Following the failure of the 'On The Buses' spin-off 'Don't Drink The Water', Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney decided to revisit their earlier hit, 'The Rag Trade', which originally had been broadcast by the BBC. In 1975, the pair scripted a pilot ( with only Peter Jones from the original cast re-appearing ) which they took to the BBC. The poor quality of the pilot meant not only that it would not be screened but also that they would not commission a series. In 1977, the pair took their new creation to LWT.
Miriam Karlin came back as Paddy and Peter Jones returned yet again as Fenner but the rest of the cast were made up of new faces. Anna Karen's Olive from 'On The Buses' was brought in here. Diane Langton's busty Kathy was clearly a Sheila Hancock/Barbara Windsor-esque character. Christopher Beeny's Tony was a replacement for Reg Varney whilst Deddie Davies' confused Mabel was clearly modeled on Esma Cannon. Also added to the cast were Lucita Lijertwood as West Indian Jojo and Gillian Taylforth as Lyn.
Nothing else had really changed had really changed at Fenner Fashions. Fenner was still trying unsuccessfully to make that crucial sale whilst the girls were determined to do as little work as possible. Many of the episodes were colour remakes of the original BBC series. That said, there were still some funny moments. We even found out that in one episode, Paddy and Fenner had once had an affair, which went some way to explaining their love/hate relationship. Anna Karen's Olive was played out in much the same way as she was in 'On The Buses'. Diane Langton got on my nerves as Kathy and Christopher Beeny was no Reg Varney. Gillian Taylforth provided some excitement as Lyn however.
Audiences didn't take to 'The Rag Trade' this time around and after two series in 1978, Fenner's Fashions ceased business. In 2009, Network released both series on DVD.
Miriam Karlin came back as Paddy and Peter Jones returned yet again as Fenner but the rest of the cast were made up of new faces. Anna Karen's Olive from 'On The Buses' was brought in here. Diane Langton's busty Kathy was clearly a Sheila Hancock/Barbara Windsor-esque character. Christopher Beeny's Tony was a replacement for Reg Varney whilst Deddie Davies' confused Mabel was clearly modeled on Esma Cannon. Also added to the cast were Lucita Lijertwood as West Indian Jojo and Gillian Taylforth as Lyn.
Nothing else had really changed had really changed at Fenner Fashions. Fenner was still trying unsuccessfully to make that crucial sale whilst the girls were determined to do as little work as possible. Many of the episodes were colour remakes of the original BBC series. That said, there were still some funny moments. We even found out that in one episode, Paddy and Fenner had once had an affair, which went some way to explaining their love/hate relationship. Anna Karen's Olive was played out in much the same way as she was in 'On The Buses'. Diane Langton got on my nerves as Kathy and Christopher Beeny was no Reg Varney. Gillian Taylforth provided some excitement as Lyn however.
Audiences didn't take to 'The Rag Trade' this time around and after two series in 1978, Fenner's Fashions ceased business. In 2009, Network released both series on DVD.