British comedy scriptwriters Ray Galton and Alan Simpson were already well-known for their work with comedian Tony Hancock on radio and television between 1954 and 1961 and their long-running television situation comedy Steptoe and Son, which aired between 1962 and 1974.
The Galton and Simpson Playhouse was produced by Yorkshire Television and presented seven half-hour comedies intended as pilots for prospective new sitcoms.
‘Car Along The Pass’ (broadcast on Thursday 17 February 1977) had a pompous very-English xenophobe (Arthur Lowe) trapped in a cable car over the Swiss Alps with a group of (gasp!) . . . foreigners. Mona Washbourne played his over-burdened and dominated wife.
‘Swap You One Of These For One Of Those’ (24 February) saw Richard Briers cast against type as a man eager to partake of the permissive society by going to a suburban wife-swapping party.
‘Cheers’ (3 March) was a gentle comedy of two old friends (Charles Gray and Freddie Jones) who have always done everything together, as they drink and chat every day in the same posh bar.
‘Naught For Thy Comfort’ (10 March) had an airline steward (Roy Kinnear) returning home after a long flight to find his wife has walked out on him for another man – but nobody seems to care.
‘Variations on a Theme’ (17 March) began with a man (John Bird) and a woman (Frances de la Tour) meeting on a park bench. Her first words are “Robert’s found out!”
‘I Tell You It’s Burt Reynolds’ (31 March) had Leonard Rossiter in top form as a know-all neighbour who becomes obsessed with the idea that he has spotted the macho movie star in the TV programme McMillan and Wife. His madness escalates to the point where he actually phones Reynolds at his home in Hollywood.
‘Big Deal At York City’ (7 April) starred Warren Mitchell as Albert Cakebread – a lucky soul travelling home by train after a good day at the races, only to be preyed on by card sharks (with a satisfying twist ending).
A veritable who’s-who of British television royalty appeared in the series, including Patricia Hayes, Henry McGee, Roy Barraclough, Gerald Flood, Linda Hayden, Aubrey Morris, and John Sharp.
Episodes
Car Along the Pass | Swap You One of These for One of Those | Cheers | Naught for Thy Comfort | Variations on a Theme | I Tell You It’s Burt Reynolds | Big Deal at York City
Video
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The Galton and Simpson Playhouse was produced by Yorkshire Television and presented seven half-hour comedies intended as pilots for prospective new sitcoms.
‘Swap You One Of These For One Of Those’ (24 February) saw Richard Briers cast against type as a man eager to partake of the permissive society by going to a suburban wife-swapping party.
‘Cheers’ (3 March) was a gentle comedy of two old friends (Charles Gray and Freddie Jones) who have always done everything together, as they drink and chat every day in the same posh bar.
‘Naught For Thy Comfort’ (10 March) had an airline steward (Roy Kinnear) returning home after a long flight to find his wife has walked out on him for another man – but nobody seems to care.
