Two's Company (British TV series)

2022-07-21T06:31:52Z

2A00:23C8:1780:9201:CC3E:7307:2D17:4281:

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox television
| name = Two's Company
| image = Two's Company s2.jpg
| caption = ''Two's Company'' DVD cover
| picture_format = 4:3 colour video
| runtime = 25 minutes per episode
| creator = [[Bill MacIlwraith]]
| starring = [[Elaine Stritch]]<br>[[Donald Sinden]]
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| channel = [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
| first_aired = {{Start date|1975|9|6|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1979|3|4|df=y}}
| num_series = 4
| num_episodes = 29
| list_episodes = #Episodes
| company = [[London Weekend Television]]
| related = ''[[The Two of Us (1981 TV series)|The Two of Us]]''
}}

'''''Two's Company''''' is a British television situation comedy series that ran from 1975 to 1979. Produced by [[London Weekend Television]] for the ITV Network, the programme starred [[Elaine Stritch]] and [[Donald Sinden]].

==Premise==
Dorothy McNab (Stritch) is an American author residing in London. As she spends most of her days writing, she hires an English butler, Robert Hiller (Sinden), to help run her Chelsea home. Being the epitome of the English gentleman, Robert does not approve of Dorothy's lurid thriller novels or her American ways. Much of the comedy stems from the banter between the two, as they continually disagree due to their cultural differences and often try to outwit each other.

==History==
''Two's Company'' was created by [[Bill MacIlwraith]], who also wrote all of the episodes. Although the first and second series were not simulcast nationally in the UK, the third and fourth series were shown in a primetime Sunday evening slot by all ITV stations. It was nominated for a [[BAFTA]] Award for "Best Comedy" programme in 1977,<ref name=BAFTA>[http://www.bafta.org/awards-database.html?sq=Two%27s+Company BAFTA Awards website (Two's Company)]</ref> and was nominated for four [[BAFTA]] Awards in 1979, including "Best Comedy", "Best Graphics" (opening credits sequence) and Stritch and Sinden were each nominated for "Best Light Entertainment Performance".<ref name=BAFTA/>

Stritch and Sinden also performed the series theme song, with lyrics written by [[Sammy Cahn]] and music by [[Denis King]], which played during the animated opening credits sequence where Stritch's character is portrayed as a brassy American eagle and Sinden's as a snooty British lion.

After its success in the UK, the series was remade for U.S. television in 1981 as ''[[The Two of Us (1981 TV series)|The Two of Us]]'' starring [[Peter Cook]] and [[Mimi Kennedy]], though this version was less successful and was cancelled the following year. Additionally, the original series was rerun on [[A&E (TV channel)|A&E]] during the mid-1980s.

Coincidentally, Stritch and Sinden died within weeks of each other in 2014, aged 89 and 90 respectively.

All four series of ''Two's Company'' have been released on [[DVD]] in the UK, the US, and Australia.

==Episodes==
===Series overview===
{{Series overview

| color1 = #2a3e83
| link1 = #Series 1 (1975)
| episodes1 = 6
| start1 = {{Start date|1975|9|6|df=y}}
| end1 = {{End date|1975|10|11|df=y}}

| color1S = #006633
| link1S = #Christmas Special (1976)
| linkT1S = Christmas special
| start1S = {{Start date|1976|12|25|df=y}}

| color2 = #d0d169
| link2 = #Series 2 (1977)
| episodes2 = 7
| start2 = {{Start date|1977|1|10|df=y}}
| end2 = {{End date|1977|2|21|df=y}}

| color3 = #01aef0
| link3 = #Series 3 (1978)
| episodes3 = 8
| start3 = {{Start date|1978|1|22|df=y}}
| end3 = {{End date|1978|3|26|df=y}}

| color4 = #f7639f
| link4 = #Series 4 (1979)
| episodes4 = 7
| start4 = {{Start date|1979|1|14|df=y}}
| end4 = {{End date|1979|3|4|df=y}}
}}

