Only When I Laugh was a comedy programme, made by Yorkshire Television It ran for four series, totaling twenty-nine episodes.
| ON THE AIR | 29th October 1978 – 16th December 1982 | |
| ORIGINAL CHANNEL | ITV | |
| PRODUCTION COMPANY | Yorkshire Television | |
| NUMBER OF EPISODES | 29 | |
| PRODUCTION LOCATIONS | ||
| MISSING BELIEVED WIPED | n/a – all episodes survive | |
| ARCHIVE HOLDER | ITV Archive 104 Kirkstall Road Leeds LS3 1HD clipsales@itv.com 0113 222 7500 https://www.itvarchive.com | |
| THEME TUNE | Intro I’m H-A-P-P-Y, I’m H-A-P-P-Y, I know I am, I’m sure I am, I’m H-A-P-P-Y! I know I am, I’m sure I am, he’s H-A-P-P-Y! Outro I’m H-A-P-P-Y, I’m H-A-P-P-Y, I know I am, I’m sure I am, I’m H-A-P-P-Y! Yes, I’m H-A-P-P-Y, I’m H-A-P-P-Y, I know I am, I’m sure I am, I’m H-A-P-P-Y! Oh Yes, I’m H-A-P-P-Y, I’m H-A-P-P-Y, I know I am, I’m sure I am, Yes, I’m H-A-P-P-Y, H-A-P-P-Y Only When I Laugh H-A-P-P-Y | |
| HELD IN THE BRITSET ARCHIVES | Episode #1.1 – A Bed with a View (29 October 1979) Episode #1.2 – Operation Norman (5 November 1979) Episode #1.3 – The Rumour (12 November 1979) Episode #1.4 – The Man with the Face (19 November 1979) Episode #1.5 – Let Them Eat Cake (26 November 1979) Episode #1.6 – Tangled Web (3 December 1979) Episode #1.7 – Is There a Doctor in the House? (10 December 1979) Episode #2.1 – Whatever Happened to Gloria Robins? (29 April 1980) Episode #2.2 – Where There’s a Will (6 May 1980) Episode #2.3 – It Can Damage Your Health (13 May 1980) Episode #2.4 – The Cosmic Influence (20 May 1980) Episode #2.5 – The Visitors (27 May 1980) Episode #2.6 – The Lost Sheep (3 June 1980) Episode #2.7 – Last Tango (10 June 1980) Episode #3.1 – A Day in the Life Of (2 September 1981) Episode #3.2 – Adam’s Rib (9 September 1981) Episode #3.3 – The Right Honourable Gentleman (16 September 1981) Episode #3.4 – Postman’s Knock (23 September 1981) Episode #3.5 – Accident (30 September 1981) Episode #3.6 – Dear Diary (7 October 1981) Episode #3.7 – These You Have Loved (14 October 1981) Episode #3.8 – Away for Christmas (24 December 1981) Episode #4.1 – Blood Brothers (4 November 1982) Episode #4.3 – Conduct Unbecoming (11 November 1982) Episode #4.3 – All in the Mind (18 November 1982) Episode #4.4 – In Sickness & in Health (25 November 1982) Episode #4.5 – Escape (2 December 1982) Episode #4.6 – When Did You Last See Your Father? (9 December 1982) Episode #4.7 – The Reunion (16 December 1982) Series complete in our archives | |
Only When I Laugh was a hospital based comedy written by Eric Chappell who had previously written another Yorkshire Television comedy, Rising Damp. The show ran for 29 episodes across four series.
The show is based around three long-term hospital paitents staying in the same bay. These are Royston Figgis, Archie Glover and Norman Binns who are often getting themselves into different schemes to relieve the bordem,
The show also features Dr Thorpe and his word orderly Gupte. Dr Thorpe is well aware that the three paitents are only really suffering with extreme hypochondria and has little paitcence with them, lacking any sympathy and just wanting them gone. He is often rude and sometimes bordering on cruel to them as they are to him.
CAST
- Royston Figgis – James Bolam
- Archive Glover – Peter Bowles
- Norman Binns – Christopher Strauli
- Dr. Gordon Thorpe – Richard Wilson
- Gupte – Derrick Branche (22 episodes)
- Nurse – Alexandra Brook (2 episodes)
- Fiona – Wanda Bentham (1 episode)
- Harry – Neil McCarthy (1 episode)
- Charlie – Frank Middlemass (1 episode)
- Deidre – Diane Bull
- George – Nicholas McArdle
- Dr. Bernstein – Terry Diab
- Clegg – Robert Gillespie
- Nicos – Stephen Greif
- Landlord – John Junkin
- Lady – Patsy Smart
- Nurse Sally – Sally Osborn
- Perkins – Patrick Troughton
- Hargreaves – Ronnie Stevens
- Gloria – Moira Lister
- Matron – Brenda Cowling
- Vicar – John Quayle
- Nurse Jenny – Julia Goodman
- Nurse Bradley – Isla Blair
- Victoria Plumtree – Gwen Taylor
- Amy Glossop – Rosalind Ayres
- Ronnie – Karl Howman
- Helen Roper-Jones – Ann Beach
- Phil – Richard Morant
- Sir Julian Briggs – Reginald Marsh
- Danny – Oliver Pye
- Hilary – Patricia Brake
- Col. Walters – John Nettleton
- Prision Officer – Norman Mitchell
- Cook – Pamela Cundell
- Barmaid – Naomi Buch
- Anna – Elin Jenkins
- Mrs. Binns – Margaret Courtenay
- Lady Patient – Jenny McCracken
- Nurse Eileen – Judi Maynard
- Gary – Jeremy Bulloch
- Clare Butterfield – Sylvia Kay
- Policeman – John Ronane
- Customer – John Moore
- Peg – Pat Ashton
- Leonora – Mary Tamm
- Les Flanagan – Camera Crew
- Nurse – Jane Shackell
- Customer – John Rapley
- Nurse -Marian Davies
- Camera Crew – Rick Pickard
- Customer – Arnold Diamond
- Nurse – Kay Garner
- Camera Crew – Dominic Field
- Nurse – Lee Gibson
- Camera Crew – Ian Langstaff
- Nurse – Sue Glover
- Children’s Voices – Susan Sheridan
ONLY WHEN I LAUGH [INTRO]
VIDEO CLIPS
Only When I Laugh [Intro]
Episode 1.1 – A Bed With A View
29th October 1979
Yorkshire Television
ONLY WHEN I LAUGH [OUTRO]
VIDEO CLIPS
Only When I Laugh [Outro]
Episode 1.1 – A Bed With A View
29th October 1979
Yorkshire Television
ONLY WHEN I LAUGH [OUTRO]
VIDEO CLIPS
Only When I Laugh [Outro]
Episode 3.8 – Away for Christmas
24th December 1981
Yorkshire Television
EXTERNAL LINKS
These links are to external website – we are not responsible for the content on these sites, the links are added to provide additional, background information.
Only When I Laugh – British Comedy Guide
Only When I Laugh – Television Heaven
COPYRIGHT DETAILS
Only When I Laugh © ITV PLC