"You Rang, M'Lord?" (1988) TV series 1988-1993

Creators:

David Croft
Jimmy Perry

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

29 December 1988 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Farce

Cast

Paul Shane	...	Alf Stokes (26 episodes, 1988-1993)
Jeffrey Holland	...	James Twelvetrees (26 episodes, 1988-1993)
Su Pollard	...	Ivy Teasdale (26 episodes, 1988-1993)
Donald Hewlett	...	Lord George Meldrum (26 episodes, 1988-1993)
Michael Knowles	...	The Honourable Teddy Meldrum (26 episodes, 1988-1993)
Bill Pertwee	...	P.C. Wilson (26 episodes, 1988-1993)
Brenda Cowling	...	Mrs. Blanche Lipton (26 episodes, 1988-1993)
Mavis Pugh	...	Lady Lavender (26 episodes, 1988-1993)
Susie Brann	...	Poppy Meldrum (26 episodes, 1988-1993)
Catherine Rabett	...	Cissy Meldrum (26 episodes, 1988-1993)
Perry Benson	...	Henry Livingstone (26 episodes, 1988-1993)
Barbara New	...	Mabel Wheeler (26 episodes, 1988-1993)
Angela Scoular	...	Lady Agatha Shawcross (18 episodes, 1988-1993)
Yvonne Marsh	...	Madge Cartwright (17 episodes, 1988-1993)
John Horsley	...	Sir Ralph Shawcross (15 episodes, 1990-1993)
Frank Williams	...	Charles - the Bishop (14 episodes, 1990-1993)

Runtime:

50 min (26 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Lynford Hall, Lynford, Norfolk, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

As indicated on a number of occasions (for example, on her campaign leaflet when she stands for the local elections), Cissy Meldrum's real first name is Cecily.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Mrs. Blanche Lipton: Least said, soonest mended.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 'Dad's Army' & Beyond: The Frank Williams Story (2008) (V)

The finest comedy series of all time.

Without doubt this show is the magnum opus of Perry and Croft, it's 26 episodes enchant and beguile like no other show. Set between the wars in of London's great houses, it follows the life of Lord Meldrum, his family and their servants. Every facet of this show extols the virtues of the cast, set designers, and writers to perfection. Few shows have ever captured the feel of an era better, capturing as it does the styles, social issues and morals of the transitional era that followed the reign of Victoria. The extraordinary attention to detail at all levels involves one entirely, this mated with a superb script which supports all the visual magic, leaves only the actors to make the best of it all. This they do with extraordinary finesse and believability, one can completely empathize with each character and have sympathy with each role. The show is actually a serial, but with each episode featuring a vignette, it is episodic as well. It is impossible to define any one actor as being a lead as each role attaches itself seamlessly to the story, to create a gorgeous sense of flow and continuity, it is involving, poignant and immensely funny. The troupe consists of many regular players from David Croft's "stable", but in no other show are they better used. The cast and crew are detailed in the body of the IMDb page, but a must mention are the almost background parts played by Perry Benson, Barbara New and Mavis Pugh, as Henry, Mabel and Lady Lavender respectively. Between them, they inject a positively brilliant series of almost surreal comedic asides all through the series, and they add to its charm and depth immeasurably. One could go on and on about all the virtues of this show, but in conclusion, I honestly think that this wonderful story is the absolute epitome of British TV comedy, the like of which, is unlikely to be seen again, it is a work of quality, passion and genius at every level. If you get a chance to see it, you must.