Kurt at 19:10, 25 February 2023

2023-02-25T19:10:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:10, 25 February 2023
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	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=May 2014}}~~
	~~{{Use British English\|date=May 2014}}~~
	{{Infobox television		{{Infobox television
	~~\| name = A Sharp Intake of Breath~~
	\| image = Sharp Intake of Breath.png		\| image = Sharp Intake of Breath.png
	\| caption = ''A Sharp Intake of Breath'' opening titles by [[Mel Calman]]		\| caption = ''A Sharp Intake of Breath'' opening titles by [[Mel Calman]]
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	==Home media==		==Home media==
	The Complete series was released on DVD 04~~/05/2015~~ and as of August 2017 is currently being repeated on UK Gold.		The Complete series was released on DVD {{Date\|2015-05-04}} and as of August 2017 is currently being repeated on UK Gold.

	==External links==		==External links==

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-08-18T15:29:43Z

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en>Butlerblog: /* top */remove obsolete first_run param (see :Template:Infobox television)

2022-06-07T02:31:37Z

top: remove obsolete first_run param (see Template:Infobox television)

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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox television
| name = A Sharp Intake of Breath
| image = Sharp Intake of Breath.png
| caption = ''A Sharp Intake of Breath'' opening titles by [[Mel Calman]]
| genre = [[Situation Comedy]]
| creator = [[Ronnie Taylor (scriptwriter)|Ronnie Taylor]]
| developer =
| writer = Ronnie Taylor (1977–80) [[Vince Powell]] (1981)
| director = Les Chatfield (1977–79) Stuart Allen (1980–81)
| starring = [[David Jason]] Jacqueline Clarke [[Richard Wilson (Scottish actor)|Richard Wilson]] (series 1–3) [[Alun Armstrong]] (series 1–2)
| voices =
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| num_series = 4
| num_episodes = 22
| list_episodes =
| producer = Les Chatfield (1977–79) Stuart Allen (1980–81)
| executive_producer =
| location =
| camera =
| company = [[Associated Television|ATV]]
| runtime = 30 Minutes
| network = [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
| picture_format = [[4:3]]
| audio_format = [[Monaural|Mono]]
| first_aired = {{start date|1977|7|28|df=yes}} (pilot) {{start date|1978|2|28|df=yes}}
| last_aired = {{end date|1981|2|15|df=yes}}
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
| related =
}}

'''''A Sharp Intake of Breath''''' is a [[Great Britain|British]] [[sitcom]] starring [[David Jason]], Jacqueline Clarke with [[Richard Wilson (Scottish actor)|Richard Wilson]] and [[Alun Armstrong]] for series 1-3, which ran from 1977 to 1981, when Jason took up the role of Del Trotter in ''Only Fools & Horses''. It was made for the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] network by [[Associated Television|ATV]] and recorded at [[ATV Elstree Studios]]. The opening titles featured cartoons by [[Mel Calman]]. Series 1-3 were written by Ronnie Taylor, series 4 by Vince Powell following the death of Taylor in 1979.

==Plot==
Jason played an everyman character called Peter Barnes and Jacqueline Clarke played his wife Sheila. Wilson and Armstrong played a range of petty officials and bureaucrats whose actions frustrated Barnes' attempts to deal with the necessities of everyday life. The title ''A Sharp Intake of Breath'' refers to the reactions of various characters to seemingly simple requests by Peter, generally followed by a denial. The show made use of the [[fourth wall]] [[plot device]].

==Cast==
* [[David Jason]] as Peter Barnes
* [[Jacqueline Clarke]] as Sheila Barnes
* [[Richard Wilson (Scottish actor)|Richard Wilson]] as various characters
* [[Alun Armstrong]] as various characters
* [[Maggie Jones (actress)|Maggie Jones]] as Jean
* [[Malcolm Storry]] as Cyril Potts
* [[Bella Emberg]] as Doris
* Margaret Courtenay as Sheila's Mother
* Bunny May as Terry
* [[Gerald Flood]], as the Doctor, in 'Rear Window' .

