That's My Boy (UK TV series)

That's My Boy
Genre Sitcom
Created by Pam Valentine &
Michael Ashton
Starring Mollie Sugden
Christopher Blake
Jennifer Lonsdale
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of series 5
No. of episodes 37
Production
Running time 30 minutes
Release
Original network ITV
Original release 23 October 1981 (1981-10-23) – 4 April 1986 (1986-04-04)

That's My Boy is a British TV sitcom starring Mollie Sugden that aired on ITV from 23 October 1981 to 4 April 1986.

The series, was written and created by Pam Valentine and Michael Ashton, who later wrote My Husband and I (1987-88), which also starred Mollie Sugden. It was produced for the ITV network, by Yorkshire Television.

Cast

Plot

When Ida Willis gets a new job as housekeeper to Dr Robert Price and his wife Angie, she moves into their London flat and soon discovers that Robert is the son she gave up for adoption when he was a baby, and she proceeds to call him Shane, the name she gave him when he was born.

Other characters include Ida's troublesome brother Wilfred (Harold Goodwin) and Robert's adoptive mother Mrs Cecilia Price (Clare Richards), an upmarket widow with whom Ida doesn't actually get on. In the fourth series they move up north to the Yorkshire village of Little Birchmarch, where Ida befriends Robert's mousy receptionist, Miss Parfitt (Deddie Davies).

Episodes

Series One (1981)

Housekeeper Ida Willis is the terror of the domestic employment agency - and the clients to whom she is sent! When she is sent to the home of Dr. Robert Price and his wife Angie, she tells Angie about the son she gave up and shows a picture of the year-old Shane. Angie notes that it looks like a baby picture of her Robert. It does - they are the very same boy! When Robert tells Angie to fire Ida, the truth is revealed.

Ida is settling in as the Prices' housekeeper - despite Robert's resistance - when Robert's adoptive mother, the upper-class Mrs. Cecilia Price, turns up. Will the two women get along?

Ida insists that Robert’s birthday is in June, but Mrs Price says his birthday is when she adopted him. Robert takes both his mothers out to dinner and surprise, they become friends. But for how long?

Ida reluctantly agrees to look after her brother Wilfred's baby grandson, and soon finds she was right to be so reluctant!

The old saying that husbands should never teach their wives to drive proves dangerously true for Robert and Angie when Angie hits Mrs Price’s car. Can Ida save the day - and the relationships?

Robert decides that he, Angie, and Ida need to go on a diet, and forbids Ida to have even one gin-and-tonic. But is he sticking so strictly to the diet himself?

Series Two (1983)

It’s Sunday and Ida’s feeling very house-proud: Robert's "other" mother is coming for tea. Things deteriorate when she breaks her tooth on one of Mrs Price’s sausage rolls and is dragged unwillingly to her first dentist visit in 28 years.

When Ida agrees to take part in a sponsored "wake" in aid of distressed gentlewomen, she downs a whole bottle of sleeping pills the day before so she'll be able to last the night. Then the police knock at her door to tell her there may be a bomb in the building and she must evacuate. Mrs Price turns up and they both fall asleep in the police officer’s arms.

A chance encounter on a flight to Jersey leads to a very exciting fortnight for Ida, including a proposal. Robert and Angie are spying on Ida and Robert is disgusted by her behaviour. But when her fiancé insults Robert by calling him "odd", Ida promptly drops him.

When Ida sets out to change Angie’s blouse for "a sky-blue floaty scarf", she accidentally walks out of the store without paying for it. The store manager calls the police after he is aggravated by Robert. When Ida is in court, she quotes from a book which turns out to be written by the judge. Her newly-befriended judge dismisses the case by explaining why it couldn't possibly have been her fault.

Ida’s name somehow finds its way onto the computer at the employment agency and she is sick of calls from a Mrs Thornberry-Basset, known to her as "fancy drawers". She is quick to tell them she does not want to work. But then she takes a misunderstood phone call about moving to Australia and she informs Mrs Price that Robert and Angie are leaving them. A very complex misunderstanding begins.

The TV set breaks down just as Ida and Angie are settling down to watch a classic film. When a man comes to the door Ida thinks Robert has called a repairman, but she soon finds out that he's someone else entirely. When it turns out Wilfred knows him, she pays him to find him. The thief returns the things to Ida, as he has found out that she is Wilfred’s sister. Then Wilfred reports to Ida that he hasn't found him...

When Angie insists that Robert go out for "an evening with the boys," she and Ida have no idea just how far out of his rut he will get!

Wilfred gets a whack with a loaf when he lets himself into the house while everyone is out shopping. He informs them his daughter Maureen is going to marry a drummer in a steel band. Robert insists on not going, but when Ida and Angie forget their present, he comes to the rescue and makes quite the impression.

