On The Up was a BBC sitcom . It ran for three series, totalling nineteen episodes.
| ON THE AIR | 4 September 1990 – 2 November 1992 | |
| ORIGINAL CHANNEL | BBC 1 | |
| PRODUCTION COMPANY | BBC Television | |
| NUMBER OF EPISODES | 19 | |
| PRODUCTION LOCATIONS | ||
| MISSING BELIEVED WIPED | n/a – all episodes survive | |
| ARCHIVE HOLDER | BBC Archives archive.services@bbc.co.uk | |
| THEME TUNE | INTRO 1st movement of the Handel concerti grossi Op.6 No.11 in A major (performed by the Guildhall String Ensemble) CLOSING It’s a funny old game It’s getting better by the day I could be a millionaire by May wife has gone, my daughter won’t be long And generally speaking things are on the up Maybe I will cry, maybe I will beg Maybe she will buy a dress straight off the peg I’m the bit of rough she always wanted to lay and now she’s gone away to stay I’m the lord and master of all I purvey I might even own my own house one day I’ve got Bentleys to my ears and Rollers to my nose but basically boys, I’m so al—one but on the up (performed by Dennis Waterman) | |
| HELD IN THE BRITSET ARCHIVES | Episode #1.1 – Walking Out (TX 4th September 1990) Episode #1.2 – Mum (TX 11th September 1990) Episode #1.3 – Mr. Burton (TX 18th September 1990) Episode #1.4 – Dawn (TX 25th September 1990) Episode #1.5 – Maggie’s Dad (TX 2nd October 1990) Episode #1.6 – Douglas (TX 9th October 1990) Episode #1.7 – Barbados (TX 16th October 1990) Episode #2.1 – After the Holiday (TX 6th September 1991) Episode #2.2 – Ruth Makes an Effort (TX 13th September 1991) Episode #2.3 – Maggie Gives Notice (TX 20th September 1991) Episode #2.4 – Competition (TX 27th September 1991) Episode #2.5 – Meeting Jane Webster (TX 4th October 1991) Episode #2.6 – A Date with Jane Webster (TX 11th October 1991) Episode #3.1 – The Golf Tournament (TX 28th September 1992) Episode #3.2 – The Fishing Trip (TX 5th October 1992) Episode #3.3 – Temporary Secretary (TX 12th October 1992) Episode #3.4 – Parental Choice (TX 19th October 992) Episode #3.5 – Stephanie (TX 26h October 992) Episode #3.6 – Divorce (TX 2nd November 1992) Series complete in archive | |
On The Up was a sitcom starring Dennis Waterman as self-made Millionaire Tony Carpenter.
Tony was the owner of a chauffer-car service which he had built from a taxi firm. While he was now rich, living in a big house and surrounded by wealth, he was still very much working class and would behave as such.
Carpenter had domestic staff in Sam, who had been a childhood friend, who became his driver and butler. Sam was often insolent and would never be afraid to voice his opinion on his boss. Tony also had a secretary called Maggie and a cook caled Mrs Wembley who was rather fond of sherry – leading to the phrase “just the one” being said to her. Tony was close to his household, much to the annoyance of his wife who he was in the middle of divorcing – she disapproved of him being friendly to the hired help and looked down on his common ways.
In typical Waterman style, he sings the end theme tune. The series was written by Bob Larby who had help create other sitcom classics such as The Good Life and Please Sir!
CAST
- Dawn – Michelle Hatch (11 episodes)
- Tony’s Mum – Pauline Letts (9 episodes)
- Jane Webster – Fiona Mollison (5 episodes)
- Sir Douglas Hoyle – William Lucas (3 episodes)
- Tony’s Mum – Dora Bryan (2 episodes)
- Barry – Bunny May (2 episodes)
- Stephen – John Harding (2 episodes)
- Singing Gardener – Paul Weakley (2 episodes)
- Angela – Elizabeth Anson (1 episode)
- Golfer – Alexander John (1 episode)
- Mrs. Turner – Gillian Webb (1 episode)
- Delivery Man – Conleth Hill (1 episode)
- Man – Ian Rattray (1 episode)
- Ms. Barnes – Deborah Leighton (1 episode)
- Chalky Smith – Tony Millan (1 episode)
- Mr. Burton – Peter Denyer (1 episode)
- Mr. Purvis – Paul Arlington (1 episode)
- Florist – Louise Papillon (1 episode)
- Eva the Housekeeper – Lola Rand (1 episode)
- Mr. Norster – John Gower (1 episode)
- Jimmy Quinn – Perry Fenwick (1 episode)
- Traffic Warden – Gordon Peters (1 episode)
- Mrs. Gulliver – Margot Field (1 episode)
- Sharon – Su-Lin Looi (1 episode)
- Louis – Bernard Spear (1 episode)
- Mr. Lomax – Derek Anders (1 episode)
- Lady – Anne Clements (1 episode)
- Waiter – Peter Godwin (1 episode)
- Secretary – Fiona McAlpine (1 episode)
- Gardener – Shaun Curry (1 episode)
- Gardener – Mike Savage (1 episode)
- Miss Runcorn – Joan Blackham (1 episode)
- George – Charles Rea (1 episode)
- Nigel – Richard Cripwell (1 episode)
- Drunken Guest – John D. Collins (1 episode)
- Gardening Contractor – Binky Baker (1 episode)
- Edie – Julia Nelson (1 episode)
- Charles – Adam Fahey (1 episode)
- Albert – Ronald Nunnery (1 episode)
ON THE UP [INTRO]
VIDEO CLIPS
On The Up [Intro]
Episode 1.1 – Walking Out
4th September 1990
BBC Television
ON THE UP [OUTRO]
VIDEO CLIPS
On The Up [Outro]
Episode 1.1 – Walking Out
4th September 1990
BBC 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.
On The Up – British Comedy Guide
COPYRIGHT DETAILS
On The Up © BBC Worldwide