Phil Wickham's study of The Likely Lads provides an entertaining and insightful critical account of one of Britain's best-loved and most enduring sitcoms. The programme had two incarnations: the original series, The Likely Lads (BBC 1964-6) depicted the escapades of Bob and Terry, two footloose and fancy-free Tyneside lads; its even more popular 70s sequel, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads (BBC 1973-4), shows our heroes coming to terms with the end of their youth and its attendant possibilities. Now Bob, engaged to Thelma and with an executive starter home, is aiming for the stars via the badminton club, while Terry revels in the gutter. Phil Wickham explores what the series says about Bob and Terry's times, from the affluent 60s to the more troubled decade that followed, and how The Likely Lads tackles issues of class and masculinity. He also considers the nature of the series' humour and its place in the tradition of British sitcom before examining the way it appeals to its audience by raising questions about time, failure, and the realities of everyday life. His discussions are informed by interviews with the writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais.
By:
Phil Wickham
Imprint: BFI Publishing
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 190mm,
Width: 135mm,
Spine: 14mm
Weight: 269g
ISBN: 9781844572137
ISBN 10: 1844572137
Series: BFI TV Classics
Pages: 144
Publication Date: 05 August 2008
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Introduction.- 'What Happened to You, Whatever Happened to Me?': The Story of The Likely Lads.- 'Tomorrow's Almost Over': The Life and Times of The Likely Lads.- 'Ha'way the Lads!': Men, women, and The Likely Lads.- Having a Laugh: The Comedy of The Likely Lads.- 'What Became of the People We Used to Be?': The Truth about The Likely Lads.- Coda.- Credits and Episode Guide.- Notes.- Bibliography.- Index.
PHIL WICKHAM is the Curator of The Bill Douglas Centre for the History of Cinema and Popular Culture at the University of Exeter. He was previously a TV Curator at the British Film Institute. He is the author of Understanding Television Texts (2007) and writes and lectures extensively on British film and television.
Reviews for The Likely Lads
...this is a superb study of writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais' first two TV hits, The Likely Lads and Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? -- The Crack
