The Rag Trade

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The Rag Trade
BBC-Ragtrade.jpg
Actresses Sheila Hancock, Esma Cannon and Miriam Karlin
Created byChesney and Wolfe
StarringPeter Jones
Miriam Karlin

Series 1–3 (BBC):

Series 4–5 (LWT):

No. of series5
No. of episodes58 (15 missing)
Production
ProducersDennis Main Wilson (BBC)
Bryan Izzard (LWT)
Running time30 minutes per episode
Original release
NetworkBBC
ITV
Release
  • First run:
    6 October 1961 (1961-10-06) – 30 March 1963 (1963-03-30)
  • Second run:
    11 September 1977 (1977-09-11) – 20 October 1978 (1978-10-20)

The Rag Trade is a British television sitcom broadcast by the BBC between 1961 and 1963 and by LWT between 1977 and 1978.[1] Although a comedy, it shed light on gender, politics and the "class war" on the factory floor.[2][3]

The scripts were written by partners Chesney and Wolfe, who later wrote Wild, Wild Women, Meet the Wife and On the Buses. Wild, Wild Women was a period variation of The Rag Trade.[4][5]

Synopsis

The action centred on a fictional small clothing workshop (the title is a reference to the textile industry), Fenner's Fashions in London.[1] Although run by Harold Fenner (Peter Jones) and the foreman and pattern cutter Reg Turner (Reg Varney), the female workers are led by militant shop steward Paddy Fleming (Miriam Karlin), ever ready to strike, with the catchphrase "Everybody out!" Other cast members included Sheila Hancock (as Carole Taylor), Esma Cannon (as Lily Swann), Wanda Ventham (as Shirley) in series 2 and Barbara Windsor (as Gloria, during series 1, who later returned as Judy in series 3) replacing Sheila Hancock.[1][6]

In 1975, a colour pilot was made, with only Peter Jones reprising his role, this colour pilot featured a young Tony Robinson (replacing Reg Varney), Gaye Brown (briefly replacing Karlin), Jumoke Debayo, Diane Langton, Annabel Leventon, Jamila Massey, Mollie Maureen (replacing Esma Cannon) and Trixie Scales.[1]

The theme tune for this colour pilot was performed by Alex Welsh and his Band, however, this was never transmitted, as the BBC rejected the colour revival of the series.

Two years later, the series was revived by ITV company LWT, with Jones and Karlin reprising their roles.[7] The 1977–78 version ran for two series, most of the scripts being based on the BBC episodes from the 1960s, and featured Anna Karen (reprising her role as Olive from On the Buses) and future EastEnders star Gillian Taylforth as factory workers.[8]

The theme tune for the LWT series was written and performed by Lynsey de Paul (credited as Joan Brown) and released as a track on an album of T.V. themes that also featured another de Paul penned theme "Hi Summer".[9]

In 1990, the series was remade as the series Fredrikssons Fabrikk by NRK in Norway, it ran for three seasons (1990–93, 17 half hours and one 45min special) and a feature film version Fredrikssons Fabrikk – The Movie in 1994 with a script credited to Chesney and Wolfe, and Norwegian series writer Andreas Markusson.[1][10]

Cast

1961–1963

1977–1978

TV episodes

On original transmission many episodes of the original BBC TV series of The Rag Trade were not given titles, so some are from production notes and repeat screenings.

Original BBC TV series

Series 1 (1961)

Title Airdate Description Notes
"The Baby"[11] 6 October 1961 Fenner is far from happy when factory girl Brenda (Ann Beach) brings her baby to work.
"Getting Married" 13 October 1961 Paddy must find Carole a wedding dress.
"Early Start" 20 October 1961 Fenner finds himself up against new factory Parks & Spicer Guest Stars: Frank Thornton and Raymond Glendenning
"French Fashions" 27 October 1961 Carol stands for a modelling competition Guest Star: Peter Gilmore
"The Sample" 3 November 1961 Paddy gives Carol a dress to go on a date with, but soon realizes the dress was specially made for a customer
"Unhappy Customer" 10 November 1961 Fenner bans food in the workroom when an unhappy customer complains about Fenners Fashion Guest Star: Brian Oulton
Episode 7 17 November 1961 Fenners Fashion stands to win a contract with the biggest clothes store in London Guest Star: Hugh Paddick
"Doctor's Orders" 24 November 1961 Fenners Fashion are hired to design TV costumes Guest Stars: Roy Stephens and Monte Landis
Episode 9[12] 1 December 1961 To win a contract with a female buyer Reg masquerades as Roberto, an Italian designer.
"Christmas Box" 8 December 1961 In a bid to make more money for Christmas, Paddy and the girls go behind Fenner's back and start working for another company making Golliwogs Guest Stars: Terry Scott, Colin Douglas and Edward Caddick