== Episodes ==
=== Pilot (1977) ===
{{Episode table |background=#000000 |overall=5 |series=5 |title=24 |director=25 |writer=24 |airdate=17 |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=–
|EpisodeNumber2=–
|Title=A Sharp Intake of Breath
|DirectedBy=Les Chatfield
|WrittenBy=[[Ronnie Taylor (scriptwriter)|Ronnie Taylor]]
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1977|7|28|df=y}}
|ShortSummary=The pilot was part of ITV's ''The Sounds of Laughter'' series of six one-off comedies. Sheila fancies having a small porch added to the back door off the kitchen, so calls in a local builder. Peter heads off to see his bank manager for a loan to cover the quote. Sheila Barnes was played by [[Patricia Brake]] in this episode.
|LineColor = 000000
}}
}}

=== Series 1 (1978) ===
{{Episode table |background=#4CBB17 |overall=5 |series=5 |title=24 |director=25 |writer=24 |airdate=17 |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = Your Life In Their Hands
|DirectedBy = Les Chatfield
|WrittenBy = Ronnie Taylor
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|2|20|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = Peter doesn't much feel like eating his breakfast, which leads Sheila to insist he visit the doctor for a check-up.
|LineColor = 4CBB17
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Happy Motoring
|DirectedBy = Les Chatfield
|WrittenBy = Ronnie Taylor
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|2|27|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = The car won't start, which is doubly frustrating as Peter not only has places to go, but also give Sheila a driving lesson. Typically, it turns out to be rather expensive a repair.
|LineColor = 4CBB17
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = Somewhere In The Sun
|DirectedBy = Les Chatfield
|WrittenBy = Ronnie Taylor
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|3|6|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = What could be easier than booking a summer holiday? As Peter is about to find out; just about anything.
|LineColor = 4CBB17
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = See You In Court
|DirectedBy = Les Chatfield
|WrittenBy = Ronnie Taylor
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|3|13|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = The Barnes' marital bliss is thrown awry when he's forced to bring his very drunk boss home from an office party. Peter's desperate to bring their relationship back from the brink of divorce.
|LineColor = 4CBB17
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = The Gasman Cometh
|DirectedBy = Les Chatfield
|WrittenBy = Ronnie Taylor
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|3|20|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = Peter begins to tear his hair out when men from the gas board arrive to install his new central heating: he has not asked for, and does not want, it.
|LineColor = 4CBB17
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 6
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = Seven Year Hitch
|DirectedBy = Les Chatfield
|WrittenBy = Ronnie Taylor
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1978|3|27|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = For their seventh wedding anniversary, Peter and Sheila intend to stay in the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon.
|LineColor = 4CBB17
}}
}}

=== Series 2 (1979) ===
{{Episode table |background=#6495ED |overall=5 |series=5 |title=24 |director=25 |writer=24 |airdate=17 |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 7
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = Your Move
|DirectedBy = Les Chatfield
|WrittenBy = Ronnie Taylor
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1979|2|19|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = Sheila's suddenly desperate to move home. She's never been happy living in their current home,apparently! All this is news to Peter, who's forced to engage with local estate agents.
|LineColor = 6495ED
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 8
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Your Very Good Health
|DirectedBy = Les Chatfield
|WrittenBy = Ronnie Taylor
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1979|2|26|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = Peter's hospitalised after a small accident in the garden damages his ankle. His doctor's nice enough, but the matron?
|LineColor = 6495ED
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 9
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = Where There's A Will
|DirectedBy = Les Chatfield
|WrittenBy = Ronnie Taylor
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1979|3|5|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = The Barnes' are forced to deal with Sheila's argumentative family when her aunt dies. After a series of mishaps at the wake and dealing with a grasping vicar, Peter's very surprised to discover that they've been left an old piano.
|LineColor = 6495ED
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 10
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = Another Little Drink
|DirectedBy = Les Chatfield
|WrittenBy = Ronnie Taylor
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1979|3|12|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = Double trouble's on the horizon when Peter's workmates won't let him leave the pub without another few rounds down him first. Sheila's not happy, and after a struggle to extricate his car, neither is P.C. Reynolds
|LineColor = 6495ED
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 11
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = The Square On The Hypoteneuse
|DirectedBy = Les Chatfield
|WrittenBy = Ronnie Taylor
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1979|3|19|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = Commiserating with a stranger in the pub leads to all manner of domestic disharmony for poor Peter Barnes when both his wife and girlfriend arrive.
|LineColor = 6495ED
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 12
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = What About The Workers
|DirectedBy = Les Chatfield
|WrittenBy = Ronnie Taylor
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1979|3|26|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = Peter's caught up in the officiousness of trade unionism when a repair man at his firm spots him, a white collared worker, turning a conveyor belt on and off. Matters are set to only get worse as the shop steward arrives.
|LineColor = 6495ED
}}
}}

