To the Manor Born - Revision history

Kurt at 13:58, 27 December 2022

2022-12-27T13:58:45Z

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	{{short description\|BBC television sitcom}}		{{short description\|BBC television sitcom}}
	~~{{Use British English\|date=January 2013}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=May 2021}}~~
	{{Infobox television		{{Infobox television
	\| image = Tothemanorborn.jpg		\| image = Tothemanorborn.jpg
	\| alt=series title over an image of the Manor House		\| alt=series title over an image of the Manor House
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| genre = [[Sitcom]]		\| genre = [[w:Sitcom\|Sitcom]]
	\| runtime = 30 minutes <small>(1979–81)</small><br />60 minutes <small>(2007)</small>		\| runtime = 30 minutes <small>(1979–81)</small><br />60 minutes <small>(2007)</small>
	\| creator = [[Peter Spence]]		\| creator = [[w:Peter Spence\|Peter Spence]]
	\| starring = [[Penelope Keith]]<br />[[Peter Bowles]]<br />[[Angela Thorne]]<br />[[John Rudling]]<br />[[Daphne Heard]]<br />[[Michael Bilton]]<br />[[Gerald Sim]]		\| starring = [[w:Penelope Keith\|Penelope Keith]]<br />[[Peter Bowles]]<br />[[w:Angela Thorne\|Angela Thorne]]<br />[[w:John Rudling\|John Rudling]]<br />[[w:Daphne Heard\|Daphne Heard]]<br />[[w:Michael Bilton\|Michael Bilton]]<br />[[w:Gerald Sim\|Gerald Sim]]
	\| country = United Kingdom		\| country = United Kingdom
	\| distributor = [[BBC Worldwide]] <br> [[2entertain]] <br>[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation\|ABC]] (Australia, home video)		\| distributor = [[w:BBC Worldwide\|BBC Worldwide]] <br> [[w:2entertain\|2entertain]] <br>[[w:Australian Broadcasting Corporation\|ABC]] (Australia, home video)
	\| theme_music_composer = [[Ronnie Hazlehurst]]		\| theme_music_composer = [[w:Ronnie Hazlehurst\|Ronnie Hazlehurst]]
	\| language = English		\| language = English
	\| network = [[BBC One\|BBC1]]		\| network = [[w:BBC One\|BBC1]]
	\| producer = [[Gareth Gwenlan]]<br />Justin Davies <small>(2007)</small>		\| producer = [[w:Gareth Gwenlan\|Gareth Gwenlan]]<br />Justin Davies <small>(2007)</small>
	\| director = [[Gareth Gwenlan]]		\| director = [[w:Gareth Gwenlan\|Gareth Gwenlan]]
	\| first_aired = {{Plainlist\|		\| first_aired = {{Plainlist\|
	* '''Original series''':<br/>{{Start date\|1979\|09\|30\|df=y}} - {{End date\|1981\|11\|29\|df=y}}		* '''Original series''':<br/>{{Start date\|1979\|09\|30\|df=y}} - {{End date\|1981\|11\|29\|df=y}}
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	}}		}}

	'''''To the Manor Born''''' is a [[BBC television]] [[British sitcom\|sitcom]] that first aired on [[BBC One\|BBC1]] from 1979 to 1981. A special one-off episode was produced in 2007. Starring [[Penelope Keith]] and [[Peter Bowles]], the first 20 episodes and the 2007 special were written by [[Peter Spence]], the creator, while the final episode in 1981 was written by script associate Christopher Bond. The title is a play on the phrase "to the manner born," from [[William Shakespeare\|Shakespeare]]'s ''[[Hamlet]]'' ("Though I am a native here and to the manner born, it is a custom more honoured in the breach than the observance".)		'''''To the Manor Born''''' is a [[w:BBC television\|BBC television]] [[w:British sitcom\|sitcom]] that first aired on [[w:BBC One\|BBC1]] from 1979 to 1981. A special one-off episode was produced in 2007. Starring [[w:Penelope Keith\|Penelope Keith]] and [[Peter Bowles]], the first 20 episodes and the 2007 special were written by [[w:Peter Spence\|Peter Spence]], the creator, while the final episode in 1981 was written by script associate Christopher Bond. The title is a play on the phrase "to the manner born," from [[w:William Shakespeare\|Shakespeare]]'s ''[[w:Hamlet\|Hamlet]]'' ("Though I am a native here and to the manner born, it is a custom more honoured in the breach than the observance".)

