Bit Of A Do, A

1 9 8 9 (UK)
13 x 60 minute episodes

Set in a small Yorkshire town where everyone knew everyone else’s business, A Bit Of A Do focused on the relationships between members of the Rodenhurst and Simcock families.

Laurence Rodenhurst (Paul Chapman) was a snobbish dentist while the socially inferior Ted Simcock (David Jason) ran an iron foundry.

The first ‘do’ which brought them together was the marriage of Laurence’s daughter, Jenny (Sarah-Jane Holm), to Ted’s scruffy son, Paul (David Thewlis).

During the reception, Ted enjoyed some extra-marital exercise with Laurence’s wife, Liz (Nicola Pagett), which resulted in an unplanned offspring and the break-up of Ted’s marriage to Rita (Gwen Taylor).

That set the tone for the series.

Other ‘dos’ the families attended included the Angling Club Christmas party, the Dentist’s dance, and the crowning of Miss Frozen Chicken UK at the Cock-A-Doodle Chickens event.

As the series progressed, Laurence died, Liz picked up with Widower Neville Badger (Michael Jayston), Ted’s business hit hard times, and Jenny married her brother-in-law, Elvis (Wayne Foskett).

Rodney and Betty Sillitoe (Tim Wylton and Stephanie Cole) were boozy regulars at every function, and also seen were barman Eric (Malcolm Hebden) and waitress Sandra (Tracy Brabin).

The episodes were dramatized by David Nobbs from his own novels. The theme song was sung by George Melly.

Ted Simcock
David Jason
Rita Simcock
Gwen Taylor
Elvis Simcock
Wayne Foskett
Paul Simcock
David Thewlis
Laurence Rodenhurst
Paul Chapman
Liz Rodenhurst
Nicola Pagett
Simon Rodenhurst
Nigel Hastings
Jenny Rodenhurst/Simcock
Sarah-Jane Holm
Neville Badger
Michael Jayston
Rodney Sillitoe
Tim Wylton
Betty Sillitoe
Stephanie Cole
Carol Fordingbridge
Karen Drury
Gerry Lansdown
David Yelland
Corinna Price-Rodgerson
Diana Weston
Geoffrey Ellsworth-Smythe
Malcolm Tierney
Lucinda Snellmarsh
Amanda Wenban
Eric
Malcolm Hebden
Sandra
Tracy Brabin