=== Series 3 (1980) ===
{{Episode table |background=#FF5F64 |overall=5 |series=5 |title=24 |director=25 |writer=24 |airdate=17 |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 13
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = The Spare Part
|DirectedBy = Les Chatfield
|WrittenBy = Ronnie Taylor
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1980|1|4|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = A leaky washing machine is only the start of the Barnes's problems. Peter's attempt to acquire the necessary replacement part is easier said than done, especially with British Rail involved.
|LineColor = FF5F64
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 14
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Just Cause Or Impediment
|DirectedBy = Les Chatfield
|WrittenBy = Ronnie Taylor
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1980|1|11|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = Peter's lined up for best man duties, but first he needs a suit. Then there's the small matter of getting to the church on time.
|LineColor = FF5F64
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 15
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = Look Who's Coming For Ever
|DirectedBy = Les Chatfield
|WrittenBy = Ronnie Taylor
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1980|1|18|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = When her brother and sister-in-law head for a fortnight's holiday in Benidorm, Sheila's Dad comes to stay with the Barnes'. Peter isn't keen, but ends up hitting it off with the old man, who takes him for a round of golf.
|LineColor = FF5F64
}}
}}

=== Series 4 (1981) ===
{{Episode table |background=#FBEC5D |overall=5 |series=5 |title=24 |director=25 |writer=24 |airdate=17 |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 16
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = Wheels
|DirectedBy = Stuart Allen
|WrittenBy = Vince Powell
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1981|1|11|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = Peter's asked to deliver the company chairman his car - a flash Mercedes. Giving it a quick drive around, he encounters a group of anti-car, anti-pollution protesters and is swiftly arrested alongside them.
|LineColor = FBEC5D
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 17
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Match Of The Day
|DirectedBy = Stuart Allen
|WrittenBy = Vince Powell
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1981|1|18|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = After managing to secure a ticket to a major international football match at Wembley, Peter manages to lose - and reacquire - his ticket numerous times. Will he make it to see the big game?
|LineColor = FBEC5D
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 18
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = The Train Now Standing
|DirectedBy = Stuart Allen
|WrittenBy = Vince Powell
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1981|1|25|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = Having discovered that the train he and Sheila catch into London has been cancelled, Peter heads to the offices of British Rail to demand changes.
|LineColor = FBEC5D
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 19
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = While The Cat's Away
|DirectedBy = Stuart Allen
|WrittenBy = Vince Powell
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1981|2|1|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = With Sheila away visiting her ill mother, Terry challenges Peter to prove he's still got what it takes and can chat up a lady in the pub. When he fails, Terry organises the pair a double-date at a Chinese restaurant.
|LineColor = FBEC5D
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 20
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = The Weekend
|DirectedBy = Stuart Allen
|WrittenBy = Vince Powell
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1981|2|8|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = Having bumped into an old army friend in the park, Peter and Sheila are invited to stay with him - 'Snogger' Sutcliffe - and his wife for the weekend at their country retreat.
|LineColor = FBEC5D
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 21
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = Rear Window
|DirectedBy = Stuart Allen
|WrittenBy = Vince Powell
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1981|2|15|df=y}}
|ShortSummary = Having failed to ingratiate himself with the new neighbours, Peter manages to sprain his ankle falling from a ladder. Sat in bed with little more to do than look out of the window, he soon becomes convinced that the short-tempered new neighbour has murdered his wife.
|LineColor = FBEC5D
}}
}}

==Home media==
The Complete series was released on DVD 04/05/2015 and as of August 2017 is currently being repeated on UK Gold.

==External links==
*{{BBC Online|comedy/guide/articles/s/sharpintakeofbre_7775760.shtml|''A Sharp Intake of Breath''}}
*{{IMDb title|id=0077080|title=A Sharp Intake of Breath}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharp Intake of Breath}}
[[Category:1970s British sitcoms]]
[[Category:1977 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:1980s British sitcoms]]
[[Category:1981 British television series endings]]
[[Category:English-language television shows]]
[[Category:ITV sitcoms]]
[[Category:Television shows produced by Associated Television (ATV)]]
[[Category:Television series by ITV Studios]]
[[Category:Television shows shot at ATV Elstree Studios]]

A Sharp Intake of Breath - Revision history

Kurt at 19:10, 25 February 2023

Kurt: 1 revision imported

en>Butlerblog: /* top */remove obsolete first_run param (see :Template:Infobox television)