Fresh Start the Pilot of Fresh Fields Thames 1983

Fresh Start the Pilot of Fresh Fields Thames 1983

[@janicemclelland1070]

Thanks so much! I loved Fresh Fields, life seemed simpler back then. No repercussions for only having a white cast and we were allowed to laugh at anything without somebody with a chip on their shoulder complaining.

[@BlueSky-qs3wp]

This sitcom gets even better as time goes by

[@jeraldbaxter3532]

"It's only Sonya!" One of the best tv catchphrases of all time! And Fanny Rowe, along with Dame Joan Sanderson, was one of the best coaster types on British tv!

[@spidyman8853]

The cars of the 80s and some old cars from the 70s - wow. Much better than today's boring ones. At least back then you had varieties of cars in the streets of London.

[@Kawasakifreak1]

Cars made in the 1970's were all rubbish - believe me.

[@athenathegreatandpowerful6365]

I have no problem pouring coffee for my husband. No idea why someone would. He works 60 hours a week. A few months ago he killed a rat. This week he's rebuilding the bathroom. Last year he redid the roof. He cleans the cat box daily. Pouring him a cup of coffee here and there seems like a VERY small kindness.

[@spmoran4703]

Wonderful classic comedy that ITV does not seem to do anymore.

[@anarchistatheist1917]

This pilot is dated the year before I was born. I love the show fresh fields ever since first seeing it on public Television in the 1990's.

[@citizen1163]

1980s not perfect but little did we know what they had in store for us in the future.... Ps Thanks for sharing. We need all the laughs we can get now.

[@mark4lev]

True. Great times. What the **** has gone wrong

[@jofrances3296]

I’m so glad we did not know was coming

[@timkeenan600]

Such an amazing series!

[@andrewmundin2513]

Good to see a pilot having the same cast going onto the proper series. Seen a few pilots for sitcoms that have different actors taking over from the original cast. And the catchphrase "It's only Sonia" was in from the start.

[@patrickdyer430]

I never realized it started as so back as 1983 it

[@2carstommy]

Another great find ADC, never since this pilot version before, thanks for posting this.

[@ADCTVCollection]

My pleasure!

[@stuart121972]

That’s an interesting find. I have seen that episode when one of the freeview channels showed the entire run of Fresh Fields and French Fields but it was broadcast with the regular theme at the start and the regular title sequence at the end.

[@ADCTVCollection]

From looking at both versions, it seams they used most of the pilot for episode 1, some scenes have been edited a bit and some extra scenes have been cut out the running time for the pilot is 30 minutes so 5 minutes longer than the 1st episode. I also looked at both versions and some scenes were re-recorded for episode 1.

[@89awcock]

@@ADCTVCollection I have a question for you I Wonder Why This episode wasn't included in the complete series box set and was the pilot episode ever broadcast on Thames Television. I thought I'd seen every episode but now he has a new one you've some scenes I've already seen from Episode 1 The some haven't wow looking forward to this.

[@ADCTVCollection]

I did wonder to why this was not put on the DVD release, as Network DVD has put pilot episodes on other DVD sets, looking through old newspapers online it seams that this was not broadcast.

[@89awcock]

@@ADCTVCollection thanks for your reply I didn't realise they had an unbroadcast episode. How Cool.

[@mercuryvapoury]

@@ADCTVCollection Possibly because of the similarity of this and the regular first episode? Also the possibility that the master tape couldn't be found or no longer exists.

[@danwoodhouse9290]

thank christ they changed the music

[@karengillett4448]

Brilliant stuff! Several scenes were definitely rewritten, and the eventual first episode is obviously much slicker. Apparently it was Anton who suggested the name change to Fresh Fields. I agree it’s a shame this wasn’t added to DVD box set.

[@ADCTVCollection]

Thanks, I could find nothing online about this pilot episode, interesting to know that it was Anton's name to change the shows title.

[@karengillett4448]

@@ADCTVCollection I know it’s very odd that it doesn’t even warrant a mention on the BFI...even though it lists a seemingly 3 parter of something with Alexei Sayle that has vanished without any trace whatsoever. Maybe eventually the pilot might appear on a future release, but thank you for uploading it, another one for my ever growing AR collection.

[@ADCTVCollection]

Even my Radio Times book Guide to TV comedy by Mark Lewisohn does not mention the pilot. My pleasure, glad you got to enjoy this episode.

[@653j521]

@@karengillett4448 It's like a cross between a cooking show and May to December.

[@drdevikakhanna4979]

It’s so funny how he asks for more coffee rather than pouring it himself! How times change.. for the better in this regard ☺️🌹🙏

[@rikkilamb]

Oh get a grip, lots of people still poor a coffee for their husband 🤦‍♀️ He's going to work for the day, he will do jobs around the house etc. No idea what your problem is! Ever thought she loves her husband...

[@lynnelawrence5542]

Fascinating feedback

[@mrb3097]

Great find, not usually seen on the ITV3 or Drama repeats. As you say, the normal episode 1 is virtually a re-edit of this and the brilliant Harry Stoneham theme added. I still can't find a clean copy of the full theme.

[@paulburton9386]

Wow! Where did you find it?! I don't think the pilot has been released before.

[@ADCTVCollection]

It was released on a VHS tape in the 90's, it seams it was put on the tape in error vice episode 1, as the cover details describe it as series 1 episode 1.

[@annehathaway2107]

Jesters hair is lovely longer..

[@flumpaustin1994]

😂😂😂

[@user-hr4rv8rf1w]

More coffee please 😂 I know what I’d of said 😂

[@danielwoodhouse5531]

no pancake tossing here!

[@travissmith6484]

What was their last name? I couldn't quite understand what Hester said. Sounded like Kinglake? Their phone number is different too. There is also a mistake with the phone number. When Hester answers it at the beginning she says 0034. When William answered Emma's call he said 0043.

[@ADCTVCollection]

The surname is Kingly.

[@travissmith6484]

@@ADCTVCollection Thank you.

[@flumpaustin1994]

We all make mistakes.

[@annehathaway2107]

Paper looks peach to me..

[@athenathegreatandpowerful6365]

Financial times is always a shade of pink.

[@fernanditaluiz2591]

The Financial Times is pink even in India!

[@johnmc3862]

Looks more 70’s than 80’s!

[@wizzwamf]

can anyone undertsand what william gets up to with hester after littlehampton it sounds like thworton undernaise

[@flumpaustin1994]

Walton on the Naze.

[@traceydietterich7983]

Does anyone know who played the policeman in this episode? He's not in the credits, and he looks familiar.

[@kaidenshepard8446]

DCI Burnside from The Bill?

[@spidyman8853]

Chris Ellison aka DCI Burnside from the Bill A Young Chris Ellison

[@drdevikakhanna4979]

A joke about rape.. again I’m grateful to live in 2023🙏🌹