Bottle Boys: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox television | {{Infobox television | ||
| image = Bottle Boys.webp | | image = Bottle Boys.webp | ||
| runtime = 30 minutes | | runtime = 30 minutes | ||
| creator = [[Vince Powell]] | | creator = [[Vince Powell]] | ||
| starring = [[ | | starring = [[Robin Askwith|Robin Askwith]] | ||
| country = United Kingdom | | country = United Kingdom | ||
| language = English | | language = English | ||
| company = [[ | | company = [[London Weekend Television|London Weekend Television]] | ||
| network = [[ | | network = [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] | ||
| first_aired = {{Start date|1984|09|01|df=y}} | | first_aired = {{Start date|1984|09|01|df=y}} | ||
| last_aired = {{End date|1985|08|24|df=y}} | | last_aired = {{End date|1985|08|24|df=y}} | ||
| Line 15: | Line 13: | ||
| num_episodes = 13 | | num_episodes = 13 | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''''Bottle Boys''''' is a British sitcom which ran for two series on [[ | '''''Bottle Boys''''' is a British sitcom which ran for two series on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] between 1 September 1984 and 24 August 1985.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/b/bottleboys_1299000392.shtml |title=BBC – Comedy Guide – Bottle Boys |accessdate=2013-09-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050417222328/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/b/bottleboys_1299000392.shtml |archivedate=17 April 2005 }}</ref> Starring [[Robin Askwith|Robin Askwith]] as football-mad milkman Dave Deacon, the series mined broad comedy from randy Dave's amorous adventures. | ||
However, as well as the sexual innuendo of his earlier big-screen adventures, Askwith was equally likely to find himself embroiled in more off-the-wall exploits, and found himself at various points in the series dressing up as a cow, inadvertently engaged to Sharon the secretary, and meeting then-Prime Minister [[ | However, as well as the sexual innuendo of his earlier big-screen adventures, Askwith was equally likely to find himself embroiled in more off-the-wall exploits, and found himself at various points in the series dressing up as a cow, inadvertently engaged to Sharon the secretary, and meeting then-Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher|Margaret Thatcher]] (played by an actor). | ||
The part of Dave Deacon was originally written for [[Jim Davidson]], who was by this time moving into sitcom with ''[[Up the Elephant and Round the Castle]]'', also on ITV. Future BBC controller [[John Birt]], during his tenure at [[London Weekend Television]], suggested that Askwith take the part. | The part of Dave Deacon was originally written for [[Jim Davidson]], who was by this time moving into sitcom with ''[[Up the Elephant and Round the Castle]]'', also on ITV. Future BBC controller [[John Birt]], during his tenure at [[London Weekend Television]], suggested that Askwith take the part. | ||
==Critical reception== | ==Critical reception== | ||
The series has a reputation as one of the worst British sitcoms ever produced. [[ | The series has a reputation as one of the worst British sitcoms ever produced. [[Mark Lewisohn|Mark Lewisohn]], writing in the ''Radio Times Guide to Comedy'' observes that "ITV sitcoms had often plumbed the depths, but this was the limit", and also observed that ''Bottle Boys'' was reputedly despised by comedy executives at ITV. He described ''Bottle Boys'' as his "worst ever" British sitcom. | ||
Writer [[Vince Powell]] was no stranger to working on shows that attracted a bad press, however, having created two of the most controversial comedy shows of the 1970s: ''[[Love Thy Neighbour (1972 TV series)|Love Thy Neighbour]]'' and ''[[Mind Your Language]]''. | Writer [[Vince Powell]] was no stranger to working on shows that attracted a bad press, however, having created two of the most controversial comedy shows of the 1970s: ''[[Love Thy Neighbour (1972 TV series)|Love Thy Neighbour]]'' and ''[[Mind Your Language]]''. | ||
