"Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?" Stranger on a Train (1973)

User Rating:

8.9/10   

Writers:

Dick Clement (written by) and
Ian La Frenais (written by)

TV Series:

"Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?" (1973)

Original Air Date:

9 January 1973 (Season 1, Episode 1)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Sitcom

Cast

Rodney Bewes	...	Bob Ferris
James Bolam	...	Terry Collier
Brigit Forsyth	...	Thelma Chambers
Deirdre Costello	...	Woman on Train (as Deidre Costello)
James Mellor	...	Steward
Angelique Ashly	...	Stripper in Club

Five years is a long time

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

The first episode of the brilliant 'Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads' which was funnier than the show it spun-off 'The Likely Lads'

When looking at some photos on a projector, Bob puts one on of Terry. Thelma knows that with the wedding so near, he will come back and ruin it. Bob hasn't seen Terry since Terry joined the army. Bob has to go to London to get Thelma's wedding present. On the train, Bob sees Terry who has just been demobbed. They get talking. Terry, unbeknown to him Bob is engaged to Thelma, slags Thelma off. Bob storms out on Terry. Terry realises that if he goes back to Newcastle, he'll only ruin Bob's happiness. So he gets off at Doncaster. Bob who has been asleep notices Terry at the platform and gets off thinking it's Newcastle. The lads get talking again and make up. But Terry still won't go back to Newcastle. Bob's train comes, he gets on. But he leaves his wedding present. Terry sees it in the waiting room, gets on the train to give it to Bob, Bob leaves the train to get the wedding present. Then the train starts moving. Thelma is extremely worried when Terry gets off the train without Bob.

So it was back and better and funnier than 'The Likely Lads' It was to become one of the funniest sitcoms of them all. Yet, the BBC weren't too keen on the idea and up until the last minute, the show was going to be made from Thames. One gets the feeling it wouldn't have been as good had Thames made it: 'So then Mr Clement and Mr La Frenais, would you mind cutting that hilarious line so we can put some adverts in' So Terry had been away in the army for five years. Five years seems to have some significants to Clement and La Frenais as that's how long Fletcher was sentenced to in there best sitcom 'Porridge' Best Bit: TERRY: I missed topless waitresses, BOB: They never caught on, TERRY: Well that's great comfort. It would have been nice to be here to see them not catching on.