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

Creator:

Peter Spence
(more)

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 | Mother | Butler | Supermarket | Lodge

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Penelope Keith	...	Audrey / ... (22 episodes, 1979-2007)
Peter Bowles	...	DeVere / ... (22 episodes, 1979-2007)
Angela Thorne	...	Marjory / ... (22 episodes, 1979-2007)
Daphne Heard	...	Mrs. Polouvicka (17 episodes, 1979-1981)
John Rudling	...	Brabinger (16 episodes, 1979-1981)
Gerald Sim	...	The Rector / ... (15 episodes, 1979-2007)
Michael Bilton	...	Ned (15 episodes, 1979-1981)

Series Directed by
Gareth Gwenlan		(22 episodes, 1979-2007)

Series Writing credits
Peter Spence		(22 episodes, 1979-2007)

Series Produced by
Gareth Gwenlan	....	producer (22 episodes, 1979-2007)

Series Original Music by
Ronnie Hazlehurst		(21 episodes, 1979-1981)

Series Cinematography by
John Sorapure		(1 episode, 2007)

Series Film Editing by
John Dunstan		(20 episodes, 1979-1981)

Series Casting by
Sarah Hughes		(1 episode, 2007)

Series Production Design by
Ian Rawnsley		(14 episodes, 1979-1980)
Dacre Punt		(7 episodes, 1981)
Gloria Clayton		(2 episodes, 1981)

Series Art Direction by
Jane Shepherd		(1 episode, 2007)

Series Costume Design by
Rupert Jarvis		(7 episodes, 1981)
Dorinda Rea		(6 episodes, 1980)

Series Makeup Department
Fran Needham	....	makeup artist (14 episodes, 1979-1980)
Heather Squire	....	makeup artist (7 episodes, 1981)

Series Production Management
Richard Boden	....	production manager (7 episodes, 1981)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Vivien Ackland-Snow	....	first assistant director (1 episode, 2007)
Grenville Bartlett	....	second assistant director (1 episode, 2007)
Lisa Thornton	....	third assistant director (1 episode, 2007)

Series Art Department
Stewart Austin	....	graphic designer / graphic design (5 episodes, 1979-1981)
Ruth Hyde	....	property buyer (4 episodes, 1981)
Derek Leigh	....	property buyer (4 episodes, 1981)

Series Sound Department
Ian Sansam	....	film recordist (7 episodes, 1979)
Jack Sudic	....	sound (7 episodes, 1979)
Graham Wilkinson	....	sound / sound supervisor (7 episodes, 1981-2007)
Bruce Gallaway	....	sound recordist (7 episodes, 1981)
Bryan Showell	....	sound recordist (6 episodes, 1980)
Michael McCarthy	....	sound (5 episodes, 1980)

Series Special Effects by
Keith Edwards	....	special effects supervisor (1 episode, 2007)

Series Visual Effects by
Mat Irvine	....	visual effects designer (1 episode, 1979)
Stuart Brisdon	....	visual effects designer (1 episode, 1981)

Series Stunts
Bruce Cain	....	stunt performer (1 episode, 2007)
Richard Hansen	....	stunt performer (1 episode, 2007)
Kim McGarrity	....	stunt performer (1 episode, 2007)
Tony Smart	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 2007)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Henry Barber	....	lighting (21 episodes, 1979-1981)
Alec Curtis	....	film cameraman (20 episodes, 1979-1981)
Ron Peverall	....	senior cameraman (7 episodes, 1981)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Judy Allen	....	costume (7 episodes, 1979)

Series Editorial Department
John Barclay	....	vision mixer (5 episodes, 1980-1981)
Joan Duncan	....	vision mixer (4 episodes, 1980-1981)
Bill Morton	....	vision mixer (3 episodes, 1980-1981)

Series Music Department
Ronnie Hazlehurst	....	composer: title music (1 episode, 2007)

Series Other crew
Christopher Bond	....	script associate (20 episodes, 1979-1981)
Richard Boden	....	production assistant / production team (7 episodes, 1979-1980)
Sue Bysh	....	production team (7 episodes, 1979-1980)
John B. Hobbs	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1979)
Liz Cranston	....	production team (7 episodes, 1981)
Camilla Howard	....	production team (7 episodes, 1981)
Sylvie McRoberts	....	production team (7 episodes, 1981)
Jane Hawley	....	production team (6 episodes, 1980)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributors

• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

Also Known As:

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:

Angela Thorne's husband Peter Penry-Jones played Julian Gayforth in the final two episodes, as an opponent of Richard DeVere at Cavendish Foods.

Quotes:

Audrey fforbes-Hamilton:Democracy is all very well, but why give it to the people?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Comedy Christmas (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Theme

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!