On the 2nd of February 1971 one of TV's most popular sitcoms was born, Bless This House made by Thames Television. The series was created by the well established comedy writing duo Vince Powell & Harry Driver. There were various writers for the show including the aforementioned creators plus Carla Lane, Myra Taylor, Dave Freeman and others. The producer and director for the whole of the series was William G Stewart, perhaps now more famous in the UK for the Channel 4 quiz show 15-to-1.In total there were 65 episodes produced spread over 6 series broadcast between 1971 and 1976. The show centres around the life of the Abbott family, husband and wife Sid & Jean, and their two children Mike and Sally who live in Birch Avenue in Putney, but this was changed to 2 Howard Road in later episodes. The various writers used just about every typical sitcom plot you can think of which meant the usual misunderstandings, arguments, comic situations etc, you know the type of thing!

Sidney Abbott is played with all the brilliant comic talent you would expect from Sid James. He is a sales representative for a local stationary company and is very successful at his job. Outside of work, he likes to relax (or try to!) at home smoking his pipe listening to his favourite classical piece of music, at weekends he would sometimes go fishing with his next-door neighbour who is also his best mate Trevor (played by Anthony Jackson). Sid's most popular activity is going to his local boozer The Hare and Hounds with Trevor to sink a few pints and discuss the burning issues of the day eg. would Chelsea win the cup this year, or the length (or lack of it) of the barmaid's skirt! The main cause of frustration in Sid's life is trying to understand his children. The generation gap seems to him to be not so much a gap as (perhaps he might say) a great big bloody hole! He holds very traditional views on many things especially sex, and while he encourages his son Mike to enjoy himself (as quoted on the show Here a bit, there a bit, everywhere a bit bit!) he is very protective about his daughter Sally whom he still thinks of as his little girl.

Jean Abbott, played by Diana Coupland, is a devoted wife and mother, she is the 'real' head of the house, but dont tell Sid! She seems to understand her children more than Sid ever could, usually seeing their side of any argument. Her best friend is next-door neighbour Betty (played by Patsy Rowlands) who is married to Trevor. Sid is not too keen on her as she always seems to be coming round to borrow things which usually is food!

Mike Abbott, played by Robin Stewart, is the oldest of the two children and the most gifted but Sid would disagree with you on that one! He is unemployed but occasionally sells pieces of art which he has made. Art is his passion and he is always working on his next masterpiece which unfortunately for Sid usually means a lot of banging and clattering from the garage which never seems to have the space for the car! Sid also struggles to hold a decent conversation with his son as he uses phrases such as Dig it and I'm gonna split which sounds very painful!

Sally Abbott, played by Sally Geeson, is the youngest member of the family but she is rapidly growing up. Her attitude to sex leaves her father in turmoil, and she seems to go through boyfriends like there is no tomorrow. Mike and her have very strong opinions and they often go on various demonstrations together in support of the latest cause, this usually ends up with them in trouble with the police which means a trip to the station for Sid!

As with any successful sitcom of the 1970's there was a good chance that a spin-off feature film would be made and Bless This House was no exception. Made in 1972 by Rank, the screenplay was written by Dave Freeman who had also penned scripts for the TV series, producer was Peter Rogers and director was Gerald Thomas who of course had both worked on the immensely successful Carry On films. The film retained most of the regular cast from the TV series with the exceptions of Robin Stewart as Mike who was replaced by Robin Askwith, and Anthony Jackson as next-door neighbour Trevor who was replaced by carry on stalwart Peter Butterworth. There was a good supporting cast of many familiar faces from the British comedy scene of the time including Terry Scott and June Whitfield as the new next-door neighbours Mr & Mrs Baines, George A Cooper as the propietor of a local cafe and Bill Maynard as the owner of an antiques market.

Bless This House was constantly in the Top 10 of the UK TV ratings and many regard the series as Sid James' finest hour. The series is gaining new fans all the time via DVD releases by Network Video in the UK and various releases in Australia, the series is also currently being shown by Paramount Comedy 2 Digital Satellite channel in the UK.

I hope you enjoy your visit to the site and like what I have produced, please feel free to contact me about the show or the site using the email icon below, your feedback is very much appreciated.



Dear Richard,

Thank you for getting in touch regarding Bless This House.

It was such a very happy time of my life.We almost felt like a true family having worked together for so long.Sid once said to me "It's such fun and so successful,we'll still be working on Bless This House 'till one of us kick's the bucket". How right he was. Dear Sid - irreplacable!

Bill (William G) kept us all in order and besides being an excellent producer and director,he did all the comedy 'warm ups' for the show,very good too.I was delighted when he started presenting '15 to 1' because I think he secretly always wanted to be on our side of the camera.

I was chosen for Bless This House after doing one episode of Please Sir! (the only comedy I had done thus far).Luckily Bill saw it and cast me as Jean Abbott.Of course,I had a great deal to learn about comedy - timing etc. but luckily Sid was a master and a great example to learn from.

I love knowing that people are still interested in Bless This House after so many years.I also love it when strangers say "hello" and talk about how they'd enjoyed it-it's like having so many friends.

Kindest regards,

Diana Coupland

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Dear Richard,

In the 1970's I auditioned for the role of Sally Abbott in Thames Television's production of "Bless This House".I was introduced to Sid,who was quiet and charming,we got on really well and I was lucky enough to get the part.

Having recently discovered your "Bless This House" website I am now delighted to be able to view so many happy memories.You really have done an excellent job in collecting and presenting such a variety of photographs,video clips and messages.

My years at Thames working with Sid,Diana and Robin were extremely happy.Every week we started rehearsing a new episode with guest actors joining us.Being a situation comedy there was always a light hearted and fun atmosphere.Each Saturday we would have a technical rehearsal for the camera crew,they would often laugh as the episode unfolded.We as a cast would take heart from their reaction and often comment "looks as though we might have a winner this week".Sunday was the recording day and an audience of several hundred would pack into the studio seats.The director would always introduce us,but it was when Sid appeared that the applause and cheers for this great artist was simply deafening!They absolutely loved him.It was the same when we were on location filming outdoor scenes,shopkeepers and neighbours would fill the street hoping to catch a glimpse of Sid and his television family.

This letter may sound like a tribute to Sid,well why not,as Diana and Robin agreed - without Sid in the starring role it would never have been the big hit it was.Sid was irreplaceable,and after his sad death no other actor could have taken his place.

Such happy years and thanks to you Richard there is now a lovely record of it all.

With many thanks,

Sally Geeson

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Dear Richard,

Thank you for your introduction to the Bless This House website you have set up.It is always satisfying to know that there are people who liked the series enough and remember it all these years later.

I have very happy memories of Bless This House.It began in 1970 with the late and much-missed Philip Jones,Head of Light Entertainment at Thames Television,inviting me to be the producer/director of "a new series for Sid James",and continued until Sid's untimely death in 1976.Unusually for situation comedy series in those days,I was the only producer/director on the series.

I had first come across Sid at the BBC in the early 1960s.As a stagehand I had worked in the Hancock studio when Sid was still Tony's sidekick,and we had talked a few times.From the beginning we got on well.We discussed all aspects of the series - casting,scripts and filming.

We had several script writers,including Vince Powell and Harry Driver,Dave Freeman and Carla Lane.If you watch the episodes carefully you can see their different styles.I became firm friends with Sid and his family (his wife Val and their children Susie and Steven) and visited his home in Buckinghamshire.And I remember him with affection.

Best wishes,

William G. Stewart