Editing Meet the Wife (TV series)

{{Short description|1963 British TV sitcom}}
{{about||the 1923 Broadway play|Meet the Wife (play)|the 1931 film|Meet the Wife (film)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2009}}
{{Infobox television
 | image = "Meet_the_Wife".jpg
 | caption = Freddie Frinton & Thora Hird
 | genre = [[Situation comedy|Sitcom]]
 | runtime = 30 minutes
 | creator = [[Chesney and Wolfe]]
 | starring = [[Freddie Frinton]]<br />[[Thora Hird]]
 | country = United Kingdom
 | network = [[BBC One|BBC1]]
 | first_aired = {{start date|1963|12|28|df=y}}
 | last_aired = {{end date|1966|12|19|df=y}}
 | num_series = 5
 | num_episodes = 39 (including pilot; 22 missing)
}}
'''''Meet the Wife''''' is a 1960s [[BBC]] [[sitcom]] written by [[Chesney and Wolfe]], which featured [[Freddie Frinton]] as Freddie Blacklock with [[Thora Hird]] as his tyrannical wife, Thora. It ran for five series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/572407/credits.html |title=BFI Screenonline: Chesney, Ronald (1920–) and Wolfe, Ronald (1924–2011) Credits |publisher=Screenonline.org.uk |accessdate=2014-06-03}}</ref>

The series was based on a 1963 BBC television ''[[Comedy Playhouse]]'' production, "[[Comedy Playhouse (series 3)|The Bed]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b742ba459 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607002556/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b742ba459 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-06-07 |title=The Bed (1963) &#124; BFI |publisher=Explore.bfi.org.uk |accessdate=2014-06-03}}</ref> The theme tune was by [[Russ Conway]] and incidental music by Norman Percival and later [[Dennis Wilson (composer)|Dennis Wilson]]. The producers were [[John Paddy Carstairs]] and later [[Robin Nash]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/meet/prod.html |title=Meet The Wife (Production) |publisher=Phill.co.uk |accessdate=2014-06-04}}</ref>

==Outline==
The series followed the various ups and downs of a middle-aged married couple, Freddie and Thora Blacklock. Of the two, Fred played the "[[Double act|straight man]]", weary under Thora's nagging. He was a plumber who liked a bit of betting and a drink before coming home. His wife, Thora, was noted for her incessant talking while giving her husband a hard time. The couple had at least two children, one named Peter who was 23 and married.

Apart from one, the catchphrases of the series belonged to Thora. The first occurred whenever the socially-aspiring Thora introduced her husband, when she would snobbishly pronounce his name "Frayed", remarking that he was "a Master plumber", with the emphasis on the word ''Master''. The other was to throw an irate accusative tantrum at poor, downtrodden Fred, with the words, "Every time [such-and-such happens], you always go berserk" The word ''berserk'' was given great emphasis, as "Ber-Serk", and always had a successful comedic effect as Fred would wilt under the onslaught. She would also answer the phone with an affected "Hellewe", generally half way through an angry rant at Fred.

Fred also had a catchphrase; always uttering an affected, over-the-top, supposed-upper class "Yai-sss", accompanied by tilted head, sycophantic smile and rapid eye-blinking, in response to Thora's request for confirmation (e.g. "Isn't that right, Fred?") on some point she was making to any member of the group she was aspiring to equal socially.

The series has much in common with the later BBC sitcom ''[[Keeping Up Appearances]]'', except that the central couple were unmistakably working class while in ''Appearances'' social climbing was a central element of the programme.

==Episodes==

===Pilot===
The pilot episode, titled "The Bed", was first broadcast in series three of ''[[Comedy Playhouse (series 3)|
Comedy Playhouse]]'' on 28 December 1963.

Fred and Thora have been using the same bed for 25 years and it is lumpy and past its best. Thora decides it's time to get not just a new bed but two separate beds, because Fred keeps taking the bed clothes, etc. However two beds cost much more than one so she settles on a nice bed but that night makes Fred's life a nightmare as she tries to get settled, so Fred goes to the spare room to sleep on the old bed. While still nagging him though he's now in another room, Thora finds his present and card for their Silver Anniversary tomorrow, costing the £15 she thought he'd wasted. She grabs the bed clothes and goes to the other room and gets in bed with Fred. [[Brian Oulton]] was the bed salesman.

