Six Dates with Barker explained
Six Dates with Barker is a series of six one-off, half-hour situation comedies showcasing the talents of Ronnie Barker. All were broadcast by London Weekend Television early in 1971.
Writers on the series included John Cleese and Spike Milligan. The producer was Humphrey Barclay.
Episode list
- Show 1 – 1937: The Removals Person
- Show 2 – 1899: The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town
- Show 3 – 1970: The Odd Job
- Transmitted 22 January 1971
- When his wife leaves him, Barker hires a passing odd job man to kill him when he least expects it. When his wife returns he finds his previous request impossible to cancel. Also starring David Jason, Joan Sims, Derek Ware, Larry Martyn and George Waring. Written by Bernard McKenna.[5] [6] This episode was videotaped in black and white owing to the 1971 ITV Colour Strike.[7] In 1978 this episode was remade as a feature length film with Graham Chapman taking Barker's role and David Jason reprising his role as the odd job man.
- Show 4 – 1915: Lola
- Show 5 – 1971: Come in and Lie Down
- Transmitted 5 February 1971
- Barker plays Dr Swanton, a psychiatrist who is visited by a patient (Michael Bates), who is so terrified of being diagnosed with mental problems, he pretends to be a gasman. Written by John Cleese.[10] [11]
- Show 6 – 2774 AD: All the World's a Stooge
- Transmitted 12 February 1971
- In the far future, comedy has become the religion of the world and there are dire consequences for those who do not join in. Also starring Lesley-Anne Down, Joyce Grant, Michael Hordern and Victor Maddern.[12] Based on an outline by Gerald Wiley (Barker's pseudonym) and Maurice Murphy.
Spin-offs
There were several spin-offs to come from this series.
- The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town was turned into a serial for the 1976 series of The Two Ronnies, David Jason performed the required 'Raspberrys' blown by the Phantom (but did not appear on screen).[13] Actor David Rowlands appeared as The Phantom in the penultimate instalment.
- The Odd Job Man became a 1978 film, retitled The Odd Job. Extended from the original TV version to feature length. Though this time, original co-writer Graham Chapman took Barker's part, Diana Quick took the part of his wife, originally played by Joan Sims. David Jason as the hitman was the sole original cast member in this movie (though even his part was at first going to be played by Keith Moon).
- The Removals Persons was turned into Ronnie Barker's final TV series Clarence, seventeen years after the original was made. This time the series was written by Barker using the pseudonym Bob Ferris. This was the name of Rodney Bewes' character in BBC sitcom The Likely Lads, and the name was in tribute to writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. Josephine Tewson reprised her role as Barker's co-star.
Archive status and DVD release
Unlike many television programmes of the time, all six shows exist in the archives. They have been released by Network DVD, both as a single-disc individual release and together with Hark at Barker as The Ronnie Barker Collection.[7]
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: BFI | Film & TV Database | 1937: THE REMOVALS PERSON (1971). 15 November 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071115101159/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/686312 . 15 November 2007 .
- Web site: "Six Dates with Barker" 1937: The Removals Person (TV Episode 1971) - IMDb. www.imdb.com.
- Web site: BFI | Film & TV Database | The PHANTOM RASPBERRY BLOWER OF OLD LONDON TOWN (1971). 29 January 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090129140441/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/686326 . 29 January 2009 .
- Web site: "Six Dates with Barker" 1899: The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town (TV Episode 1971) - IMDb. www.imdb.com.
- Web site: BFI | Film & TV Database | 1970: THE ODD JOB (1971). 13 February 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090213170314/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/473375 . 13 February 2009 .
- Web site: "Six Dates with Barker" 1970: The Odd Job (TV Episode 1971) - IMDb. www.imdb.com.
- Web site: Ronnie Barker Collection (The): Hark at Barker & Six Dates With Barker (TV) . rewind @ dvdcompare.net . 2008-10-13 . 2024-02-04.
- Web site: BFI | Film & TV Database | 1915: LOLA (1971). 5 February 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090205122827/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/686329 . 5 February 2009 .
- Web site: "Six Dates with Barker" 1915: Lola (TV Episode 1971) - IMDb. www.imdb.com.
- Web site: BFI | Film & TV Database | 1971: COME IN AND LIE DOWN (1971). 13 February 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090213170254/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/685072 . 13 February 2009 .
- Web site: "Six Dates with Barker" 1971: Come in and Lie Down (TV Episode 1971) - IMDb. www.imdb.com.
- Web site: "Six Dates with Barker" 2774 AD: All the World's a Stooge (TV Episode 1971) - IMDb. www.imdb.com.
- Book: Jason, David. David Jason: My Life. 7 September 2014. Penguin Random House. 9780099581161. Google Books.