Not In Front Of The Children

1 9 6 7 – 1 9 7 0 (UK)
37 x episodes
2 x Christmas specials

Beginning as a 1967 Comedy Playhouse presentation, the BBC comedy series Not in Front of the Children was the first of the sitcoms in which Wendy Craig was cast in the role of harassed and dizzy mother that she was later to make peculiarly her own with And Mother Makes Three and And Mother Makes Five.

Resilient and yet sensitive (or, according to critics of the programme and its successors, simpering and middle-class), her character Jennifer Corner held the family together through crises both trivial and more serious.

The character appealed to thousands of real women whose days were similarly filled.

Grumpy husband Henry was initially played by Paul Daneman and later by Ronald Hines. The children were Trudi (initially Roberta Tovey, and later Verina Greenlaw), Robin (Hugo Keith-Johnston) and Amanda (Jill Riddick).

The series – written by Richard Waring, author of the previous BBC comedy hit, Marriage Lines – also ran on BBC radio.

Jennifer Corner 
Wendy Craig
Henry Corner 
Paul Daneman (1)
Ronald Hines (2)
Trudi Corner 
Roberta Tovey (1)
Verina Greenlaw (2)
Robin Corner 
Hugo Keith-Johnston
Amanda Corner 
Jill Riddick

Episodes

Just Pack A Toothbrush | Survival | The Word | A Drop Of The Soft Stuff | Part Of The Furniture | While The Broods Away | Lady With A Screwdriver | Religious Revival | Sweet Memories | Wholly Dreadlock | The Iron Hand | The George Washington Complex | Home Chat | Change Of Policy | Spare Time Job | Look For The Crystal Lining | Echo Of The Past | A Real Family Evening | An Older Man’s Fancy | Baby Talk Christmas | Night With The Stars | Feathers For The Nest | The Old Grey Mare | Bundle Of Joy | A Babe Around The House | A Stand On Ceremony | A Slight Case Of Baptism | Unemployment Problem | Happy Birthday | Art For Our Sake | A Yap In The Night | Change Of Scene | No Man At The Helm | Pastures New | Friendships Old, Friendships New | Domestic Help | Home From Home | Country Style | Christmas Night With The Stars