The universal appeal of rich-man-falling-for-working-class-girl was the theme of this hit comedy series developed by legendary screenwriters Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais (Porridge, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet).
Starring Lorraine Chase and John Standing as a couple whose romance brings social barriers crashing to the ground, The Other ‘Arf was conceived by Terence Howard, who had worked on the celebrated Campari advertising campaign which launched the TV career of Lorraine Chase.
Tory MP Charles Latimer (Standing) saves beautiful model Lorraine Watts (Chase) from the unwelcome attentions of a lecherous photographer. While Charles is an aristocrat and Lorraine is Cockney-born and bred, the difference in their social stations fails to put the brakes on their express dash into romance.
The second series found Lorraine with prospects fading of Charles ever proposing marriage, particularly with his aristocratic fiancée, Sybilla Howarth (Patricia Hodge), still very much on his mind.
So, displaying a greater spirit of independence, Lorraine decided to move far enough out of town to avoid being always at Charles’ beck and call as a little reminder that she was still a free agent.
Charles eventually switched colours from Conservative to SDP during the 1982 series, by which time Lorraine had forced Charles to abandon his engagement to Sybilla, and they were now married.
When the final series began, in 1984, Charles was out of politics altogether, and the couple turned his old family seat into a hotel, maintaining its old staff, Bassett (Richard Caldicot) and Mrs Lilley (Sheila Keith).
Lorraine Watts
Lorraine Chase Charles Latimer
John Standing George Watts
John Cater Lord Freddy Apthorpe
James Villiers Sybilla Howarth
Patricia Hodge Brian Sweeney
Steve Adler Astrid Lindstrom
Natalie Forbes Bassett
Richard Caldicot Mrs Lilley
Sheila Keith
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