===Series 1 (1975)===
{{Episode table |background=#2a3e83 |overall=5 |series=5 |title=22 |director=20 |aux2=20 |aux2T=Produced by |airdate=18 |episodes=

{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=1
|EpisodeNumber2 =1
|Title=The Bait
|Aux2= Stuart Allen
|DirectedBy= Stuart Allen
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1975|9|6|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Dorothy McNab is looking for a new butler. Robert Hiller knows he's going to take the position, but not until he's secured enough concessions.
|LineColor=2a3e83
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=2
|EpisodeNumber2 =2
|Title=The Housekeeping
|Aux2= Stuart Allen
|DirectedBy= Stuart Allen
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1975|9|13|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Dorothy is hosting a dinner party for an American Senator to secure his vote on a tax bill for American authors domiciled abroad. Robert ruins the evening having heard from a colleague that the Senator intends to vote against the bill.

'''Featuring:''' Peter Carlisle as Ed and [[Helen Horton]] as Clare
|LineColor=2a3e83
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=3
|EpisodeNumber2 =3
|Title=Dorothy's Electrician
|Aux2= Stuart Allen
|DirectedBy= Stuart Allen
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1975|9|20|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Robert thinks the electrician that Dorothy has employed is not competent to carry out household repairs. Dorothy does not agree, but when the electrician messes up how will Dorothy save face?

'''Featuring:''' [[Tony Selby]] as Mr. Burton
|LineColor=2a3e83
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=4
|EpisodeNumber2 =4
|Title=The Patient
|Aux2= Stuart Allen
|DirectedBy= Stuart Allen
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1975|9|27|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Robert falls down the stairs and hurts his ankle. Dorothy takes him to casualty and can't believe how long they have to wait.

'''Featuring:''' [[Penelope Keith]] as Mrs. Philips and [[Saeed Jaffrey]] as the Doctor
|LineColor=2a3e83
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=5
|EpisodeNumber2 =5
|Title=The Romance
|Aux2= Stuart Allen
|DirectedBy= Stuart Allen
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1975|10|4|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Dorothy has Sir Percy and his nephew coming round to take photos to promote her latest book. But when Sir Percy takes a shine to Dorothy will Robert be able to stop watching the cricket on TV to help her?

'''Featuring:''' Anthony Pedley as Sir Percy and [[Graham Armitage]] as Hugh
|LineColor=2a3e83
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=6
|EpisodeNumber2 =6
|Title=Robert's Mother
|Aux2= Stuart Allen
|DirectedBy= Stuart Allen
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1975|10|11|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Robert's mother is coming to stay and he warns Dorothy that she can be demanding. Dorothy soon discovers that this is the case and works out how to make her leave.

'''Featuring:''' [[Joyce Carey]] as Mrs. Hiller

|LineColor=2a3e83
}}
}}

===Christmas Special (1976)===
{{Episode table |background=#006633 |overall=5 |series=5 |title=22 |director=20 |aux2=20 |aux2T=Produced by |airdate=18 |episodes=

{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=7
|EpisodeNumber2 =1
|Title=A Loving Christmas
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1976|12|25|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= It's Christmas in the McNab household and both Dorothy and Robert say they're going away for Christmas. Both return to the house to find each other has a friend with them. To make matters worse Dorothy's cousin Clarence turns up uninvited.

