Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

[Victoria O'Keefe]

Re: Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

The baby who played Jessica (I think she was called Emma someone, and is obviously now grown up of course) was interviewed on a BBC 1 show presented by Gaby Roslin in the late 1990s or early 2000s - I think that it was called TV's Greatest Hits or something? It made me think of all those babies that appeared in nappy commercials in the 1980s and 1990s and are all grown up now. Michael Portillo appeared as a baby in a Ribena commercial, didn't he?

There was also a baby featured in an episode of Rising Damp, and unless it was a doll, it made me think that the baby would be older than myself if she is still around. Sobering thought.

This kid from a PSA about missing children will be a teenager by now:

[philipdalton]

I have a set of magazines published in 105 weekly parts from 1969 to 1970 called "The Book of Life", my dad had them when I was a baby and I didn't know what happened to ours but I recently sent off for the whole set from eBay. In one there is an article suggesting that the more accident prone amongst us may actually be subconsciously trying to injure themselves as a form of self retribution. I wonder what it is Frank Spencer has in his past that he's ashamed of?

[philipdalton]

In the episode where Frank is accused of distributing obscene material on a motorbike, the member of the police force who is trying to get him sent down for this offence takes a look at one of the photos he has been given to deliver and remarks "Disgusting!! Does that look a holiday snap to you?". To this, Frank replied "Well she is holding a bucket and spade". This seems to me like a subtle hint at child pornography, although I'm not sure it's meant to be.

[Richard1978]

it was always stuff like this that was not edited out that made shows like this made them even funnier, I recall a couple of incidences from Wendy Richard in Are you being Served

Yes it's funny to see when actors are struggling not to laugh!

[Semi42]

Re: Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

There is an episode in which Richard Wilson (aka Victor Meldrew from One Foot in the Grave) plays an insurance rep who visits Frank's house. Both Frank and Betty are sitting on a sofa. When the insurance rep takes a seat beside them, he sinks deep into the settee. Betty starts laughing and had to hide her face from the audience and camera. Frank struggled to keep a straight face. Richard could not follow suit and started to giggle.

it was always stuff like this that was not edited out that made shows like this made them even funnier, I recall a couple of incidences from Wendy Richard in Are you being Served

[philipdalton]

The episode in which Mr. Spencer drives his car into the sea whilst taking his driving test is probably the most far-fetched one because someone as accident prone as him would never have been allowed to take their test in the first place.

[zabadak]

Re: Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

FYI the theme music spelled out the title in Morse code

[zabadak]

Re: Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

This was my fave when it was on - brilliant!

[Moonraker]

Re: Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

There is an episode in which Richard Wilson (aka Victor Meldrew from One Foot in the Grave) plays a insurance rep who visits Frank's house. Both Frank and Betty are sitting on a sofa. When the insurance rep takes a seat beside them, he sinks deep into the settee. Betty starts laughing and had to hide her face from the audience and camera. Frank struggled to keep a straight face. Richard could not follow suit and started to giggle.

[George 1978]

Re: Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

The baby who played Jessica (I think she was called Emma someone, and is obviously now grown up of course) was interviewed on a BBC 1 show presented by Gaby Roslin in the late 1990s or early 2000s - I think that it was called TV's Greatest Hits or something? It made me think of all those babies that appeared in nappy commercials in the 1980s and 1990s and are all grown up now. Michael Portillo appeared as a baby in a Ribena commercial, didn't he?

There was also a baby featured in an episode of Rising Damp, and unless it was a doll, it made me think that the baby would be older than myself if she is still around. Sobering thought.

[George 1978]

Re: Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

Would have loved to have had a feature film spin off of Some Mothers - that would have worked quite well.

Was it true that Ronnie Barker was one of the actors considered for playing Frank Spencer? I can't really see it myself. I thought that Norman Wisdom would have been a good choice considering the "Mr Grimsdale" thing that he did which was very similar.

I know that there is a touring production of Some Mothers at some theatres at the moment with Joe Pasquale as Spencer - now that is something that sounds interesting.

[80sChav]

Re: Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

Michael Crawford was totaly amazing as the "Hapless frank spencer" in this. Series 1 and 3 was excellent (or rather Series 3 was better than Series 2 I am tempted to say, but Series 1 was totaly ground-breaking!

My own qalm is not more Episodes/Series' (par the Sport relief Mini Episode) in 2016 was made. As well as Michael doing all his own stunts -being amazing and highly not being allowed these days due to Red Tape Burachrats, the casting was superb too right down to 1/2/3 Episode characters played by the callibre of Richard Wilson, Jeahn Boht, george A Cooper, Christopher Bigins to name but a few!!

The casting of Jessica as a Baby too was really well linked in with the first and only scences of Jessica as a young-middle aged lady in 2016 I think. Just look at Jessica as Baby to see how the woved her into a character grown up is agreat example

80sChav

[Richard1978]

Re: Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

never ceases to make me laugh.

the screen writer episode has been on tv and has it been included on any dvd release mate.
it had a very good guest cast as well.

I know it's on DVD, I must have missed it each time it's been on TV in the last 25 years.

It's a good show to play "Been In Dr Who" with.

[darren]

Re: Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

never ceases to make me laugh.

the screen writer episode has been on tv and has it been included on any dvd release mate.
it had a very good guest cast as well.

I really like it, I managed to get the box set 2nd hand off a friend a couple of years ago.

The episode with the screenwriter somehow never managed to make any of the repeats from the late 1980s onwards, or I just managed to miss it each time.

There were plans for a 4th series but Michael Crawford didn't want to by typecast, & had reservations about making the 3rd, which is why there was a big gap between series.

[Trickyvee]

Re: Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

Not a fan. Michael Crawford in that role made me cringe. I never found it funny. Even worse was the myriad of Frank Spencer impersonations by all and sundry in its hey day. At least we don't get that any more!