	In ''To the Manor Born'', Penelope Keith (who was best known for her role as [[Margo Leadbetter]] in the [[suburb]]an sitcom ''[[The Good Life (1975 TV series)\|The Good Life]]''), plays upper-class Audrey fforbes-Hamilton<!--DO NOT CORRECT THIS TO Forbes or Fforbes-->. Upon the death of her husband, Audrey is forced to sell her vast country estate, Grantleigh Manor. However, she then moves into the estate's small, modest lodge house (where she can keep an eye on the estate's new owner) and manages to keep her butler and her much loved [[Rolls-Royce 20/25]] car. The manor is bought by Richard DeVere (played by Peter Bowles), a [[nouveau riche]] millionaire supermarket owner originally from [[Czechoslovakia]]. DeVere and fforbes-Hamilton<!--DO NOT CORRECT THIS TO FORBES--> have a love-hate relationship which is eventually resolved in the final episode in 1981 when they marry. In the 2007 special, they celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.		In ''To the Manor Born'', Penelope Keith (who was best known for her role as [[Margo Leadbetter]] in the [[w:suburb\|suburb]]an sitcom ''[[The Good Life (1975 TV series)\|The Good Life]]''), plays upper-class Audrey fforbes-Hamilton<!--DO NOT CORRECT THIS TO Forbes or Fforbes-->. Upon the death of her husband, Audrey is forced to sell her vast country estate, Grantleigh Manor. However, she then moves into the estate's small, modest lodge house (where she can keep an eye on the estate's new owner) and manages to keep her butler and her much loved [[w:Rolls-Royce 20/25\|Rolls-Royce 20/25]] car. The manor is bought by Richard DeVere (played by Peter Bowles), a [[w:nouveau riche\|nouveau riche]] millionaire supermarket owner originally from [[w:Czechoslovakia\|Czechoslovakia]]. DeVere and fforbes-Hamilton<!--DO NOT CORRECT THIS TO FORBES--> have a love-hate relationship which is eventually resolved in the final episode in 1981 when they marry. In the 2007 special, they celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.

	The programme proved popular and it received [[List of most watched television broadcasts#United Kingdom\|high audience figures]] for many of its episodes, especially the series 1 final episode, the most watched British television programme (excluding live events) of the 1970s.		The programme proved popular and it received [[w:List of most watched television broadcasts#United Kingdom\|high audience figures]] for many of its episodes, especially the series 1 final episode, the most watched British television programme (excluding live events) of the 1970s.

