As Time Goes By (UK TV series) on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
''As Time Goes By'' is a British
romantic sitcom
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 ...
which aired on
BBC One
BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's flagship network and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, p ...
from 12 January 1992 to 14 December 2005, running for nine series and two specials. It has made it into the top 30 of
Britain's Best Sitcom
''Britain's Best Sitcom'' was a BBC media campaign in which television viewers were asked to decide the best British situation comedy. Viewers could vote via telephone, SMS, or BBC Online. This first round of voting was conducted in 2003, after ...
.
Starring
Judi Dench
Dame Judith Olivia Dench (born 9 December 1934) is an English actress. Regarded as one of Britain's best actresses, she is noted for her versatile work in various films and television programmes encompassing several genres, as well as for her ...
and
Geoffrey Palmer Geoffrey Palmer may refer to:
Politicians
* Sir Geoffrey Palmer, 1st Baronet (1598–1670), English lawyer and politician
*Sir Geoffrey Palmer, 3rd Baronet (1655–1732), English politician, Member of Parliament (MP) for Leicestershire
*Geoffrey Pa ...
, it follows the relationship between two former lovers who meet unexpectedly after not having been in contact for 38 years.
The programme's original
working title
A working title, which may be abbreviated and styled in trade publications after a putative title as (wt), also called a production title or a tentative title, is the temporary title of a product or project used during its development, usually ...
had been ''Winter with Flowers'' but was changed during its first day of filming due to the cast's protestations. The new title was taken from the
1931
Events
January
* January 2 – South Dakota native Ernest Lawrence invents the cyclotron, used to accelerate particles to study nuclear physics.
* January 4 – German pilot Elly Beinhorn begins her flight to Africa.
* January 22 – Sir I ...
Herman Hupfeld
Herman Hupfeld (February 1, 1894June 8, 1951) was an American songwriter whose most notable composition was " As Time Goes By". He wrote both the lyrics and music.
Life and career
Hupfeld was born in Montclair, New Jersey, the son of Fredericka ...
song "
As Time Goes By", and the recorded version by
Joe Fagin
Joe Fagin (born January 1940) is a British pop singer-songwriter. He is best known for the 1984 chart hit "Breakin' Away / That's Livin' Alright", and for singing a version of "As Time Goes By (song), As Time Goes By" for the 1990s BBC comedy ...
was used as the title music.
The show was created by
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 ...
, was produced and directed by
Sydney Lotterby and was written by
Bob Larbey
Bob, BOB, or B.O.B. may refer to:
Places
*Mount Bob, New York, United States
* Bob Island, Palmer Archipelago, Antarctica
People, fictional characters, and named animals
*Bob (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
* Bob (surnam ...
,
who had co-written both ''
The Good Life'' and ''
Ever Decreasing Circles
''Ever Decreasing Circles'' is a British sitcom which ran on BBC1 between 1984 and 1989, consisting of four series and one feature-length special. It was written by John Esmonde and Bob Larbey, and it reunited them with Richard Briers, who ha ...
'' with
John Esmonde. In 2004, ''As Time Goes By'' was ranked No. 29 in ''
Britain's Best Sitcom
''Britain's Best Sitcom'' was a BBC media campaign in which television viewers were asked to decide the best British situation comedy. Viewers could vote via telephone, SMS, or BBC Online. This first round of voting was conducted in 2003, after ...
''.
The series was produced by Theatre of Comedy Entertainment, in association with DLT Entertainment Ltd. for the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
.
Cast
Main
*Jean Mary Pargetter (later Hardcastle) (
Judi Dench
Dame Judith Olivia Dench (born 9 December 1934) is an English actress. Regarded as one of Britain's best actresses, she is noted for her versatile work in various films and television programmes encompassing several genres, as well as for her ...
) – Judith's mother who later becomes Lionel's wife. Owner of a Secretarial Agency, "Type For You".
*Lionel Hardcastle (
Geoffrey Palmer Geoffrey Palmer may refer to:
Politicians
* Sir Geoffrey Palmer, 1st Baronet (1598–1670), English lawyer and politician
*Sir Geoffrey Palmer, 3rd Baronet (1655–1732), English politician, Member of Parliament (MP) for Leicestershire
*Geoffrey Pa ...
) – Jean's husband and Rocky's son. Author of ''My Life in Kenya'', and the Miniseries ''Just Two People''.
*Judith Hanson (later Deacon) (
Moira Brooker
Moira Brooker (born 1957) is an England, English actress and presenter. She is best known for playing Judith Hanson in the long-running British sitcom ''As Time Goes By (TV series), As Time Goes By''. The program lasted for nine series between ...
) – Jean's daughter, and Sandy's best friend, later Alistair's wife. Works with Sandy.
