I had vague memories of this series as a child in the 1970's and was pleased to see that some of the episodes had just been issued on DVD ( Region 2 ) in the uk and promptly bought it. I then discovered with dismay that the episodes on the dvd were the ONLY REMAINING ones out of a total of 32 or 33 episodes, one third to be precise. How can the other episodes have disappeared. The people at the BBC responsible for this loss should be hung, drawn and quartered, and there, I'm being kind to them !!
The episodes on the DVD are even funnier that my memories had led me to believe, especially Derek Nimmo ( wonderful !! ) and made me even more furious to think that so many episodes had been "lost". Although I don't live in the UK any more, I do have family there whom I visit regularly. When watching the comedy on the BRitish TV today, it is absolutely hopelessly boring compared to shows like All Gas and Gaiters, Steptoe and Son etc etc which really were the heyday of the BBC comedies. The series has innuendo but not crudeness and of course the presence of Joan "Mrs Richards" Sanderson as the Deacon's wife adds some more feminine humour to an otherwise preponderantly male atmosphere. I'm not sure whether the series would please across the world as humour in a "religious" context can be a sensitive issue in some countries and cultures. But I would definitely recommend the series to would-be english speakers as the diction is wonderful and far better than any of the rubbish we see today.
So at least we have the DVD with 11 episodes. Thank heaven for small mercies..................