'''Featuring:''' [[Geraldine Newman]] as Gillian, [[Derek Waring]] as Nigel, [[John Bay]] as Clarence.
|LineColor=006633
}}
}}

===Series 2 (1977)===
{{Episode table |background=#d0d169 |overall=5 |series=5 |title=22 |director=20 |aux2=20 |aux2T=Produced by |airdate=18 |episodes=

{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=8
|EpisodeNumber2 =1
|Title=The Reluctant Traveller
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1977|1|10|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Dorothy wants to take Robert to New York. Robert is afraid of flying and wants to go on the QE2. Will he get his way?
|LineColor=d0d169
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=9
|EpisodeNumber2 =2
|Title=The Burglary
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1977|1|17|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= The McNab residence has been burgled. Robert worries that he will be a suspect because of a valuable painting stolen from his previous place of employment.
|LineColor=d0d169
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=10
|EpisodeNumber2 =3
|Title=The Rubbish
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1977|1|24|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Robert has a disagreement with the dustbin men about collecting extra rubbish. Things get out of hand and a council supervisor is called in.

'''Featuring:''' [[Bryan Pringle]] as Sid, [[Norman Bird]] as Mr Bunn and [[Paddy Joyce (actor)|Paddy Joyce]] as Mike
|LineColor=d0d169
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=11
|EpisodeNumber2 =4
|Title=The Honeymoon
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1977|1|31|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= An American friend of Dorothy's has asked her to patch up some differences that have appeared in her daughter's marriage.

'''Featuring:''' [[Ed Bishop]] as Jack
|LineColor=d0d169
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=12
|EpisodeNumber2 =5
|Title=Robert's Record Player
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1977|2|7|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Robert plays his records too loudly making their neighbor Mr Begley come round to complain. He irritates Dorothy and they end up in court.

'''Featuring:''' [[George A. Cooper]] as Mr. Begley
|LineColor=d0d169
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=13
|EpisodeNumber2 =6
|Title=The Guests
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1977|2|14|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= When Dorothy is out shopping she meets a group of people on their way to India. She invites them back to the house for some food, but there's one problem, none of them are allowed to speak.
|LineColor=d0d169
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=14
|EpisodeNumber2 =7
|Title=The Cleaning Ladies
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1977|2|21|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Dorothy and Robert disagree about the type of cleaner to employ. If they can't come to a decision they might have to do their own cleaning.

'''Featuring:''' [[Patsy Rowlands]] as Lil and Andonia Katsaros as Nancy
|LineColor=d0d169
}}
}}

===Series 3 (1978)===
{{Episode table |background=#01aef0 |overall=5 |series=5 |title=22 |director=20 |aux2=20 |aux2T=Produced by |airdate=18 |episodes=

{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=15
|EpisodeNumber2 =1
|Title=The Invitation
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1978|1|22|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Dorothy and Robert return to find that Dorothy has been invited to lunch with the Queen later that afternoon. Will she get there in time?

'''Featuring:''' [[Rosalind Ayres]] as Joan, [[Barry Quin]] as Greg, [[Patsy Blower]] as Mary and [[Eric Mason]] as Taxi driver
|LineColor=01aef0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=16
|EpisodeNumber2 =2
|Title=The Freezer
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1978|1|29|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Dorothy wants a freezer but Robert doesn't. It's going to take a lot of ingenuity to get him to agree.
|LineColor=01aef0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=17
|EpisodeNumber2 =3
|Title=The Pet
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1978|2|5|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Dorothy wants a dog but Robert doesn't like pets. She gets a dog on trial from a Mrs Shelton. How will Robert react?

'''Featuring:''' [[Beryl Reid]] as Mrs Shelton and [[Peter Childs]] as Laundryman
|LineColor=01aef0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=18
|EpisodeNumber2 =4
|Title=The Take-Over Bid
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1978|2|12|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Dorothy's chauffeur Vincent is after Robert's job. Dorothy is tempted but realizes maybe it's better the devil you know.

