Mary becomes concerned about Rab's health when every night he is overcome with dizzy spells and nausea. At her insistence, he visits his G. P where he receives some devastating news. He has a cancerous growth in his stomach.
Rab is forced to attend chemotherapy sessions, which results in him losing his hair, necessitating the use for a wig ( a Beatles wig bought from a joke shop ). Rab is also informed of some more shocking news - his son Gash intends to marry his new girlfriend Natalie...
'Growth', the first in a two part story, excellently manages to make light of such a controversial subject matter, in much the same way as 'Only Fools & Horses' managed it a year earlier in the 'Modern Man' episode in which Rodney's wife Cassandra suffered a miscarriage. In a 'Comedy Connections' interview in 2008, Gregor admitted that performing this episode made him feel deeply uncomfortable as cancer is what claimed his mother's life. The following episode, 'Semmitry', sees the final outcome of Rab's condition.
Elaine M. Ellis makes her debut here as Gash's dowdy girlfriend Natalie, as does the wonderful ( and sadly deceased ) Jimmy Logan as her harpoon gun obsessed father, known as 'quick tempered Dan'!
Funniest bit - Mary is shocked upon learning Rab has cancer. Trying to be circumspect about the news, Rab retorts: ''Look on the bright side, at least I'll save a few quid on haircuts!''
Rab is forced to attend chemotherapy sessions, which results in him losing his hair, necessitating the use for a wig ( a Beatles wig bought from a joke shop ). Rab is also informed of some more shocking news - his son Gash intends to marry his new girlfriend Natalie...
'Growth', the first in a two part story, excellently manages to make light of such a controversial subject matter, in much the same way as 'Only Fools & Horses' managed it a year earlier in the 'Modern Man' episode in which Rodney's wife Cassandra suffered a miscarriage. In a 'Comedy Connections' interview in 2008, Gregor admitted that performing this episode made him feel deeply uncomfortable as cancer is what claimed his mother's life. The following episode, 'Semmitry', sees the final outcome of Rab's condition.
Elaine M. Ellis makes her debut here as Gash's dowdy girlfriend Natalie, as does the wonderful ( and sadly deceased ) Jimmy Logan as her harpoon gun obsessed father, known as 'quick tempered Dan'!
Funniest bit - Mary is shocked upon learning Rab has cancer. Trying to be circumspect about the news, Rab retorts: ''Look on the bright side, at least I'll save a few quid on haircuts!''
