Terry and June

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Terry and June

Terry and June opening titles
Genre Sitcom
Starring Terry Scott
June Whitfield
Terence Alexander
Tim Barrett
John Quayle
Reginald Marsh
Rosemary Frankau
Allan Cuthbertson
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of episodes 65 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time 30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel BBC1
Original run 24 October 1979 – 31 August 1987
External links
IMDb profile

Terry and June is a British sitcom that aired on BBC1 from 1979 to 1987. The programme is largely a continuation of Happy Ever After, an ITV sitcom, and stars Terry Scott and June Whitfield as middle-class surburban couple Terry and June Medford. Most of the 65 episodes were written by John Kane, with seven other writers also writing some episodes.

Contents

[edit] Production

Terry Scott and June Whitfield begun their television partnership in Scott On in 1968.[1] On 7 May 1974, a Comedy Playhouse pilot called "Happy Ever After" aired on BBC1 with Scott and Whitfield playing Terry and June Fletcher, a middle-class couple whose grown-up children have just left home.[1] This was commissioned into a series, and five series and three Christmas specials aired, ending on 20 December 1978.[1] John Chapman, one of the originals writers, said that the programme had run out of ideas and should end. BBC Comedy, however, will unwilling to end a popular show, and so brought in new writers. Legal complications meant that the name and setting had to change, and Terry and June was born.[1] The characteristcs of the Terry and June remained largely similar.[1]

The character of Melinda Spry, Terry and June's neighbour, was originally played by Joan Benham in the 1981 episode "The Lawnmower". Benham died on 13 June 1981, and Terry and June was her last television appearance. She was replaced by Diana King.

The BBC put a feature-length film, entitled Terry and June - The Movie, into production, but it was never made.[1]

[edit] Cast

[edit] Main characters

  • Terry Scott - Terence 'Terry' Medford
  • June Whitfield - June Medford
  • Reginald Marsh - Sir Dennis Hodge
  • Terence Alexander - Malcolm Harris (series 1 and 2)
  • Tim Barrett - Malcolm Harris (1980 Special to series 7)
  • John Quayle - Malcolm Harris (series 8 and 9)
  • Rosemary Frankau - Beattie Harris
  • Joanna Henderson - Miss Nora Fennell (series 3 to 5; 8 to 9)

[edit] Recurring characters

  • Roland Curran - Brian Pillbeam (series 1)
  • Anita Graham - Tina Pillbeam (series 1 and 2)
  • Allan Cuthbertson - Tarquin Spry (series 3 to 6)
  • Joan Benham - Melinda Spry (series 3)
  • Diana King - Melinda Spry (series 5 to 6)
  • John Warner - The Rev. Austin Doyle (series 3 to 5; 7 to 9)
  • Roger Martin - Alan Medford (series 2, 3 and 5)
  • Patsy Smart - Miss Nora Dingle (series 7 and 8)

[edit] Plot

The series starts as middle-class couple Terry and June Medford prepare to move into 71, Popular Avenue in Purley, Surrey.[2][3] They are in their late 40s, and have a daughter Wendy, who is married to Roger; both are rarely seen. Terry's nephew, Alan Medford, pays occasional visits when he always causes some form of trouble. Terry is headstrong, and determind, although his plans and schemes normally end in disaster. June meanwhile is patient of her husband, but frequently doubtful about his ideas.

Terry works as for "Playsafe Fire Extinguishers and Appliances", and his boss is Malcolm Harris.[4] Malcolm frequently has affairs, and he and his wife Beattie, a friend of June's, frequently argue. The owner of Terry's company's is Sir Dennis Hodge, a grumpy man who rules the company with a rod of iron. His personal secretary of over 20 years is Miss Nora Fennell, whose fondness for Sir Dennis is not returned.

In the first two series, their neighbours are Brian and Tina Pillbeam. From the third to sixth series, the Medfords' neighbours are Tarquin and Melinda Spry. Terry and Tarquin are frequently competing against each other.

[edit] Episodes

Main article: List of Terry and June episodes

Terry and June first aired on 24 October 1979. It ran for a total of 65 episodes, with nine series and four Christmas Specials. The last episode aired on 31 August 1987.

[edit] Criticism

The show was generally regarded by critics as the epitome of the bland middle-class sitcom, the kind of which has almost disappeared from the schedules by the new millennium. It was, however, a great favourite with viewers, and received viewing figures three times those of any of the 'alternative' comedies of the era. In 2004, it came 73rd in Britain's Best Sitcom, jointly with Happy Ever After.

[edit] DVD releases

The first seven series, the 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1985 Christmas Specials, have been released on DVD in Region 2. The first six episodes of Series Eight were released on 19 May 2008.

[edit] References

General
Specific
  1. ^ a b c d e f Lewishohn, Mark (2003). Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy. London: BBC Worldwide. ISBN 0563487550. 
  2. ^ "Long Weekend". Terry and June. BBC. BBC1. 1981-10-24.
  3. ^ "Unfaithfully Yours". Terry and June. BBC. BBC1. 1985-09-14.
  4. ^ In one episode Malcolm's surname is given as Lawrence
  • Mark Lewisohn, "Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy", BBC Worldwide Ltd, 2003