Series 2 (1962)

Title Airdate Description Notes
"The Thief" 6 April 1962 There's a thief at Fenners Fashion and Paddy is determined to find out who
"The Dog" 13 April 1962 Lily's dog runs riot at Fenners Fashion Guest Stars: Patrick Cargill and Betty Huntley-Wright
"Locked In"[13] 20 April 1962 Reg gets locked in the workroom just as an inspector arrives Guest Stars: June Whitfield and Alec Ross
"The Flat" 27 April 1962 With Fenner still in Amsterdam, Paddy and Reg are given the task of painting his flat
Episode 5 4 May 1962 Paddy and Carol take the day off but soon find themselves in trouble when Fenner unexpectedly returns This episode no longer exists
Guest Star: Norman Mitchell
"The Client" 11 May 1962 An important rich client is coming to Fenners Fashion and the girls decide to take him out for the day Guest Stars: Bill Shine and Willoughby Goddard
"Stay-In Strike" 18 May 1962 Fenner's new assistant forces the staff to go on strike Guest Stars: Lynda Baron and Barry Linehan
"The Fish And Chip Shop" 25 May 1962 Reg and Paddy agree to take over a fish and chip shop This episode no longer exists
Guest Stars: Charlie Bird, William Kendall, Frank Peters and Harry Landis
"Safety Precaution" 1 June 1962 Fenner faces money troubles when Reg destroys a load of dresses Guest Stars: Dilys Laye and Jean Conroy
"Stainproofer" 8 June 1962 The girls end up ruining Fenners' new coat and have to work fast to replace it Guest Stars: Fabia Drake and Jean Conroy
"Doctor" 15 June 1962 The arrival of a handsome doctor causes trouble for Fenner and Carol Guest Stars: Noel Trevarthen, Richard Caldicot and Jean Conroy
"Barber's Shop" 22 June 1962 When Fenner refuses the girls a raise, they decide to start running a laundry cleaning service from inside Fenner's Fashions, their source of dirty laundry coming from a barber shop owner. Guest Stars: George Roderick, Barbara Keogh and Jean Conroy
"The Bank Manager" 29 June 1962 A bank manager threaten to close Fenners Fashion Guest Stars: Ronnie Barker, Hugh Paddick and Jean Conroy

Christmas Night with the Stars 25 December 1962 – featured a short sketch. (Has been lost)

Series 3 (1963)

Title Airdate Description Notes
"The Australian" 5 January 1963 Fenner and Paddy try to find Reg a woman Guest Stars: Aubrey Morris, Philip Grout, Sheena Marshe and Claire Davenport
"Triplets": 12 January 1963
Episode 3 19 January 1963 Fenners hires Reg's mother as his new assistant
Episode 4 26 January 1963 Guest Stars: Sheena Marshe and Claire Davenport
"Baby Dolls" 2 February 1963 Fenner becomes obsessed with horse racing This episode was rediscovered in 2018
"Mistaken Tax" 9 February 1963 Reg's lies over his tax forms come back to haunt him
"After The Ball" 16 February 1963 Fenner has to pretend Judy is his daughter when they go to represent Fenners Fashion at a ball Guest Star: Jack Smethurst
"The Budgie" 23 February 1963 Guest Star: Peter Howell
Episode 9 2 March 1963
"The Italian Girl" 9 March 1963 Judy accuses Reg of having an affair
"Babysitters Unlimited": 16 March 1963 Fenner finds himself in debt with only the girls to help him Guest Star: Frank Coda
"National Productivity Year" 23 March 1963 Paddy's job is on the line when another strike attempt sadly backfires
"The Engagement Ring" 30 March 1963 Reg and Judy's engagement party is ruined when the engagement ring is stolen Guest Star: Patrick Newell

Colour pilot (1975)

Title Airdate Description Notes
Colour pilot Unaired

LWT relaunch series

Series 4 (1977)

