Fresh Fields
Encyclopedia
Fresh Fields is a British
situation comedy written by John T. Chapman and produced by Thames Television
for ITV
between 1984 and 1986. The show is well remembered for its opening titles featuring a silhouette of a person in a rocking chair.
It starred Julia McKenzie
and Anton Rodgers
as Hester and William Fields, a devoted middle-class couple with an idyllic suburban
lifestyle. William works while Hester keeps home. The crux of the show (and the meaning of the title) was that she was always looking to try new hobbies or find ways to improve her life, much of which exasperated her hard-working husband.
The family home had a granny flat attached, in which Hester's mother Nancy (Fanny Rowe
) lived. She was divorce
d from Hester's father Guy (played by Ballard Berkeley) although remarried him as the series progressed. The couple had a daughter called Emma who frequently telephoned but never appeared (Debby Cummings supplied the voice). Her husband Peter (Philip Bird
) did appear often. They later had a son — the Fields' first grandchild — whom they named Guy, after his great-grandfather.
Perhaps the best remembered supporting character was Sonia Barrett (played by Ann Beach
) who would frequently pop round to borrow items to replace hers due to breakage, theft or mislaying. Hester was not perturbed by this, as the two were close friends, but it used to irritate William. Sonia had the show's only catchphrase — she would always knock on the back door of the Fields' home and then say It's only Sonia! as she walked in. This would sometimes lead to applause of recognition from the studio audience, a phenomenon more regularly seen within American
sitcoms. Sonia's husband John (John Arthur) appeared on occasion, as did William's secretary
Miss Denham, played by Daphne Oxenford
.
In the 27th and final episode of the programme, William accepted a position with a French
company. In 1989, the series re-located to France and became French Fields
, although only McKenzie and Rodgers, of the main characters, starred regularly in this new series though Philip Bird appeared on several episodes and Ann Beach made an appearance in the final episode. There were three series of 19 episodes made over two years, all written by John T. Chapman and Ian Davidson
.
In its heyday it was a very successful sitcom for ratings, although was also regarded as very "safe".
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...
situation comedy written by John T. Chapman and 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...
between 1984 and 1986. The show is well remembered for its opening titles featuring a silhouette of a person in a rocking chair.
It starred Julia McKenzie
Julia McKenzie
Julia McKenzie is an English actress, singer, and theatre director. She is best-known for her performance in Fresh Fields, but to current television audiences, she is best known for her role as Miss Marple in Agatha Christie's Marple...
and Anton Rodgers
Anton Rodgers
Anton Rodgers was an English actor and occasional director. He performed on stage, in film and in television dramas and sitcoms.-Life and career:...
as Hester and William Fields, a devoted middle-class couple with an idyllic suburban
SubUrbia
subUrbia is a play by Eric Bogosian chronicling the nighttime activities of a group of aimless 20-somethings still living in their suburban Boston hometown and their reunion with a former high school classmate who has become a successful musician...
lifestyle. William works while Hester keeps home. The crux of the show (and the meaning of the title) was that she was always looking to try new hobbies or find ways to improve her life, much of which exasperated her hard-working husband.
The family home had a granny flat attached, in which Hester's mother Nancy (Fanny Rowe
Fanny Rowe
Fanny Rowe was an English film and television actress.Her real name was Frances Rowe, although she became Frances Morton after marrying the actor Clive Morton...
) lived. She was divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
d from Hester's father Guy (played by Ballard Berkeley) although remarried him as the series progressed. The couple had a daughter called Emma who frequently telephoned but never appeared (Debby Cummings supplied the voice). Her husband Peter (Philip Bird
Philip Bird
Philip Bird is an English actor who has appeared in several British shows such as Peter Birch in ITV soap opera Emmerdale in 2006. He has also appeared in BBC's Doctors, ITV's Heartbeat and Coronation Street.-External links:...
) did appear often. They later had a son — the Fields' first grandchild — whom they named Guy, after his great-grandfather.
Perhaps the best remembered supporting character was Sonia Barrett (played by Ann Beach
Ann Beach
Ann Beach is a British actress.She is the mother of Charlotte Coleman and Lisa Coleman. She is perhaps best remembered for her supporting role as Sonia Barrett, the quirky next-door neighbour on the British comedy Fresh Fields, starring Julia McKenzie and Anton Rodgers...
) who would frequently pop round to borrow items to replace hers due to breakage, theft or mislaying. Hester was not perturbed by this, as the two were close friends, but it used to irritate William. Sonia had the show's only catchphrase — she would always knock on the back door of the Fields' home and then say It's only Sonia! as she walked in. This would sometimes lead to applause of recognition from the studio audience, a phenomenon more regularly seen within American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sitcoms. Sonia's husband John (John Arthur) appeared on occasion, as did William's secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
Miss Denham, played by Daphne Oxenford
Daphne Oxenford
Daphne M. Oxenford is an English actress known for her television and radio work.She is possibly best known for being the voice for BBC radio's Listen with Mother from 1950 to 1971, and for being one of the readers on newspaper review programme What the Papers Say for over thirty years...
.
In the 27th and final episode of the programme, William accepted a position with a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
company. In 1989, the series re-located to France and became French Fields
French Fields
French Fields is a British situation comedy. It ran for 19 episodes from 1989-1991. It was written by John T. Chapman and Ian Davidson and was produced by Thames Television for ITV....
, although only McKenzie and Rodgers, of the main characters, starred regularly in this new series though Philip Bird appeared on several episodes and Ann Beach made an appearance in the final episode. There were three series of 19 episodes made over two years, all written by John T. Chapman and Ian Davidson
Ian Davidson (scriptwriter)
Ian Davidson is a British actor and scriptwriter who worked in British television comedies from the 1960s to the 1980s. He appeared in the same Oxford University revue as Terry Jones and Michael Palin of Monty Python, and is probably best known for his numerous appearances on Monty Python's Flying...
.
In its heyday it was a very successful sitcom for ratings, although was also regarded as very "safe".
DVD releases
All four series of Fresh Fields have been released on DVD, A 7-disc set (containing both the series and sequal title) is scheduled for 24 October 2011.| DVD | Release date |
|---|---|
| The Complete Series 1 | 12 April 2010 |
| The Complete Series 2 | 23 August 2010 |
| The Complete Series 3 | 21 February 2011 |
| The Complete Series 4 | 16 May 2011 |
| The Complete Series 1 to 4 Box Set | 24 October 2011 |