In this episode of series 3 we draw on a theme present in this third series but never to be revisited. A focus on Compo's family. Gordon marries the lass (Josie) he met in Scarborough and Compo is Uncle Bill to Gordon. Does this mean Gordon's mother who appears in this episode is his sister or was Gordon's dad his brother?
Compo does not let his nephew down as he scrubs up and smartens up for the wedding. Again not for the first time we see Compo looking rather dapper in series 3.
When the accident prone Best Man comes a cropper at the church when he slips on a giant buttonhole, it is left to Compo to step into the breach.
There are some nice observational moments in this episode. The awkward silence and small talk when Compo meets distant relatives at the groom's house. Gordon's mother seems to have taken a shine to Foggy and he seems to be considerate about her making sure she is well turned out as he tries to take a photograph of her. We also see Big Malcolm again who also has taken a shine to Gordon's mother and tussles with another man over her.
What I did notice that there are elements here that Roy Clarke would reuse 10 years later in Uncle of the Bride. When Josie turns up to the church with her dad she has a moment with her father asking him to look happy for the wedding photograph and not pine for his overalls. The character Wesley, the bride's father in Uncle of the Bride was never happy than be in the garage with his blue overalls.
Also when Josie is getting ready, her mother thinks she is marrying beneath her and she should had married someone with prospects like a man working in a Building Society. In Uncle of the Bride, young Barry worked in a Building Society when he married Glenda and her mother Edie was also rather full of heirs and graces.
The episode had a good balance of comedy as well as juggling a larger cast of characters and including several poignant moments as well.