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The Good Life (1975 TV series)
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==Background== John Esmonde and Bob Larbey wrote ''The Good Life'' for [[Richard Briers]],<ref name="Celebration">{{cite news|title=''A Celebration of The Good Life''|first=Richard|last=Webber|publisher=Orion Books|year=2000}}</ref> the only cast member who was well known before the series was broadcast. Larbey and Esmonde were inspired by Larbey's 40th birthday, which seemed to them a milestone in most people's lives.<ref name="Celebration"/> Their story has the Goods' decision to pursue self-sufficiency conflicting sharply with the habits of the Leadbetters, who live next door. The conflict between the neighbours, balanced with an increasingly close friendship, creates comic tension as that friendship is tried to its limits. [[Peter Bowles]] was originally cast to play Jerry but was unavailable.<ref name="Celebration"/> (He later starred opposite [[Penelope Keith]] in ''[[To the Manor Born]]''.) [[Hannah Gordon]] was considered for the role of Barbara but was ruled out, having recently played a similar role in the BBC sitcom ''[[My Wife Next Door]]''. Esmonde and Larbey chose [[Felicity Kendal]] and [[Penelope Keith]] after seeing them on stage together in ''[[The Norman Conquests]]''. Outdoor filming took place in the north [[Greater London|London]] suburb of [[Northwood, London|Northwood]], although the story was set in [[Surbiton]], another suburb in south-west London. The producers searched extensively for a suitable pair of houses, eventually chancing on Kewferry Road, Northwood.<ref>Google street view [https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.6182705,-0.4339516,3a,75y,306.54h,83.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sb8xaAG_5jhr7h4T0V-0Zxw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&entry=ttu], the Leadbetters' house to the left. The Goods' house to the right.</ref><ref>"All About The Good Life (broadcast on BBC2 9.00 pm 28 December 2010)</ref> The grounds of the Goods' house were returned to their original state after the filming of each series' inserts, and all livestock removed at the end of each day's filming. Interior scenes were filmed at BBC Television Centre in front of a live audience. The opening theme was composed by [[Burt Rhodes]] (1923β2003).<ref>[https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/england/london-travel/burt-rhodes-3qggrq3k507 Burt Rhodes obituary], ''The Times'' 11 July 2003</ref>
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