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The Good Life |
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1975 - 1978 UK (BBC) Seasons 4 Episodes 30
Tom Good Richard Briars Barbara Good Felicity Kendall Jerry Leadbetter Paul Eddington Margo Leadbetter Penelope Keith |
On his 40th Birthday Tom Good (Briars) decides he has had enough of the rat race in middle class Surbiton and embarks on a life of self-sufficiency. Beside him was Barbara Good (Kendall) his wife, who is faultless, devoted and loyal who has had to go without all her creature comforts in order to support her husband. However Barbara didn’t mind this sacrifice because she simply adored Tom. Together they forged ahead with their plans to grow their own crops, keep livestock in the garden and make their own electricity from cow dung!
Their neighbours were the wonderful Leadbetters. Jerry Leadbetter (Eddington) was the brow beaten long suffering husband of Margo, a wonderful snobby, but lovable creation, immortalised by Penelope Keith. Margo was obsessed with maintaining the standards of the neighbourhood and their social status. Although they were opposed to Tom and Barbara’s way of life and often squabbled, they were great friends and between them there was mutual respect, affection and admiration.
Although the series is now almost 30 years old, it seems to have lost none of its charm and it has been constantly been repeated by the BBC. On each occasion it has enjoyed very healthy viewing figures. It is rumoured that even the Her Majesty the Queen was a fan of the show. The Good Life was deservedly voted into the top ten of Greatest UK Sitcoms of all time in a recent poll on TV.
Incredibly, only 30 episodes of the show were made. A particular favourite is the 1978 Christmas special in which Margo’s huge plans for the festive period are ruined by her dispute with the delivery van driver. As a consequence, the Leadbetters spend Christmas with the Goods on a shoestring budget. A gem.
Felicity Kendal was every mans fantasy wife and she won the hearts of many men across the nation with her petite innocence and mousey features. Quite rightly, she won the Rear of the Year award in 1981.
Tragically, Paul Eddington passed away in 1995 at the age of 68. Paul was also well known for his role in another BBC comedy classic, Yes Minister.
The Good Life isn’t
the kind of show that will have you in side-splitting fits of
laughter. However, it will have you thoroughly enjoying being in the
company of these genuine, endearing characters in a simple engaging
situation comedy classic. Glass of Pea Pod Burgundy anyone? |
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Credits Gregory Halpin & Jason D'Arcy ©TV Fetish 2005-2007 |
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