'''Featuring:''' [[Colin Jeavons]] as Vincent
|LineColor=01aef0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=19
|EpisodeNumber2 =5
|Title=The Virus
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1978|2|19|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Dorothy is in bed with a virus. Robert is looking after her but when he takes to his bed, Dorothy has to look after him.
|LineColor=01aef0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=20
|EpisodeNumber2 =6
|Title=The Critic
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1978|2|26|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Dorothy's book gets a bad review in the newspaper from an anonymous critic. Dorothy is not happy when she finds out it was Robert that wrote the review.
|LineColor=01aef0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=21
|EpisodeNumber2 =7
|Title=The Picnic
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1978|3|5|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= It's Dorothy's birthday and Robert is taking her on a picnic. A couple of Dorothy's friends want to tag along but they get lost in convoy.
|LineColor=01aef0
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=22
|EpisodeNumber2 =8
|Title=The Politicians
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1978|3|26|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Dorothy has two Members of Parliament as guests and Robert's class prejudice comes to the surface.

'''Featuring:''' [[James Villiers]] as Peter Boatwright and [[David Ryall]] as George Gunn
|LineColor=01aef0
}}
}}

===Series 4 (1979)===
{{Episode table |background=#f7639f |overall=5 |series=5 |title=22 |director=20 |aux2=20 |aux2T=Produced by |airdate=18 |episodes=

{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=23
|EpisodeNumber2 =1
|Title=The Club
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1979|1|14|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Dorothy and Robert argue about who can control the heating thermostat. Dorothy and Robert agree that if she can enter his exclusively all male club for three hours within three days, she can take control of the heating.
|LineColor=f7639f
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=24
|EpisodeNumber2 =2
|Title=The Clergy
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1979|1|21|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Dorothy offers her old dressing table to the boy scouts thinking it's to raise money for charity. When she finds out it's actually for a bonfire she says it's worth £300 pounds. It's not long before every charity wants a share.
|LineColor=f7639f
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=25
|EpisodeNumber2 =3
|Title=The Salesman
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1979|1|28|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Dorothy and Robert encounter an extremely pushy door to door encyclopedia salesman who won't take no for an answer.

'''Featuring:''' [[John Ringham]] as Neville
|LineColor=f7639f
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=26
|EpisodeNumber2 =4
|Title=The Visiting Scots
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1979|2|4|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Dorothy is extremely nervous when her accountant visits to check her books. However, she shouldn't have worried as her accountant says she should be spending more to take advantage of the tax breaks.
|LineColor=f7639f
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=27
|EpisodeNumber2 =5
|Title=The Silence
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1979|2|11|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Robert and Dorothy disagree about the type of tiles to get for the kitchen. When Robert buys the tiles he wanted a silence ensues. Things are resolved when Dorothy employs a couple of mediators.

'''Featuring:''' [[Alison Steadman]] as Pamela, [[Richard O'Callaghan]] as Richard and [[George Tovey]] as Fred
|LineColor=f7639f
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=28
|EpisodeNumber2 =6
|Title=The Rolls-Royce
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1979|2|25|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Robert wants Dorothy to buy a Rolls-Royce but Dorothy is having second thoughts. She relents in the end so that they can go to the opera in style.
|LineColor=f7639f
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=29
|EpisodeNumber2 =7
|Title=The Friendly Aristocrats
|Aux2= Humphrey Barclay
|DirectedBy= John Reardon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1979|3|4|df=y}}
|ShortSummary= Dorothy is staying as a guest at a country house. Robert is mistaken as her partner and put in the guest suite. Fearing he'll have to stay in the servants' quarters if the truth is discovered, they decide to keep up the pretence. Things get difficult when mutual friends arrive.

'''Featuring:''' [[John Savident]] as Paul and [[Milton Johns]] as Charles
|LineColor=f7639f
}}
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|id=0072577|title=Two's Company}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Two's Company (Tv Series)}}
[[Category:1970s British sitcoms]]
[[Category:1975 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:1979 British television series endings]]
[[Category:ITV sitcoms]]
[[Category:Television duos]]
[[Category:Television series by ITV Studios]]
[[Category:Television shows set in London]]
[[Category:English-language television shows]]
[[Category:London Weekend Television shows]]

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Two's Company (British TV series)