Love Affair starring Bill Maynard and Celia Johnson (1974)

Elderly Miss Hobbish (Celia Johnson) lives alone and spends a lot of her time filling in the coupons of newspaper advertisements. Not that she ever buys anything. It's just that she needs the company of the salesmen who call. She takes driving lessons for the same reason. But her instructor Mr. Powers (Bill Maynard) is a strange, disillusioned man and their meetings lead to a situation which neither could have foreseen.
Broadcast 3rd July 1974

[@PopularesVox]

"We are just two people for whom things haven't gone too well. It's a lot to have in common"😃

[@CatherineDover]

Perfect sentiment and it worked.

[@arthuroldale-ki2ev]

In the 1970s I was staying at a Hotel in Cornwall with my wife an two children, my son disappeared and I went in search for him (he was about three years old) I found him in the Hotel conservatory talking to an old lady who turned out to be Celia Johnson down there filming , she asked me if my son was for sale, what a lovely old lady she was, I could of talked to her all day.

[@Noblerot1830]

What a great story. Thankyou for sharing ❤

[@colleenlovesbolan]

What a wonderful memory for you and your family!

[@michellefalleur960]

@@arthuroldale-ki2ev what a Gorgeous thing to happen !! Fantastic memories for you

[@trh1493]

wow 'Brief Encounter ' is one of my fav movies of her....

[@peterbamforth6453]

Nice one :}

[@adamhughes4442]

Compare this to the mindless crap on Netflix! A brilliant, emotive, engaging drama. The era where this came from is gone forever!!!

[@marciakipp3633]

The British to "know how to do it"!!!....😊

[@mch4735]

Netflix is pure trash.

[@JohnchristopherTonks-ue7mq]

I remember the late 1970s well. There were many elderly ladies like Miss Obish. The vast number of men killed in the Great War left many women unmarried and lonely. I remember befriending them as a boy. Helping with the gardening and running errands. They all had similar stories to tell. A pile of old letters to keep the memory alive.

[@philiprufus4427]

True,mum seemed to know dozens of women in their fifties around Glasgow when I was a small boy in the late fifties/early sixties, there were many Scottish Regiments then too,now gone sadly. Also a lot of Scots served in the Navy,not as readily known. My late father was from Devonport,the first Scotsmen he ever met were shipmates and Welsh and Irish. Celia Johnson was indeed one of our greats.

[@David-uf8ex]

So wonderful to see Celia Johnson in this . She still has those amazing expressive eyes in older years . A fabulous actress

[@JohnchristopherTonks-ue7mq]

Bill Maynard was excellent as well. Very well cast.

[@forestdad]

@@JohnchristopherTonks-ue7mqtwo of my favourite actors (didn’t even know this existed tbh)

[@markvines7308]

That was a really sweet story, TV fifty years ago had soul.

[@susieb7140]

Aww. That was fantastic acting. Had me in tears at the end.x

[@CatherineDover]

What a lovely story, almost had me in tears. Thank you so much for this. Companionship is so important, not to be lonely and to be able to trust someone. These two found each other just in time.

[@Septentria]

so true !

[@Noblerot1830]

Faultless understated British acting. The like of which we never see now . Thankyou for posting such a gem.

[@SarahlabyrinthLHC]

I had three elderly aunts who lived in similar fashion with an uncle in an old house. One aunt had been engaged to a young man in WW1, he was killed in action. She never married, and always kept a dressing table set he had given her as a gift. The second aunt had become engaged to a farm labourer at around the same time but her father broke the engagement because the young man concerned was of a lower social class. She also never married. The third aunt had a mental illness and also did not marry. The uncle stayed single until he was in his eighties, when he married a lovely lady, who sadly, became ill while they were travelling overseas and she passed away several weeks later. They were all elderly when I knew them in the 1970s.

[@francisheperi4180]

I always loved these English plays in the 70's/80's which always appeared on Sunday evenings on NZ television.

