Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?

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Image:Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads.jpg Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? was a hit British sitcom broadcast between January 1973 and December 1974, as the colour sequel to The Likely Lads. It was written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and there were 27 episodes in total, including a 45 minute Christmas finale.

The show followed the resumed friendship, after roughly six years apart, of two working-class young men, Terry Collier (James Bolam) and Bob Ferris (Rodney Bewes).

Set again in Newcastle upon Tyne the humour derived mostly from the tension between Terry's cynical and lazy personality and Bob's ambitions to join the middle class via his new white-collar job, brand new home, and impending marriage to his childhood sweetheart.

Since the end of The Likely Lads, in 1966, Bob has left factory life behind for a building planner's job, although what Bob actually does is not a major factor in the show; the fact that he is now a white-collar worker and joining squash clubs and so on does form an important part of the new character dynamic, however. He is also literally moving on up to Elm Lodge, a brand new housing estate.

Terry, meanwhile, sees his army experience as giving him moral superiority over Bob. He still finds it hard to adjust to all the changes and progress around him however. As the title suggested, this series played on a feeling of nostalgia for the days of the lads' innocent youth.

The word 'likely' in the title, in some northern English dialects, means 'likeable', although in this context it is more likely to mean "likely to succeed or progress", for in the first series "The Likely Lads" the two main characters were on the brink of making their ways in the world.

The show's catchy theme song, What Happened to You?, was written by Mike Hugg (of Manfred Mann) and La Frenais, and was performed by Hugg's session band, The Highly Likely. It made the lower reaches of the UK Top 40 in 1974.

In 1994, British Punk Rock band Snuff released a cover version of the theme tune for Christmas, performed in a punk style. The song was often played by John Peel on his BBC Radio 1 show.

In 2004, British Garage/Punk Rock revivalists The Libertines included a song named "What Became of the Likely Lads" on their second album, simply called The Libertines.

The complete first series, is being released in the UK on DVD 22nd May 2006.

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Regular Cast

James Bolam (Terry Collier)
Rodney Bewes (Bob Ferris)
Brigit Forsyth (Thelma Chambers: Bob's fiancée)
Sheila Fearn (Audrey: Terry's slightly older sister)

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The Episodes

Series 1

Strangers On A Train - The duo reunite aboard a night train. Magical in parts, sets everything up perfectly.

Home Is The Hero - Terry finds it hard to adjust to the 70s. Okay.

Cold Feet - A sleeping Terry causes havoc between Bob and Thelma. Not bad, better to come though.

Moving On - A miserable Terry quits Newcastle to live with an army friend. The first of the pathos ones.

I'll Never Forget Whatshername - Terry, back home, disasterously looks up some old flames. Ticks off Terry being self-pitying, Bob being smug and Thelma acting shocked with some panache.

Birthday Boy - A surprise birthday party for Terry goes badly wrong. Really good episode, well-written. Funny 'Colin' character makes sole appearance here.

No Hiding Place - The lads try to avoid an England football result before the TV highlights, though Brian Glover keeps trying to spoil it for them. Not as funny as people who haven't seen it seem to think it is, but good overall. Remade by Ant and Dec in 2002.

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner? - Terry joins Bob and Thelma at a posh dinner party. Good 'class' episode, the only time you feel on Thelma's side is this one.

Storm In A Tea Chest - Bob is forced to throw out his childhood junk. Fun fact revealed here is the name of the skiffle group the lads used to be in: Rob Ferris And The Wildcats.

The Old Magic - The lads test out whether they can still 'pull' or not, and end up with someone they certainly didn't expect. Good.

Countdown - The duo get set for Bob's wedding and we meet Thelma's dad George (Bill 'Compo' Owen). Quite a political one where you don't expect it.

Boys Night In - The night before the wedding, Terry tries to get a bored and boring Bob in the party mood. Good punchline.

End Of An Era - Bob and Thelma finally marry. The stuff in the church about old films and frogs is very funny, the rest is just okay.

Series 2 This where the "will they, won't they" storyline is replaced by "Terry upsets eveyone and they keep breaking up". Not as classic as Series 1 but good overall.

Absent Friends - Terry looks after Bob's house while he's on honeymoon and romances Thelma's younger sister Susan. Fun.

Heart To Heart - Bob and Thelma return home, Thelma's sister leaves Terry. Good.

The Ant And The Grasshopper - Bob grows increasingly tired of Terry's lazy lifestyle. Bit of a filler episode but OK.

One For The Road - Great fun. Bob is caught drink-driving, guess who tries to help him out....

The Great Race - Awesome. The lads relive their youth with a bike race.

Some Day We'll Laugh About This - Terry romances Bob's bored neighbour. Also features a cheeky milkman and people falling through floorboards. Unbeatable.

In Harms Way - Terry takes a job as a hospital porter. Quite funny, especially the ending.

Affairs And Relations - The pair, gone fishing, catch Thelma's dad playing away in a hotel. Good bedroom farce.

The Expert - The conclusion of the above episode, with Thelma leaving Bob yet again. Not stunning.

Between Ourselves - Terry moves in with the sad Bob and plays housewife. Okay.

The Go-Between - Terry tries to fix things, Bob comically ends up with his head in the oven. Solid stuff.

Conduct Unbecoming - Both the lads end up on separate assault charges involving the same local ruffian, Duggie Scafe. Scafe ended up being Terry's milkman in the 1976 movie, fact fans. Great episode.

The Shape Of Things To Come - Pretty low-key finish as Bob decides to sever ties with Terry, but can't quite escape him. Quite a subtle, touching one.