George Lester is a man who is chasing rainbows, looking for the pot of gold at the end. When his wife, Pamela grows tired of being dragged all over the world, she leaves him. While she is away, George converts her family home into a discotheque, when she returns, she threatens to send George to jail for fraud, cause she didn't give her approval. George needing some fast bucks, decides to turn to an old cohort of his, William Homer but Willy's a little short. George then decides to steal the plans to a new drill, Pamela's suitor, Dudley Heath is working on. But when George gets the mumps, he can't make it to the meeting place and refuses to give Willy the plans unless he gives him the cash first. And the buyers won't give unless they see the merchandise first.
The story of a retired man who decides to fulfil his life-long ambition of walking from one end of Britain to the other.
Arthur Dodsworth has recently retired. He lives alone except for his budgie and memories of his late wife Winnie. One afternoon his nap is interrupted by the doorbell; his former secretary, Peggy Prothero, has come to visit. A brash, charmless woman who seems to take no pleasure in anything but putting people down, Miss Prothero wants to fill her old boss in on all the changes that have taken place at work since he left. Dodsworth isn't very curious, and as the visit wears on it puts a little strain on his politeness and patience. Miss Prothero doesn't enjoy it much either, but lingers on as there's a bombshell she wants to drop. The docketing system Dodsworth introduced thirty years earlier, which revolutionised the firm, has been scrapped by her adored new boss Mr Skinner. The crowning achievement of Dodsworth's career has just become obsolete, and she wants to tell him all about it.
Middle-class parents are confounded when their son brings home his new partner: an elegant, confusingly androgynous West Indian.
A BAFTA award nominated drama about a park keeper who arrives to open up his park. Waiting at the gate is the bane of his life: a bag lady with three dogs. His Rastafarian assistant Errol arrives for work. As the day progresses, the lady and the keeper discover a common interest.
Egyptologist Robin Ellis and American reporter Eva Marie Saint uncover King Tut's burial site but wealthy profiteer Raymond Burr tries to make sure that the valuable artifacts in its chambers never leave the country.
As a young child, Frederic had been apprenticed to a pirate by mistake when he should have been apprenticed to a pilot. Now, having reached his 21st year, Frederic's indentures are at last over and he happily leaves the service of the pirates. When Frederic meets the beautiful Mabel, one of the many daughters (or wards in Chancery) of Major-General Stanley, they fall in love and decide to marry. However, complications arise when the pirates decide to marry the rest of the Major-General's daughters, themselves - and Frederic's birthdate turns out to be not all it seems. Filmed live from Central Park prior to the production's transition to Broadway.
Based on the true story of Shelia Bowler, accused of murdering her elderly aunt.
Harriet Blossom is married to Robert Blossom, a businessman who'd rather spend the night at his bra factory than at home with her. One day, Harriet's sewing machine breaks, so Robert sends a repairman, Ambrose, to fix it. It's lust at first sight for Harriet, who convinces Ambrose to hide out in the attic for a tryst. When her new beau shows no desire to leave, the pair begin a years-long love affair right under Robert's nose.
A historical adaptation of John Gay's 18th Century ballad opera, exuberantly performed for BBC television.
A 29-year old aspiring composer—still single and without any romantic prospects—vows to both marry and write a hit musical before he turns 30. Director Joseph McGrath's 1968 British comedy stars Dudley Moore, Suzy Kendall, Eddie Foy Jr. and Patricia Routledge.
Second World War drama - A young woman decides against working in a munitions factory, and lands a post with the signals corps attempting to crack the Enigma code.
A series of pink forms has Doris and Doreen fearing for their cushy jobs.
Six monologues tell the stories of six different repressed souls: a man dominated by his mother, a vicar's wife, an inveterate letter writer, a hopeful actress, a recently widowed woman, and an elderly shut-in.
A series of monologues.
A couple rebel against being forced out of their home (in the name of progress) and into a high rise publicly owned apartment.
Keeping Up Appearances remains one of Britain's best loved series. Running for 5 years throughout the 90s, millions of viewers tuned in to watch the delightfully monstrous Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet) as she attempted to climb the social ladder, only to be endlessly let down by her family. In this 90-minute celebration we feature the very best and most hilarious moments from the series, and cast, crew and celebrity fans pay tribute to the show and share backstage secrets. Featuring an exclusive interview with Dame Patricia Routledge, who shares her memories of the show, we learn how she came to be cast, how she developed the character, and what happened when the cameras stop rolling.
An abbess, visionary, naturalist, playwright and composer, Hildegard of Bingen (played by Patricia Routledge) was a remarkable woman of the Middle Ages, her legacy comprising some of the most radiant accounts of religious experience ever.
