Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais' 'The Likely Lads' was one of the BBC's biggest sitcoms of the 1960's yet nowadays is barely remembered, possibly due to very little of it still being in existence as it fell foul to the BBC's spring cleaning of the archives. Whilst indeed it is lucky that some has still managed to survive, it is not unfair to say that 'The Likely Lads' has not stood the test of time.
'The Likely Lads' were Bob Ferris and Terry Collier, two young Northerners whose main sources of pleasure are drinking, gambling and womanising. Rodney Bewes played the moon faced Bob, whilst James Bolam played the outspoken Terry. They caught the public's imagination straight away and soon ''eee!'' and ''by the cringe!'' could be heard on the streets, in the pub, in the workplace and in the playgrounds. They were so well liked that they even appeared in a specially filmed segment for an edition of 'Christmas Night With The Stars'.
Bewes and Bolam did as well as they could considering their previous lack of experience in comedy. Fortunately, they soon matured into fine actors. Sheila Fearn plays Terry's hairdresser sister Audrey, who would later appear in Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke's 'George & Mildred' as their neighbour Ann Fourmile. The late Don McKillop and the late Bartlett Mullins were impressive as Jack and Cloughy, who both worked at the same factory as Bob and Terry.
After three series, 'The Likely Lads' went their separate ways when they both joined the army. However, they were reunited in 1973 for the superior sequel - 'Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads' - which saw the aftermath of their time away. 'The Likely Lads', as I said before, has not aged well and overall is pretty second division stuff. Nonetheless, it is worth a look if mainly only to coo over the lovely Sheila Fearn as the sexy Audrey.
'The Likely Lads' were Bob Ferris and Terry Collier, two young Northerners whose main sources of pleasure are drinking, gambling and womanising. Rodney Bewes played the moon faced Bob, whilst James Bolam played the outspoken Terry. They caught the public's imagination straight away and soon ''eee!'' and ''by the cringe!'' could be heard on the streets, in the pub, in the workplace and in the playgrounds. They were so well liked that they even appeared in a specially filmed segment for an edition of 'Christmas Night With The Stars'.
Bewes and Bolam did as well as they could considering their previous lack of experience in comedy. Fortunately, they soon matured into fine actors. Sheila Fearn plays Terry's hairdresser sister Audrey, who would later appear in Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke's 'George & Mildred' as their neighbour Ann Fourmile. The late Don McKillop and the late Bartlett Mullins were impressive as Jack and Cloughy, who both worked at the same factory as Bob and Terry.
After three series, 'The Likely Lads' went their separate ways when they both joined the army. However, they were reunited in 1973 for the superior sequel - 'Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads' - which saw the aftermath of their time away. 'The Likely Lads', as I said before, has not aged well and overall is pretty second division stuff. Nonetheless, it is worth a look if mainly only to coo over the lovely Sheila Fearn as the sexy Audrey.
