After a Mediterranean honeymoon. Dexter Munro (Stanley Baxter) and his new wife Juliet (Sally Smith) are forced to move in with Sir Beverley Grant (James Robertson Justice), Juliet’s pompous father-in-law when the house they had negotiated to purchase has fallen through.
Juliet loves her father and he returns the affection, but Sir Beverley drives Dexter to distraction, so much so that he takes the morning off from his job at the local travel agency to go house hunting.
He buys Rose Cottage for the unrealistic sum of £4,600 – after unwittingly bidding against his wife at the auction – only to find there is dry rot and woodworm, the foundations are suspect and there is no plumbing of any description.
Sir Beverley immediately tries to take over the lob of renovating the cottage, but Dexter dislikes the elegant interior decorator whom Sir Beverley employs and tells them both to get out.
He decides to enlist the aid of local labour and try his own hand at do-it-yourself. Even the local builder wants an astronomical sum to put the cottage right, and, because he can never stop meddling, Sir Beverley tries to get the builder to reduce his estimate.
After losing his job, Dexter tells his father-in-law to go, only to find that Juliet leaves too.
Very soon the cottage also goes, for thanks to Sir Beverley interfering with the electrician during the renovations, the main fuse box becomes overloaded and sets the house on fire.
Sir Beverley Grant
James Robertson Justice Dexter Munro
Stanley Baxter Juliet Munro
Sally Smith Roddy Chipfield
Leslie Phillips Mr Gallagher
Eric Barker Ron
Kenneth Cope Executioner
Terry Scott Mary Queen of Scots
Hugh Lloyd Sir Francis Drake
Fred Emney Charles II
Peter Jones Josh
Ronnie Barker Stan
Philip Locke Wally
Timothy Bateson Benzil Bulstrode
James Villiers Robert the Bruce
John Bluthal Guy Fawkes
Joseph Brady Mr Wedgewood
Raymond Huntley Nell Gwynne
Vanda Hudson King Harold
Patrick Newell Mr Trumper
Geoffrey Dunn Lang
Sydney Bromley Motorcycle Policeman
Clifford Earl Motorcyclist
Nicky Henson Lana
Barbara Roscoe Mrs Trumper
Anita Sharp-Bolster
He buys Rose Cottage for the unrealistic sum of £4,600 – after unwittingly bidding against his wife at the auction – only to find there is dry rot and woodworm, the foundations are suspect and there is no plumbing of any description.