[@johndean958]

Thankyou. I really enjoyed this. As a boy , I lived in my Great grandmothers house, along with her and my Grandparents and my Family. To this day ( I am 68yrs old) , I still have all the photos up of 7 generations now. I have stayed in furnishing my home, throughout my life, as they had. I was thinking how much the interior was like mine, especially with over 40 Framed old photos, of all the past great, great Uncles and Aunts as well, still up. Some I knew, some I didnt, but I know who all of them are, as they were talked about so much by those lovely Great Grandmother and Grandparents and my Mother as well. I have now written on all the backs of the photos,of whom they are. I couldnt be without them but I guess my later family will do without them. I was so lucky to have had them all under the one roof and be around them. John (Australia)

[@anjelica9520]

I love it, it putted me in sweet melancholic mood, I closed my eyes with a smile on my face and went to sleep. Thank you classic British telly, you gave me another lovely evening ❤️

[@maymalone1505]

Lovely 🐕 great actors, brilliant script❤😊❤

[@dorothybarrett1853]

Charming. What fine actors.

[@imanihekima1659]

It reminded me of Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont which Celia Johnson also played the leading role. The subtlety, realism and gentle pacing made it a pleasure to watch.

[@linzisouthernwood482]

I thought I recognised her

[@LeopardprintBet]

Yes!! I’d forgotten she did that. It’s on YT somewhere. Watched it some time back. Poignant. Just lovely. Thanks for reminding me x

[@chelmcclutchie5748]

I don't think Celia Johnson played Mrs Palfrey in that film. It was Joan Plowright. Although her favourite film was 'Brief Encounter ' in which Celia Johnson did star.

[@squirehaggard4749]

@@chelmcclutchie5748Johnson did do “Mrs Palfrey” as a Play For Today in the early 70s. Perhaps Plowright was in another version?

[@chelmcclutchie5748]

@@squirehaggard4749 Thanks for that. I didn't know about the play version. The one with Joan Plowright was a film.

[@pollywaffledoodah3057]

Such a beautifully subtle and melancholy play - from the short story written by the brilliant Irish writer, William Trevor. Life was passing both of these characters by - and the delightful dog helped to cheer them both up. Nobody conveys the sense of middle-aged torment and despair, like Bill Maynard. It did seem like a mad thing to do, for him to move into her old house, but they both rescued each other from leading lives of quiet desperation.

[@sammyb1651]

Great little play but you could tell it was written by a man who fundamentally misunderstood women. Basically like Dickens writing Miss Havisham. Women move on much quicker than this; they don't sit around brooding for decades on end. Lol. It will be odd to see what sort of literature gets written in the future now that men's romantic misconceptions have been disproved by the internet.

[@merewynyard5813]

I remember those days when we used hand signals...

[@LPCLASSICAL]

@@sammyb1651 This is a tale about one woman who did not move on until very later years - it is not a generalisation about all women. I know of such a woman so it can happen.

[@sammyb1651]

@@LPCLASSICAL Not an impossibility of course and I never claimed it was. My point was it was completely detached from the way women behave in general. You can tell it's written by a man romanticising the way in which he'd like to believe women loved. As I say, my remark was really addressed to how literature might function in future now that the internet has falsified many mistaken beliefs that men had of women. I can only assume many of these standard tropes will be replaced...

[@winterznight6597]

@@sammyb1651 There were many spinsters who kept the loving memory of their sweethearts who had died in the war and the women didn't move on.

[@junedarts9024]

I absolutely loved this film.lm 77 and remember Bill Maynard when he was a comic with Terry Scott.Celia Johnson wonderful.Thank you for this wonderful experience in this upside down world

[@elviramcintosh9878]

What a lovely and sad and inspiring story.Thanks for sharing it. Greetings from Australia.

[@Noblerot1830]

Greetings from London ❤

[@mariabarnard1546]

Greetings from NZ

[@jeanettecardinal790]

Hello, from London.

[@TheRobynbrown]

And to think I nearly scrolled by this wonderful little gem - thankyou for posting. I'm definitely subscribing to your channel

[@itsdebs]

Her voice! 😍😍😍 Hasn't changed since Brief Encounter.

[@charliesmithers53]

Thats my most favourite film. My favourite bit is when the big spaceship comes down and all the little martians comes out.

[@trh1493]

this was an exceptional movie...Thank you

[@rosamundg.]

