Originally a Comedy Playhouse presentation called View By Appointment, this short-lived BBC1 comedy series – written by Jennifer Phillips – starred Beryl Reid as Irene (“Rene”) Jelliot – extrovert, highly sociable and slightly mad – and Hugh Paddick as her twittish husband Sydney – quiet, slightly frightened and painfully shy.
In the original play, the bored couple advertised their house for sale as a ruse to meet new friends.
The six subsequent half-hour episodes relied on more traditional situations, such as Rene trying (unsuccessfully) to organise a sophisticated musical soiree in her home (replete with sardine canapes), and Sydney reading his wife’s diary and discovering her secret love for the milkman, expressed in white-hot phrases that were a glorious send-up of women’s magazine fiction.
Critics almost universally panned the series, which they saw as a sad waste of great comedic talent.
Rene Jelliot
Beryl Reid Sydney Jelliot
Hugh Paddick Marjorie
Pauline Collins Jimmy
Derek Fowlds Mr Quincy-Smith
John Harvey Mrs Quincy-Smith
Diana King Mr Bumbry
Anthony Sharp Alf
Christopher Burgess Suzie
Janina Faye Paul
Nick Forbes Frank
Godfrey James Jack
Ken Jones Mrs Draper
Avice Landone Henry
Kenny Lynch Mrs Cross
Joan Newell Mr Cross
Richard Warner Lew
Ron Pember
Episodes
View by Appointment || The Lost Chord | The Vacuum Affair | Virtue’s Reward | The Council Wears Earrings | Welcome to Great Britain | The Bed Bug
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