Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    Banner
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • Shows by Decade
        • 1950s Television
        • 1960s Television
        • 1970s Television
        • 1980s Television
        • 1990s Television
      • Shows by Genre
        • Comedy
        • Drama
        • Kids TV
        • Variety
        • News & Sport
        • Advertisements
      • Shows by Country
        • UK TV
        • USA TV
        • Australia & NZ TV
        • Canada TV
        • Europe TV
        • Japan TV
      • Shows A to K
        • Shows A
        • Shows B
        • Shows C
        • Shows D
        • Shows E
        • Shows F
        • Shows G
        • Shows H
        • Shows I
        • Shows J
        • Shows K
      • Shows L to Z
        • Shows L
        • Shows M
        • Shows N
        • Shows O
        • Shows P
        • Shows Q
        • Shows R
        • Shows S
        • Shows T
        • Shows U
        • Shows V
        • Shows W
        • Shows X
        • Shows Y
        • Shows Z
      • Shows 0 to 9
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • 1950s Music
        • 1960s Music
        • 1970s Music
        • 1980s Music
        • 1990s Music
      • Music A to K
        • Music A
        • Music B
        • Music C
        • Music D
        • Music E
        • Music F
        • Music G
        • Music H
        • Music I
        • Music J
        • Music K
      • Music L to Z
        • Music L
        • Music M
        • Music N
        • Music O
        • Music P
        • Music Q
        • Music R
        • Music S
        • Music T
        • Music U
        • Music V
        • Music W
        • Music X
        • Music Y
        • Music Z
      • Music 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • 1950s Movies
          • Movies 1950
          • Movies 1951
          • Movies 1952
          • Movies 1953
          • Movies 1954
          • Movies 1955
          • Movies 1956
          • Movies 1957
          • Movies 1958
          • Movies 1959
        • 1960s Movies
          • Movies 1960
          • Movies 1961
          • Movies 1962
          • Movies 1963
          • Movies 1964
          • Movies 1965
          • Movies 1966
          • Movies 1967
          • Movies 1968
          • Movies 1969
        • 1970s Movies
          • Movies 1970
          • Movies 1971
          • Movies 1972
          • Movies 1973
          • Movies 1974
          • Movies 1975
          • Movies 1976
          • Movies 1977
          • Movies 1978
          • Movies 1979
        • 1980s Movies
          • Movies 1980
          • Movies 1981
          • Movies 1982
          • Movies 1983
          • Movies 1984
          • Movies 1985
          • Movies 1986
          • Movies 1987
          • Movies 1988
          • Movies 1989
        • 1990s Movies
          • Movies 1990
          • Movies 1991
          • Movies 1992
          • Movies 1993
          • Movies 1994
          • Movies 1995
          • Movies 1996
          • Movies 1997
          • Movies 1998
          • Movies 1999
      • Movies A to K
        • Movies A
        • Movies B
        • Movies C
        • Movies D
        • Movies E
        • Movies F
        • Movies G
        • Movies H
        • Movies I
        • Movies J
        • Movies K
      • Movies L to Z
        • Movies L
        • Movies M
        • Movies N
        • Movies O
        • Movies P
        • Movies Q
        • Movies R
        • Movies S
        • Movies T
        • Movies U
        • Movies V
        • Movies W
        • Movies X
        • Movies Y
        • Movies Z
      • Movies 0 to 9
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Television»Shows by Decade»1970s Television
    1970s Television Comedy Shows U 2 Mins Read

    Upchat Line, The

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    1 9 7 7 (UK)
    7 x 30 minute episodes

    Created and written by Billy Liar creator Keith Waterhouse, The Upchat Line starred John Alderton as an unknown author and cad who went around London from situation to comedic situation in a coy, boyish manner (much imitated in later years by Hugh Grant).

    upchatline2

    His time was primarily devoted to searching for young women to provide him with a bed for the night. He didn’t have a home of his own, so he kept his belongings in a left luggage locker (#685) in Marylebone Station.