'Egghead' Wentworth adapts his father's robot paratrooper to perform his chores, but forgets to programme it to keep him out of trouble.
Miss Polly decides to spend a few months with her wealthy spinster aunt as a traveling companion. While in Singapore her aunt's demise leaves her alone to pursue her freedom and explore an arm's length romance with a local boy.
Emphasises the importance of professional knowledge of an organisation’s stocks or services in dealing with difficult customers. Highlights the customer who parades their knowledge, the silent customer who cannot communicate his needs and the finicky customer who requires every detail. Features John Cleese, Anghared Rees, Patricia Routledge, Bernard Cribbins and Lynn Redgrave.
A British Guianese engineer starts a job as a high school teacher in London’s East End, where his uninterested and delinquent pupils are in desperate need of attention and care.
Daisy and Onslow find the secret diary of Hyacinth and start reading in it. The rest of this TV-special are clips from prevous episodes.
Patricia Routledge, as patron of the Beatrix Potter Society, presents a documentary on the author's life and work.
The story of Androcles, the simple-hearted Christian tailor whose friendship with a lion saves himself and his friends from martyrdom in the Roman Colosseum.
Exploring the wit, work and world of Joe Orton through his own words, and the testimony of those who knew him and worked with him.
During a visit to childhood friend Edith, retired housewife Hetty Wainthropp discovers that Edith's husband, Frank, has a son by a previous marriage. Hetty decides to turn amateur detective to trace him. When this gives her a taste for detection, Hetty decides to set up a private detective agency.
A group of travelers from the United States race through seven European countries in 18 days.
Three married couples discover that, through a legal technicality, they are, in fact, not actually married in the eyes of the law. This was the fifth television film version of this play by J.B. Priestley made by the BBC.
In 1977, after a fourteen year dry spell, the novelist Barbara Pym was nominated for a Booker Award for her novel, Quartet in Autumn. This drama documentary biopic sees Patricia Routledge as Pym and follows the day of the prize presentation, as she observes people and reminisces about life and love.
Award-winning one-woman drama starring Patricia Routledge. What do Miss Schofield and the gang find to talk about at their table in the canteen? Yesterday they were discussing the rash Pauline Lucas's mother keeps getting on her elbows. Miss Schofield puts her social success down to that fact that she doesn't talk about herself, and she laughs of course, she always laughs.
The Tale of Tom Kitten was written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter and published by Frederick Warne & Co. in September 1907. In July 1905, Potter purchased Hill Top Farm in Lancashire, her tales then took inspiration from the farm and began working on Tom Kitten in 1906, its setting, interior of the house, gardens, paths, and gate of the front of the house came from the Hill Top farm house. The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck was written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. It was published by Frederick Warne & Co. in July 1908. Potter composed Jemima Puddle-Duck story from her Hill Top farm with setting wholly from the farm background illustrations based on the farm buildings, yard and nearby locales.
Classic tales of Peter Rabbit."Once upon a time there were four little rabbits, and their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail and Peter." So begins the first of Original Peter Rabbit TalesTM, which have been translated into 35 languages and have achieved international success in more than 117 countries worldwide. The beautiful illustrations are magically brought to life in this captivating series, including a live action introduction featuring Niamh Cusack as Beatrix Potter, specially tailored for each story. This DVD includes three delightful tales: "The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny", "The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies and Mrs. Tittlemouse", and "The Tale of Tom Kitten and Jemima Puddle-Duck", all beautifully animated and featuring the voices of Richard Griffiths (Harry Potter), June Whitfield (Ab Fab) and others!
John Cleese training video on customers.
Maggie Hobson (Patricia Routledge) decides to marry Willie Mossop (Michael Caine), the gifted but underpaid bootmaker in her father's shop. Despite Willie's objections, they marry and set up for themselves and, within just one year, take almost all of Henry Hobson's trade. Hobson (John Barrie), a heavy drinker, is told by his doctor that one of his daughters must return home to look after him but they all refuse apart from Maggie who, seeing her chance, agrees to help but on one condition: Willie is to take over the business, with Hobson relegated to the position of a sleeping partner with no say in the running of the shop.
Three sailors on leave turn a British town upside down.
Barry Humphries performance at The Hilton Hotel London for The Variety Club of Great Britain.
Half-fae-half-mortal shepherd Strephon wants to wed shepherdress Phyllis, but, although she reciprocates his feelings, she has a dilemma — she is so beautiful that all of the House of Lords, as well as her guardian, the Lord Chancellor, are also desirous of marriage.
A well-to-do family moves from the city to a country farmhouse, determined to make a go of things on their own, but the existence of an already present third generation housekeeper rather changes things somewhat. Set in 1973-76.