Dear Mother . . . Love Albert

1 9 6 9 – 1 9 7 2 (UK)
26 x 30 minute episodes
3 x short specials

Three years after the end of The Likely Lads Rodney Bewes again tasted sitcom success.

This time it was with a series which he not merely starred in but also (with Derrick Goodwin) wrote and produced. He also sang the theme song which he co-wrote with Mike Hugg.

The concept came from Bewes’ real-life letters home to his mother, reporting on recent events in his life.

Correspondingly, the series – which debuted on Monday 15 September 1969 – cast him as bemused Albert Courtnay, a 24-year-old innocent northern lad who moves to London and manages to scrape a living, but romanticises and exaggerates his success and experiences in euphemistic letters home to his mum.

Albert eventually found regular work with a confectionery company, and at the end of the second series, he moved into a flat with two dolly birds.

At the start of the third series, he was in love and about to become engaged to Doreen Bissel (pictured below right).

Unusually, Dear Mother . . . Love Albert switched production companies, from Thames to Yorkshire TV during its run.

It also spawned a 1972 sequel – titled simply Albert! (7 x 30 minute episodes) and made by Yorkshire Television – by the end of which Courtnay had been given the sack from the confectioner’s and Doreen had severed their engagement.

Garfield Morgan co-starred as Albert’s boss, A.C.Strain.

Albert Courtnay
Rodney Bewes
A C Strain
Garfield Morgan
Vivian McKewan
Sheila White
Mrs McKewan
Geraldine Newman
Doreen Bissel
Liz Gebhardt
Ada Bissel
Amelia Bayntun