two years before they went to work for JJM.) By his own account, Jerry has risen to senior management through cunning and self-promotion rather than talent – he tells Tom directly that he has only 10% of Tom's talent. As the series progresses, he moves within striking distance of the managing director's job. Jerry is convinced that the Goods' go-it-alone attempt will fail and on several occasions pleads with Tom to come back. But he grows to appreciate
4788-574: The same publisher in 1980. This is a novelisation of the 1979 Christmas special and episodes 5, 4, 3, 2 and 6 from the second series, plus an original story. A film version was announced by the Rank Organisation at the Cannes Film Festival in 1980, but then was abandoned when Rank pulled out of filmmaking. In 1997, 16 years after the original series of To the Manor Born ended on television, ten 30-minute episodes were recorded for radio,
4864-413: The second series for six episodes on Sundays at 8.35 pm and the seven-episode Series Three on Sundays at 7.15 pm. The Christmas special aired at 8.00 pm. All episodes aired on BBC1 . A second Christmas special, announced on 24 October 2007, aired at 9.30 pm on BBC One on Christmas Day , 25 December 2007. The theme tune for To the Manor Born was composed by Ronnie Hazlehurst ,
4940-411: The series 1 final episode, the most watched British television programme (excluding live events) of the 1970s. Peter Spence first thought of the idea behind To the Manor Born in the early 1970s when he was working for BBC Radio as a gag writer . One of the programmes that Spence wrote for featured a Cockney comedian, who had recently bought a manor house in an English country village. When holding
5016-402: The series begins. While she sometimes wilts under Tom's determined and dominant nature, her sharp tongue puts her on an equal footing. She is the heart of the enterprise, while Tom's engineering brain designs and builds what they need. She occasionally misses the luxuries but her own determination to succeed, with Tom's single-minded persuasion, keeps her going. Jerry works for JJM, having joined
5092-429: The series, she encourages her son to court Audrey. Audrey moves into the "Old Lodge", at the end of the drive, where she can see most of what goes on at the manor. Living with her is her elderly and loyal butler , Brabinger, who has worked for the fforbes-Hamiltons his whole life, and her beagle Bertie. Audrey's supportive best friend, and a frequent visitor, is the well-meaning Marjory Frobisher, who quickly develops
5168-472: The special, consisting of a photo of Brabinger and a small beagle statuette on a side table. Richard's mother, "Mrs. Poo", is acknowledged by a marble headstone in the church graveyard and a framed photograph on the mantel of the manor's sitting room. To the Manor Born ran for three series and one Christmas special from 30 September 1979 to 29 November 1981. Each episode is half an hour long. The first series aired for seven episodes on Sundays at 8.45 pm,
5244-568: The success of The Good Life , the four cast members were given their own "vehicles" commissioned by the then Head of Comedy and producer of The Good Life , John Howard Davies . Immediately after the series ended, Larbey & Esmonde created a new show for Richard Briers, co-starring Michael Gambon. The Other One was a seven-part sitcom that aired on BBC1 in the autumn of 1977, running concurrently with The Good Life Christmas Special – Silly, but it's fun . A second series of 6 episodes aired in early 1979. Keith starred alongside Peter Bowles in To
5320-584: The title Good Neighbors . Series 1–3 were released as a box set in 2005; Series 4 was released in 2006 and includes the Royal Command Performance. The first UK ( Region 2 ) DVD release omits two episodes (the first episode from series 1 and one from series 3). All four complete series were rereleased in their entirety on 29 March, 24 May, 19 July and 20 September 2010; the complete boxset has also been rereleased. All four series have been released in their entirety in Australia ( Region 4 ), albeit in NTSC format rather than
5396-443: The two students boarding with the Goods who had initially threatened to purchase the house. Initially, the Goods and Mrs Weaver have an embarrassing introduction to each other, but when Mrs Weaver is impressed by the pottery skills of Tom, they become friendly. Mrs Weaver's enthusiasm for Tom's pottery encourages him to take up making ceramics, but he baulks at the idea of doing it professionally. Mrs Weaver continues to be mentioned, but
5472-408: Was a Royal Command Performance in front of Queen Elizabeth II , Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and senior BBC management. The cast and crew were presented to the Queen and Prince Philip after the recording. The episode was originally broadcast in a 45-minute slot with footage either side of the 30-minute episode showing the royal party entering and exiting. The Command Performance came about after
5548-678: Was also seen in South Africa, Zimbabwe, New Zealand and many other Commonwealth countries as well as Belgium and the Netherlands. In the United States The Good Life was retitled Good Neighbors to avoid confusion with a short-lived American sitcom of the same name, and was shown by most PBS stations across the country starting in the early 1980s. By the late 1980s, it was rarely seen but returned to PBS stations after CBS/Fox Video released selected episodes on VHS in 1998. After
5624-403: Was commissioned, but it proved impossible for the Queen's schedule to accommodate the recording and a further subsequent episode was commissioned, although this was not recorded until 1978, after the jubilee year. Despite being informed that The Good Life was the Queen's favourite, when Felicity Kendal's son presented her with a bouquet upon her arrival at Television Centre , the Queen asked "who
5700-536: Was created, although it was not until Spence had nearly finished the first series that she was written in from the beginning. The characters of Brabinger and Marjory followed soon after. The first episode aired on 30 September 1979, a year after Keith had played Margo Leadbetter for the last time in The Good Life . To the Manor Born was filmed on location in Cricket St Thomas , Somerset , and in Studio TC1 at
5776-543: Was installed to help the illusion that the two are close together. The 2007 special was, like the original series, filmed on location in Cricket St Thomas. This filming took place for about a week starting on 28 October 2007. The studio footage was filmed in front of a live audience at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire on 25 November 2007. All the episodes were directed by Gareth Gwenlan , who also produced
#23976