First broadcast as The Growing Pains of PC Penrose, this whimsical sitcom (by whimsical sitcom maestro Roy Clarke) focused on the mishaps of naive probationary constable Michael Penrose (Paul Greenwood) – nicknamed Rosie, much to his embarrassment.
The setting was (largely) the North Yorkshire town of Raven’s Bay – a fictitious name derived by coupling the names Ravenscar and Robin Hood’s Bay, two seaside villages near Scarborough where the series was filmed.
Here, Rosie was dominated by his mother Millie (Avril Elgar and then Patricia Kneale), her sister Aunt Ida (Lorraine Peters), and girlfriend Gillian (Frankie Jordan).
Headstrong and slovenly police partner PC Wilmot (Tony Haygarth) was his male companion.
Actor Paul Greenwood co-wrote and sang the theme song.
PC Michael ‘Rosie’ Penrose
Paul Greenwood Sgt Flagg
Bryan Pringle PC Wilmot
Tony Haygarth Millie Penrose
Avril Elgar (1)
Patricia Kneale (2) Auntie Ida
Lorraine Peters Gillian Chiselhurst
Frankie Jordan Uncle Norman
Allan Surtees WPC Brenda Whatmough
Penny Leatherbarrow Merv
Robert Gillespie Chief Inspector Dunwoody
Paul Luty Liz
Geraldine Gardner Big Cyril
Dudley Jones Renata
Janet Dale
Episodes
Woman Pressure | A Smile from Antonio | I Wish They Wouldn’t Call Me Son | Sunday | Wholesale Fish | The Cheese and Wine | Mirror, Mirror on the Floor | Wilmot Gets a Bad Case of Big Cyril’s Second Wife | Wilmot and an Even Worse Case of Big Cyril’s Second Wife | The Eyes of the Law | Complications | Further Complications | Our Intrepid Birdmen | Those Wonderful People in the C.I.D. | Free Sample | The Worm That Turns Us All | Happy Birthday, Mr Chiselhurst | Looking for Herbie | Turn Left at the Parrot | A Day in the Country | Tune on a Silent Dog Whistle | Arresting Gordon by Instalments | You’re Beautiful Miss Parkinson | The Eight Foot Goat | Big Night at Freezi-Pops | An Informer for Engelbert | Caught in the Act
PC Michael ‘Rosie’ Penrose
Uncle Norman
