Had it not been for 'Billy Liar', Jeff Rawle would never have been cast as 'George Dent' in 'Drop The Dead Donkey'. Guy Jenkin and Andy Hamilton remembered him from that 70's show, and with good reason. 'Billy Liar' is still great fun, boasting superb scripts by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall, good performances by George A. Cooper, Colin Jeavons as the gloomy 'Mr. Shadrack', Pamela Vezey, Sally Watts and, of course, Jeff Rawle as 'Billy'. An unexpected scene stealer was the late May Warden as 'Grandma', her unwanted reminiscences about her amorous past had me roaring with laughter.
It is basically the same set-up as the book/movie/play - set in the fictional Northern town of Stradhoughton, undertakers clerk Billy Fisher is an incorrigible liar, a nobody who dreams of being somebody. His escapes into fantasy land provided much of the humour. I couldn't work out though why Shadrach didn't simply sack him, or why his soft, soppy girlfriend Barbara stood by him even when he was caught dating other girls.
Amongst the guest stars were Roy Kinnear, Thora Hird, Lynda Bellingham, and Roy Barrowclough.
Two seasons were made ( plus a sketch shown as part of I. T. V.'s 'All-Star Comedy Carnival' from Christmas Day 1973 ). The first went out post-watershed, allowing for some ripe ( though tame by today's standards ) language from Mr. Fisher and the occasional flash of nudity. The second was screened in an earlier time slot ( possibly because L. W. T. Saw that its main audience was young ) and not networked.
It has dated of course ( check out the length of Billy's hair! ) particularly the episodes referencing the hippie movement and kung-fu craze, but still very funny. If anyone found it 'painful', then surely it is their fault, not the show's.
It is basically the same set-up as the book/movie/play - set in the fictional Northern town of Stradhoughton, undertakers clerk Billy Fisher is an incorrigible liar, a nobody who dreams of being somebody. His escapes into fantasy land provided much of the humour. I couldn't work out though why Shadrach didn't simply sack him, or why his soft, soppy girlfriend Barbara stood by him even when he was caught dating other girls.
Amongst the guest stars were Roy Kinnear, Thora Hird, Lynda Bellingham, and Roy Barrowclough.
Two seasons were made ( plus a sketch shown as part of I. T. V.'s 'All-Star Comedy Carnival' from Christmas Day 1973 ). The first went out post-watershed, allowing for some ripe ( though tame by today's standards ) language from Mr. Fisher and the occasional flash of nudity. The second was screened in an earlier time slot ( possibly because L. W. T. Saw that its main audience was young ) and not networked.
It has dated of course ( check out the length of Billy's hair! ) particularly the episodes referencing the hippie movement and kung-fu craze, but still very funny. If anyone found it 'painful', then surely it is their fault, not the show's.