Owen, M.D. Explained

Genre:Drama
Director:Tristan de Vere Cole
Ronald Wilson
Robert Knights
et al
Starring:Nigel Stock
Joan Newell
Alan Moore
Opentheme:Sleepy Shores
Country:United Kingdom
Language:English
Num Series:2
Num Episodes:61
Runtime:Series 1 – 25 minutes
Series 2 – 50 minutes
Channel:BBC1

Owen, M.D. was a BBC 1 television series that ran from 1971 to 1973. It centred around the eponymous lead character's new country practice, following his departure from The Doctors, which had been set in north London.[1]

Two-part stories aired in the 7 p.m. slot every Wednesday and Thursday for six months, "a strange mixture of corn and ham", according to TV critic Patrick Campbell, "intended to catch the Crossroads audience that thrives on cliches and stock situations".[2] The second series, in 1973, consisted of nine 50-minute episodes broadcast on Sunday evenings.[3]

The theme music to the programme - "Sleepy Shores" by the Johnny Pearson Orchestra - spent 15 weeks in the UK charts between late 1971 and early 1972, peaking at No.8.[4] Of the run, 50 episodes have not survived, and five of the remainder only exist as monochrome Telerecordings.[5]

Cast

Episodes

Series One (Sept 1971–March 1972)
No.EpisodeBroadcastNotes
1I Love You But /115 September 1971
2I Love You But /216 September 1971
3The Town Mouse /122 September 1971
4The Town Mouse /2 23 September 1971
5The Whole Hog /1 29 September 1971
6The Whole Hog /230 September 1971
7Happy Family /16 October 1971
8 Happy Family /27 October 1971
9A Little Place in the Country /113 October 1971
10A Little Place in the Country /2 14 October 1971
11The Long Days of Summer /1 20 October 1971
12The Long Days of Summer /2 21 October 1971
13The Birdwatcher /1 27 October 1971
14The Birdwatcher /228 October 1971
15Simple Simon /1 3 November 1971
16Simple Simon /24 November 1971
17Where There's Smoke /1 10 November 1971
18Where There's Smoke /111 November 1971
19Alison /1 17 November 1971 Exists b&w
20Alison /2 18 November 1971 Exists b&w
21The Weekenders /1 24 November 1971
22The Weekenders /1 25 November 1971
23On the Parish /1 1 December 1971
24On the Parish /22 December 1971
25The Bees /1 8 December 1971
26The Bees /29 December 1971
27A Country Pursuit /1 15 December 1971
28A Country Pursuit /2 16 December 1971
29The Kingfisher /1 22 December 1971
30The Kingfisher /2 23 December 1971
31Threadbare Harvest /1 29 December 1971
32Threadbare Harvest /230 December 1971
33The Return /15 January 1972
34The Return /26 January 1972
35Black Sheep /1 12 January 1972
36Black Sheep /213 January 1972
37Comings and Goings /1 19 January 1972
38Comings and Goings /2 20 January 1972
39God's Acre /126 January 1972
40God's Acre /227 January 1972
41The VIPs /1 2 February 1972
42The VIPs /23 February 1972
43It Never Rains /1 9 February 1972
44It Never Rains /210 February 1972
45Saddler's Challenge /1 16 February 1972
46Saddler's Challenge /217 February 1972
47Ancient Enemy /1 23 February 1972
48Ancient Enemy /224 February 1972
49Way of Life /1 1 March 1972
50Way of Life /22 March 1972
51Snowfall /1 8 March 1972
52Snowfall /29 March 1972
Series Two (April 1973–June 1973)
No.EpisodeBroadcastNotes
1Water Under the Bridge22 April 1973Exists
2The Witch of Addington29 April 1973Exists
3Father of the Man6 May 1973Exists
4September Song13 May 1973Exists
5An Officially Hot Day20 May 1973Exists
6You Don't Get Me27 May 1973Exists b&w
7The Love Game3 June 1973Exists b&w
8 Into Panic10 June 1973 Exists b&w
9Long Voyage Home17 June 1973 Exists

Notes and References

  1. ”Exit The Doctors, Enter Owen .M.D.”, The Stage, 9 September 1971
  2. Patrick Campbell, The Stage, 23 September 1971.
  3. http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1973-04-22 BBC Schedules April 1973
  4. http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/14482/johnny-pearson-orchestra/ Johnny Pearson Orchestra at Official Charts.com
  5. Web site: Missing or incomplete episodes for programme Owen M.D.. Lost Shows. Kaleidoscope. 3 January 2017.