Title Airdate Description Notes
"Stay-In Strike" 11 September A new arrangement in the workroom sparks off confrontation between Fenner and Paddy
"The Sample" 18 September Kathy steals a new dressing gown to impress her new boyfriend
"Fixing The Rate" 25 September Fenner becomes obsessed with Time and Money, giving Paddy an idea of money making
"The Lunch Problem" 2 October When Fenner refuses to open a canteen, the girls decide to run their own canteen
"The Export Order" 9 October Fenner's Fashion is falling fast and Fenner is determined to make some changes
"The Italian Line" 16 October A handsome Italian threatens to drive everyone out of Fenner's Fashion
"Olive's Baby" 23 October The staff go on strike in a bid to help Olive look after her baby son
"The Wedding Dress" 30 October Fenner discovers the work force are making their own clothes
"The Sideline" 6 November Paddy gets attacked by a dishonest man and struggles to hold the workforce together
"The Guv'nor's Wife" 13 November Mrs Fenner's dreams of meeting Margaret Thatcher land Fenner's Fashion in trouble
"The New Girl" 20 November Fenner's new assistant takes a shine to the girls
"The Bet" 27 November The workforce decide to make their own money on horse racing
"The Accident" 4 December Fenner's Fashion faces closure when an inspector is injured whilst touring the factory
"The New Brother" 11 December A diligent new Indian employee finds himself a victim of the girls' jokes

Christmas special (1977)

Title Airdate Description Notes
"Christmas Rush" 24 December The workforce are forced to work during the Christmas Holidays. Mrs Fenner returns to Fenner's Fashion

Series 5 (1978)

Title Airdate Description Notes
"The Annual Ball" 8 September The creation of a dress for Mrs Fenner causes chaos at Fenner's Fashion
"The Leather Line" 15 September Another argument between Paddy and Fenner could cost Fenner's Fashion their best customers
"Stress" 22 September Fenner's attempt to secure a loan results in a heath scare
"A Bad Patch" 29 September Fenner has lost all his customers. The Girls think of a way of making money
"Come Back Paddy" 6 October Paddy leaves Fenner's Fashion for another firm
"Self-Defence" 13 October Paddy attempts of a defence program have disastrous consequences
"Fenner's Folly" 20 October The possibility of a large order prompts Fenner to think about his future

Missing episodes

Because of the BBC's wiping policy of that era, of the 36 episodes made only 21 episodes of the original BBC Television version (1961–62) still exist in the BBC archives.[8]

The first series of the original BBC TV version of the show is complete, whilst the second series remains incomplete, as two episodes remain missing. Only one of the 13 episodes of the third (and final) BBC TV series (1963) currently exists – "Baby Dolls", which was confirmed to have been unearthed by Philip Morris of the Television International Enterprises Archive and returned to the BBC in 2018.[14]

DVD release

The 8 (out of the 10) existing episodes of the first series (broadcast in 1961) were released on DVD (DD Home Entertainment) in March 2006, followed by the 11 existing episodes of the second series (broadcast in 1962), released on DVD 7 months later in October 2006.[15]

A box-set consisting all the remaining episodes from the first two series of the show was later released (through Simply Media DVD) on 23 October 2017.[16]

All the episodes of both colour series 4 and 5 of the (1977–78) LWT version of the series, including the 1977 Christmas special, have been released on DVD by Network.[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "BFI Screenonline: Rag Trade, The (1961-63)". www.screenonline.org.uk.
  2. ^ The Rag Trade: ‘Everybody Out!’ Gender, Politics and Class on the Factory Floor by Mary Irwin, pp66-79, British TV Comedies, doi:10.1057/9781137552952_5
  3. ^ British TV Comedies: Cultural Concepts, Contexts and Controversies, edited by Juergen Kamm and Birgit Neumann, 2016, ISBN 9781137552945
  4. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Wolfe, Ronald (1924-2011) and Chesney, Ronald (1920-) Biography". www.screenonline.org.uk.
  5. ^ Guide, British Comedy. "Wild, Wild Women - BBC1 Sitcom". British Comedy Guide.
  6. ^ Guide, British Comedy. "The Rag Trade cast and crew credits". British Comedy Guide.
  7. ^ "The Sample (1977)". BFI.
  8. ^ a b "The Rag Trade". 9 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Unknown Artist – T.V. Themes (Vinyl, LP, Album)". Discogs. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  10. ^ "FREDERIKSSONS FABRIKK (1994)". BFI.
  11. ^ "The Rag Trade[06/10/61] (1961)". BFI.
  12. ^ "The Rag Trade[01/12/61] (1961)". BFI.
  13. ^ "The Rag Trade[20/04/62] (1962)". BFI.
  14. ^ Guide, British Comedy. "The Rag Trade Series 3, Episode 5 - Baby Dolls". British Comedy Guide.
  15. ^ Guide, British Comedy. "The Rag Trade - Series One DVD". British Comedy Guide.
  16. ^ "The Rag Trade – Series One and Two. Simply Media DVD Review". 2 November 2017.
  17. ^ Guide, British Comedy. "The Rag Trade - The Complete First LWT Series DVD". British Comedy Guide.

External links

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