The Rag Trade

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The Rag Trade is a British television sitcom transmitted by the BBC between 1961 and 1963.

The scripts were written by Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney, who later wrote Wild, Wild Women, which was a period variation of The Rag Trade.

The actions centred around a small clothing workshop (hence the title, which associates with the textile industry), Fenner Fashions in London. Although ostensibly run by Harold Fenner (Peter Jones) and Reg (Reg Varney), the foreman, the female workers are really led by militant shop steward Paddy (Miriam Karlin), ever ready to call a strike, with the catchphrase "Everybody out!"

Other major cast members in the series included Sheila Hancock (as Carole), Esma Cannon (as Brother Lil), Wanda Ventham (as Shirley) and Barbara Windsor (as Judy).

The Rag Trade was later revived, without success, by ITV in 1977, with Jones and Karlin reprising their original roles. The 1977 version also featured Anna Karen once again playing Olive from On The Buses - a rare example of a sit-com cross-over - and future EastEnders star Gillian Taylforth as two of the factory workers.