OK, like Carla Lane's other Liverpool sitcom, The Liver Birds, Bread went stale( pun intended) and the last two series were well below par, with characters played by different actors, but for its first three series Bread was hilarious and was attracting 19 million viewers.
Basically the sitcom concerned jobless Liverpool family in the eighties and their various fiddles and dubious money making schemes to make money to survive. Headed by a devout Catholic mother, Nelly Boswell, played brilliantly by Jean Boht, the family's various schemes and catchphrases became very popular. " She is a tart!" " P... off, where's me dinner" and Joey Boswell's way of introducing himself by saying " Greetings" always raise a smile among people of a certain age.
For me, the minor character's made Bread so amusing. In particular the hard faced dole office clerk, Martina, was hilarious: always cynical and disinterested, she always gave way to some tall story told by Joey Boswell to get more money and muttered" sign here" to get rid of him. Then there's the little seen, Lilo Lill( " she is a tart!"), Irish girlfriend of Nelly's estranged husband, Freddie, and her rivalry with Nelly. Also hilarious was Grandad, a mean spirited, miserable old man who was always demanding the family deliver his dinner and would then tell them to " p... off".
Indeed the Scouse warmth, lovable rogues like Freddie and Joey Boswell, and a top notch theme tune made Bread one of the most popular sitcoms of all time. With Carla Lane now sadly dead, I'm sure the BBC could re run the first three series as a tribute.
Basically the sitcom concerned jobless Liverpool family in the eighties and their various fiddles and dubious money making schemes to make money to survive. Headed by a devout Catholic mother, Nelly Boswell, played brilliantly by Jean Boht, the family's various schemes and catchphrases became very popular. " She is a tart!" " P... off, where's me dinner" and Joey Boswell's way of introducing himself by saying " Greetings" always raise a smile among people of a certain age.
For me, the minor character's made Bread so amusing. In particular the hard faced dole office clerk, Martina, was hilarious: always cynical and disinterested, she always gave way to some tall story told by Joey Boswell to get more money and muttered" sign here" to get rid of him. Then there's the little seen, Lilo Lill( " she is a tart!"), Irish girlfriend of Nelly's estranged husband, Freddie, and her rivalry with Nelly. Also hilarious was Grandad, a mean spirited, miserable old man who was always demanding the family deliver his dinner and would then tell them to " p... off".
Indeed the Scouse warmth, lovable rogues like Freddie and Joey Boswell, and a top notch theme tune made Bread one of the most popular sitcoms of all time. With Carla Lane now sadly dead, I'm sure the BBC could re run the first three series as a tribute.