*Alistair Deacon (
Philip Bretherton
Philip Bretherton (born 30 May 1955) is an English actor best known for his role as Alistair Deacon in the long-running British television series '' As Time Goes By''.
Early life
Bretherton was born in Preston, Lancashire, and studied English ...
) – Initially publisher of Lionel's book, then Judith's husband.
*Sandy (
Jenny Funnell
Jenny Victoria Funnell (born 20 May 1963) is a British actress best known for her role as Sandy in the long-running British sitcom '' As Time Goes By'' from 1992 to 2005.
Early life
Funnell was born in Kenya and has a twin sister. She moved t ...
) – Jean's secretary and receptionist, Judith's best friend and later Harry's wife.
Recurring
*Penny (
Moyra Fraser
Moyra Fraser (3 December 1923 – 13 December 2009) was an Australian-born English actress and ballet dancer, who is best known for playing Penny in the long-running sitcom '' As Time Goes By''. Her sister was the actress Shelagh Fraser. She ma ...
) – Jean's annoying, self-absorbed sister-in-law (from Jean's first marriage to David).
*Stephen (
Paul Chapman) – Penny's entertainingly dull husband. He is a dentist and is smarter than he seems.
*Richard "Rocky" Hardcastle (
Frank Middlemass
Francis George Middlemass (28 May 1919 – 8 September 2006) was an English actor, who even in his early career played older roles. He is best remembered for his television roles as Rocky Hardcastle in '' As Time Goes By'', Algy Herries in ''To S ...
) – Lionel's irrepressible father who owns a country home in the
Hampshire
Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...
countryside, alongside a vast fortune. Marries Madge at 86 years old and together they travel around the world. He likes to say "Rock On", and they both love country music.
*Madge Darbley-Hardcastle (
Joan Sims
Irene Joan Marion Sims (9 May 1930 – 27 June 2001) was an English actress, best remembered for her roles in the ''Carry On'' franchise, appearing in 24 of the films (the most for any actress).
On television, she is known for playing Gran i ...
) – Rocky Hardcastle's equally high-spirited wife, seven years his junior. Actress
Joan Sims
Irene Joan Marion Sims (9 May 1930 – 27 June 2001) was an English actress, best remembered for her roles in the ''Carry On'' franchise, appearing in 24 of the films (the most for any actress).
On television, she is known for playing Gran i ...
died in 2001, meaning she does not appear after series 7, although she continues to be mentioned.
*Harry (
David Michaels David Michaels may refer to:
*David Michaels (author), a pseudonym for the authors of novels in the ''Splinter Cell'', ''EndWar'', ''H.A.W.X'', and ''Ghost Recon'' series
*David Michaels (epidemiologist) (born 1954), American epidemiologist and OSHA ...
and
Daniel Ryan) – Sandy's boyfriend and later her husband.
*Mrs Bale (
Janet Henfrey
Janet Ethne Anne Henfrey (born 16 August 1935) is a British stage and television actress. She is best known for playing Mrs. Bale on '' As Time Goes By'', and for her role as the schoolteacher in the Dennis Potter television play '' Stand Up, N ...
) – The Hardcastles' eccentric, very precise country home housekeeper. Interested in the shipping forecast, the weather and Australian Rules Football. She enjoys riding her motorbike and looking after the Hardcastles.
*Lol Ferris (
Tim Wylton
Tim Wylton (born Timothy Higginson; 27 February 1940) is a British actor best known for his television roles as Stanley Dawkins in '' My Hero'', and Lol Ferris in '' As Time Goes By''.
Career
As a stage actor he appeared in Zeffirelli's noted 19 ...
) – The Hardcastles' amiable, decidedly rural gardener at their country home. Has six brothers who become interested in Sandy.
*A continuing plot arc in series 3 and 4 had Lionel writing ''Just Two People'', a mini-series for American television. Seen frequently during these series was American mini-series producer Mike Barbosa (
Otto Jarman).
*Also seen in series 3 and 4 were two secretaries Lionel had working for him as he dictated the ''Just Two People'' script. The first, whose presence concerned Jean, was the very competent and extremely attractive Daisy (
Justine Glenton for her first appearance, thereafter
Zoe Hilson
Zoe (also ZOE, Zoë, Zoé, etc.) can refer to:
*ζωή (''zōḗ''), the Ancient Greek word for "life"
People
* Zoe (name), including list of persons and fictional characters with the name
Film and television
* Zoe (film), ''Zoe'' (film)
* ZO ...
). She was replaced by the kind-hearted but very talkative, and much older Gwen Flack (Vivienne Martin), whose presence irritates Lionel. Daisy later returns to replace Mrs Flack.