	==Production==		==Production==

Kurt: /* Development */

2022-12-27T13:52:40Z

Development

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	[[File:Cricketstthomas.jpg\|thumb\|Cricket House in [[Cricket St Thomas]], Somerset, used as the location for Grantleigh Manor]]		[[File:Cricketstthomas.jpg\|thumb\|Cricket House in [[Cricket St Thomas]], Somerset, used as the location for Grantleigh Manor]]
	===Development===		===Development===
	Peter Spence first thought of the idea behind ''To the Manor Born'' in the early 1970s when he was working for [[BBC Radio]] as a [[joke\|gag writer]].<ref name="Express26Oct07">{{cite news\|url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/23272/Return-of-Lady-Penelope\|title=Return of Lady Penelope\|first=Simon\|last=Edge\|publisher=[[Daily Express]]\|date=26 October 2007}}</ref> One of the programmes that Spence wrote for featured a [[Cockney]] comedian, who had recently bought a manor house in an English country village.~~{{Citation needed\|date=March 2017}}~~ When holding a [[housewarming party]], the comedian invited the previous occupant, a widow who could not afford to keep the house up and had moved to a smaller house in the village.~~{{Citation needed\|date=March 2017}}~~<ref name="Express26Oct07"/> The comedian's account of the lady, and the conversation he had with her, Spence later described as a "perfect description" of Audrey.~~{{Citation needed\|date=March 2017}}~~		Peter Spence first thought of the idea behind ''To the Manor Born'' in the early 1970s when he was working for [[w:BBC Radio\|BBC Radio]] as a [[w:joke\|gag writer]].<ref name="Express26Oct07">{{cite news\|url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/23272/Return-of-Lady-Penelope\|title=Return of Lady Penelope\|first=Simon\|last=Edge\|publisher=[[w:Daily Express\|]]\|date=26 October 2007}}</ref> One of the programmes that Spence wrote for featured a [[w:Cockney\|Cockney]] comedian, who had recently bought a manor house in an English country village. When holding a [[w:housewarming party\|housewarming party]], the comedian invited the previous occupant, a widow who could not afford to keep the house up and had moved to a smaller house in the village.<ref name="Express26Oct07"/> The comedian's account of the lady, and the conversation he had with her, Spence later described as a "perfect description" of Audrey.

	A few years later, following the success of ''[[The Good Life (1975 TV series)\|The Good Life]]'', Spence was asked by [[BBC Radio]] to come up with an idea for a programme to feature Keith.<ref name="Express26Oct07"/> Thinking of Keith's character in ''The Good Life'', Spence had the idea of an upper-class version of Margo Leadbetter and, from the account from the comedian, came up with Audrey fforbes-Hamilton<!--DO NOT CORRECT THIS TO FORBES-->.~~{{Citation needed\|date=March 2017}}~~ Instead of a Cockney comedian as the new owner of the manor, Spence decided on an American who sees the manor while in England looking for his roots. The American later discovers he is descended from the fforbes-Hamiltons<!--DO NOT CORRECT THIS TO FORBES-->. This was made into a [[Television pilot\|radio pilot]] in 1976 with [[Bernard Braden]] as the American, but was never broadcast because of the interest to make it into a TV series.<ref name="RT"/>		A few years later, following the success of ''[[w:The Good Life (1975 TV series)\|The Good Life]]'', Spence was asked by [[w:BBC Radio\|BBC Radio]] to come up with an idea for a programme to feature Keith.<ref name="Express26Oct07"/> Thinking of Keith's character in ''The Good Life'', Spence had the idea of an upper-class version of Margo Leadbetter and, from the account from the comedian, came up with Audrey fforbes-Hamilton<!--DO NOT CORRECT THIS TO FORBES-->. Instead of a Cockney comedian as the new owner of the manor, Spence decided on an American who sees the manor while in England looking for his roots. The American later discovers he is descended from the fforbes-Hamiltons<!--DO NOT CORRECT THIS TO FORBES-->. This was made into a [[w:Television pilot\|radio pilot]] in 1976 with [[Bernard Braden]] as the American, but was never broadcast because of the interest to make it into a TV series.<ref name="RT"/>

