''Me and My Girl'' is a 1980s

British television Regular television broadcasts in the United Kingdom started in 1936 as a public service which was free of advertising, which followed the first demonstration of a transmitted moving image in 1926. Currently, the United Kingdom has a collection ...

situation comedy A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ne ...

, starring

Richard O'Sullivan Richard O'Sullivan (born 7 May 1944) is an English comedy actor, who is known for his role as Robin Tripp in the 1970s sitcoms ''Man About the House'' (1973–1976) and '' Robin's Nest'' (1977–1981) and as the title character in the period fa ...

, which centred on the challenges faced by a widower bringing up his adolescent daughter. It was broadcast on ITV between 1984 and 1988.

Plot

Created by Keith Leonard and John Kane, the show was made by

London Weekend Television London Weekend Television (LWT) (now part of the non-franchised ITV London region) was the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties at weekends, broadcasting from Fridays at 5.15 pm (7:00 pm from 1968 unt ...

for

ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of: ** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...

from 1984 to 1988. It starred

as Simon Harrap and Joanne Ridley as Samantha. Simon runs an advertising agency called Eyecatchers and the series centres on his relationship with his daughter, his business partner Derek Yates played by

Tim Brooke-Taylor Timothy Julian Brooke-Taylor Order of the British Empire, OBE (17 July 194012 April 2020) was an English actor and comedian best known as a member of The Goodies. He became active in performing in comedy sketches while at the University of Cam ...

and a string of romantic liaisons. Simon's mother-in-law, Nell, would frequently interfere in his attempts to raise Samantha alone, but usually had her granddaughter's best interests at heart. Other writers included; Bernard McKenna who also served as script editor,

Colin Bostock-Smith Colin Bostock-Smith (born 1942)"I was born in 1942, so I was exactly the right age for rock and roll when it all happened./ref> is a British television and radio comedy writer. Early career Until the age of 30, he was a journalist, noting in a re ...

Mike Walling Mike Walling (8 July 1950 – 2 July 2020) was an English comic actor and screenwriter. Career Walling began his career as an English teacher at Holland Park School in London. In the mid-1970s, while still a teacher, he won a British TV talent ...

and Ian Whitham. The

theme song Theme music is a musical composition that is often written specifically for radio programming, television shows, video games, or films and is usually played during the title sequence, opening credits, closing credits, and in some instances at so ...

was written and performed by

Peter Skellern Peter Skellern (14 March 1947 – 17 February 2017) was an English singer-songwriter and pianist who rose to fame in the 1970s. He had two Hit song, top twenty hits on the UK Singles Chart - "You're a Lady" (1972), which typifies his signature u ...

Main cast

* Simon Harrap (

) – Simon is a middle aged widower as his wife Ruth died about ten years before the series began. He has been bringing up his daughter Samantha since Sam was the age of 3 and struggles to help her as she develops through her teenage years. He is also the Artistic Director of Eyecatchers, a promotions agency based in London. * Samantha "Sam" Harrap (

Joanne Ridley Joanne may refer to: Music * ''Joanne'' (album), 2016 album by Lady Gaga ** "Joanne" (Lady Gaga song), a 2016 song from the album ''Joanne'' * "Joanne" (Michael Nesmith song), a 1970 song from the album ''Magnetic South'' * "Joanne", a song by C ...

) – Sam is the only daughter of Simon and is a teenager. Her mother died when she was 3 years old and so she doesn't remember her. She seeks the help of the women around her as she develops as a teenager. * Nell Cresset (

Joan Sanderson Joan Sanderson (24 November 1912 – 24 May 1992) was a British television and stage actress born in Bristol. During a long career, her tall and commanding disposition led to her playing mostly dowagers, spinsters and matrons, as well as intens ...

) – Nell is Simon's mother-in-law and Samantha's grandmother. She is a matriarchal figure and intimidates a lot of men. She has also invested heavily in Eyecatchers and is meant to be a sleeping (or silent) partner but likes to interfere with the running of the business. Despite this she is very kind, cares about her son-in-law a lot and provides the maternal advice Sam needs during her teenage years. * Derek Yates (

) – Derek is the Managing Partner of Eyecatchers and one of Simon's oldest friends. He is married to Muriel (who is never seen) and at the start of the show has three children, daughters Annabel, Emma and Eileen. Later in the series a fourth child, Adrienne is born. He is portrayed as incompetent as he is henpecked by Muriel. * Madeleine "Maddie" Dunnock (

Leni Harper Leni Harper is a Scottish actress, best known for playing Maddie in '' Me and My Girl''. Career Leni's breakthrough role was in a 1981 West End production of '' The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas''. In 1982 she was recruited for the role of s ...