| Line 30: | Line 28: | ||
==Cast== | ==Cast== | ||
* [[ | * [[Robin Askwith|Robin Askwith]] – Dave Deacon | ||
* [[ | * [[David Auker|David Auker]] – Billy Watson | ||
* [[ | * [[Oscar James|Oscar James]] – Joe Phillips | ||
* [[ | * [[Phil McCall|Phil McCall]] – Jock Collins | ||
* [[Richard Davies (Welsh actor)|Richard Davies]] – Stan Evans | * [[Richard Davies (Welsh actor)|Richard Davies]] – Stan Evans | ||
* [[ | * [[Eve Ferret|Eve Ferret]] – Sharon Armstrong | ||
* [[ | * [[Patrick Newell|Patrick Newell]] – Mr Dawson | ||
* Leo Dolan – Wilf Foley | * Leo Dolan – Wilf Foley | ||
* Ann Michelle (one episode) | * Ann Michelle (one episode) | ||
* [[ | * [[Zara Nutley|Zara Nutley]] (one episode) | ||
* [[ | * [[Alan Gear|Alan Gear]] (one episode) | ||
* [[ | * [[Candy Davis|Candy Davis]] (one episode) | ||
* [[ | * [[Pam St. Clement|Pam St. Clement]] (one episode) | ||
* [[Don Henderson]] (one episode) | * [[Don Henderson]] (one episode) | ||
* [[Bernie Winters]] – himself (one episode) | * [[Bernie Winters]] – himself (one episode) | ||
Latest revision as of 11:12, 14 February 2023
| Bottle Boys | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created by | Vince Powell |
| Starring | Robin Askwith |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company | London Weekend Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV |
| Release | 1 September 1984 – 24 August 1985 |
Bottle Boys is a British sitcom which ran for two series on ITV between 1 September 1984 and 24 August 1985.[1] Starring Robin Askwith as football-mad milkman Dave Deacon, the series mined broad comedy from randy Dave's amorous adventures.
However, as well as the sexual innuendo of his earlier big-screen adventures, Askwith was equally likely to find himself embroiled in more off-the-wall exploits, and found himself at various points in the series dressing up as a cow, inadvertently engaged to Sharon the secretary, and meeting then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (played by an actor).
The part of Dave Deacon was originally written for Jim Davidson, who was by this time moving into sitcom with Up the Elephant and Round the Castle, also on ITV. Future BBC controller John Birt, during his tenure at London Weekend Television, suggested that Askwith take the part.
Critical reception
The series has a reputation as one of the worst British sitcoms ever produced. Mark Lewisohn, writing in the Radio Times Guide to Comedy observes that "ITV sitcoms had often plumbed the depths, but this was the limit", and also observed that Bottle Boys was reputedly despised by comedy executives at ITV. He described Bottle Boys as his "worst ever" British sitcom.
Writer Vince Powell was no stranger to working on shows that attracted a bad press, however, having created two of the most controversial comedy shows of the 1970s: Love Thy Neighbour and Mind Your Language.
The programme also made number 97 in Channel Four's 100 Greatest TV Moments from Hell list show, a retrospective of television's low points of the last fifty years.
Cast
- Robin Askwith – Dave Deacon
- David Auker – Billy Watson
- Oscar James – Joe Phillips
- Phil McCall – Jock Collins
- Richard Davies – Stan Evans
- Eve Ferret – Sharon Armstrong
- Patrick Newell – Mr Dawson
- Leo Dolan – Wilf Foley
- Ann Michelle (one episode)
- Zara Nutley (one episode)
- Alan Gear (one episode)
- Candy Davis (one episode)
- Pam St. Clement (one episode)
- Don Henderson (one episode)
- Bernie Winters – himself (one episode)
Episodes
Series One (1 Sep – 6 Oct 1984):
- Fools Rush In
- God Save Our Dairy
- Danger Women at Work
- All in a Day's Work
- One Good Turn
- Here Comes the Groom
Series Two (13 July – 24 Aug 1985)
- Things That Go Bump in the Night
- I Gotta Horse
- Out of the Frying Pan
- If the Cap Fits
- High Noon
- I Love Paris
- The Milk Cup Runneth Over
References
- ^ "BBC – Comedy Guide – Bottle Boys". Archived from the original on 17 April 2005. Retrieved 2013-09-04.
