Life of Riley - starring Bill Maynard (1975)

Frank Riley (Bill Maynard) lives a happy life; his steady job in insurance leaves him enough energy to pursue his main interest in life - women. Without any responsibilities since his wife died 18 years ago, Riley makes the middle-aged life he leads look like bliss, until his son Brian (Frank Lincoln) turns up from the remote Welsh hills where he has been brought up by his grandparents. It quickly becomes apparent that Brian's sheep-farming experience has not equipped him for life in the urban jungle in which his father is such a happy hunter. And Brian, with his strict upbringing, doesn't wholly approve of his father's ways.
This episode "The Arrival" - Frank has his lifestyle curtailed by the arrival into his solitary existence of his son.
Broadcast 5th January 1975

[@Grid56]

Never seen this before. Was always a fan of Bill's Selwyn Froggett and Greengrass characters 😂

[@timothyconroy1175]

This is wonderful, this channel has so many great shows they 've never shown in the US

[@gerryhouska2859]

Nor in Australia.

[@phugoid]

Brilliant stuff! Ta for the upload! :)

[@jeffcher10]

Must just have pre-emted Selwyn Froggitt and is a good run up to it - Always loved Bill Maynard's barnstorming approach to comedy!

[@sgrannie9938]

I see a bit of The Gaffer developing there.

[@user-op6eu3tt9j]

Loved it ! ❤

[@stethomas7833]

Brilliant

[@angelsone-five7912]

Excellent, thanks.

[@user-vp8ln6yr3w]

Are you gonna be adding any other shows or episodes to this channel? It's called Classic British Telly but there's only maybe half a dozen programs, each with only 1 full episode to view.

[@evaristegalois2993]

Susan Littler RIP x

[@user-ft5ud6ry8u]

7 episodes only in this series

[@user-kl4bh4lq6r]

It's Greengrass With Hair

[@ianmax69]

My god did Bill's Toupee have it's own contract ? Wonderful John Comer on fine Lancastrian form and even then we where sick of Corrie Might have pre-dated Home to Roost but with Greengrass at the helm its an early version of Heartbeat

[@TS-1267]

... We're Up in the Grim North Again because That's Where the Best Comedy Has Always Been. It comes with Centuries of Being Picked On by Those Finger Pointing Meany Southerners... And they Nick Our Bird's... 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿✌️😜

[@karlmoore7406]

Have you the rest of the series mate?!

[@karlmoore7406]

@@theculturedthug6609 just had a quick look and all I can see is black and white American show!

[@LPCLASSICAL]

Men that look like Bill Maynard does in this episode would not stand a chance with far worse looking women in 2024 than we see in this episode. There must have been a severe shortage of men in the mid 70s.

[@lllucky13]

only one episode?

[@everettscott4745]

Great acting, and well known characters, but absolutely terrible script. Many of these comedies were not any good; The many lives of Patrick, Bless this house, Love thy Neighbour, Till death us do part, were absolute dross. Fawlty Towers was spectacular, and George and Mildred was watchable, because of Yootha and Brian.

[@martinholmes-ue9ko]

Agreed. Talented cast but rubbish scripts.

[@floydlooney6837]

The US had a lot of cheap, simple TV series produced in the 70's and 80's. For every hit there were many misses.

[@ysthafellgynghori8423]

Comedy in the 21st century is even worse. Jimmy Carr making fun of the Holocaust and Russell Brand joking about wanking and bumming.

[@melvynwalker3661]

Never forget gems. Like steptoe porrige rising damp likely lads nothing like that today so caed modern comedy is absolute rubbish😂

[@markantrobus8782]

They were picked up by American tv and became hits.