	When writing the TV series, Christopher Bond was brought in as the [[Screenwriter\|script associate]] and helped to adapt the series from radio to television.<ref name="RT"/> The American character was changed, and the idea of a character who appeared to be an English gentleman, but turns out not to be, was thought of.~~{{Citation needed\|date=March 2017}}~~ It was then decided that this character needed someone who could reveal his real background, and his mother was created, although it was not until Spence had nearly finished the first series that she was written in from the beginning.~~{{Citation needed\|date=March 2017}}~~ The characters of Brabinger and Marjory followed soon after.~~{{Citation needed\|date=March 2017}}~~ The first episode aired on 30 September 1979, a year after Keith had played Margo Leadbetter for the last time in ''The Good Life''.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.sitcom.co.uk/manor_born/series1.shtml\|title=Series 1 First broadcast 1979\|access-date=2 November 2007\|last=Edwards\|first=Amelia\|year=2007\|publisher=British Sitcom Guide}}</ref>		When writing the TV series, Christopher Bond was brought in as the [[w:Screenwriter\|script associate]] and helped to adapt the series from radio to television.<ref name="RT"/> The American character was changed, and the idea of a character who appeared to be an English gentleman, but turns out not to be, was thought of. It was then decided that this character needed someone who could reveal his real background, and his mother was created, although it was not until Spence had nearly finished the first series that she was written in from the beginning. The characters of Brabinger and Marjory followed soon after. The first episode aired on 30 September 1979, a year after Keith had played Margo Leadbetter for the last time in ''The Good Life''.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.sitcom.co.uk/manor_born/series1.shtml\|title=Series 1 First broadcast 1979\|access-date=2 November 2007\|last=Edwards\|first=Amelia\|year=2007\|publisher=British Sitcom Guide}}</ref>

