''Sorry!'' is a

BBC television BBC Television is a service of the BBC. The corporation has operated a public broadcast television service in the United Kingdom, under the terms of a royal charter, since 1927. It produced television programmes from its own studios from 193 ...

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 ...

that aired on

BBC1 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, ...

from 1981 to 1982 and from 1985 to 1988. It starred

Ronnie Corbett Ronald Balfour Corbett (4 December 1930 – 31 March 2016) was a Scottish actor, broadcaster, comedian and writer. He had a long association with Ronnie Barker in the BBC television comedy sketch show ''The Two Ronnies''. He achieved promine ...

and was created and written by Ian Davidson and Peter Vincent, both of whom had previously written for Corbett on ''

The Two Ronnies ''The Two Ronnies'' is a British television comedy sketch show starring Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett. It was created by Bill Cotton and aired on BBC1 from April 1971 to December 1987. The usual format included sketches, solo sections, ser ...

''. The theme music was composed by Gaynor Colbourn and Hugh Wisdom, arranged by Gaynor Colbourn and conducted by

Ronnie Hazlehurst Ronald Hazlehurst (13 March 1928 – 1 October 2007) was an English composer and conductor who, having joined the BBC in 1961, became its Light Entertainment Musical Director. Hazlehurst composed the theme tunes for many well-known Briti ...

Plot

''Sorry!'' is centred on Timothy Lumsden who, 41 years old in the first three series (his age increased to 42 and then 48 in subsequent series - Corbett was actually 50-57 during the series' run), is a librarian who still lives at home with his domineering mother Phyllis and henpecked father Sidney. Although quite shy around women, Timothy longs to find love and leave home, but Phyllis is always against the idea and constantly manipulates her son into staying at home. One of the catchphrases of the series is Sidney's "Language, Timothy!", typically said in response to something that has been misunderstood as inappropriate or offensive. Timothy usually responds "Sorry, Father", but sometimes snaps "Shut up, Father!", to which Sidney replies "fair enough". Timothy's friend Frank and sister Muriel urge Timothy to stand up to his mother once and for all. Muriel had successfully left home and married Kevin, and so is viewed with distrust by her mother.

Cast

– Timothy Lumsden *

Barbara Lott Barbara Dulcie Lott (15 May 1920 – 19 December 2002) was a British actress probably best remembered as Ronnie Corbett's character's mother, Phyllis Lumsden in the BBC television sitcom '' Sorry!''. She also appeared in '' Coronation Street ...

– Phyllis Lumsden * William Moore – Sidney Lumsden *

Marguerite Hardiman Marguerite Hardiman is an English television actress who has appeared in ''Crossroads''; '' Softly, Softly'', '' Play For Today'', '' Robin's Nest'' and '' Sorry!'' as Muriel. She also appeared in the British horror film ''Disciple of Death'' ( ...

– Muriel * Derek Fuke – Kevin * Roy Holder – Frank Baker *

Wendy Allnutt Wendy Allnutt (born 1 May 1946) is an English stage and screen actress. She now teaches at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, leading a degree course in Training Actors Movement. Life Born in Lincoln, Allnutt trained for an acting caree ...

– Annette ''(series 1 ep. 1)'', and Jennifer ''(series 6)'' * Bridget Brice – Pippa ''(series 7)'' * Jennie Franks - Jean *

Mavis Pugh Mavis Gladys Fox Pugh (25 June 1914 – 6 December 2006) was a British actress who made many appearances (typically playing upper-class women) in several sitcoms including ''Dad's Army'', ''Are You Being Served?'' and ''Fawlty Towers''. Her best ...

- Mrs Barrable *

Sheila Fearn Sheila Fearn (born 3 October 1940 in Leicester) is an English retired actress best known for playing Audrey, the sister of Terry Collier in BBC situation comedies ''The Likely Lads'' and ''Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?'', and also la ...

- Freddie * John Leeson - Victor * Michael Redfern - Denny *

Teddy Green Teddy Green is an English actor, choreographer, and dancer probably best known for playing supporting roles in two Cliff Richard films, '' The Young Ones'' and '' Summer Holiday''. Career His film roles include Chris in The Young Ones with Cli ...

- Denzil Barbara Lott, who played Timothy's mother, was only ten years older than Corbett.

Episodes

Series 1 (1981)

Series 2 (1982)

Series 3 (1982)

Christmas sketch (1982)

Series 4 (1985)

Series 5 (1986)

Series 6 (1987)

Series 7 (1988)

DVD releases

The first two series of ''Sorry!'' were released on DVD under Playback Entertainment (Region 2, UK) in 2004. The DVD was put out of print in 2006, but the first series was re-released on DVD in 2007 under 2entertain & BBC Worldwide. It includes three audio commentaries by Ronnie Corbett. The second series was re-released in March 2008. The third, fourth, fifth and sixth series were released (for the very first time) on 2 August 2010 and 21 February, 20 June and 26 September 2011. The seventh (and final) series was released on 4 June 2012 along with the complete set of 7 DVDs. In region 4, the first four series have been released.

References

Mark Lewisohn Mark Lewisohn (born 16 June 1958) is an English historian and biographer. Since the 1980s, he has written many reference books about the Beatles and has worked for EMI, MPL Communications and Apple Corps.

, ''Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy'', BBC Worldwide Ltd, 2003
British TV Comedy Guide for ''Sorry!''

External links

* * *
British Comedy Guide - Ronnie Corbett in Sorry!
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sorry 1980s British sitcoms 1981 British television series debuts 1988 British television series endings BBC television sitcoms English-language television shows Television series about dysfunctional families