Citizen James

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Citizen James was a BBC sitcom that ran for 3 series between 24th November 1960 and 1962. The show featured comedian and actor Sid James (best remembered for his roles in the Carry On films), Bill Kerr and Liz Fraser and Sidney Tafler. It was written by the comedy writing team of Galton and Simpson, who based the characters very much on the Sid Balmoral James and the Bill Kerr - the dim-witted Australian characters they had played in Hancock's Half Hour.

In the first series was set around 'Charlie's Nosh Bar' a cafe in Soho, and centred around Sid's get rich quick schemes. He is helped by "Billy the Kerr" and quite often frustrated by the local bookmaker Albert Welshman (Tafler). Liz Fraser, Sid's long suffering girlfriend who been waiting for seven years for Sid to set the date.

Changers were made to the format after the first series. James character changed too became something of a people's champion. campaigning for social justice. Bill Kerr and Liz Fraser departed and Sidney Talfer played a different character - Charlie Davenport. The location switched from Soho to Sid and Charlie sharing a house.


Later episodes were written by then Morecambe & Wise writers Sid Green and Dick Hills.[1]

Despite not being written by Galton and Simpson, the sets and familiar supporting cast gave these last two series a recognizable Hancock feeling to the proceedings.


[edit] Episodes

Like many BBC series of this time episodes were not retained past their sell by date for overseas markets. Only 8 episodes from the three series are still know to be in existence.

Series 1
E01 - The Race
Out of money, Sid hits on an idea to fix a "waiter's race" by use of a ringer.

E02 - The Elixir
Sid and Bill try their hand in the snake-oil business, selling "Dr." Sidney James' Magicial Elixir.

E03 - The Raffle
Sid and Bill have to organise a raffle to replace the 'Nosh Bar' Christmas money which went on Sid's gambling debts

E04 - The Money
Liz entrusts £300 to Sid to take to the Bank, but Sid and Bill soon find themselves parted from the money by Albert

E05 - The Brand Image
Sid and Bill try their hand at selling cigarettes but need an actor to help launch their new brand

E06 - The Rivals
Albert has a wager with Sid that he can get a date with Sid's fiancée. And at 10-1, Sid can't resist the odds

Series Two
E11 - Elope
Sid and Charlie rushing across the country to stop a young couple on their way to Gretna Green.

Series Three
E11 - The Watchdog
Finding a burglar in their house the boys take security for the street into their own hands.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Lewishon, Mark (2005). bbc.co.uk Guide to Comedy - Citizen James. BBC. Retrieved on 2007.

[edit] External links


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