ALL GAS AND GAITERS

'''All Gas and Gaiters''' was a popular British sitcom that ran from 1966 to 1971. It was written by Pauline Devaney and Edwin Apps. They used the pseudonym John Wraith when writing the pilot. David Climie and Austin Steele co-wrote the 1968 special. It re-ran on radio from 1971 to 1972.

Contents

Cast

Plot

Episodes

Pilot (1966)

Series One (1967)

Series Two (1967)

Special (1968)

Series Three (1969)

Series Four (1970)

Series Five (1971)

Radio

Episodes

Series One (1971)

Series Two (1972)

DVD releases

References

External links

Cast

★ Robertson Hare - Henry Blunt, The Archdeacon

★ William Mervyn - Cuthbert Hever, The Bishop

★ Derek Nimmo - The Rev. Mervyn Noote, The Chaplain

★ John Barron - Lionel Pugh-Critchley, The Dean ''(pilot, series 1 and 4)''

★ Ernest Clark - Lionel Pugh-Critchley, The Dean ''(1968 special, series 2 and 3)''

★ Joan Sanderson - Mrs Grace Pugh-Critchley

Plot

''All Gas and Gaiters'' was set in St Oggs Cathedral, and the rivalries amongst the clerygmen in it. The Bishop was easygoing, the Archdeacon was elderly and tippling and the Rev. Noote was naïve and accident prone. Their wish to live a quiet life was ruined by the Dean, who tried to bring rule by the book to the Cathedral.
The series initially aroused some controversy because of its portrayal of senior churchmen as bungling incompetents, although some churchmen quite enjoyed it, partly because it made them look human. In the opening credits, the Church of Saint Mary in Chesterfield with its twisted spire was shown as the fictional "St. Ogg's".

Episodes

Pilot (1966)

★ ''The Bishop Rides Again'' (17 May 66) (part of ''Comedy Playhouse'')

Series One (1967)

#''The Bishop Gets The Sack'' (31 Jan 67)
#''The Bishop Meets A Bird'' (7 Feb 67)
#''The Bishop Writes A Sermon'' (14 Feb 67)
#''The Bishop Sees A Ghost'' (21 Feb 67)
#''The Bishop Turns To Crime'' (28 Feb 67)
#''Only Three Can Play'' (7 Mar 67)

Series Two (1967)

#''The Dean Goes Primitive'' (24 Nov 67)
#''The Bishop Gives A Party'' (1 Dec 67)
#''The Bishop Gets A Letter'' (8 Dec 67)
#''The Bishop Goes To Town'' (15 Dec 67)
#''Give A Dog A Bad Name'' (22 Dec 67)
#''The Bishop Gives A Shove'' (29 Dec 67)

Special (1968)

★ ''Oh, Brother!'' and ''All Gas and Gaiters'' combination as part of ''Christmas Night with The Stars'' (25 Dec 68)

Series Three (1969)

#''The Bishop Learns The Facts'' (8 Jan 69)
#''The Bishop Has A Flutter'' (15 Jan 69)
#''The Bishop Is Hospitable'' (22 Jan 69)
#''The Bishop Pays A Visit'' (29 Jan 69)
#''The Bishop Takes A Holiday'' (5 Feb 69)
#''The Affair At Cookham Lock'' (12 Feb 69)
#''The Bishop Keeps His Diary'' (19 Feb 69)

Series Four (1970)

#''The Bishop Buys A Car'' (15 Apr 70)
#''The Bishop Gains A Reputation'' (22 Apr 70)
#''The Bishop Loves His Neighbour'' (29 Apr 70)
#''The Bishop Beats The System'' (6 May 70)
#''The Bishop Buys A Mug'' (13 May 70)
#''When In Rome'' (20 May 70)
#''The Bishop Takes Up Business'' (27 May 70)

Series Five (1971)

#''The Bishop Warms Up'' (13 May 71)
#''The Bishop Entertains'' (20 May 71)
#''The Bishop Gives A Present'' (27 May 71)
#''The Bishop Shows His Loyalty'' (3 Jun 71)
#''The Bishop Has A Rest'' (10 Jun 71)
#''The Bishop Loses His Chaplain'' (17 Jun 71)
The pilot and first two series were in black-and-white. The third series, while being filmed in colour, was originally broadcast in monochrome. All bar eleven episodes are thought to have been wiped in the early 1970s.

Radio

A radio version of ''All Gas and Gaiters'' was aired on BBC Radio 4 from 5 January 1971 to 4 December 1972 for thirty-three episodes. The television cast stayed the same for the radio series, with the exception of Derek Nimmo who left after thirteen episodes to be replaced by Jonathan Cecil. Though seven radio episodes were thought to have been wiped, these were found, and all are available through radio enthusiasts. Some episodes were re-broadcast on BBC7 in October and November 2006.

Episodes

Series One (1971)

#''The Bishop Rides Again'' (5 Jan 71)
#''The Bishop Writes A Sermon'' (12 Jan 71)
#''The Bishop Meets A Bird'' (19 Jan 71)
#''The Bishop Turns To Crime'' (26 Jan 71)
#''The Bishop Sees A Ghost'' (2 Feb 71)
#''Only Three Can Play'' (9 Feb 71)
#''The Dean Goes Primitive'' (16 Feb 71)
#''The Bishop Gets A Letter'' (23 Feb 71)
#''The Bishop Gives A Party'' (2 Mar 71)
#''The Bishop Goes To Town'' (9 Mar 71)
#''Give A Dog A Bad Name'' (16 Mar 71)
#''The Bishop Gives A Shove'' (23 Mar 71)
#''The Bishop Pays A Visit'' (30 Mar 71)

Series Two (1972)

#''The Bishop Learns The Facts'' (24 Jul 72)
#''The Bishop Takes A Holiday'' (31 Jul 72)
#''The Bishop Buys A Car'' (7 Aug 72)
#''The Bishop Gets The Sack'' (14 Aug 72)
#''The Bishop Has A Flutter'' (21 Aug 72)
#''The Affair At Cookham Lock'' (28 Aug 72)
#''The Bishop Loves His Neighbour'' (4 Sep 72)
#''The Bishop Beats The System'' (11 Sep 72)
#''The Bishop Entertains'' (18 Sep 72)
#''The Bishop Gains A Reputation'' (25 Sep 72)
#''The Bishop Buys A Mug'' (2 Oct 72)
#''The Bishop Loses His Chaplain'' (9 Oct 72)
#''When In Rome'' (16 Oct 72)
#''The Bishop Is Hospitabl'' (23 Oct 72)
#''The Bishop Gives A Present'' (30 Oct 72)
#''The Bishop Takes Up Business'' (6 Nov 72)
#''The Bishop Keeps His Diary'' (13 Nov 72)
#''The Bishop Warms Up'' (20 Nov 72)
#''The Bishop Shows His Loyalty'' (27 Nov 72)
#''The Bishop Has A Rest'' (4 Dec 72)

DVD releases

The 11 surviving episodes were released on DVD by DD Home Entertainment in 2004. The set was accompanied by a detailed behind-the-scenes booklet, written by Andy Priestner in consultation with shows writers Edwin Apps and Pauline Devaney.

References

★ BBC Comedy Guide for ''All Gas And Gaiters''

★ British TV Comedy for ''All Gas and Gaiters''

External links

★ The British Sitcom Guide for ''All Gas and Gaiters''

★ Radio Listings for ''All Gas and Gaiters''