All at No 20 explained
| Runtime: | 30 minutes |
| Language: | English |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Num Series: | 2 |
| Num Episodes: | 12 |
All at No 20 is a British sitcom that aired on ITV from 10 February 1986 to 1 December 1987. Starring Maureen Lipman, it was written by Richard Ommanney, Ian Davidson, Peter Vincent and Alex Shearer. It was made for the ITV network by Thames Television and ran for two series.[1]
Cast
- Maureen Lipman as Sheila Haddon, a widow who decides to take in lodgers in order to keep her house. The series revolves around her relationships and her attempts to cover her debts. She is frequently employed as a typist.
- Lisa Jacobs as Monica Haddon, Sheila's daughter, a 20 year old art student. Much of her time is spent fighting with Chris. At the end of Series 1, she starts dating Henry.
- Martin Clunes as Henry, a medical student, who is one of Sheila's lodgers. Henry has difficulties with medical school, as he is quite squeamish. At the end of Series 1, he starts dating Monica.
- Gary Waldhorn as Richard Beamish (series 1), an old friend of Sheila's, who is in love with her, and repeatedly proposes marriage. Beamish is heir to a fortune, and frequently offers (and schemes) to cover Sheila's debts. He was a Commander in the Royal Navy, and is seen to be writing a novel.
- Gabrielle Glaister as Carol (series 1), Monica's best friend and fellow art student, who is one of Sheila's lodgers. Carol frequently flirts with Chris and Henry.
- Gregory Doran as Chris Temple (series 1), one of Sheila's lodgers, who shares a room with Hamish. Chris is an itinerant Disc Jockey, who shows up at Sheila's door looking for a place to stay after briefly meeting Monica at a party. Episodes often feature fallout from Chris's failures as a Disc Jockey; in one episode, he is attacked by Hell's Angels; in another, his van is destroyed. He eventually finds work as a model.
- David Bannerman as Hamish McAlpine (series 1), one of Sheila's lodgers, who shares a room with Chris. Hamish is a flight attendant whose dream is to open a restaurant. Chris was initially under the impression that Hamish was gay, causing tension in their relationship.
- Carol Hawkins as Candy (series 2)
- Desmond McNamara as Frankie Lomax (series 2)
Plot
Maureen Lipman played Sheila Haddon, whose husband had died 18 months before the start of the first series. He died without any insurance, so on top of her grief she has to pay off the mortgage of her house (No 20). To do this, rather than ask for help, she decides to take in young lodgers. Monica, her twenty-year-old student daughter, is asked to help. She brings back her fellow art student Carol, a doctor called Henry, as well as Chris, Hamish, Candy and Frankie. Sheila also gets many part-time jobs, while her old friend Richard Beamish proposes marriage to her.
Episodes
Series Two (1987)
DVD release
The Complete Series of All at No 20 was released by Network in the UK (Region 2) on 15 June 2015.
References
Notes and References
- Web site: All At No. 20 . British Comedy Guide . British Comedy Guide . 10 March 2024.