	===Filming===		===Filming===

Kurt: /* Radio episodes */

2022-12-27T13:49:08Z

Radio episodes

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	\|Title=The Grapevine		\|Title=The Grapevine
	\|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1997\|2\|1\|df=y}}		\|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1997\|2\|1\|df=y}}
	\|ShortSummary=At a party at the Manor, Audrey tells Richard that she is going on [[tourism\|holiday]] to Spain. However, she actually spends her holiday hiding at the Lodge. During her "holiday" she finds out that Richard and Marjory have been spending time in the [[Woodland\|woods]] behind the Lodge. Unknown to her, they are [[badger]] watching but when Audrey confronts him at a post-holiday party, he tells her he knows where she spent her holiday.~~{{Citation needed\|date=March 2017}}~~		\|ShortSummary=At a party at the Manor, Audrey tells Richard that she is going on [[tourism\|holiday]] to Spain. However, she actually spends her holiday hiding at the Lodge. During her "holiday" she finds out that Richard and Marjory have been spending time in the [[Woodland\|woods]] behind the Lodge. Unknown to her, they are [[badger]] watching but when Audrey confronts him at a post-holiday party, he tells her he knows where she spent her holiday.
	}}		}}
	{{Episode list		{{Episode list
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	\|Title=What's in a Name		\|Title=What's in a Name
	\|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1997\|2\|8\|df=y}}		\|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1997\|2\|8\|df=y}}
	\|ShortSummary=Audrey is having problems with her [[heating system\|heating]], and Old Ned is trying to fix it but keeps needing new parts. Meanwhile, Mrs. Poo is bored and enters a "Cavendish Foods" competition, and upon Richard's insistence does so under an assumed name. She wins the competition, to Audrey's good fortune.~~{{Citation needed\|date=March 2017}}~~ (New episode)		\|ShortSummary=Audrey is having problems with her [[heating system\|heating]], and Old Ned is trying to fix it but keeps needing new parts. Meanwhile, Mrs. Poo is bored and enters a "Cavendish Foods" competition, and upon Richard's insistence does so under an assumed name. She wins the competition, to Audrey's good fortune. (New episode)
	}}		}}
	{{Episode list		{{Episode list
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	\|Title=Vive Le Sport		\|Title=Vive Le Sport
	\|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1997\|2\|15\|df=y}}		\|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1997\|2\|15\|df=y}}
	\|ShortSummary=Audrey believes she is the only healthy person on the estate, but then hurts her [[Human back\|back]] and gets little help from Dr. Horton ([[Geoffrey Whitehead]]). Audrey enjoys Richard coming round to see her, and pretends her back is worse than it is to ensure the visits continue. However, when he asks her to go [[skiing]] with him, she makes a quick recovery only for Richard to [[Bone fracture\|break]] his leg while practising skiing.~~{{Citation needed\|date=March 2017}}~~		\|ShortSummary=Audrey believes she is the only healthy person on the estate, but then hurts her [[Human back\|back]] and gets little help from Dr. Horton ([[Geoffrey Whitehead]]). Audrey enjoys Richard coming round to see her, and pretends her back is worse than it is to ensure the visits continue. However, when he asks her to go [[skiing]] with him, she makes a quick recovery only for Richard to [[Bone fracture\|break]] his leg while practising skiing.
	}}		}}
	{{Episode list		{{Episode list
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	\|Title=Sons of the Fathers		\|Title=Sons of the Fathers
	\|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1997\|2\|22\|df=y}}		\|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1997\|2\|22\|df=y}}
	\|ShortSummary=Audrey, a local [[Justice of the Peace#United Kingdom\|magistrate]], encourages Richard to join the Marlbury [[Courtroom\|bench]] as they are short of magistrates. Richard meanwhile tries to persuade her to go to the [[Race track\|race course]] with him. However, she refuses as she wants to spend time looking for any close relatives as she is worried about being the last of the fforbes-Hamilton<!--DO NOT CORRECT THIS TO FORBES--> line.~~{{Citation needed\|date=March 2017}}~~ (New episode)		\|ShortSummary=Audrey, a local [[Justice of the Peace#United Kingdom\|magistrate]], encourages Richard to join the Marlbury [[Courtroom\|bench]] as they are short of magistrates. Richard meanwhile tries to persuade her to go to the [[Race track\|race course]] with him. However, she refuses as she wants to spend time looking for any close relatives as she is worried about being the last of the fforbes-Hamilton<!--DO NOT CORRECT THIS TO FORBES--> line. (New episode)
	}}		}}
	{{Episode list		{{Episode list
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	\|Title=A Wife's Prerogative		\|Title=A Wife's Prerogative
	\|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1997\|3\|1\|df=y}}		\|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1997\|3\|1\|df=y}}
	\|ShortSummary=When Richard gets in a difficult situation with a female business associate Mlle Dutoit ([[Rula Lenska]]), he tells her he is married. However, Mlle Dutoit then arranges to visit the Manor, and Richard persuades Audrey to pretend to be his wife for the weekend. Audrey uses the situation to move a piece of [[modern art]] she dislikes. The deception goes well until Mrs. Poo returns home early from London.~~{{Citation needed\|date=March 2017}}~~		\|ShortSummary=When Richard gets in a difficult situation with a female business associate Mlle Dutoit ([[Rula Lenska]]), he tells her he is married. However, Mlle Dutoit then arranges to visit the Manor, and Richard persuades Audrey to pretend to be his wife for the weekend. Audrey uses the situation to move a piece of [[modern art]] she dislikes. The deception goes well until Mrs. Poo returns home early from London.
