Don't Tell Father is a British television sitcom written by Roy Clarke that was first broadcast on BBC1 from 26 April to 31 May 1992.[1][2] The series starred Tony Britton, Susan Hampshire, Caroline Quentin, Richard Ashton and Philip Fox.

Premise

The series follows a self-regarding veteran actor, Vivian Bancroft, who dominates the lives of his fifth wife, Natasha, and four grown-up children: Kate, Garth, Spirit and Congreve. Vivian is particularly outraged by his eldest daughter, Kate's, engagement to Marvin Whipple, a driving instructor.[1][2]

Cast

Main

Recurring

  • Hilda Braid as Mrs Dawson (3 episodes)
  • Liz Daniels as Alemka (3 episodes)
  • Anna Dawson as Stella Whipple (3 episodes)
  • Jack Smethurst as Ron Whipple (3 episodes)
  • Jo-Anne Sale as Spirit Bancroft (2 episodes)

Episodes

No.TitleProduced & Directed byWritten byOriginal release date [3]
1"Vivian & Marvin"Harold SnoadRoy Clarke26 April 1992 (1992-04-26)
Vivian discovers that his eldest daughter, Kate, votes Conservative. He and his fifth wife, Natasha, plan to marry her off to a left-wing aristocrat, but Kate, unbeknownst to them, is engaged to Marvin Whipple, a driving instructor. Vivian is to be interviewed by a camera crew later that day. He decides to host a lunch party, inviting all his four children. Kate decides to invite a reluctant Marvin, much to Vivian's displeasure.
2"The Film Studio"Harold SnoadRoy Clarke3 May 1992 (1992-05-03)
3"Marvin's Parents"Harold SnoadRoy Clarke10 May 1992 (1992-05-10)
4"Vivian's Shower"Harold SnoadRoy Clarke17 May 1992 (1992-05-17)
5"Sacked"Harold SnoadRoy Clarke24 May 1992 (1992-05-24)
6"Car Trouble"Harold SnoadRoy Clarke31 May 1992 (1992-05-31)

Reception

Of the series, in his Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy, Mark Lewisohn wrote: "Tony Britton hammed it up for all he was worth as the awful Vivian, and Caroline Quentin proved particularly adept at delivering Roy Clarke's witty dialogue, but the piece as a whole lacked the magic ingredient which made so many of the writer's ideas long-running series."[2]

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b Leafe 1992, p. 302.
  2. ^ a b c Lewisohn, Mark (2003). Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy (2nd ed.). London: BBC Worldwide. pp. 234–235. ISBN 0563487550.
  3. ^ "Don't Tell Father (Episodes)". Phill.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.

Works cited

  • Leafe, David (1992). British Film Institute Film and Television Handbook 1993. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9780851703442.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_Tell_Father
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