User Reviews

Reg and Irene are given an expensive camera as a present from her mother. To get some extra spending money for their impending holiday, Reg tries to sell it down the market. Thinking it to be stolen property, the men decline to buy it. Reg visits a pawnbroker's shop, run by a strange little Welshman ( Talfryn Thomas ) who gives him £75.

Reg's pompous brother-in-law Clive shows up and says it was meant for him, so Reg goes to the shop to buy it back. A pair of policemen are there, and arrest him for handling stolen goods...

You have to give the writers of this show credit for nerve. Having introduced a 'Blakey' style authority figure, they then went a stage further by bringing in an 'Arthur' style brother-in-law. Tim Barrett's 'Clive' is more of a snob than Arthur Rudge, but lacks the likability Michael Robbins brought to the role. Had the show carried on into a third run, its possible they might have tried to include a 'Jack' equivalent.

The great Talfyn Thomas plays the pawnbroker as though he's just stepped off the set of 'Dad's Army', replete with a 'Yes indeed!". Reg's tirade of hatred against Welsh people probably would not be allowed now. Come on now Reg, my country did give the world Catherine Zeta-Jones and Rob Bryden. Hugh Paddick of 'Round The Horne' and 'Pardon My Genie' is fleetingly seen as a police inspector.

Funniest moment - a policeman asks Reg how can he get hold of his ( Reg's ) mother in law. "Round the throat!", snaps Reg.

Irene's mother has sent Reg and Irene a gift - a camera worth £150. With their holiday upcoming, Reg suspects his mother in law is trying to wangle an invite away with them. Having no use for the camera, Reg tries to sell it down the market but the porters show no interest. Old Wol suggests that Reg pawn it. Later, Reg takes it down to a pawn shop run by a creepy Welshman. As his business partner is not on the premises ( the one who deals in photographic equipment ), the man suggests to Reg he come back later.

Some time later, Reg and Irene happily make their way to the pawn shop to collect the money for the camera, only to find there are two police officers waiting for them, who arrest them on suspicion of handling stolen goods..

'Held In Camera' is not bad but all the to do over trying to flog the camera starts to get a bit tedious over time. The pawn shop scene was not particularly funny either. Talfyn Thomas played the snidey pawnbroker. Also intrduced was Tim Barrett as Reg's snobbish brother in law Clive, who, like with the mother in law, Reg cannot stand.

Funniest bit - Reg over the phone telling Clive just what he thinks of him. We are not privvy to what Reg says to him but judging by Clive's expression it is obviously none too polite!