I Didn't Know You Cared
Encyclopedia
I Didn't Know You Cared is a British television comedy set in a working class household in South Yorkshire in the 1970s, written by Peter Tinniswood
and loosely based upon his books A Touch Of Daniel, I Didn't Know You Cared and Except You're A Bird. (Tinniswood wrote a fourth book, Call It A Canary, after the TV series had ended.) It was broadcast by the BBC
in four series (seven episodes in series 1, 3 and 4 and six in series 2) from 1975 to 1979.
The main characters are Carter Brandon (played by Stephen Rea
and, in series 3 and 4, Keith Drinkel
); his Uncle Mort (Robin Bailey
); his mother, Annie (Liz Smith
); his father, Les (John Comer
); his girlfriend (later wife), Pat Partington (Anita Carey
and, in series 3 and 4, Liz Goulding); and Uncle Staveley (Bert Palmer and, in series 4, Leslie Sarony
). Auntie Lil (Gretchen Franklin
) also appears in the first two series. Other recurring characters, mostly from Carter's workplace, are Linda Preston (Deirdre Costello); Mrs Partington (Pat's mother) (Vanda Godsell
); Sid Skelhorn (Ray Dunbobbin and, in series 3 and 4, (Bobby Pattinson); and Louis St. John (Paul Barber).
The novels narrate more of an overall story, and Carter's thoughts are an integral part of these stories. A recurring theme in the books is conversation between Carter and baby Daniel (who is Uncle Mort's son). One feature of the books is a line at the top of each page which summarizes the developments on that page. The TV series are oriented more to a sitcom, and present generally light-hearted versions of the stories from the books.
In the TV series, Uncle Staveley (remembered for his catchphrase, "I heard that! Pardon?") always appears with the ashes of Corporal Parkinson - one of his comrades from World War I
- in a box around his neck. In the first book (A Touch Of Daniel), Parkinson stays with Uncle Stavely, but Stavely only has fleeting appearances in the later books.
Very little of the clever dialogue and wordplay in the books shows up in the TV series. For instance: Pat criticizes Carter for doing things "not concomitant with being a young executive" and hopes her son will become "Professor of Difficult Sums"; Mort says of the "Three Great Aunts from Glossop", "You can allus tell when they're coming, cause t'water curdles in t'goldfish bowl".
Peter Tinniswood went on to write six further series for BBC Radio 4 featuring members of the Brandon family between 1987 and 1996; two six-episode series each of Uncle Mort's North Country, Uncle Mort's South Country, and Uncle Mort's Celtic Fringe. In these series, Stephen Thorne
played Uncle Mort, with Peter Skellern
as Carter Brandon (Sam Kelly
replaced Skellern in South Country).
Peter Tinniswood
Peter Tinniswood was an English radio and TV comedy scriptwriter, and author of a series of popular cricketing novels...
and loosely based upon his books A Touch Of Daniel, I Didn't Know You Cared and Except You're A Bird. (Tinniswood wrote a fourth book, Call It A Canary, after the TV series had ended.) It was broadcast by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in four series (seven episodes in series 1, 3 and 4 and six in series 2) from 1975 to 1979.
The main characters are Carter Brandon (played by Stephen Rea
Stephen Rea
Stephen Rea is an Irish film and stage actor. Rea has appeared in high profile films such as V for Vendetta, Michael Collins, Interview with the Vampire and Breakfast on Pluto...
and, in series 3 and 4, Keith Drinkel
Keith Drinkel
Keith Drinkel is a British actor, born in York on 14 November 1944. He was educated at St Michael's College, Leeds and is now based in Brighton....
); his Uncle Mort (Robin Bailey
Robin Bailey
Robin Bailey was an English actor. He was born in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.Although often chosen for upper class and tradition-bound roles such as Judge Graves in Thames Television's Rumpole Of The Bailey, Bailey is perhaps most fondly remembered for his portrayal of Uncle Mort in I Didn't Know...
