You Rang, M'Lord?

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You Rang, M'Lord?

The characters of You Rang, M'Lord?(left to right): Henry Livingstone, P.C. Wilson, James Twelvetrees, Ivy Teasdale, Alf Stokes, The Honourable Teddy Meldrum, Poppy Meldrum, Cissy Meldrum, Lord George Meldrum, (front row) Mabel Wheeler, Blanche Lipton, Lady Lavender.
Genre Situation Comedy
Running time Approximately 50 minutes per normal episode.
Creator(s) Jimmy Perry
David Croft
Starring Paul Shane
Jeffrey Holland
Su Pollard
Donald Hewlett
Michael Knowles
Brenda Cowling
Bill Pertwee
Country of origin Britain
Original channel BBC One
Original run 29 December 1988–24 April 1993
No. of episodes 26

You Rang M'Lord? was a British television series written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, broadcast between 1990 and 1993 on the BBC (although there had earlier been a pilot episode in 1988). The show was a comedy set in the house of an aristocractic family in the 1920s, contrasting the upper-class family and their servants in a house in London, along the same lines as the popular drama Upstairs, Downstairs.

Contents

[edit] Introduction

It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, and featured many actors who had also appeared in their earlier series, especially Paul Shane, Jeffrey Holland and Su Pollard, all of whom had previously been in Perry and Croft's holiday camp sitcom, Hi-de-Hi!. Also featured were Donald Hewlett and Michael Knowles from Perry and Croft's It Ain't Half Hot Mum, and Bill Pertwee and occasionally Frank Williams from Dad's Army. The memorable 1920's-style theme tune was sung by the late Bob Monkhouse.

Episodes of You Rang M'Lord? were fifty minutes long, rather than the usual thirty (for BBC sitcoms), and attempted to introduce a more reflective approach and more complex plotting than other Croft and Perry series. There was also less reliance on filmed location sequences.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

In the pilot episode, two World War I soldiers stumble across the body of an officer while crossing no-man's land under heavy gunfire. Assuming him to be dead, one, Alf Stokes, attempts to rob the officer, much to the disgust of his comrade, James Twelvetrees. It becomes apparent that the unconscious officer is not dead, and the two men see their chance to escape the guns by carrying him to a field hospital. The two soldiers are later called to see the officer, The Honourable Teddy Meldrum, who says he is eternally grateful, and promises them both jobs after the war.

The action then cuts to London in 1927, where James Twelvetrees has become the footman in the house of Lord Meldrum (brother of Teddy), and wants to further his position following the death of the butler. Meanwhile, Alf Stokes and his daughter, Ivy have just been sacked from their job in a music hall (a job he took after being dismissed for dishonesty as a butler). Alf sees his chance to apply for a job at the Meldrum's house, and after blackmailing his previous employer for references, becomes the new butler, much to the annoyance of James. Following the dismissal of a maid, after a backstairs relationship with the Honourable Teddy, Ivy is brought in by her father as the new maid (to hide the fact that she is Alf's daughter, the two decide that Ivy should use her mother's maiden name, Teasdale).

Thus, the plot is set, as the programme follows the various relationships between the upper-class and their servants, as well as Alf's scheming and James' attempts to stop him.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Below stairs

Alf Stokes was the scheming butler of the series. He is Ivy's father and is still married to Ivy's mother, despite their separation. Throughout the series, Alf devises a number of schemes to scam Lord Meldrum of his money and possessions, although these usually fail. This dishonest aspect of his character was often an asset to Lord Meldrum; on a number of occasions Alf was required to create diversions for Sir Ralph. Alf also has a relationship with Mrs. Lipton through the series.

James Twelvetrees was the opposite of Alf - stern, upright and honest. However, he was not a particularly likable character, usually siding with the gentry instead of his own class and often quite unpleasant to the other servants and those he considered lower than him. He was also shown to have his own foibles, such as his infatuation with Miss Poppy, a relationship which left him contemplating resignation at times. He was also desired downstairs by Ivy, although this was not reciprocated.

  • Mrs. Blanche Lipton, Cook - (Brenda Cowling)

Mrs. Lipton was the well reputed cook of the Meldrum household, and is rarely seen out of the kitchen. She can often be quite a contradictory character; while often appearing kindly and feeling sympathy for her betters and equals, at other times she is particularly scathing towards those she considers lower, such as Henry and Mabel. Throughout the series she has a relationship with Alf; at one point the two are engaged.

Ivy is the well meaning, but rather naive maid, the daughter of Alf. Despite her honesty, she is often persuaded to take part in her father's schemes. In the series, she has to avoid the advances of the Honourable Teddy, whilst also trying to attract the attention of James, who does not reciprocate.

Although the second lowest rank in the house, Henry is often the most insightful character, something which usually gets him into trouble - for not conforming to the expected etiquette and making innapropriate comments, he is usually soundly clipped about the ear. He is a good friend of Ivy, and it is often suggested that he would like a relationship with her. It is later revealed that he was an orphan as a child.

