Romany Jones Explained

Runtime:	25 minutes
Country:	United Kingdom
Num Series:	4
Num Episodes:	27

Romany Jones is a British sitcom made by London Weekend Television, broadcast between 1972 and 1975, involving the comic misadventures of two layabout families living on a caravan site. The show was designed as a vehicle for James Beck^[1] and also featured Arthur Mullard and Queenie Watts as Wally and Lily Briggs.

Following Beck's death in August 1973, Bert and Betty Jones were written out of the series. Jonathan Cecil and Gay Soper took over the lead roles, playing new neighbours, Jeremy and Susan Crichton-Jones.

The show's pilot episode had been made by Thames Television and broadcast in 1972. It was followed by a spin-off sequel in 1976 entitled Yus, My Dear, starring Mullard and Watts.

Cast

• Arthur Mullard - Wally Briggs
• Queenie Watts - Lily Briggs
• James Beck - Bert Jones (series 1 and 2)
• Jo Rowbottom - Betty Jones (series 1 and 2)
• Kevin Brennan - Mr Gibson (series 1 and 2)
• Maureen Sweeney as Val Finch (series 2-4)
• Jonathan Cecil - Jeremy Crichton-Jones (series 3 and 4)
• Gay Soper - Susan Crichton-Jones (series 3 and 4)
• Alan Ford as Ken (series 3 and 4)

Episodes

Series 4 (1975)

Trivia

• Chris Boucher, later to write extensively for science fiction shows including Doctor Who, Blake's 7 and Star Cops, wrote the episode "Run Rabbit Run".
• Arthur English played Wally Briggs in the pilot episode.
• Mullard and Watts reprised their roles as Wally and Lily in Holiday on the Buses.

DVD release

DVD	Release date
The Complete Series 1	6 June 2011
The Complete Series 2	23 January 2012
The Complete Series 3	8 April 2013
The Complete Series 4	20 January 2014
The Complete Series 1 to 4 Box Set	5 February 2018

External links

• Romany Jones at BBC Comedy
  • James Beck Online

Notes and References

1. James Beck played the black market spiv Private Walker in the Dad's Army