1 9 6 5 – 1 9 6 6 (UK)
1 9 6 9 – 1 9 7 0 (UK)
26 x 30 minute episodes
A superb (though under-rated) sitcom written by Lewis Schwarz and Charlie Drake, The Worker featured comedian Charlie Drake (born Charles Springall) as an unemployed “little man” willing to take on any form of work.
Unfortunately, he was accident-prone and although he had tried more than 1,000 roles, he was completely incapable of holding down any job for more than one day.
As a result, the irrepressible ginger-haired imp virtually haunted the Weybridge Labour Exchange, staffed by the long-suffering Mr Whittaker (Percy Herbert), and later by Mr Pugh (played by Henry McGee, more well known for his supporting roles in The Benny Hill Show).
Each episode in the Labour Exchange would inevitably end with Mr Pugh (or “Mr Pee-ooh” as our hero pronounced it) grabbing Charlie by the throat and hoisting him off the ground.
After a gap of four years, the series was brought back in 1969 and it was very briefly revived once more in 1978 as part of Bruce Forsyth’s Big Night, with Drake and McGee again doing battle in the job centre.
Charlie
Charlie Drake
Mr Whittaker
Percy Herbert
Mr Pugh
Henry McGee
