Pardon The Expression
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''Pardon the Expression'' was a British
sitcom A sitcom (short for situation comedy or situational comedy) is a genre of comedy produced for radio and television, that centers on a recurring cast of character (arts), characters as they navigate humorous situations within a consistent settin ...
made by
Granada Television ITV Granada, formerly known as Granada Television, is the ITV (TV network), ITV franchisee for the North West of England and Isle of Man. From 1956 to 1968 it broadcast to both the north west and Yorkshire on weekdays only, as ABC Weekend TV, ...
, that was first broadcast from Wednesday 2 June 1965 to Monday 27 June 1966. The sitcom was one of four spin-offs from the soap opera ''
Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' (colloquially referred to as ''Corrie'') is a British television soap opera created by ITV Granada, Granada Television and shown on ITV (TV network), ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres on a cobbled, terraced ...
''. ''Pardon the Expression'' itself had a spin-off: '' Turn Out the Lights'', broadcast in 1967. There was not another spin-off until the 1980s with ''
The Brothers McGregor ''The Brothers McGregor'' is a British sitcom television series set in Liverpool, and a spin-off of ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' (colloquially referred to as ''Corrie'') is a British television soap opera create ...
'', which reused two characters (played by different actors) who appeared in a single episode. Leonard Swindley, played by
Arthur Lowe Arthur Lowe (22 September 1915 – 15 April 1982) was an English actor. His acting career spanned 37 years, including starring roles in numerous theatre and television productions. He played Captain Mainwaring in the British sitcom ''Dad ...
was the central character. Formerly the manager of the fashion retail store Gamma Garments in ''Coronation Street'', in this series he is the deputy manager of the
department store A department store is a retail establishment offering a wide range of consumer goods in different areas of the store under one roof, each area ("department") specializing in a product category. In modern major cities, the department store mad ...
Dobson and Hawks. His boss in the series was Ernest Parbold, played by Paul Dawkins, who was replaced by Wally Hunt, played by
Robert Dorning Robert Dorning (13 May 1913 – 21 February 1989) was an English musician, dance band vocalist, ballet dancer and actor. He is known to have performed in at least 77 television and film productions between 1940 and 1988. Origins Robert Dorning ...
, in series 2. Other regulars were
Betty Driver Elizabeth Mary Driver (20 May 1920 – 15 October 2011) was a British actress and singer, best known for her role as Betty Williams in the long-running ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'', a role she played for 42 years from 1969 to 2011, app ...
as canteen lady Mrs Edgeley and Joy Stewart as Miss Sinclair, the boss's secretary. Another member of the cast was
John Le Mesurier John Le Mesurier (, born John Elton Le Mesurier Halliley; 5 April 191215 November 1983) was an English actor. He is probably best remembered for his comedic role as Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the BBC television situation com ...
, who later reunited with Arthur Lowe in the classic comedy ''
Dad's Army ''Dad's Army'' is a British television British sitcom, sitcom about the United Kingdom's Home Guard (United Kingdom), Home Guard during the World War II, Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft (TV producer), David Crof ...
''.