	}}		}}
	{{Episode list		{{Episode list
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	\|Title=The Spare Room		\|Title=The Spare Room
	\|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1997\|3\|8\|df=y}}		\|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1997\|3\|8\|df=y}}
	\|ShortSummary=An old friend of Audrey and Marjory, Podge Hodge (Zulema Dene), comes to visit, Audrey has to ask Richard to provide a bedroom as the Lodge has a leaking roof. Podge and Richard soon start getting on well, to Audrey and Marjory's horror, and when they spend the whole day together after going [[Fox hunting\|hunting]], Audrey and Marjory ensure Podge does not spend a second night at the Manor.~~{{Citation needed\|date=March 2017}}~~		\|ShortSummary=An old friend of Audrey and Marjory, Podge Hodge (Zulema Dene), comes to visit, Audrey has to ask Richard to provide a bedroom as the Lodge has a leaking roof. Podge and Richard soon start getting on well, to Audrey and Marjory's horror, and when they spend the whole day together after going [[Fox hunting\|hunting]], Audrey and Marjory ensure Podge does not spend a second night at the Manor.
	}}		}}
	{{Episode list		{{Episode list
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	\|Title=An Englishman's Home		\|Title=An Englishman's Home
	\|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1997\|3\|15\|df=y}}		\|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1997\|3\|15\|df=y}}
	\|ShortSummary=Richard has a security system installed at the Manor and Audrey is concerned that the [[Closed-circuit television\|CCTV]] will allow Richard to see into her bedroom. Meanwhile, the estate workers [[Strike action\|go on strike]], fearing they are being watched, and Mrs. Poo has problems with the system, causing the Police to be called to the Manor frequently.~~{{Citation needed\|date=March 2017}}~~ (New episode)		\|ShortSummary=Richard has a security system installed at the Manor and Audrey is concerned that the [[w:Closed-circuit television\|CCTV]] will allow Richard to see into her bedroom. Meanwhile, the estate workers [[w:Strike action\|go on strike]], fearing they are being watched, and Mrs. Poo has problems with the system, causing the Police to be called to the Manor frequently. (New episode)
	}}		}}
	{{Episode list		{{Episode list
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	\|Title=The Honours List		\|Title=The Honours List
	\|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1997\|3\|22\|df=y}}		\|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1997\|3\|22\|df=y}}
	\|ShortSummary=Audrey lectures Richard for not attending Lord Allenshaw's ([[Frank Middlemass]]) lecture on [[Conservation ethic\|nature conservation]]. She then attacks him for his proposed destruction of the estate's [[Hedge (barrier)\|hedgerows]]. However, when Audrey hears that a local person is to receive an [[Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom\|honour]], she believes it will be Richard, and she changes her mind and agrees to host his [[New Year]] party. However, it is the Brigadier who gets an honour, being made an [[Order of the British Empire\|OBE]].~~{{Citation needed\|date=March 2017}}~~		\|ShortSummary=Audrey lectures Richard for not attending Lord Allenshaw's ([[w:Frank Middlemass\|Frank Middlemass]]) lecture on [[w:Conservation ethic\|nature conservation]]. She then attacks him for his proposed destruction of the estate's [[w:Hedge (barrier)\|hedgerows]]. However, when Audrey hears that a local person is to receive an [[w:Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom\|honour]], she believes it will be Richard, and she changes her mind and agrees to host his [[w:New Year\|New Year]] party. However, it is the Brigadier who gets an honour, being made an [[Order of the British Empire\|OBE]].
	}}		}}
	{{Episode list		{{Episode list
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	\|Title=Plenty More Fish		\|Title=Plenty More Fish
	\|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1997\|3\|29\|df=y}}		\|OriginalAirDate={{Start date\|1997\|3\|29\|df=y}}
	\|ShortSummary=Audrey and Marjory fall out when Audrey develops a close friendship with Commander Jeremy French-Liversey (Doyne Byrd) and does not help organise the [[Agricultural show\|county show]]. Richard gets jealous, and he finds out the Commander has a "roving eye" for women. Meanwhile, Mrs. Poo and Ned get stuck on a runaway [[traction engine]].~~{{Citation needed\|date=March 2017}}~~(New episode)		\|ShortSummary=Audrey and Marjory fall out when Audrey develops a close friendship with Commander Jeremy French-Liversey (Doyne Byrd) and does not help organise the [[w:Agricultural show\|county show\|]]. Richard gets jealous, and he finds out the Commander has a "roving eye" for women. Meanwhile, Mrs. Poo and Ned get stuck on a runaway [[w:traction engine\|traction engine]]. (New episode)
	}}		}}
	\|}		\|}

Kurt: /* External links */

2022-12-27T13:46:57Z

External links

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:46, 27 December 2022
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	==External links==		==External links==
	~~{{cc}}~~
	*{{BBC Online\|comedy/tothemanorborn/index.shtml\|''To the Manor Born''}}		*{{BBC Online\|comedy/tothemanorborn/index.shtml\|''To the Manor Born''}}
	*{{IMDb title\|0078703}}		*{{IMDb title\|0078703}}

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-08-15T03:51:35Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 22:51, 14 August 2022
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en>Dr Greg: Reverted 1 edit by 92.19.176.218 (talk) to last revision by The Editor 155

2022-07-17T21:42:12Z

Reverted 1 edit by 92.19.176.218 (talk) to last revision by The Editor 155

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