The Pruning of the Hedges (25 Sep. 1971)

Director:

Howard Ross

Writers:

John Esmonde, Bob Larbey

Stars:

John Alderton, Deryck Guyler, Noel Howlett

Cast

Episode credited cast:
John Alderton	...	Bernard Hedges
Deryck Guyler	...	Norman Potter
Noel Howlett	...	Mr. Cromwell
Joan Sanderson	...	Doris Ewell
Richard Davies	...	Mr. Price
Erik Chitty	...	Mr. Smith
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Liz Gebhardt	...	Maureen Bullock
Jill Kerman	...	Penny Hedges
Arnold Peters	...	School Governor
Wendy Richard	...	Rita

Storyline

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Release Date:

25 September 1971 (UK)

Company Credits

User Reviews

"I wish to resign!"

Hedges wishes to take a year off from teaching to read Sociology at London University. The trouble is, he cannot bring himself to hand in his notice. Even the threat of Penny withdrawing her conjugal rights is not enough to give him courage.

When he calls on the Chairman of the Board of Governors, he finds him entertaining a pretty young woman named Rita, and riles him so much he only succeeds in getting the sack.

Miss Ewell, Smithy and Price call on Hedges to make one final bid to get him to stay...

John Alderton bowed out of 'Please Sir!' with this episode, although it wouldn't be the last viewers saw of the character. A week later, he resurfaced in 'The Fenn Street Gang'.

Interestingly, no pupils appear.

Wendy Richard acts a bit of sparkle to an otherwise flat episode as the Chairman's 'niece' Rita.

Funniest moment - Hedges absentmindedly hands Miss Ewell a copy of 'The Naked Ape' by Desmond Morris ( then a major bestseller ), the cover of which shows a naked man, woman and child. The schoolteacher glances at it, then flings it away in disgust!