Christmas Special (1983)

Having looked forward to a nice quiet Christmas with Robert and Angie, Ida learns that Robert has invited his other mother and his boss to tea. She is not very happy especially as Wilfred is also coming; and when he comes he brings a live turkey, then replaces it with a solid frozen one!

Series Three (1984)

Ida goes to buy fish and chips, and ends up learning that Herbert Mogs has left her a cottage in his will. As she travels to see the cottage, she remembers how she knew Herbert...

Angie's cousin has a baby and elects her and Robert as godparents; Angie returns from the christening wanting a baby, but Robert isn't as keen on the idea.

Ida’s peeved when Robert's boss invites Mrs. Price to a big shindig. It turns out that he wants Ida for himself and Mrs. Price for his friend. How will the evening turn out?

Ida gets suspicious when she receives a postcard from Mrs Price signed "Cecilia". She finds out she has turned into an amateur Buddha influenced by a Brother Laylord. She informs Wilfred and they get him to come round and Wilfred informs everyone he's a fraud.

Several of the neighbours cut Ida dead in the foyer and want to sack their local friendly caretaker.

A crumpled little note Ida finds in Robert's overcoat provokes a big crisis.

Ida takes a tip from Wilfred and bets on a horse with odds on 40-1 and spends her winnings before she has them. Then an even worse situation arrives at the door.

Christmas Special (1984)

Robert’s musical plans are thrown into disarray when he discovers one of the nurses is already singing Little Donkey at the hospital Christmas Concert. Wilfred suggests an alternative act: mindreading!

Series Four (1985)

Robert has landed a new job in Yorkshire. But can he pluck up the courage to tell his other mother the news? When all other movers are booked, Robert uses Wilfred’s suggested removal men, who forget half of the furniture!

After three hours of driving and five miles of walking, the family arrive at their new destination, where they meet the surgery's receptionist, Miss Parfitt, and try to settle into their flat above the surgery.

Ida has trouble adjusting to her new surroundings, so Robert and Angie suggest she gets a hobby, and she finds a way to contribute to her new community.

Ida is suspicious of the amount of attention Miss Parfitt shows Robert. Mrs. Price and Wilfred come to stay and Wilfred tells everyone he's about to propose. On the big night, Miss Parfitt comes to dinner, Wilfred sees her home, and when he comes back his attention has been diverted!

Ida indulges in local gossip and finds out Elton John is moving to the village. When they find out that not only is it EDWIN John, but he's opening a home for unwed mothers, local-shopkeeper Mrs. Cross starts a petition against it, then learns that somebody close might be needing its shelter.

Ida stands in as a receptionist at the surgery. Mrs Price calls to say she’ll be coming to visit because she is lonely in London. Ida invents a story about a phantom rooster to deter her as she decides to live with them. Mrs Price investigates and finds out about a Headless Nun and Mrs Price is scared off. Although now Ida is scared stiff of the place.

Ida drops some not-too-subtle hints that it is her birthday soon and tells Angie she wants a big strong man to carry her away. When Ida’s birthday arrives she is extremely angry about being given awful presents. Will she ever get what she really wants?

Series Five (1986)

Ida becomes distraught when Wilfred disappears, but there's more drama when he's found. But everything works out in the end...except for one person.

Horrified at the amount of pills Ida has, Robert confiscates them. Ida soon starts trading pills with Mrs Cross and finds out about the local medicine market.

Robert’s talk to the Young Wives' Group in the village is ruined by a woman who takes a fancy to Robert!

Ida is thrilled when romance finally enlivens Miss Parfitt's life.

A new bypass threatens to bring chaos to the village; Ida and Robert are determined to take action and end up Morris Dancing in the middle of the main street.

Ida takes great exception to Angie’s new career in commercials - especially when it threatens to disrupt Robert’s plans for his wedding anniversary.

Storm damage to Wilfred’s cottage has the most unexpected consequences...

DVD releases

All series are now available individually from Network DVD.

Series Year(s) Region 1 (Canada) Region 2 (UK)
The Complete Series 1 1981 N/A 23 August 2010
The Complete Series 2 1983 N/A 24 January 2011
The Complete Series 3 1984 N/A 21 March 2011
The Complete Series 4 1985 N/A 4 July 2011
The Complete Series 5 1986 N/A 28 May 2012
The Complete Series 1 - 5 1981-
1986		 24 June 2008 TBA 2016

A Complete VHS collection of That's My Boy has also been release but is very rare.

A single episode of That's My Boy has been released in the UK by Network as part of a DVD compilation called Classic ITV Christmas Comedy.

References

External links

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