    Of course, ‘Mike Upchat’ was not his real name, and no one ever found out what this was; it was also not the only pseudonym he would employ in his schemes to wile his way into a woman’s bed.

    Nor did ‘Upchat’ refrain from claiming all manner of vocations – most of the time, he said he was a writer, but he could also be anything from a psychologist to a piano-tuner, depending on what he considered would impress a woman most.

    In short, then, ‘Mike Upchat’ was an incorrigible liar, using his way with words to get his way with women.

    upchatline4 En route to his many conquests, he made several enemies, of course, usually jealous boyfriends and husbands or angry parents, but this never stopped him in his desperate desire to find a bed for the night, preferably with someone warm to snuggle up to.

    The Thames Television series guest-starred Wanda Ventham, Liza Goddard, Maurice Denham, Sue Lloyd and the gorgeous Gabrielle Drake (Lieutenant Ellis from UFO)

    The series was reprised in 1978 as The Upchat Connection. The original ‘Mike Upchat’ (Alderton) had now emigrated to Australia, leaving his pseudonym, his address book, his second-best T-shirt, all his library tickets and the key to his luggage locker to a new ‘Mike Upchat’, played by Robin Nedwell (from Doctor in the House).

    upchatline5Mike Upchat
    John Alderton

    Episodes

    Pulling | Accommodation Address | Casualty Ward | Albert’s Benefit | The One That Got Away | One Good Turn | Home Is The Hunter

    Video

    Related Posts

    • Oracle, The
      Oracle, The
      1 9 7 9 (Australia) 12 x 50 minute episodes This 12-part drama series from the Australian Broadcasting Commission starred John…
    • Funny Ha Ha
      Funny Ha Ha
      1 9 7 4 (UK) 6 x 30 minute episodes This Friday afternoon series from Thames Television presented six standalone half-hour…
    • Inside George Webley
      Inside George Webley
      1 9 7 0 (UK) 12 x 30 minute episodes Inside George Webley was scripted by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall and…
    • Wodehouse Playhouse
      Wodehouse Playhouse
      1 9 7 5 - 1 9 7 8 (UK) 13 x 35 minute episodes 7 x 30 minute episodes This…
    • Roy Hudd Show, The
      Roy Hudd Show, The
      1 9 6 9 (UK) 7 x 30 minute episodes This Yorkshire Television series debuted on Monday 17 February 1969 with…
    • Mary Tyler Moore Show, The
      Mary Tyler Moore Show, The
      1 9 7 0 - 1 9 7 7 (USA) 168 x 25 minute episodes With the demise of The Dick Van…
    • Billy Liar
      Billy Liar
      1 9 7 3 - 1 9 7 4 (UK) 26 x 30 minute episodes 1 x special Successful as…
    • It's Garry Shandling's Show
      It's Garry Shandling's Show
      1 9 8 6 - 1 9 9 0 (USA) 72 x 30 minute episodes This imaginative situation comedy series…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleLovers, The
    Next Article Taxi

    Comments are closed.

    NC Radio Player
    Search the site

    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love since 1998. The site carries no advertising, and I rely on donations to help with running costs and to keep the site running for your entertainment and education.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small. 

    Thank you so much.
    Enjoy your trip in the time machine!

    You may also like

    • Upchat Connection, The
      Upchat Connection, The
      1 9 7 8 (UK) 7 x 30 minute episodes John Alderton declined to appear in a second series of The…
    • Father's Day
      Father's Day
      1 9 8 3 - 1 9 8 4 (UK) 14 x 30 minute episodes John Alderton returned to sitcoms in…
    • Billy
      Billy
      1 9 7 9 (USA) 7 x 30 minute episodes A young Steve Guttenberg portrayed Billy Fisher, a 19-year-old who hated…
    • Inside George Webley
      Inside George Webley
      1 9 7 0 (UK) 12 x 30 minute episodes Inside George Webley was scripted by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall and…


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.