In the March 2011
PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcasting, public broadcaster and Non-commercial activity, non-commercial, Terrestrial television, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly fu ...
pledge drive
A pledge drive is an extended period of fundraising activities, generally used by public broadcasting stations to increase contributions. The term "pledge" originates from the promise that a contributor makes to send in funding at regular interval ...
programming special ''Behind the Britcoms: from Script to Screen'' hosted by cast members
Moira Brooker
Moira Brooker (born 1957) is an England, English actress and presenter. She is best known for playing Judith Hanson in the long-running British sitcom ''As Time Goes By (TV series), As Time Goes By''. The program lasted for nine series between ...
and
Philip Bretherton
Philip Bretherton (born 30 May 1955) is an English actor best known for his role as Alistair Deacon in the long-running British television series '' As Time Goes By''.
Early life
Bretherton was born in Preston, Lancashire, and studied English ...
, the series creator/producer revealed that
Jean Simmons had declined the first offer of the role of Jean (which was written with her in mind) due to her reluctance to uproot her life, specifically mentioning her dogs, garden, and family, in California.
Plot
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank.
Australia
The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...
Lionel Hardcastle and
Middlesex Hospital
Middlesex Hospital was a teaching hospital located in the Fitzrovia area of London, England. First opened as the Middlesex Infirmary in 1745 on Windmill Street, it was moved in 1757 to Mortimer Street where it remained until it was finally clos ...
nurse Jean Pargetter met in the summer of 1953 and fell head over heels in love, but then Lionel was posted to
Korea
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
. When he wrote to give her his mailing address there, the letter went astray. Jean assumed he had lost interest in her and stubbornly refused to ask the army to locate him; he decided she must have lost interest in him.
After his war service Lionel emigrated to
Kenya
)
, national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"()
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Nairobi
, coordinates =
, largest_city = Nairobi
, ...
, became a coffee planter, and married Margaret, whom he later divorced due to "mutual boredom". Some time after his divorce he returned to England. Meanwhile, Jean had also married and borne one child, Judith. After her husband's death, Jean opened Type for You, a secretarial agency. Her daughter Judith, 35 years old during the series, is twice divorced (from Ken, who had "sad eyes", and Edward, who was "very clever") and, during most of the series, lives with her mother and also works at the secretarial agency.
Lionel, now writing his memoir, ''My Life in Kenya'', hires a typist through Type for You, unaware that Jean owns the agency. He and Jean first meet again when Lionel picks up Judith for a dinner date. Although Lionel and Jean's reunion is full of missteps and miscues, their romance gradually rekindles. In the third series, Lionel moves into Jean's house in
Holland Park
Holland Park is an area of Kensington, on the western edge of Central London, that contains a street and public park of the same name. It has no official boundaries but is roughly bounded by Kensington High Street to the south, Holland Road ...
, London; they marry during the fourth series.
Lionel's memoir is published by Alistair Deacon, a go-getting entrepreneur much younger than Lionel. When pressed by Lionel, Alistair eventually admits that he only agreed to publish the book as a favour to Lionel's father, whose loan to Alistair's father was the foundation of Alistair's wealth; but he works hard for the success of the book and over time he becomes good friends with Lionel and Jean. Alistair is vain, and a ladies' man, and likes to call Lionel "Li", but he is also good-hearted and energetic, and proves resourceful enough to handle many situations that arise.
In the first series Judith develops a crush on Lionel while Alistair takes a similar interest in Jean and likes to call her "lovely lady". Both crushes are brief; eventually Judith and Alistair fall for each other and, in the final series, marry. Other
story arc
A story arc (also narrative arc) is the chronological construction of plot in a novel or story. It can also mean an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, board games, vide ...
s feature Lionel being asked to write an American TV
mini-series
A miniseries or mini-series is a television series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. "Limited series" is another more recent US term which is sometimes used interchangeably. , the popularity of miniseries format h ...
, ''Just Two People'', based on his early romance with Jean. The mini-series fails after much rewriting and network interference. Jean eventually retires from Type for You and later volunteers at a
charity shop.
Jean's very efficient secretary and Judith's best friend is Sandy, who eventually moves in with the Hardcastles after splitting with her boyfriend Nick. After Jean's retirement, Judy and Sandy become co-managers of Type for You. Sandy dates Harry, a policeman and
amateur rugby player, whom she marries at the end of the series. Sandy's last name is never revealed on the show.