Cast

*
Arthur Lowe Arthur Lowe (22 September 1915 – 15 April 1982) was an English actor. His acting career spanned 37 years, including starring roles in numerous theatre and television productions. He played Captain Mainwaring in the British sitcom ''Dad ...
as Leonard Swindley (37 episodes) *
Betty Driver Elizabeth Mary Driver (20 May 1920 – 15 October 2011) was a British actress and singer, best known for her role as Betty Williams in the long-running ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'', a role she played for 42 years from 1969 to 2011, app ...
as Mrs Edgeley (31 episodes) * Joy Stewart as Miss Sinclair (18 episodes) *
Mervyn Johns David Mervyn Johns (18 February 18996 September 1992) was a Welsh stage, film and television actor who became a fixture of British films during the Second World War. Johns appeared extensively on screen and stage with over 100 credits between 1 ...
as Jacob Elijah "Jeb" Burgess (2 episodes) * Paul Dawkins as Ernest Parbold (12 episodes; series 1) * Barbara Young as Pam Plummer (3 episodes; series 1) * Holly Doone as Mavis Foster (3 episodes; series 1) *
Judith Furse Judith Furse (4 March 1912 – 29 August 1974) was an English actress. Career She was a member of the Furse family; her father was Lieutenant-General Sir William Furse and mother Jean Adelaide Furse. Her brother, Roger, became a stage desig ...
as Miss Buxton (2 episodes; series 1) *
Marji Campi Marji Campi (born 19 October 1938) is a British actress, known for her roles as Dulcie Froggatt in ''Coronation Street'' (1984–1987), Joyce Watson in '' Surgical Spirit'' (1989–1995) and Jessie Hilton in ''Brookside'' (1998–2002). Born in ...
as Gladys Cheeseborough (2 episodes; series 1) *
Judith Barker Judith Barker (born 22 June 1943) is an English actress, best known for her role as the upwardly mobile homewrecker Janet Reid in ''Coronation Street'', which she played from 1969 to 1977. Since her departure from ''Coronation Street'', Barker ...
as Shirley Dixon (2 episodes; series 1) *
Robert Dorning Robert Dorning (13 May 1913 – 21 February 1989) was an English musician, dance band vocalist, ballet dancer and actor. He is known to have performed in at least 77 television and film productions between 1940 and 1988. Origins Robert Dorning ...
as Wally Hunt (25 episodes; series 2) *
Anthony Sharp Dennis Anthony John Sharp (16 June 1915 – 23 July 1984) was an English actor, writer and director. Stage career Anthony Sharp was a graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art ( LAMDA) and made his stage debut in February 1938 ...
as Brigadier Hawk (6 episodes; series 2) *
John Le Mesurier John Le Mesurier (, born John Elton Le Mesurier Halliley; 5 April 191215 November 1983) was an English actor. He is probably best remembered for his comedic role as Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the BBC television situation com ...
as Sir Charles Dobson (4 episodes; series 2) * Julian Holloway as Norman Burton (3 episodes; series 2) * John Barron as Lord Penge (2 episodes; series 2)


Episodes


Series 1 (1965)

*"The First Day" (2 June 1965) *"The Headmistress" (9 June 1965) *"The Trouble with Ada" (16 June 1965) *"Mannequin Parade" (23 June 1965) *"The Dance" (30 June 1965) *"The Wedding" (7 July 1965) *"The Pensioner" (14 July 1965) *"The Visitor" (21 July 1965) *"Birthday Present" (28 July 1965) *"Little Boy Lost" (4 August 1965) *"The Old One Two" (11 August 1965) *"The Brain Drain" (18 August 1965)


Series 2 (1966)

*"The Economy Drive" (10 January 1966) *"January Sale" (17 January 1966) *"The Resignation" (24 January 1966) *"Self Defence" (31 January 1966) *"The Stocktaking" (7 February 1966) *"The Home Help" (14 February 1966) *"Big Hotel" (21 February 1966) *"The Gaol Birds" (28 February 1966) *"A Night to Remember" (7 March 1966) *"Whose Baby are You?" (21 March 1966) *"The Take-Over Bid" (28 March 1966) *"Between the Covers" (4 April 1966) *"Heads Down" (11 April 1966) *"A Sheik in the Night" (18 April 1966) *"Rustle of Spring" (25 April 1966) *"The Ghost of Batsworth Castle" (2 May 1966) *"The Sailor Home from the Sea" (9 May 1966) *"The Dinner Party" (16 May 1966) *"Man's Best Friend" (23 May 1966) *"Thunderfinger – Part 1" (30 May 1966) *"Thunderfinger – Part 2: Swindley Strikes Back" (6 June 1966) *"The Switched-on Scene" (13 June 1966) *"The Cup That Cheers" (20 June 1966) *"On Health Farm Sommet Stirs" (27 June 1966)


Home media

Both series of ''Pardon the Expression'' were released (separately) in mid-2009, a six-disc set of the complete series was released on 12 December 2011.


References


External links

*
''Pardon the Expression'' review
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pardon The Expression 1960s British sitcoms 1965 British television series debuts 1966 British television series endings ITV sitcoms Television shows produced by Granada Television Television series by ITV Studios British English-language television shows Black-and-white British television shows British television spinoffs Coronation Street spinoffs