) – Maddie is the Harraps' first housekeeper. She is Scottish in origin. * Isobel McClusky ( Sandra Clark) – Isobel is the Harraps’ second housekeeper. Like her predecessor she is Scottish in origin. She is fiercely religious often going to confession. * Liz (

Joanne Campbell Joanne Campbell (8 February 1964 – 20 December 2002) was a British actress and drama therapist best known for playing Liz in the 1980s sitcom '' Me and My Girl'' and Josephine Baker on stage in ''This Is My Dream''.Hedley, Philip"Obituary: ...

) – Liz is Eyecatchers’ secretary and an aspiring actress. She works part-time so that she can attend auditions. She is a vivacious character.

Episode list

All episodes listed with their original ITV broadcast date. ;Series 1 #"I Love You Samantha" (31 August 1984) #"Design for Loving" (7 September 1984) #"The Ideal Husband" (14 September 1984) #"The Home Help" (21 September 1984) #"Jobs for the Girls" (28 September 1984)Episode included sub-plot about Samantha wanting her ears pierced was included because Joanne Ridley had asked the producers if she could have her ears pierced. A few minutes before the final scene was shot, Ridley had her ears pierced specially by the make-up artists. #"A Clean Slate" (5 October 1984) ;Series 2 #"Love and Kittens" (18 January 1985) #"Let's Talk Turkey" (25 January 1985) #"Sticky Fingers" (1 February 1985) #"The Kids Are Alright" (8 February 1985) #"Leaving On a Jet Plane" (15 February 1985) #"Swings and Roundabouts" (22 February 1985) #"You Tak' the High Road" (1 March 1985) ;Series 3 #"On Approval" (6 October 1985) #"Wild About Harry" (13 October 1985) #"Dangerous Corner" (18 October 1985) #"Goodbye Forever" (25 October 1985) #"A Woman of Taste" (1 November 1985) #"Put Yourself in My Place" (8 November 1985) #"Sam Who?" (15 November 1985) #"One Wild and Foolish Moment" (22 November 1985) #"Forty Years On" (29 November 1985) #"Picture of Harmony" (6 December 1985) #"An Inspector Calls" (13 December 1985) #"Nothing Like a Quiet Sunday" (20 December 1985) #"Faraway Places" (27 December 1985) ;Series 4 #"Love's Young Dream" (10 January 1987) #"Marriage in Haste" (17 January 1987) #"The Rhinoceros and the Pussycat" (24 January 1987) #"Poor Uncle Derek" (31 January 1987) #"The Lost Weekend" (7 February 1987) #"Kissing Cousins" (14 February 1987) #"French Leave" (21 February 1987) #"A Single Night of Love" (28 February 1987) #"Lost and Found" (7 March 1987) #"A Star is Gorn" (14 March 1987) #"Pulling Power" (21 March 1987) #"An Offer You Can't Refuse" (28 March 1987) #"Waiting for Adrian" (4 April 1987) ;Series 5 #"Like An Old Time Movie" (8 January 1988) #"Thinking About Fluffy" (15 January 1988) #"Question Time" (22 January 1988) #"A Couple of Rough Nights" (29 January 1988) #"Play Your Cards Right" (5 February 1988) #"Love Thy Neighbour" (12 February 1988) ;Series 6 #"I Wonder Who's Kissing Him Now?" (23 September 1988) #"My Second Best Friend" (30 September 1988) #"The Story of Foxy-Features and Melon-Head" (7 October 1988) #"Mundane Monday" (14 October 1988) #"Only the Lonely" (21 October 1988) #"When You're Smiling" (28 October 1988) #"A Bit of Overtime" (4 November 1988)

Filming

As was common at the time, most of the programme was shot in studio sets at

's South Bank studios. Most of the action revolves around the locations of the Harrap family home and Eyecatchers offices. Outdoor scenes were filmed in London. The Harraps’ family home was located in

Little Venice, London Little Venice is a district in West London, England, around the junction of the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal, the Regent's Canal, and the entrance to Paddington Basin. The junction forms a triangular shape basin. Many of the buildi ...

and there are scenes filmed by the canal and the junction of Blomfield Road and Westbourne Terrace Road. The Eyecatchers office is in

Covent Garden Covent Garden is a district in London, on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist si ...

and there are scenes filmed in this area. The opening sequence was filmed at

Three Cliffs Bay Three Cliffs Bay () (), otherwise Three Cliff Bay, is a bay on the south coast of the Gower Peninsula in the City and County of Swansea, Wales. The bay takes its name from the three sea cliffs that jut out into the bay. Pennard Pill, a large stre ...

, Gower.

References and notes

External links

* * {{TheTVDB ITV sitcoms 1984 British television series debuts 1988 British television series endings 1980s British sitcoms London Weekend Television shows Television series by ITV Studios Television shows set in London English-language television shows