A J Wentworth, BA
Encyclopedia
A J Wentworth, BA is a British
sitcom
that aired on ITV
in 1982. Set in the 1940s, the programme was shown posthumously following the death of its lead actor Arthur Lowe
, who died on 15 April 1982. Based on the writings of H. F. Ellis
, A J Wentworth, BA was written by Basil Boothroyd
. It was made for the ITV
network by Thames Television
.
, which first appeared in Punch
. They were later published in two books, The Papers of A J Wentworth, BA and The Papers of A J Wentworth, BA (Ret'd), that were first published in 1949 and 1962 respectively. Arthur Lowe had also read out selections from the books in the daily literacy slot of Woman's Hour
. A piece from A J Wentworth, BA was read out by Harry Andrews
, who played the headmaster, at Arthur Lowe's memorial service.
in Wilminister, in rural England
. A J Wentworth is the mathematics
master who is very fond of the school but inefficient at disciplining his pupils. Therefore his kind nature is taken advantage of the boys. The headmaster, the Rev Saunders, who is nicknamed 'Squid' by the boys, is a snob
and the Matron
is Wentworth's constant enemy.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
sitcom
British sitcom
A British sitcom tends, as it does in most other countries, to be based on a family, workplace or other institution, where the same group of contrasting characters is brought together in each episode. Unlike American sitcoms, where twenty or more episodes in a season is the norm, British sitcoms...
that aired on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
in 1982. Set in the 1940s, the programme was shown posthumously following the death of its lead actor Arthur Lowe
Arthur Lowe
Arthur Lowe was a BAFTA Award winning English actor. He was best known for playing Captain George Mainwaring in the popular British sitcom Dad's Army from 1968 until 1977.-Early life:...
, who died on 15 April 1982. Based on the writings of H. F. Ellis
H. F. Ellis
Humphry Francis Ellis MBE was an English comic writer, best known for his creation of A.J. Wentworth, the ineffectual schoolmaster whose fictional diaries were first published in Punch magazine.-Life:...
, A J Wentworth, BA was written by Basil Boothroyd
Basil Boothroyd
John Basil Boothroyd was an English humorous writer, best known for his long association with Punch. As a young man he worked for a bank, but began contributing articles to Punch, and became its assistant editor, a post in which he served for eighteen years. His career as a writer for Punch...
. It was made for the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
network by Thames Television
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
.
Cast
- Arthur LoweArthur LoweArthur Lowe was a BAFTA Award winning English actor. He was best known for playing Captain George Mainwaring in the popular British sitcom Dad's Army from 1968 until 1977.-Early life:...
- Arthur James Wentworth, BA - Harry AndrewsHarry AndrewsHarry Fleetwood Andrews, CBE was an English film actor known for his frequent portrayals of tough military officers. His performance as Sergeant Major Wilson in The Hill alongside Sean Connery earned Andrews the 1965 National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor and a nomination for the...
- The Rev. R Gregory Saunders - Marion MathieMarion MathieMarion Mathie is an English actress who appeared in the last four series of Rumpole of the Bailey as his fearsome wife; and many other roles in other productions, including Mrs Susan Wyse in the London Weekend Television adaptation of the Mapp and Lucia books by E. F. Benson.-Notes:...
- Matron - Deddie DaviesDeddie DaviesDeddie Davies is a Welsh character actress.She is most familiar to television viewers for comedy roles in a host of series, including The Rag Trade, That's My Boy and Chance in a Million. She usually appears in meek, spinsterish roles...
- Miss Coombes - Ronnie StevensRonnie Stevens (actor)Ronald Stevens was a London-born English actor known as Ronnie Stevens.He appeared in many television comedy series in regular roles, including May to December, Goodnight Sweetheart and A J Wentworth, BA. He also appeared as the "Minister of Pollution", in The Goodies pollution episode...
- Rawlinson - Michael Bevis - Gilbert
- Marcus Evans - Mason
- Alistair Callender - Anderson
- Stephen Rooney - Atkins
- Andrew McDonnell - Etheridge
- Michael UnderwoodMichael UnderwoodMichael Paul Underwood is a British television presenter. He famously won a six week CBBC presenting contract on Gaby Roslin's BBC television show Whatever You Want.-Career:...
- Hillman - Paul Hawkins - Hopgood II
- Simon Curry - Otterway
- Halil Halil - Sapoulos
- Benjamin Taylor - Trench
Background
A J Wentworth, BA was adapted from the writings of H. F. EllisH. F. Ellis
Humphry Francis Ellis MBE was an English comic writer, best known for his creation of A.J. Wentworth, the ineffectual schoolmaster whose fictional diaries were first published in Punch magazine.-Life:...
, which first appeared in Punch
Punch (magazine)
Punch, or the London Charivari was a British weekly magazine of humour and satire established in 1841 by Henry Mayhew and engraver Ebenezer Landells. Historically, it was most influential in the 1840s and 50s, when it helped to coin the term "cartoon" in its modern sense as a humorous illustration...
. They were later published in two books, The Papers of A J Wentworth, BA and The Papers of A J Wentworth, BA (Ret'd), that were first published in 1949 and 1962 respectively. Arthur Lowe had also read out selections from the books in the daily literacy slot of Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour is a radio magazine programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom.-History:Created by Norman Collins and originally presented by Alan Ivimey the programme was first broadcast on 7 October 1946 on the BBC's Light Programme . It was transferred to its current home in 1973...
. A piece from A J Wentworth, BA was read out by Harry Andrews
Harry Andrews
Harry Fleetwood Andrews, CBE was an English film actor known for his frequent portrayals of tough military officers. His performance as Sergeant Major Wilson in The Hill alongside Sean Connery earned Andrews the 1965 National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor and a nomination for the...
, who played the headmaster, at Arthur Lowe's memorial service.
Plot
Set in the 1940s, A J Wentworth, BA is set at Burgrove, a boys' preparatory schoolPreparatory school (UK)
In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
in Wilminister, in rural England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. A J Wentworth is the mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
master who is very fond of the school but inefficient at disciplining his pupils. Therefore his kind nature is taken advantage of the boys. The headmaster, the Rev Saunders, who is nicknamed 'Squid' by the boys, is a snob
Snob
A snob is someone who believes that some people are inherently inferior to him or her for any one of a variety of reasons, including real or supposed intellect, wealth, education, ancestry, taste, beauty, nationality, et cetera. Often, the form of snobbery reflects the snob's personal attributes...
and the Matron
Matron
Matron is the job title of a very senior nurse in several countries, including the United Kingdom, its former colonies, including the Republic of Ireland, although the title Clinical Nurse Manager has become acceptable as an alternative.-History:...
is Wentworth's constant enemy.
Episodes
- "A Day in the Life of..." (12 July 1982)
- "Mud Larks" (19 July 1982)
- "Problems, Problems" (26 July 1982)
- "IIIA Goes to War" (2 August 1982)
- "Founder's Day" (9 August 1982)
- "The Outsider" (16 August 1982)