1 9 8 4 – 1 9 8 5 (UK)
12 x 30 minute episodes
Brian Drake (John Duttine) is hit by a lorry full of turnips and while convalescing in hospital is told by his wife (Primi Townsend) that she wants a divorce.
On release from the hospital, he sells his house and takes off with the proceeds to find a new home in the countryside.
Accompanying him is a reformed arsonist called Tommy (Patric Turner), who he met in hospital, and the two are soon joined by the promiscuous Angie (Lorraine Chase), and Maurice (Tony Millan), a postman who wants to walk around the world on a 6-foot inflatable ball.
Completing the collection of lame ducks is Ansell (Brian Murphy), the incompetent private detective with an array of allergies, who was sent by Drake’s wife to track him down.
The group of misfits all move into Tangledown Cottage in the village of Scar’s Edge, where Mrs Kelly (Cyd Hayman) becomes their glamorous but somewhat unpredictable neighbour.
For the second series, the setting changed to a disused railway station at Stutterton Stop.
Lame Ducks was the first venture into comedy by drama writer PJ Hammond, who created Sapphire and Steel among other programmes.
Brian Drake
John Duttine
Tommy
Patric Turner
Angie
Lorraine Chase
Maurice
Tony Millan
Ansell
Brian Murphy
Mrs Drake
Primi Townsend
Mrs Kelly
Cyd Hayman