Father, Dear Father
Encyclopedia
Father, Dear Father is a British
television
sitcom produced by Thames Television
for ITV
from 1968 to 1973 starring Patrick Cargill
. It was subsequently made into a spin-off film
of the same title released in 1973.
An Australian sequel series, also titled Father, Dear Father, (but usually referenced as Father, Dear Father in Australia to distinguise it from the UK original), followed in 1978.
) and his daughters, Karen (Ann Holloway) and Anna (Natasha Pyne
), a couple of lively girls in their teens. Another member of the household is the girls' Nanny (Noel Dyson
). As well as having to deal with his progeny, Patrick also faces frequent hassles with his ex-wife Barbara (Ursula Howells
) and her current husband Bill Mossman (played by Patrick Holt
, and later Tony Britton
). There is also his brother Philip (Donald Sinden
), his mother (Joyce Carey
) , his agent Georgie Thompson (Sally Bazely Series 1 & 2 and later Dawn Addams
) Series 4-7 (Michael Segal played his agent Ian Smyth in series 3)and his pet St.Bernard dog 'H.G. Wells'. At the end of the sixth series Anna marries Tim Tanner (Jeremy Child
), who then became a regular in the last series.
to do some research for a book he is writing and takes Nanny along (both Cargill and Dyson reprised the roles). He intends to stay with his brother Jeffrey (Ron Frazer), but Jeffrey unexpectedly has to travel to London
for 6 months in connection with his work. Jeffrey comments that he is worried about leaving his daughters, Liz (Sally Conabere) and Sue (Sigrid Thornton
), to fend for themselves while he is away and asks if Patrick and Nanny can look after them, and Patrick begrudgingly agrees. Liz and Sue had been looking forward to being free of adult supervision while their father was away, so they're initially unimpressed with the idea. 'H.G.Wells' was replaced by two new St.Bernards, a dog named G.K. (after G.K. Chesterton) and a bitch named 'A.C.' (after Agatha Christie.). Wallas Eaton
appears in two episodes of the second series as Patrick's Australian publisher, Sam Winterton.
Two 7-episode series were made by Lyle McCabe Productions in association with the Seven Network; like the original, they were produced and directed by William G. Stewart. Gordon Franks' original title music was also re-used. Mortimer and Cooke wrote the first episode, 'Once More With Feeling'; the rest of the episodes were written by new writers such as Richard Waring and Donald Churchill.
very closely paralleled the plot of the series. In that series, Dudley Moore
(in his last regular television role) is a fashion designer left to care for his teenage daughters after his wife runs off with his business partner.
Although the series Empty Nest
, which ran from 1988 to 1995, has numerous similarities to Father, Dear Father, the two series are not directly linked, as the lead character in that series is instead cohabiting with his two adult daughters, not teenagers, and his ex-wife died before the series began and is not present in Empty Nest.
.
, A 7-disc box-set of the complete series has also been released. Both series of the Australian Father, Dear Father series have been released in a 2 disc set by Umbrella Entertainment in Australia.
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...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
sitcom produced 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....
for 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...
from 1968 to 1973 starring Patrick Cargill
Patrick Cargill
Patrick Cargill was a British actor known for his role on the British television sitcom Father, Dear Father.-Career:...
. It was subsequently made into a spin-off film
Father, Dear Father (film)
Father, Dear Father is a 1973 film based on the popular Thames Television sitcom of the same name Father, Dear Father and directed by William G...
of the same title released in 1973.
An Australian sequel series, also titled Father, Dear Father, (but usually referenced as Father, Dear Father in Australia to distinguise it from the UK original), followed in 1978.
Premise
The original series focused on divorced British novelist Patrick Glover (Patrick CargillPatrick Cargill
Patrick Cargill was a British actor known for his role on the British television sitcom Father, Dear Father.-Career:...
) and his daughters, Karen (Ann Holloway) and Anna (Natasha Pyne
Natasha Pyne
Natasha Pyne , is an English actress.Pyne started her career at the Royal Court in a production of John Osbourne's Inadmissible Evidence and followed it in productions at the Lyric and Royal Shakespeare Company. She is best known for her role in the British television sitcom series Father, Dear...
), a couple of lively girls in their teens. Another member of the household is the girls' Nanny (Noel Dyson
Noel Dyson
Noel Dyson was an English actress. Dyson appeared in a number of films but is best remembered as a versatile television actress who became a very familiar face to British viewers in a career spanning almost 50 years...
). As well as having to deal with his progeny, Patrick also faces frequent hassles with his ex-wife Barbara (Ursula Howells
Ursula Howells
Ursula Howells was an English actress whose elegant presence kept her much in demand for roles in film and television....
) and her current husband Bill Mossman (played by Patrick Holt
Patrick Holt
Patrick Holt was a British film and television actor.-Biography:Patrick Holt's real name was Patrick G. Parsons. Some of his childhood was spent in India with his Uncle. Patrick was sent to Christ's Hospital, a famous charity school in England, UK...
, and later Tony Britton
Tony Britton
Anthony Edward Lowry "Tony" Britton is an English actor. He is the father of presenter Fern Britton, scriptwriter Cherry Britton and actor Jasper Britton.-Life and career:...
). There is also his brother Philip (Donald Sinden
Donald Sinden
Sir Donald Alfred Sinden CBE is an English actor of theatre, film and television.-Personal life:Sinden was born in Plymouth, Devon, England, on 9 October 1923. The son of Alfred Edward Sinden and his wife Mabel Agnes , he grew up in the Sussex village of Ditchling, where their home doubled as the...