As Mabel does not live in the Meldrum household, instead with her unemployed husband, she is regarded by the others as an outsider. Because of her rank and social status, she is not allowed to have meals with the other servants, instead usually given some scraps to take home, which gave rise to her catchphrase "That'll be nice".

[edit] Above stairs

The master of the house, Lord Meldrum is a respected member of the gentry, in charge of the Union Jack Rubber Company and various other interests. A widower, with old-fashioned Victorian values, he had a respectable title and position in society. However, this is under threat from Sir Ralph Shawcross, whose wife Meldrum is having an affair with, and it is usually left to Stokes to sort his problems out. Despite his considerable wealth, he pays his workers poorly, and it is often hinted that he once employed slave labourers in Africa.

Lord Meldrum's younger brother, "The Honourable" Teddy is still unmarried and living in his brother's house. The stereotypical upper-class fool, he has had a number of backstairs relationships with previous maids: he cannot resist their "shiny faces" and scent of carbolic soap. He is being forced by his brother to marry Madge Cartwright, the heiress to a soap dynasty, although is more interested in her maid. In the first series, he was also interested in Ivy, although this ceases after Series One.

  • Lady Lavender - Mavis Pugh

Lady Lavender is Lord Meldrum's mother-in-law. A slightly senile old lady who lives in the loft of the house, she is fabulously wealthy and well-connected. In particular, she is prone to giving this wealth away, much to Meldrum's concern. She also prone to throwing food she dislikes at Ivy (who she insists on addressing as "Ethel"), although the two actually get on quite well.

  • Cissy Meldrum - Catherine Rabett

Cissy is Lord Meldrum's oldest daughter. Although attractive, she dresses like a man, takes part in men's sports and activities, such as flying, and appears to have the desires of a man, and her "chum" Penelope is a frequent house guest. Thus, although never explicitly stated, Cissy displays distinct lesbian tendencies, something which is not entirely obvious to her father[1][2]. A pleasant character, who often gives feminine items away to Ivy, she nevertheless dislikes (and regularly bickers with) her younger sister, Poppy.

  • Poppy Meldrum - Susie Brann

Poppy, Lord Meldrum's younger daughter is a "bright young thing", who attends 'wild' parties with her friend, Jerry. She is quite a snob about her position in society, often ready to remind those lower of her position, although at other times she confesses to feeling trapped by her class. Throughout the series, she is attracted to the footman James Twelvetrees, who she delights in leading on, despite being aware of the problems it could cause for him.

[edit] Others

P.C. Wilson is the local Bobby, although rarely appears to be doing his duty, instead dining nightly with the servants, as was apparently the custom because the police would then overlook any indiscretion made by the family. He is generally ineffective as a policeman, although has become something of a wine connesseur, due to his nightly selection from Lord Meldrum's cellar.

  • Madge Cartwright, fiancée to Teddy - Yvonne Marsh
  • Jerry, a friend of Poppy - John D. Collins
  • Lady Agatha Shawcross - Angela Scoular

Lady Agatha is Lord Meldrum's mistress. She is married to Sir Ralph, although it is made quite clear that she has had other romantic attachments in the past.

  • Sir Ralph Shawcross, husband of the above - John Horsley

Sir Ralph is the grumpy husband of Lady Agatha, who has suspected something is going on for some time, at one point daubing "fornicator" on Lord Meldrum's Rolls-Royce. In later series, he backs off Meldrum after hearing he had a "shrapnel wound" during World War One.

  • Charles, the Bishop - Frank Williams
  • Penelope Barrington-Blake - Sorel Johnson - A "chum" of Cissy's (strongly implied to be her girlfriend).

[edit] Notability

The series is notable for its unconventional length and use of high production values, although it was not initially well received by the critics, and failed to achieve the popularity of other Croft sitcoms, such as Hi-de-Hi!, Dad's Army, 'Allo 'Allo! and Are You Being Served? (the latter two were co-written by Croft with Jeremy Lloyd). However, this could be because it has rarely been repeated, due to the length of the episodes not suiting current broadcast slots.

The series is also notable as being one of the first sitcoms to feature a recurring lesbian character, in Cissy Meldrum.

In total, four series were made, all of which are now available on DVD.

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ In the final episodes of both series one and two, Cissy and her "chum", Penelope, kiss on the lips. In series one, Cissy's father, Lord Meldrum, asks of his brother whether this is what girls do these days. In series two, his reaction is "I do wish they wouldn't keep doing that."
  2. ^ LORD MELDRUM (to Cissy): Why can't you be more feminine - like Poppy? CISSY: Oh, you've no idea how feminine she can be when Jerry brings her back from the club at two o'clock in the morning. POPPY: What about what you and Penelope in the hangar where you keep your Tiger Moth? CISSY: Cat. POPPY: Cow! (Series 2, Episode 7: "Royal Flush").
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