L for Lester

L for Lester
Genre	Sitcom
Created by	Dudley Long
Directed by	John B Hobbs
Starring	Brian Murphy Amanda Barrie Hilda Braid Linda Robson
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	6
Production
Running time	30 minutes
Original release
Network	BBC2
Release	8 October (1982-10-08) – 12 November 1982 (1982-11-12)

L for Lester is a BBC sitcom first broadcast in 1982, starring Brian Murphy. The programme followed the misfortunes of a small town driving instructor. It was intended as a new vehicle for Murphy after his previous hit show - George and Mildred - was retired following the sudden death of Yootha Joyce in 1980.

Premise

Lester Small is a driving instructor in a quiet West Country town with quite a reputation - for taking on clients that cause havoc and mayhem whenever they are on the road. His most consistent pupil is the hapless Mrs Davies, who usually drives into a perilous situation in each episode where Lester's car is usually either badly damaged or destroyed in the process (e.g. though a level crossing onto railway tracks, into a river, onto a firing range, and with a leaking petrol tank (on two occasions; the first time after Mrs Davies crashes into a barn, the second when a passing cyclist discards a cigarette).

None of these antics ingratiate Lester to either the local police chief (with whom he has a long standing feud), or with his bank manager - from whom he keeps having to borrow more money to repair or replace the damaged vehicles. All this puts a strain on his long suffering wife (Amanda Barrie) and secretary (Linda Robson).

External links

• L for Lester at IMDb
• L for Lester at British Comedy Guide