); his mother, Annie (Liz Smith
Liz Smith (actress)
Liz Smith, MBE is a British actress, best-known for her roles in the sitcoms The Vicar of Dibley and The Royle Family. She also appeared in the 2005 film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.-Early life:...
); his father, Les (John Comer
John Comer
John Comer was a British actor best known for his comedy roles in the television series I Didn't Know You Cared, Last of the Summer Wine and All Our Saturdays.-Early life:...
); his girlfriend (later wife), Pat Partington (Anita Carey
Anita Carey
Anita Carey is an English actress, best known for playing Joyce Smedley in Coronation Street and more recently for playing Vivien March in Doctors. Carey has had starring roles in British television dramas since the 1970s.-Career:...
and, in series 3 and 4, Liz Goulding); and Uncle Staveley (Bert Palmer and, in series 4, Leslie Sarony
Leslie Sarony
Leslie Sarony was a British entertainer, singer and songwriter. Sarony was born in Surbiton, Surrey and died in London.He began his stage career aged 14 with the group Park Eton's Boys...
). Auntie Lil (Gretchen Franklin
Gretchen Franklin
Gretchen Franklin was an English actress with a career in showbusiness that spanned over eighty years.She was born in Covent Garden, west London, a cousin of the actor Clive Dunn. She was best known for playing the character of Ethel Skinner in the long running BBC One, soap opera, EastEnders...
) also appears in the first two series. Other recurring characters, mostly from Carter's workplace, are Linda Preston (Deirdre Costello); Mrs Partington (Pat's mother) (Vanda Godsell
Vanda Godsell
Vanda Godsell was an English actress.-Early life:She was born near Bristol into the well known Godsell family, best known for its brewery based in Stroud. Her father was an officer in the Navy and served in the Battle of Jutland whilst her mother, Muriel, was the sister of novelist and actress...
); Sid Skelhorn (Ray Dunbobbin and, in series 3 and 4, (Bobby Pattinson); and Louis St. John (Paul Barber).
The novels narrate more of an overall story, and Carter's thoughts are an integral part of these stories. A recurring theme in the books is conversation between Carter and baby Daniel (who is Uncle Mort's son). One feature of the books is a line at the top of each page which summarizes the developments on that page. The TV series are oriented more to a sitcom, and present generally light-hearted versions of the stories from the books.
In the TV series, Uncle Staveley (remembered for his catchphrase, "I heard that! Pardon?") always appears with the ashes of Corporal Parkinson - one of his comrades from World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
- in a box around his neck. In the first book (A Touch Of Daniel), Parkinson stays with Uncle Stavely, but Stavely only has fleeting appearances in the later books.
Very little of the clever dialogue and wordplay in the books shows up in the TV series. For instance: Pat criticizes Carter for doing things "not concomitant with being a young executive" and hopes her son will become "Professor of Difficult Sums"; Mort says of the "Three Great Aunts from Glossop", "You can allus tell when they're coming, cause t'water curdles in t'goldfish bowl".
Peter Tinniswood went on to write six further series for BBC Radio 4 featuring members of the Brandon family between 1987 and 1996; two six-episode series each of Uncle Mort's North Country, Uncle Mort's South Country, and Uncle Mort's Celtic Fringe. In these series, Stephen Thorne
Stephen Thorne
Stephen Thorne is a British actor of radio, film, stage and television.He trained at the and after a time in weekly rep. he played several seasons with the Old Vic Company and the RSC in Stratford and London including a tour to Russia...
played Uncle Mort, with Peter Skellern
Peter Skellern
Peter Skellern is an English singer-songwriter and pianist.-Career:Skellern attended Derby Grammar School and studied piano at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He later joined pop groups called 'Harlem' and 'March Hare'...
as Carter Brandon (Sam Kelly
Sam Kelly
Sam Kelly is an English actor who has appeared in television, radio and theatre.-Career:He has had roles in British sitcoms such as Porridge as Bunny Warren, Allo 'Allo! as Captain Hans Geering leaving after series three, On the Up as Dennis Waterman's chauffeur and We'll Think of Something as Les...
replaced Skellern in South Country).