List of Only When I Laugh episodes

Only When I Laugh is a British sitcom starring James Bolam, Peter Bowles, Christopher Strauli, Richard Wilson and Derrick Branche.^[1] It was first broadcast on ITV between 1979 and 1982. The series revolves around Roy Figgis (Bolam), Archie Glover (Bowles) and Norman Binns (Strauli) who were long-term residents at an NHS hospital, the other regular characters were NHS surgeon Gordon Thorpe (Wilson) and nurse Gupte (Branche). Each episode was written by Eric Chappell.^[1]

Series overview

Series		Episodes	Original Broadcast
			Series premiere	Series finale
	Series 1	7	29 October 1979	10 December 1979
	Series 2	7	29 April 1980	10 June 1980
	Series 3	7	2 September 1981	14 October 1981
	Special	1	24 December 1981
	Series 4	7	4 November 1982	16 December 1982

Episode list

Series 1 (1979)

#	Title	Director	Original airdate
1	"A Bed With a View"	Vernon Lawrence	29 October 1979
Norman arrives at the ward and is given the bed next to the window. A game of musical beds ensues as Figgis and Archie want it too...
2	"Operation Norman"	Vernon Lawrence	5 November 1979
Norman's due for his appendix operation and is rather upset about it. He turns to Figgis for comfort in his hour of need...
3	"The Rumour"	Vernon Lawrence	12 November 1979
Figgis overhears Doctor Thorpe telling Gupte that his dog may not live much longer. Unfortunately, Figgis didn't hear the 'dog' bit and thinks it's about him...
4	"The Man With the Face"	Vernon Lawrence	19 November 1979
Archie's lothario-like tendencies are coming back to haunt him when he's convinced he's being stalked by a Greek madman for besmirching his fiancée...
5	"Let Them Eat Cake"	Vernon Lawrence	26 November 1979
The trio can stand the daily menu no longer and go on hunger strike. What they hadn't bargained for, however, was how hungry they would get...
6	"Tangled Web"	Vernon Lawrence	3 December 1979
Archie is craving female company and is heartened to see an attractive new nurse. So is Norman...
7	"Is There a Doctor in the House?"	Vernon Lawrence	10 December 1979
Tired of sitting in bed all day, Figgis disguises himself as a doctor and goes for a walk. Unfortunately, he's mistaken for a real doctor...

Series 2 (1980)

#	Title	Director	Original airdate
8	"Whatever Happened To Gloria Robins?"	Graeme Muir	29 April 1980
The trio get into a lather when a glamorous film star arrives on the ward.
9	"Where There's a Will"	Graeme Muir	6 May 1980
A rich patient becomes popular when the other patients learn he's about to make his Will...
10	"It Can Damage Your Health"	Graeme Muir	13 May 1980
Despite being warned on a frequent basis, the patients are undeterred by the risks of smoking.
11	"The Cosmic Influence"	Vernon Lawrence	20 May 1980
Figgis becomes interested in astrology and star signs which doesn't go down well with others.
12	"The Visitors"	Vernon Lawrence	27 May 1980
It's visiting day and Norman's mother has another dreary girl lined up for him, much to the others' amusement!
13	"The Lost Sheep"	Vernon Lawrence	3 June 1980
Figgis admits he's not been christened but sees the light when he meets a vicar.
14	"Last Tango"	Vernon Lawrence	10 June 1980
The "regulars" plan a party, but unexpected guests turn up...

Series 3 (1981)

#	Title	Director	Original airdate
15	"A Day in the Life of"	Vernon Lawrence	2 September 1981
A film crew are at the hospital making a documentary about Gordon Thorpe, however, the other patients are determined to have themselves appear on TV.
16	"Adam's Rib"	Vernon Lawrence	9 September 1981
When a new young female doctor arrives on the ward the trio and Thorpe are split in their opinions of her.
17	"The Right Honourable Gentleman"	Vernon Lawrence	16 September 1981
A Member of Parliament arrives on the ward for treatment, however he is refusing to sign a petition to stop the hospital from closing.
18	"Postman's Knock"	Vernon Lawrence	23 September 1981
Agony Aunt Clare Butterfield receives a letter from Worried of Ward 3, but her reply only confuses things...
19	"Accident"	Vernon Lawrence	30 September 1981
When Norman witnesses an accident involving Dr. Thorpe he is not sure whether he should testify to what he saw.
20	"Dear Diary"	Vernon Lawrence	7 October 1981
Figgis, Glover and Thorpe are determined to find out what Norman has written about them in his diary.
21	"These You Have Loved"	Vernon Lawrence	14 October 1981
The trio are fed up with hospital radio and attempt to do a better job at presenting it themselves.

Christmas Special (1981)

#	Title	Director	Original airdate
22	"Away for Christmas"	Vernon Lawrence	24 December 1981
It's Christmas at the hospital and although not everyone is enjoying the festive spirits, the trio take a keen interest in a new patient on the ward.

Series 4 (1982)

#	Title	Director	Original airdate
23	"Blood Brothers"	Vernon Lawrence	4 November 1982
Illness strikes Archie Glover, and Dr Thorpe insists he have a blood transfusion, but knowing who the donor is makes the invalid feel even more poorly.
24	"Conduct Unbecoming"	Vernon Lawrence	11 November 1982
A female patient falls for Dr Thorpe's bedside matter, and caught in a compromising position, he turns to the men's ward occupants for help : but will they come to the aid of a friend in need?
25	"All in the Mind"	Vernon Lawrence	18 November 1982
Figgis dabbles in amateur psychiatry and deduces that Norman is suffering from sexual repression.
26	"In Sickness & in Health"	Vernon Lawrence	25 November 1982
Norman's fiancee visits to discuss the wedding arrangements – but her suggestions force him to take matters into his own hands.
27	"Escape"	Vernon Lawrence	2 December 1982
The regulars are terrified by the admission of a convict onto their ward.
28	"When Did You Last See Your Father?"	Vernon Lawrence	9 December 1982
An inebriated man collapses in reception, and Figgis is employed to find out more about the mysterious visitor.
29	"The Reunion"	Vernon Lawrence	16 December 1982
The boys are discharged from hospital, and promptly arrange a reunion under more enjoyable circumstances.

References

1. "Only When I Laugh – Production Details". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 12 August 2010.

External links

• List of Only When I Laugh episodes at the British Comedy Guide
• List of Only When I Laugh episodes at the Internet Movie Database
• List of Only When I Laugh episodes at TV.com