Bob Larbey

Comedy drama set during World War Two following the misadventures of two very different bandsmen - one an ex-air force pilot, the other a draft dodging, scheming private detective - as they get caught up with gangsters and romance in blitz torn London.

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Down to Earth is a British television situation comedy, aired in 1995 on BBC One. It was devised by John Esmonde and Bob Larbey and starred Richard Briers, who also featured in Esmonde and Larbey's earlier series The Good Life and Ever Decreasing Circles. One series consisting of seven episodes was produced.

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A mysterious man named Mulberry arrives at the home of cantankerous spinster Rose Farnaby, to apply for the position of manservant. His true motivation is soon revealed: Mulberry is an apprentice Grim Reaper dispatched to guide Mrs Farnaby to the next life.

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Two lovers are reunited after decades apart following a mutual misunderstanding.

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After the deaths of her parents, Jace moves in with her godfather Harry, who runs a waxwork museum in a seaside town. He hopes the weather will change for the worse to attract custom.

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An idyllic picture of 1950's rural England as seen through the lives of the Larkins, a farm family living in Kent. The show revolves around Pa Larkin, a man of a kind and mischievous nature with a penchant for getting into scrapes and talking his way out of them with equal equanimity; and his daughters, as they deal with growing up and discovering the joys and sorrows of young love.

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On the Up is a British sitcom written by Bob Larbey about a self-made millionaire and his staff of domestic helpers who he treats like family, much to the annoyance of his upper class wife. The show ran for three series, from 1990 to 1992.

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Ginger, an OAP, is now forced to sport a ginger wig to compensate for the ravages of time. Nattily kitted out, he decides to visit a local over-60s club with plans to 'ginger' it up.

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Series of half-hour monologues.

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John Cooper is in a retirement home. There are strict rules for the residents, but he refuses to fall into passivity. He flirts constantly with Nurse Wilson and spends time with his best buddy Michael Aylott, who's slowly drifting into senility.

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Jacko is a painter and decorator with an eye for the ladies. He works with Eric, who's married to his sister Jean. The painting and decorating firm they work for is owned by Lionel Bainbridge.

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Martin Bryce lives in a quiet suburban close with his wife Anne. He does his best to "organise" the leisure time of all of the other inhabitants of the close, running umpteen societies and doing "good works". He's is quite happy with his lot until Paul Ryman moves in next door.

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Mrs. Silly, a woman who has lost her husband to another, is now about to lose her son to an expensive boarding school, compliments of her ex's money. Confronted with these losses, Mrs. Silly realizes she must regain her identity. Desperately trying to keep up appearances, to be cheerful, busy, and dignified, she only succeeds in living up to the derisive nickname she invented for herself.

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Family man contemplates selling childhood home spanning WWII years. Episodes shift between present and boyhood memories of parents, siblings coping during war's difficulties, making it hard to let go of beloved home.

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Anthology of stories about love, many adapted from short stories or novels.

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On Christmas Eve, Santa Claus visits a psychiatrist to find out who he is and why there are so many of him ringing bells on street corners.

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A Fine Romance is a British situation comedy starring husband-and-wife team Judi Dench and Michael Williams. Dench's sister was played by Susan Penhaligon. It was produced by London Weekend Television and written by Bob Larbey. It was first broadcast on 8 November 1981. It lasted for 26 episodes over four series; the final episode being broadcast on 17 February 1984. The series takes its name from a song in the 1936 film Swing Time, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, which Dench recorded as the theme music. The series was nominated for nine BAFTA British Academy Television Awards and a winner of two, both for Dench's performance in 1982 and 1985.

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Three a.m. A crash of breaking glass ... the slow creak of a door opening ... is it a burglar? Raymond Collis finds out the hard way.

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Two passengers meet in reception at Gatwick airport. Although unknown to each other, they find they are on the same flight and staying in the same hotel. Two characters as different as chalk and cheese have a series of misadventures on holiday in Spain.

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Get Some In! is a British comedy series set in the 1950's that focused on the Royal Air Force National Service. The show was broadcast between 1975 and 1978 by Thames Television. Scripts were by John Esmonde and Bob Larbey, the team behind the BBC TV sitcom The Good Life. The programme drew its inspiration from late 1950s/early 1960s National Service situation-comedy The Army Game, and from nostalgic BBC TV sitcom Dad's Army, but the RAF setting gave it enough originality not to seem formulaic. Thirty-four half-hour episodes were made. The series has never been repeated in full on terrestrial TV, although the UKTV Gold cable channel has aired the episodes uncut.

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Tom and Barbara Good escape the rat race and pursue a self-sufficient lifestyle in Surbiton, much to the concern, frustration and sometimes envy of their neighbours Margo and Jerry Leadbetter. Entitled ‘Good Neighbors’ when shown in the USA.

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Released from prison after serving a prison sentence, Stanley Bowler sets about trying to 'better' himself. The basic premise of the series revolves around Bowler's attempts to develop a more cultured personality, as he tries to understand the fine arts, and to move into higher social circles.

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A septet of satirical vignettes based on the Seven Deadly Sins.

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The Fenn Street Gang is a British television sitcom which ran for three seasons between 1971 and 1973. The series was created by John Esmonde and Bob Larbey, it was spun-off from their Please Sir! series.

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Mr. Hedges, the somewhat naive and idealistc teacher of the rebellious Class 5C, lobbies to have them allowed on the school camping trip despite much precedent to the contrary. Once on the camping trip Mr. Hedges pursues the local barmaid and the class indulge in their usual activities. A small feud with some stereotypical upper class children in red blazers is resolved with a false rape allegation. A case of some stolen money is resolved through Mr. Hedges trusting the class. At the final dance Mr. Hedges is ensnared in the romantic clutches of Miss Cutforth, contrary to his wishes.

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Play for Today is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. During the run, more than three hundred programmes, featuring original television plays, and adaptations of stage plays and novels, were transmitted. The individual episodes were between fifty and a hundred minutes in duration.

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A hapless but caring teacher tries to control his class of unruly kids. The teacher sees much good and potential in his pupils, much to the dismay of his fellow teachers who have lost hope in these kids.

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