===Series 1===
{{Episode table |overall= |title= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=1
 | Title=Getting Away
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1964|04|21}}
 | ShortSummary=Thora's dream of a foreign holiday seems impossible due to lack of funds until Fred gets a rare win on the dogs. They go into meticulous detail with their packing while Fred tries to hide the fact that he has actually paid for the holiday on [[Hire purchase]].
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber=2
 |Title=Coming Home
 |OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1964|04|28}}
 |ShortSummary=The couple return from Majorca but Fred has spent the whole flight drinking with a holiday friend and causes havoc going through customs. Once back home, they discover they have no food, no money, and Fred's big job has been cancelled.
 |LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=3
 | Title=The Back
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1964|05|05}}
 | ShortSummary=Fred wants a quiet lie-in on a Sunday morning but his wife keeps him nearly as busy as her nagging tongue. He's finally had enough and goes to the pub. She is worried because he is late coming back but he has been to the other side of town to get the pills for her bad back, which she has been moaning about all morning. [[Harold Goodwin (English actor)|Harold Goodwin]] was the milkman.
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=4
 | Title=Night Out
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1964|05|12}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=5
 | Title=Little Andrew
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1964|05|19}}
 | ShortSummary=Fred and Thora are looking after their baby grandson and Thora is being somewhat officious to little Andrew's needs, much to Fred's discomfort.
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=6
 | Title=The Business Dinner
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1964|05|26}}
 | ShortSummary=A couple they knew from years back are coming to dinner and Thora wants to make a good impression on them as he builds houses and could put some plumbing work Fred's way. Her patience is sorely tried as the woman keeps on about how well off they are until one of Fred's mates drops by and tells her that the man's house business is near bankruptcy because his wife spends so much.
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=7
 | Title=The Strain
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1964|06|02}}
 | ShortSummary=Plumber's helper Sid ([[Brian Rawlinson]]) has taken the day off to get himself a new bike. Fred hurts his arm and head getting a bath upstairs on his own and comes home early. Thora takes his temperature which is 103.F (she forgot to shake the thermometer so the temperature is of the boy next door who used it last) and the doctor is called. She panics to get everything tidy before he arrives which leads to a number of disasters.
 | LineColor=333333
}}
}}

===Series 2===
{{Episode table |overall= |title= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=1
 | Title=Shopping
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1964|11|12}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=2
 | Title=The Teenage Niece
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1964|11|19}}
 | ShortSummary=Fred's 17 year old niece is staying over and is going out with a young man in the town. Cue Thora's consternation as she brings the man back to the house.
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=3
 | Title=The Shelf
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1964|11|26}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=4
 | Title=The Invitation
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1964|12|03}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=5
 | Title=The Lesson
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1964|12|10}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=6
 | Title=The Wallpaper
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1964|12|17}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
}}

===Series 3===
{{Episode table |overall= |title= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=1
 | Title=The Ring
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1965|04|18}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=2
 | Title=The Bathroom
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1965|04|25}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=3
 | Title=Cousin Olive
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1965|05|02}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=4
 | Title=The Loft
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1965|05|09}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=5
 | Title=Doctor's Orders
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1965|05|16}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=6
 | Title=The Picnic
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1965|05|23}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
}}