Other notable characters include Lionel's irrepressible father Rocky, whose favourite saying is "Rock on!" and who owns a large
country house
An English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a town house. This allowed them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these peopl ...
in
Hampshire
Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...
which he later gives to Lionel; Rocky's housekeeper, Mrs Bale, who has an unusual interest in the
Shipping Forecast
The Shipping Forecast is a BBC Radio broadcast of weather reports and forecasts for the seas around the coasts of the British Isles. It is produced by the Met Office and broadcast by BBC Radio 4 on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. ...
and gives exact times that meals will be ready; Rocky's gardener, Lol Ferris, who says Jean is a "tender woman"; and Lionel's glamorous young secretary Daisy, who firmly repels Alistair's clumsy efforts to chat her up every time they meet. In series 3 of the show, Lionel is told by Rocky's physician that his father has less than a year to live, but this plotline was dropped and Rocky continued to appear throughout the show's later series, including the final "Christmas Specials" in 2005.
Rocky marries Madge, as much a character as Rocky is, when he is 85 and she is 78 (Rocky features in the 2005 Christmas Special, where he must be around 97 years old). They travel the world, are
country and western music
Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, old- ...
fans, tool about in Madge's classic
Cadillac
The Cadillac Motor Car Division () is a division of the American automobile manufacturer General Motors (GM) that designs and builds luxury vehicles. Its major markets are the United States, Canada, and China. Cadillac models are distributed i ...
convertible (with steer horns on the grille), and hang out at the local pub, where Madge sings. In series nine, Madge is mentioned as being on an archaeological dig in
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...
; in reality Joan Sims died before filming began. Also appearing many times are Penn, the meddling, neurotic sister of Jean's late first husband, who calls Jean "poor Jean", and Penny's well-meaning but dull dentist husband, Stephen, who once accidentally declined an
OBE.
Episodes
The programme ran for ten series, from 12 January 1992 to 30 December 2005. All of the episodes were thirty minutes long with the exception of the final three episodes which were considerably longer. In December 2020, UKTV split the final two episodes which were also Christmas specials, into four shorter episodes. They added a 'next time on' and 'last time on' segment at the start and end of each episode.
International broadcasts
''As Time Goes By'' has appeared in the United States on
BBC America
BBC America is an American basic cable network that is jointly owned by BBC Studios and AMC Networks. The channel primarily airs sci-fi and action series and films, as well as selected programs from the BBC (such as its nature documentary ser ...
, and has been running weekly on
PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcasting, public broadcaster and Non-commercial activity, non-commercial, Terrestrial television, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly fu ...
member stations almost continuously since the early 2000s, with various cast members appearing on its perennial
pledge drive
A pledge drive is an extended period of fundraising activities, generally used by public broadcasting stations to increase contributions. The term "pledge" originates from the promise that a contributor makes to send in funding at regular interval ...
s. It has run in Canada on
BBC Canada
BBC Canada was a Canadian English language specialty channel that mostly broadcast television series originally produced by the BBC, the public-service broadcaster of the United Kingdom. The channel was owned by Corus Entertainment (80% & manag ...
and
TVOntario
TVO Media Education Group (often abbreviated as TVO and stylized on-air as tvo) is a publicly funded English-language educational television network and media organization serving the Canadian province of Ontario. It is operated by the Ontario ...
, in Australia on
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
,
7TWO,
9Gem
9Gem is an Australian free-to-air digital television multichannel, launched by the Nine Network in September 2010. The channel provides general entertainment and movie programming, from which the original name "GEM" is derived.
History
Nine N ...
and
Fox Classics
FOX Classics is an Australian cable and satellite channel that specializes in showing television series and ad-free classic movies, themed movie nights and miniseries from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
History
FOX Classics began as ...
, in New Zealand on both
UKTV
UKTV Media Limited, simply known as UKTV, is a British multi-channel broadcaster, which, since 2019, has been wholly owned by BBC Studios (formerly BBC Worldwide), a commercial subsidiary of the BBC. It was formed on 1 November 1992 through ...
and
SKY Network Television
Sky Network Television Limited, more commonly known as Sky, is a New Zealand broadcasting company that provides pay television services via satellite television, satellite, media streaming services and broadband internet services. It is also a ...
, in Finland on
YLE TV1, and on
DSTV
Digital Satellite Television, commonly abbreviated to DStv, is a Sub-Saharan African direct broadcast satellite service owned by MultiChoice and based in Randburg, South Africa. Launched on 6 October 1995, the service provides multiple audio, ...
in Nigeria.
RTÉ One
RTÉ One ( ga, RTÉ a hAon) is an Irish free-to-air flagship television channel owned and operated by Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). It is the most-popular and most-watched television channel in the country and was launched as ''Telefís ...
has broadcast the series in Ireland repeatedly. It has been broadcast by
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile met ...
for viewers in the UK and Ireland as of 2010, and by UKTV in Australia and the UK as of 2011. As of 2017, series 1-9 are available to stream through the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
/