| Series cast summary: | |||
| Diana Weston | ... | Caroline Wheatley / ... 95 episodes, 1990-1996 | |
| Honor Blackman | ... | Laura West / ... 95 episodes, 1990-1996 | |
| Joe McGann | ... | Charlie Burrows / ... 95 episodes, 1990-1996 | |
|
|
William Puttock | ... | Tom Wheatley / ... 94 episodes, 1990-1996 |
| Kellie Bright | ... | Joanna Burrows / ... 93 episodes, 1990-1996 | |
An affluent divorced woman named Caroline Weatley, raising her son Tom with help from her mother Laura West, seeks a housekeeper, and a man named Charlie Burrows applies for the job.
I first saw this as a grumpy teenager many years ago.
We used to tune in as a family to watch this comedy wondering whether Charlie and Caroline will ever get together and the roller-coaster ride of emotions that went through it.
It wasn't until watching re-runs of Who's the Boss did I realise what the show is based on, yet although they're based on the American scripts, they seem to have a uniquely British point of view.
I found that the show has recently been released on to DVD in the UK. I picked up a copy expecting cheesy and corny, fluffy and non-descript schmaltz, perhaps a bit of nostalgia thrown it harking back to a time when Central ITV were actually allowed to make programmes.
Watching The Upper Hand again after many years is like being reunited with a long lost family. Yes, its clean, simple and not smutty, it doesn't challenge you on many levels, it just is what it is - an amazingly catchy comedy that reels you in.
Twenty years on, and Im crying with sorry and howling with laughter.
A brilliant comedy that is much loved.