AS TIME GOES BY (TV SERIES)

'''As Time Goes By''' is a British sitcom starring Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer which aired from 1992 to 2002, with a two-part reunion special broadcast in 2005.
The series follows the relationship between two former lovers who meet unexpectedly after not being in contact for 38 years. The title is a reference to the popular song "As Time Goes By", which for the series was recorded by Joe Fagin.
''As Time Goes By'' was written by Bob Larbey, who had co-written ''The Good Life''. In 2004, ''As Time Goes By'' came 29th in ''Britain's Best Sitcom''.

Contents

Cast

Plot

Episodes

Other countries

Radio

Series One (1997)

Series Two (1998)

Series Three (1999)

DVD releases

References

External links

Cast

★ Judi Dench — Jean Mary Hardcastle (née Pargetter)

★ Geoffrey Palmer — Lionel Hardcastle

★ Moira Brooker — Judith Hanson (later Deacon)

★ Philip Bretherton — Alistair Deacon

★ Jenny Funnell — Sandy

★ Frank Middlemass — Richard 'Rocky' Hardcastle ''(from Series Two)''

★ Joan Sims — Madge Ovita Hardcastle (previously Darbley) ''(Series Three to Seven)''

★ Moyra Fraser — Penny Johnson ''(from Series Two)''

★ Paul Chapman — Stephen Johnson ''(from Series Two)''

★ Janet Henfrey — Mrs. Bale ''(from Series Two)''

★ David Michaels — Harry ''(Series Six to Nine)''

★ Daniel Ryan — Harry ''(2005 specials)''

★ Tim Wylton — Lol Ferris ''(Series Five to Nine)''

Plot

Second Lieutenant Lionel Hardcastle and Nurse Jean Pargetter met in the summer of 1953 or 1954, depending on the episode, and fell in love, but when Lionel was sent to Korea they lost touch until 38 years later when Lionel uses Jean's secretarial firm, "Type for You", to write his book ''My Life in Kenya''. He had sent her a letter when he arrived in Korea, which she did not receive, and both assumed the other had lost interest. Jean had married David, and after his death set up "Type for You". She has a daughter, Judith Hanson, who had married twice, once to Ken then Edward, but both marriages ended in divorce. Lionel had gone to Kenya and become a coffee planter. He and his wife Margaret had divorced on the grounds of "mutual boredom", and he had moved back to England.

In 1992, when they meet up again, things get off to a slow start. Judith develops a crush on Lionel, and his publisher Alistair Deacon takes an interest in Jean. Both crushes are brief, and eventually Judith and Alistair fall for each other and later marry. In the third series, Lionel moves into Jean's house in Holland Park, London, and they marry the following series. Lionel is asked to write an American TV mini-series, ''Just Two People'', based on his early romance with Jean. The mini-series failed after one episode, and Jean eventually retires. She later works in a charity shop.

Jean's very efficient secretary and Judith's best friend is Sandy, who eventually moves in with the Hardcastles after splitting with her boyfriend Nick. She later starts dating a policeman and rugby player called Harry whom, at the end of the series, she marries. Other characters are Lionel's father, Rocky, who owns a large house in Hampshire which he later gives to Lionel. The housekeeper is Mrs Bale, who has an unusual interest in the Shipping Forecast, and the gardener is Lol Ferris. Rocky marries Madge when he is 85 and she is 78, and they frequently travel around the world. Madge was played by Joan Sims, who died between the filming of Series Eight and Nine. In Series Nine, Madge is mentioned as being on an archaeological dig in Egypt. The Reunion Specials were Middlemass's last television appearance before his death in 2006. Jean's first husband's sister Penny, who always calls Jean "poor Jean", and her dentist husband Stephen, who once accidentally declined the OBE, also make many appearances.

Episodes

Main articles: List of As Time Goes By episodes

The programme ran for nine series from 12 January 1992 to 4 August 2002. Almost all episodes were 30 minutes in duration. The final series episode was followed by an hour-long compilation show on the 11 August 2002, and by a two part "Reunion Special" broadcast on 26 and 30 December 2005.

Other countries

''As Time Goes By'' is broadcast daily on BBC America, and frequently on PBS, and this has made it a popular programme in the United States. It has also been broadcast in Canada, on BBC Canada and TVOntario, in Australia on ABC and in New Zealand on UK.TV and SKY Network Television.

Radio

''As Time Goes By'' was adapted and recorded for radio. Three series were broadcast on BBC Radio 2 between 1997 and 1999. The first episode included a flashback to Jean and Lionel 38 years before, something that never happened on television. All episodes correspond to a TV episode and featured the original cast.

Series One (1997)

#"Episode One" (18 March 1997)
#"Episode Two" (25 March 1997)
#"Episode Three" (1 April 1997)
#"Episode Four" (9 April 1997)
#"Episode Five" (16 April 1997)
#"Episode Six" (23 April 1997)
#"Episode Seven" (30 April 1997)

Series Two (1998)

#"Episode One" (18 January 1998)
#"We'll Always Have Paris" (25 January 1998)
#"Living Together — But Where?" (1 February 1998)
#"Covering Up" (8 February 1998)
#"Moving In" (15 February 1998)
#"Branching Out" (22 February 1998)

Series Three (1999)

#"The Mini Series" (14 February 1999)
#"Dealing With Sally" (21 February 1999)
#"Problems, Problems" (28 February 1999)
#"A House Full of Women" (7 March 1999)
#"Getting Rid of Gwen" (14 March 1999)
#"The Affair" (21 March 1999)
#"The Anniversary Party" (28 March 1999)

DVD releases

The complete series was released in DVD region code 2 by Cinema Club, in DVD region code 1 by BBC America and as five sets in DVD region code 4 by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation

References

★ Mark Lewisohn, "Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy", BBC Worldwide Ltd, 2003

External links

★

★ BBC Comedy Guide for ''As Time Goes By''

★ ''As Time Goes By'' at British TV Comedy Guide

★ ''As Times Goes By'' at British Comedy (with radio episode guide)