That was very nice. Thank you💚

[@hogwashmcturnip8930]

what a strange little play. But Celia Johnson could have taught a few of these modern "actresses" a thing or two

[@sgrannie9938]

What a beautiful play, and unexpected introduction to Bill Maynard in a drama role. Thank you so much.

[@LPCLASSICAL]

see the play "Kisses at 50" he is brilliant in that too.

[@skdinterceptor2828]

Lovely film......1970s such a peaceful era

[@Dr.Fiendish]

This is my new favourite channel!

[@Noblerot1830]

Mine too! ❤

[@surreygirl2075]

Celia johnson is a lovely posh lady who has been in some great films she is wonderful actress and bill has been in heart beat he is good in that called mr green grass

[@Jay-Leigh]

First time I’ve ever seen this. Absolutely beautiful

[@franceslynch8815]

Very sweet story😊❤

[@cherryrotella3714]

How lovely 🙂

[@peterbamforth6453]

Many years ago I heard Bill doing an interview, he sounded like he had been educated in eaton or oxbridge. A very underated fine actor.

[@KrisHughes]

I came here to say something similar. His long service as Claude Greengrass in Heartbeat (which is a tour de force) has people thinking that he IS Greengrass, but he was an really talented actor.

[@gilliantill1214]

Lovely film !! I enjoyed it so much .Thank You xx

[@HookBeak_66]

A time capsule of serenity, with only a sprinkle of subtle humour, to brighten the moments of melancholic reflection.

[@13699111]

Thank you for posting this wonderful movie. It's bringing back some wonderful memories.

[@ceceliamcnatt1760]

This was such a beautiful heart warming movie. Thank you.

[@zekeland]

This was so good. Thank you for sharing.

[@bejoyful]

Great fan of Celia Johnson; A Brief Encounter of 1945 with her and Trevor Howard is a must see which I watch at least once a year.

[@alunjones2185]

Beautifully paced and understated. Celia Johnson and Bill Maynard still very attractive. Romance at its most poignant - thank you!

[@michellefalleur960]

Only part way through this, but already really liking it, Great acting as well

[@mckavitt13]

I started liking it just before it began. 😅

[@RosemaryStudy]

Reminds me of Henry David Thoreau -- 'Oh to have reached the point of death only to have realized, I have never lived at all'. What a sweet film - thought provoking. Thank you.

[@shirleylangton7967]

Love comes in many forms. I really enjoyed this English drama!

[@kayrkoet]

I had forgotten what an excellent actress Celia Johnson was

[@melaniemetcalfe3354]

Bill Maynard was seriously good in this story. He's quite funny and entertaining in Heartbeat❤🎉

[@beachamgroup2482]

A masterpiece

[@shelleymcafee8197]

Bill Maynard certainly didn’t change-much over the years, I see, in this film he looks and acts just like a younger ‘Claud Jeremiah Greengrass’; it’s like seeing an old friend.😂😂😄😉

[@MsLazor-nk1bc]

“o “ how lovely, t makes me cry .❤❤❤

[@kerryhudson1898]

Bill Maynard, later to play Greengrass in Heartbeat. A good under rated acto and the the superb Celia Johnson. ❤️❤️

[@paulkitt-er9dr]

Excellent performances from two wonderful actors Celia Johnson who I remember from brief encounter and Bill Maynard such a good perfomer

[@franceswalker2986]

Love Cecelia ……..she was beloved by Noel Coward who greatly admired her work and wanted her often to be cast in his plays and films. The happy breed is one of my favourites and brief encounter get. rIP

[@anafernandes225]

Celia Johnson in her late 60s 🙆 This time in a very different "Love Affair" 🙋 I loved this actress in David Lean master piece 💛

[@susanyates4233]

Bill Maynard, excellent.

[@arthuroldale-ki2ev]

I remember back in the 50s watching him with Terry Scot in "Great Scot its Maynard " a TV comedy.

[@patyoung5330]

lovely. Thank you for this.!!

[@mariabarnard1546]

Very much enjoyed watching this - thanks for uploading

[@springsogourne]

What a dear, sweet, wonderful movie ❤

[@susannaude8514]

Very beautiful and also very sad. Two lonely people found peace and friendship. Bill Maynard had such a lovely kind face.

