Loathe Story (20 Mar. 1972)

After being beaten at badminton by his father,who announces his desire to join the local tennis club,Harold tries to kill him whilst sleep-walking.A visit to a psychiatrist reveals Harold's... See full summary »

Writers:

Ray Galton (by), Alan Simpson (by)

Stars:

Wilfrid Brambell, Harry H. Corbett, Raymond Huntley

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Wilfrid Brambell	...	Albert Steptoe
Harry H. Corbett	...	Harold Steptoe
Raymond Huntley	...	Psychiatrist
Georgina Cookson	...	Mrs. Kennington-Stroud
Joanna Lumley	...	Bunty

Storyline

After being beaten at badminton by his father,who announces his desire to join the local tennis club,Harold tries to kill him whilst sleep-walking.A visit to a psychiatrist reveals Harold's dislike of his father stemming from childhood when he had to sit outside the pub waiting for him. Albert then succeeds in scaring away Harold's new girl-friend,Bunty,and her mother, convinced that Harold will get put away. He has even advertised for a lodger...and joined the tennis club.

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Plot Keywords:

psychiatrist | badminton | sleepwalking | flea | new girlfriend

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 March 1972 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Lime Grove Studios, Lime Grove, Shepherd's Bush, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

We Couldn't Afford Proper Milk

Another great episode from the seventh series of 'Steptoe and Son'

Harold and Albert are playing Badminton and Albert is a lot better at it than Harold, leading to Harold saying tennis is more his game. Albert says he's going to join the tennis club, Harold insists that he isn't as he is well liked at the club. Albert says he's still going to join, making Harold go to bed. That night, Harold dreams about his Father and how rotten he is, so he sleep-walks into Albert's bedroom with a meat-axe and is ready to kill him, only for Albert to wake up quick and throw water at Harold. This leads to Harold going to visit a psychiatrist and he tells him of how rotten his Dad has made his life and he talks about when he was a young boy he would have to go with his Dad to the pub, he would sit outside on the horse and cart with a glass of lemonade whilst his Dad would get boozed up every night and get carried out of the pub, he never got to bed until twelve every night and had to be up at six for a paper-round the next day. Then we go into recent times and we see Albert ruin another relationship for Harold, a posh woman Harold is going out with comes round for cucumber sandwiches with her stuck up Mum, only for the two to run away due to Albert's slobbery. Harold leaves the psychiatrist and goes home to his Dad, who is convinced his Son would be sent to the nut-house so has advertised his room for a lodger. He's also joined the tennis club.

A great episode, that again is very dramatic. The thought of Harold as a boy sitting outside the pub every night (regardless of the weather) on a horse and cart whilst his Dad got plastered every night is a harrowing thought and down-right barbaric on Albert's part, no wonder Harold nearly did him in. Again, as with many episodes of 'Steptoe' the dark side of life is highlighted very bravely. Playing Harold's posh girlfriend is a young and sexy Joanna Lumley, who would later find fame in the sitcom 'Absolutely Fabulous' Best Bit: PSYCHIATRIST: Were you breast fed, HAROLD: Yes, we couldn't afford proper milk.