The Likely Lads was a British sitcom written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. Three series were shown between December 1964 and July 1966. There was a successful sequel entitled Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?.
The show followed the friendship of two working-class young men, Terry Collier and Bob Ferris, in the northeast of England in the 1960s. The humour derived mostly from the tension between Terry's cynical, down-to-earth personality and Bob's ambitions to join the middle class. There was also a poignant note of social comment as Terry and Bob struggled to enjoy the Swinging Sixties on their northern English incomes. At the end of the third series, the boys decide to join the Army but Bob is rejected because of his flat feet while Terry is accepted. The sequel Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? was produced over five years later when Terry returns after completing his enlistment.
The word 'likely' in the title, in some northern English dialects, means 'likeable'.
Cast
- James Bolam (Terry Collier)
- Rodney Bewes (Bob Ferris)
- Sheila Fearn (Audrey: Terry's sister)
Only 8 episodes remain in the BBC archives:
Episodes
Note that many of these have been lost because of wiping. If you have or know anyone who has a copy of the lost episodes, contact the BBC urgently.
Series 1
- Entente Cordiale
- Double Date
- Older Women Are More Experienced
- The Other Side Of The Fence
- Chance Of A Lifetime (LOST EPISODE)
- The Suitor
Series 2
- Baby, It's Cold Outside (LOST EPISODE)
- A Star Is Born (LOST EPISODE)
- Talk Of The Town (LOST EPISODE)
- Last Of The Big Spenders
- Faraway Places (LOST EPISODE)
- Where Have All The Flowers Gone? (LOST EPISODE)
Series 3
- Outward Bound (LOST EPISODE)
- Friends And Neighbours (LOST EPISODE)
- Rocker
- Brief Encounter (LOST EPISODE)
- The Razor's Edge (LOST EPISODE)
- Anchors Aweigh (LOST EPISODE)
- Love And Marriage (LOST EPISODE)
- Goodbye To All That