[@louisethompson2044]

Celia great great actress!!! THIS HAPPY BREED brilliant film

[@МанушакОнищенко]

Great movie👍😢thanks🌹

[@Scotbarra]

What a beautiful story.

[@yiquanawalkb4run26]

what a truly beautiful story, thank you

[@eshaibraheem4218]

A delight. Thank you.

[@veronicadefrance4847]

We are just two people for whom things haven't gone too well. It's a lot to have in common; I find it too a beautiful line .

[@markantrobus8782]

Brilliant - beautiful. Excellent.

[@shannonalver7728]

This was lovely, thank you.

[@shelleymcafee8197]

A very sweet performance, by Both. (And yes, I WOULD!) 😄🥰 Thank-You for this!!

[@annhinson5670]

Such a sweet and heartfelt story. I enjoyed it very much.

[@highlightoftheday7058]

To borrow a catchphrase from one of Bill Maynard's other TV characters ''Magic''. Thank you for posting.

[@ianmax69]

Kisses at Fifty... with a touch of Driving Miss Daisy

[@mckavitt13]

i see this as only itself, tho’ your comparisons, reductive, are comprehensible.

[@uptoncriddington6939]

Deeply decent folk when given a chance to flourish just a little.

[@bugandbay]

Beautiful 🩷

[@keyboarddancers7751]

What a delightfully poignant little TV show! I love the fact that the production was on such a low budget; a simple tale needs very little elaboration. Ms Johnson was only 66 at the time of filming so she looks like she was wearing quite a lot of make-up to age her character. Her Wiki entry is utterly absorbing.

[@Gwailo54]

she was only 61 in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Her character looked much older. But my caveat is back in the day old people looked older, or was it just because I wasn't old then?

[@JulieShaw-w9d]

Such a lovely film 🎥, thank you

[@susanfriend-k5m]

Lovely play many thanks

[@johnmail]

Thanks for the upload great to watch

[@cathymartinmcgoey3855]

Lovely story ❤

[@melindalemmon2149]

Wonderful!

[@soniavadnjal7553]

Loved it. Sweet story with a serene ending, after all that anguish. Subbed.

[@kamranhamidfar1725]

I can remember those days in the 70th when iPhone 16 pro Max was just released.

[@HerFatherDidntLikeMe]

Well written, acted, and directed. Thanks for sharing.

[@pamelacorbett8774]

Quality. Well worth watching. Many thanks.

[@peterdixon8176]

Celia Johnson acting everybody else off the screen! But i suppose it was designed for her to do that

[@mckavitt13]

ShE was designed to do this! 😊❤

[@AyebeeMk2]

Brilliant.

[@MariahMunnis]

A wonder drama. So many people dreaming of a simple life without stress.

[@AL6198]

Yep, just the boss allowed to finger you at work!

[@ianrichardson8990]

Very touching. Very unusual.

[@sozanmarshall2832]

Marvelous

[@timcollins9800]

Very Good movie

[@traciemarsh1611]

loved it

[@scottscott232]

Great to see Celia Johnson; I think that they made her look older. Also great to see is Kenneth Cope.

[@robstevens9667]

Beautiful 🙏❤️

[@tango22ah]

Wow this is the gorgeous lady from Brief Encounter right?

[@kathreilly7050]

💜💜

[@angloaust1575]

Bill maynard in the confession movies a comedic role!

[@valpurves45]

Marvellous celiac johnson

[@AnnetteMurphyger]

A whiskey drinking driving instructor

[@mckavitt13]

WAY too many ads. Any way to rid myself of this hindrance to enjoyment? Thanks.

[@ClassicBritishTelly]

We don't get a penny just to mention!

[@Xrulnik]

I pay 12.99 a month to greedy KZbin just to avoid this nonsense

[@gwenvanrensburg6830]

Love,love this !!!!❤❤❤❤❤

[@mapachehombre1581]

The Ole rogue Green Grass

[@robstrickland166]

delicious Celia Johnson in Captains Paradise

[@RaveDave871]

They should be thankful they not in Austin Allegro with square steering 🔲 wheel 🙄

[@Morningstar-xz5bl]

Wow