Peter Tiniswood's 1975 sitcom 'I Didn't Know You Cared' was a television adaption of his novel of the same name - the other novels being 'A Touch Of Daniel', 'Except You're A Bird' and 'Stirk Of Stirk'.
It focused on the trials and tribulations of the dour Yorkshire family, The Brandons. Glum flat-capped Uncle Mort ( played by Robin Bailey ) is the head of this dysfunctional family whose mundane life is filled with nothing but dread. The rest of the Brandon clan include pipe smoking Les ( John Comer ) who is married to the frightful Annie ( the underrated and much missed Liz Smith ), gormless idiot Carter ( Stephen Rea, then Keith Drinkel ) who is engaged ( albeit reluctantly ) to the social climbing Pat ( Anita Carey first, then Liz Goulding ), who when not trying to steer Brandon down the aisle is trying to steer him away from the leering eyes of local blonde sex-pot Linda Preston ( Deidre Costrello ) and irritating Uncle Stavely ( Bert Palmer, then Leslie Sarony ), whose less than hilarious catchphrase was ''I heard that! Pardon?''.
I had for many years wanted very much to like this show but I just found it unbearably depressing to watch. I realise, before anyone remarks, that the grimness of the whole thing was intentional but it sadly just did not cut the ice with me, which was a great shame given the talent involved.
It focused on the trials and tribulations of the dour Yorkshire family, The Brandons. Glum flat-capped Uncle Mort ( played by Robin Bailey ) is the head of this dysfunctional family whose mundane life is filled with nothing but dread. The rest of the Brandon clan include pipe smoking Les ( John Comer ) who is married to the frightful Annie ( the underrated and much missed Liz Smith ), gormless idiot Carter ( Stephen Rea, then Keith Drinkel ) who is engaged ( albeit reluctantly ) to the social climbing Pat ( Anita Carey first, then Liz Goulding ), who when not trying to steer Brandon down the aisle is trying to steer him away from the leering eyes of local blonde sex-pot Linda Preston ( Deidre Costrello ) and irritating Uncle Stavely ( Bert Palmer, then Leslie Sarony ), whose less than hilarious catchphrase was ''I heard that! Pardon?''.
I had for many years wanted very much to like this show but I just found it unbearably depressing to watch. I realise, before anyone remarks, that the grimness of the whole thing was intentional but it sadly just did not cut the ice with me, which was a great shame given the talent involved.