"To the Manor Born" (1979) TV series 1979-1981

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Creator:

Peter Spence

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

25 March 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

Audrey fforbes-Hamilton is sad when her husband dies but is shocked when she realises that she has to...

Plot Keywords:

Manor | Butler | Supermarket | Lodge | Mother

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Penelope Keith	...	Audrey / ... (22 episodes, 1979-2007)
Peter Bowles	...	DeVere / ... (22 episodes, 1979-2007)
Angela Thorne	...	Marjory / ... (20 episodes, 1979-2007)
John Rudling	...	Brabinger (14 episodes, 1979-1981)
Daphne Heard	...	Mrs. Polouvicka (14 episodes, 1979-1981)
Michael Bilton	...	Ned / ... (14 episodes, 1979-1981)
Gerald Sim	...	The Rector (13 episodes, 1979-2007)

Runtime:

USA:30 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G | Singapore:PG | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Cricket St. Thomas Estate, Nr. Chard, Somerset, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Years later, 10 episodes (six adaptations and four specially written) appeared on BBC Radio 2, starring Penelope Keith and Angela Thorne reprising their roles, and Keith Barron as Richard DeVere.

Quotes:

Audrey fforbes-Hamilton: Oh, there's a note attached. "My mother and I would be so pleased if you could spend Xmas day with us at the Manor." "Xmas" - makes it sound like a skin complaint.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Funny Ladies of British Comedy (2004) (TV)

A Splendid British Comedy!

I remembered watching a few episodes of this show in the 1980s on PBS Channel 13. It was the first time I was exposed to a British comedy and I thought it was rather quaint and sweet. I always regretted that I never watched the whole series. Well, to my joy, I found this show at my local library! My husband and I watched the whole show and we were both extremely amused by Audrey fforbes-Hamilton and Richard DeVere. The comedy is very sophisticated. This kind of show appeals to intelligent people. There is nothing risque or low brow about this show. The actors all had wonderful comic timing and the episodes and dialogue extremely well-written. There was a nice sexual tension between the main characters but nothing overt or vulgar. This show leads up to a delicious ending that had me cheering and wishing the show will continue! I am very satisfied how this show ended. It was just too wonderful!

One thing I want to add, Peter Bowles, as well as a very funny actor in an understated way, is extremely good looking and debonair on this show. I still remembered the fashions from the 1970s and I thought they were awful, too many polyester suits! Well, on this show, the clothing represents the best of 1970s fashion. Peter Bowles cuts quite a wonderful, handsome figure in his 1970s suits and I was surprised at how well velvet looks on him!