), his mother (Joyce Carey
Joyce Carey
Joyce Carey, OBE was a British actress, best known for her long professional and personal relationship with Noël Coward. Her stage career lasted from 1916 until 1984, and she was performing on television in her nineties. Though never a star, she was a familiar face both on stage and screen...
) , his agent Georgie Thompson (Sally Bazely Series 1 & 2 and later Dawn Addams
Dawn Addams
Dawn Addams was an English actress in motion pictures of the 1950s.-Life and career:She was born Victoria Dawn Addams in Felixstowe, Suffolk, England, the daughter of Ethel Mary and Captain James Ramage Addams. Her mother died when she was young, and she spent her early life in Calcutta, India...
) Series 4-7 (Michael Segal played his agent Ian Smyth in series 3)and his pet St.Bernard dog 'H.G. Wells'. At the end of the sixth series Anna marries Tim Tanner (Jeremy Child
Jeremy Child
Sir Coles John "Jeremy" Child, 3rd Baronet is an English actor.He was born in Woking, England and educated at Eton College, as well as trained as an actor at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. After appearing in repertory theatre, he was cast in a significant role in the 1967 film Privilege...
), who then became a regular in the last series.
Australian version
A few years after Karen and Anna have married and left home, Patrick decides to go to AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to do some research for a book he is writing and takes Nanny along (both Cargill and Dyson reprised the roles). He intends to stay with his brother Jeffrey (Ron Frazer), but Jeffrey unexpectedly has to travel to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
for 6 months in connection with his work. Jeffrey comments that he is worried about leaving his daughters, Liz (Sally Conabere) and Sue (Sigrid Thornton
Sigrid Thornton
Sigrid Thornton is an Australian multi-award winning actress.-Early years:Thornton was born in Canberra, the daughter of Merle, a teacher of women's studies and writer, and Neil Thornton, an academic. She spent most of her formative years growing up and attending school at St. Peter's Lutheran...
), to fend for themselves while he is away and asks if Patrick and Nanny can look after them, and Patrick begrudgingly agrees. Liz and Sue had been looking forward to being free of adult supervision while their father was away, so they're initially unimpressed with the idea. 'H.G.Wells' was replaced by two new St.Bernards, a dog named G.K. (after G.K. Chesterton) and a bitch named 'A.C.' (after Agatha Christie.). Wallas Eaton
Wallas Eaton
Wallas Eaton , sometimes credited as Wallace Eaton or Wallis Eaton, was an English film, radio, television and theatre actor....
appears in two episodes of the second series as Patrick's Australian publisher, Sam Winterton.
Two 7-episode series were made by Lyle McCabe Productions in association with the Seven Network; like the original, they were produced and directed by William G. Stewart. Gordon Franks' original title music was also re-used. Mortimer and Cooke wrote the first episode, 'Once More With Feeling'; the rest of the episodes were written by new writers such as Richard Waring and Donald Churchill.
American adaptation
The series was never directly adapted into an American series, but the series Daddy's GirlsDaddy's Girls (1994 TV series)
Daddy's Girls is an American sitcom that aired on CBS in the fall of 1994. The series followed Dudley Walker , the owner of a New York fashion house who loses his wife and his business partner when, after a years-long secret affair, they run off together leaving him as the primary caretaker to his...
very closely paralleled the plot of the series. In that series, Dudley Moore
Dudley Moore
Dudley Stuart John Moore, CBE was an English actor, comedian, composer and musician.Moore first came to prominence as one of the four writer-performers in the ground-breaking comedy revue Beyond the Fringe in the early 1960s, and then became famous as half of the highly popular television...
(in his last regular television role) is a fashion designer left to care for his teenage daughters after his wife runs off with his business partner.
Although the series Empty Nest
Empty Nest
Empty Nest is an American sitcom that originally aired on NBC from 1988 to 1995. The series was created as a spin-off of The Golden Girls by creator and producer Susan Harris. For its first three seasons, Empty Nest was one of the year's top 10 most-watched programs...
, which ran from 1988 to 1995, has numerous similarities to Father, Dear Father, the two series are not directly linked, as the lead character in that series is instead cohabiting with his two adult daughters, not teenagers, and his ex-wife died before the series began and is not present in Empty Nest.
South African adaptation
In South Africa, a radio play version was produced for Springbok RadioSpringbok Radio
Springbok Radio was a South African radio station that operated from 1950 to 1985.-History:On 1 May 1950, the first commercial radio station in South Africa, Springbok Radio took to the airwaves broadcasting in both English and Afrikaans...
.
DVD release
All seven series of Father, Dear Father (including the feature film) have been released on DVD By NetworkNetwork DVD
Network DVD is a DVD publishing company that specialises in classic British television. In particular, it has the rights to a number of well-known ITV programmes...
, A 7-disc box-set of the complete series has also been released. Both series of the Australian Father, Dear Father series have been released in a 2 disc set by Umbrella Entertainment in Australia.
| DVD | Release date |
|---|---|
| The Complete Series 1 | 15 January 2007 |
| The Complete Series 2 | 13 August 2007 |
| The Complete Series 3 | 22 October 2007 |
| The Complete Series 4 | 1 September 2008 |
| The Complete Series 5 | 8 June 2009 |
| The Complete Series 6 | 23 August 2010 |
| The Complete Series 7 The Complete Series 1 to 7 + Movie Box Set |
8 November 2010 |
External links
- Father, Dear Father - credits and episodes guide