Not to be confused with the 1980 Brian Cooke-created Thames sitcom of the same title ( starring Robert Gillespie and Pauline Yates ), this 'Keep It In The Family' was a Yorkshire Television show written by David Nobbs and Peter Vincent. It centred around the middle-class Bannister family, consisting of stuffy James ( Tim Barrett ) and prim wife Yvonne ( Vivienne Martin ) with their son Val ( Tony Maiden ). Their idyll is shattered when both his mother, the hypochondriac 'Norah' ( Joyce Grant ) and her war-obsessed father Des ( Jack Haig ) move in with them, although they originally just come to stay a single weekend. Norah is a snob of the first order ( Des refers to her as 'Droopy Draws' ) while he has dubious personal habits that would make Albert Steptoe seem like Noel Coward ( the opening titles featured the entire family sitting down to dinner, and Des revolting everyone by eating straight from a tin ). The grandparents hate each other instinctively, and the Bannisters have a job ensuring they do not come to blows.
After years of supporting comedians in other shows ( he replaced Terence Alexander as 'Malcolm' in 'Terry & June' ), Barrett was here given the lead, and he was pretty good, but it did not lead to other starring roles. Martin was 'Miss Gloria Petting' in the final season of 'Please Sir!, and went on to play the man-mad 'Miss Baxter' in Yorkshire's 'High & Dry'. Joyce Grant was a forgetful customer in 'Pardon My Genie', while Jack Haig is best remembered as 'M'sieur Leclerc' in 'Allo, Allo' ( a role later essayed by Derek Royle and then Robin Parkinson ).
Only six shows were made. I remember it as being quite good, and one day might get the chance to see it again as the series exists complete in the archive. Only Martin survives from the cast. Maiden went on to beat Les Dennis in the final of the talent show 'New Faces' a few years later ( they were both impressionists ) and his future looked assured. Sadly, things did not turn out for him as expected, and in 2004 he committed suicide while in Spain.
After years of supporting comedians in other shows ( he replaced Terence Alexander as 'Malcolm' in 'Terry & June' ), Barrett was here given the lead, and he was pretty good, but it did not lead to other starring roles. Martin was 'Miss Gloria Petting' in the final season of 'Please Sir!, and went on to play the man-mad 'Miss Baxter' in Yorkshire's 'High & Dry'. Joyce Grant was a forgetful customer in 'Pardon My Genie', while Jack Haig is best remembered as 'M'sieur Leclerc' in 'Allo, Allo' ( a role later essayed by Derek Royle and then Robin Parkinson ).
Only six shows were made. I remember it as being quite good, and one day might get the chance to see it again as the series exists complete in the archive. Only Martin survives from the cast. Maiden went on to beat Les Dennis in the final of the talent show 'New Faces' a few years later ( they were both impressionists ) and his future looked assured. Sadly, things did not turn out for him as expected, and in 2004 he committed suicide while in Spain.
