As a birthday surprise for Dennis, the Gang decide to buy furniture for his flat. They attend an auction, which Frankie disrupts by making unrealistic bids. Dennis has a surprise of his own - he buys a horse, which he calls 'Spitfire'.
With nowhere to keep the animal, he puts it in the stable where he works, and sleeps alongside it. But Spitfire steps on his alarm clock and Dennis oversleeps. The next morning, the stable owner finds them there and sacks Dennis on the spot...
Poor Dennis. Having been arrested and suspected of committing suicide this season, now he gets the push from his beloved stables. Needless to say, his old school chums rally round, and attempt to sell the horse on his behalf. How marvellous it must have been in Fenn Street in 1971! The auctioneer is James Beck, on loan from 'Dad's Army'. His performance as the fast-talking spiv ( not unlike Private Walker ) is the highlight of an otherwise humdrum Esmonde/Larbey penned episode. He was hotly tipped to be the new Sid James, but tragically died the following year. May Warden appears as a troublesome old woman. In 1973, she would play a similar role in 'Billy Liar'.
Funniest moment - a flummoxed Dennis attempting to work out his personal finances, before opting to draw a horse instead. With gas and electricity bills rising constantly, I know how he feels!
With nowhere to keep the animal, he puts it in the stable where he works, and sleeps alongside it. But Spitfire steps on his alarm clock and Dennis oversleeps. The next morning, the stable owner finds them there and sacks Dennis on the spot...
Poor Dennis. Having been arrested and suspected of committing suicide this season, now he gets the push from his beloved stables. Needless to say, his old school chums rally round, and attempt to sell the horse on his behalf. How marvellous it must have been in Fenn Street in 1971! The auctioneer is James Beck, on loan from 'Dad's Army'. His performance as the fast-talking spiv ( not unlike Private Walker ) is the highlight of an otherwise humdrum Esmonde/Larbey penned episode. He was hotly tipped to be the new Sid James, but tragically died the following year. May Warden appears as a troublesome old woman. In 1973, she would play a similar role in 'Billy Liar'.
Funniest moment - a flummoxed Dennis attempting to work out his personal finances, before opting to draw a horse instead. With gas and electricity bills rising constantly, I know how he feels!