===Series 4===
{{Episode table |overall= |title= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=1
 | Title=The Pain
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1965|11|22}}
 | ShortSummary=Fred has a recurring abdominal pain, which is enough to trigger Thora's paranoia as she leafs through her medical dictionary.
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=2
 | Title=Her Birthday
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1965|11|29}}
 | ShortSummary=Having once again forgotten Thora's birthday, Fred is forced to make last minute arrangements that inevitably blow up in his face, causing much embarrassment for Thora.
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=3
 | Title=Brother Tom
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1965|12|06}}
 | ShortSummary=Fred's brother Tom ([[Stanley Meadows]]) has been in town on business and now there is a heavy fog so rather than drive the 50 miles home, Fred says it is OK for him to stay with them. However Tom brings a lady friend, Josie (Ann Kennedy) with him and Thora is determined that there should be no hanky-panky between the two, even if she and Fred have to stay up all night to keep an eye on them, and her lecherous husband who has taken a fancy to Josie.
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=4
 | Title=The Hotel
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1965|12|13}}
 | ShortSummary=Fred and Thora travel to Paddington for a builder's conference but the car breaks down on the way (due to Fred's refusing to fix the radiator). Having missed their booking at a boarding house, they are forced to stay at an expensive hotel, and are determined to get their money's worth.
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=5
 | Title=The Merry Widow
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1965|12|20}}
 | ShortSummary=Fred is too friendly with Mrs Jackson aka "Blossom" ([[Avis Bunnage]]) who moved in across the road last month and because of circumstances Thora thinks there is something going on between them. [[Arthur Howard]] as The Vicar.
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=6
 | Title=Journey Home
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1965|12|27}}
 | ShortSummary=Fred and Thora have spent christmas with their son (not seen), his wife Peggy (Jean Marlow) and two children. They go home on Boxing Day but get in the wrong part of the train which means they travel 30 miles in the wrong direction and have to spend seven hours in a freezing cold waiting room.
 | LineColor=333333
}}
}}

===Series 5===
{{Episode table |overall= |title= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=1
 | Title=The Holiday
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1966|09|26}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=2
 | Title=Continental Tour
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1966|10|03}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=3
 | Title=The Return
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1966|10|10}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=4
 | Title=The Diet
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1966|10|17}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=5
 | Title=My Husband's Brother
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1966|10|24}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=6
 | Title=Tilly-Ann
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1966|10|31}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=7
 | Title=Old Time Dancing
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1966|11|07}}
 | ShortSummary=Thora enrolls them both into a dancing contest then bullies Fred into joining her. There is a big fuss over them getting dressed on the night then Fred loses a shirt sleeve while dancing so it's all his fault they won't be there next week and on TV. [[Peter West]] appears as himself, as the compere.
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=8
 | Title=The Schoolboy
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1966|11|14}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=9
 | Title=The Homework
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1966|11|21}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=10
 | Title=The Nasty Sleeper
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1966|11|28}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=11
 | Title=Bless 'Em All
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1966|12|05}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=12
 | Title=This Christmas, Shop Early!
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1966|12|12}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
{{Episode list
 | EpisodeNumber=13
 | Title=Christmas Travel
 | OriginalAirDate={{start date|df=yes|1966|12|19}}
 | ShortSummary=
 | LineColor=333333
}}
}}

* There was also a "Meet the Wife" sketch on BBC's [[Christmas Night with the Stars]] for 1964.

== Surviving episodes ==

In common with many other British television series of this era, not all episodes have [[Lost television broadcast|survived]]. Only 17 episodes exist in the BBC archives as of June 2020. The following are currently thought to exist:

* Pilot
* Series 1: 1-7
* Series 2: 1-2
* Series 4: 1-6
* Series 5: 7

The first and the fourth series both exist in their entirety (as does the original pilot episode) but Series 2 (of which only the first two episodes remain) and Series 5 (of which only one episode exists) remain incomplete with the entire third series still missing from the TV archives as of 2020.

== DVD release ==
A DVD, (consisting of the remaining episodes of the series) was released on 24 October 2016.
Early editions of the set had a mastering fault whereby the episode "Brother Tom" was accidentally excluded.

== In popular culture ==
The series' title is mentioned in [[The Beatles]]' 1967 song "[[Good Morning, Good Morning]]".<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.beatlesebooks.com/good-morning | title="Good Morning Good Morning" by the Beatles. The in-depth story behind the songs of the Beatles. Recording History. Songwriting History. Song Structure and Style }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{British Comedy Guide|tv|meet_the_wife}}
* {{IMDb title|0057768}}

{{Chesney Wolfe}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Meet The Wife}}
[[Category:1963 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:1966 British television series endings]]
[[Category:1960s British sitcoms]]
[[Category:BBC television sitcoms]]
[[Category:Comedy Playhouse]]
[[Category:Black-and-white British television shows]]
[[Category:British English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Lost BBC episodes]]