Having written 'Never Mind The Quality Feel The Width' and 'Two In Clover' for Thames television, Vince Powell and Harry Driver then came up with this sweet little show, a love story between two pensioners. Walter Bingley ( Wilfrid Pickles ) is a gravedigger at the cemetery where Samuel Cresswell is buried. Each day, widow Ada ( Irene Handl ) comes to visit. She and Walter strike up a friendship. When Ada's daughter Ruth ( Barbara Mitchell ) and Leslie ( Jack Smethurst ) Pollitt go out to the pictures one evening, Ada brings Walter back for fish and chips. But they come home unexpectedly early. Ruth is not pleased to see a complete stranger wearing her late father's old suit and carrying his pocket watch ( Ada had given them to him ). After a row, Ada storms off, vowing never to return...
Beryl Reid was apparently offered the role of 'Ada' but declined as she did not wish to play a pensioner. Talented though she is, I do not think anyone could have bettered Irene Handl's performance. It was tailor made for her. Likewise Wilfrid Pickles - wonderful as the father in the film 'Billy Liar' ( 1962 ) - is perfectly cast as Yorkshireman Walter. Barbara Mitchell was known to viewers as Frankie Abbott's hypochondriac mother in 'Please Sir!' and 'The Fenn Street Gang'. She died incredibly young in 1977. Jack Smethurst reunited with Powell and Driver a few years later for the infamous 'Love Thy Neighbour'.
Ron Grainer's beautiful theme tune anticipates the later one he did for another fine Thames sitcom - 'Shelley'. The opening and closing titles lack studio audience applause - commonplace in sitcoms now, but unheard of then.
'Ada' was another big hit for Powell and Driver, and ran for four seasons and a feature film. Easy to be cynical about a show like this, but I won't hear a bad word said against it. Its essentially a bunch of fine comedy performers equipped with more than adequate material.
Funniest moment - spotting Ada's hat in the river, Walter thinks she has fallen in, and goes to jump in after her. When she unexpectedly calls his name from the other side of the bridge, he is so startled he falls in.
Beryl Reid was apparently offered the role of 'Ada' but declined as she did not wish to play a pensioner. Talented though she is, I do not think anyone could have bettered Irene Handl's performance. It was tailor made for her. Likewise Wilfrid Pickles - wonderful as the father in the film 'Billy Liar' ( 1962 ) - is perfectly cast as Yorkshireman Walter. Barbara Mitchell was known to viewers as Frankie Abbott's hypochondriac mother in 'Please Sir!' and 'The Fenn Street Gang'. She died incredibly young in 1977. Jack Smethurst reunited with Powell and Driver a few years later for the infamous 'Love Thy Neighbour'.
Ron Grainer's beautiful theme tune anticipates the later one he did for another fine Thames sitcom - 'Shelley'. The opening and closing titles lack studio audience applause - commonplace in sitcoms now, but unheard of then.
'Ada' was another big hit for Powell and Driver, and ran for four seasons and a feature film. Easy to be cynical about a show like this, but I won't hear a bad word said against it. Its essentially a bunch of fine comedy performers equipped with more than adequate material.
Funniest moment - spotting Ada's hat in the river, Walter thinks she has fallen in, and goes to jump in after her. When she unexpectedly calls his name from the other side of the bridge, he is so startled he falls in.
