Writer PHIL MEALEY discusses Early Doors

Writer Phil Mealey discusses the BBC series Early Doors with BBC Radio Merseyside's Tony Snell. How it almost never happened, the dodgy coppers and where did 'To the regiment, I wish I was there!" come from? Recorded at BBC studios Hanover Street Liverpool January 2023

[@NorthWalesKid]

One of THE greatest tv comedies in any country ever

[@robertburton7598]

I am from London and absolutely loved the programme .Pickles

[@tonymarshall1452]

One of the best comedies ever on TV. The characters are absolutely spot on and are hilarious. It's the only comedy I can watch over and over 😂😂😂

[@tonyocallaghan7621]

Absolute masterpiece, perfect script, perfect cast - perfectly capturing the warm, sarky, loving, and poignant soul of the North! God bless you all!!

[@neilmartin3220]

Great series. Glad it's getting some recognition. Phil and Nige were brilliant.

[@JohnSmith-gp3co]

I was 18 when early doors first aired. Absolutely loved it! Coming from an Irish family living in Manchester, I was around this culture a lot. Brilliant!

[@keithneal5369]

I believe that if you did a series 3 , you would get a whole new range of viewers. The BBC have definitely lost their way. No really funny comedy shows anymore. All stupid reality shows, which are a long way from the real world. Early doors is more like the real world , absolutely brilliantly written.

[@stevesandford1437]

Possibly the truest 'sit-com' ever written... Beautiful and even heart-breaking... Genuine genius. xx SF

[@charleswilkinson4458]

Wish they would it'd be mint

[@StephenMerchant-up8sg]

The BBC would demand the 'woke' get's shoe horned in. Bugger the BBC

[@jeuse6736]

I adore early doors and have watched all episodes multiple times. It never fails!!! Some of the best comedy occurs in the exchanges between Jean and Winnie. 😂

[@anthonydoyle1852]

How fab was this😢 bring it back

[@julielulie1960]

Just finished watching them all. Yes please to another one. Laughter and the odd tear. Brilliant.

[@David_Mc_Our_God_Reigns]

Early doors was absolutely brilliant. Phil and Craig cash done excellent with it. They should do another series please 🙏 please please 🙏

[@krfamalam238]

To the regiment!

[@philleotardo8923]

I wish I was there

[@nigelmarche]

😂

[@PeterSmith-bj4ml]

I was born in Hazel Grove, 1949. Went to Australia in 72. Watched this fantastic comedy in Sydney and my Australian born partner, she instantly loved it too. I recognised a lot of the roads with temporary 'traffics lights' and knew it was South Manchester. But in one episode, the outing to the races, they mentioned The Bamboo Club, which was a great club in The Grove we all went to after having a few in the Anchor, Woodman or Grove pubs. Wonder if that's the club they talked about in the Twin Cheeks episode? Of course the 'Boo' it wasn't a strip club, just a DJ and occasional groups but they possibly got the name from it. There was also The Grapes pub in the Grove, still there I believe, although the above pubs I mentioned have sadly gone. Great memories, great comedy.

[@MarcoNegrisEye]

Go on give 'em a third series ya shits!

[@JacknVictor]

Are you having one or are you staying on your own?

[@MarcoNegrisEye]

@@JacknVictor No. I'm only out cos I'd be miserable stuck at 'ome.

[@peterd-sr4kd]

Loved this interview. The warmth of the two series is here too. I was lucky enough to catch this back in the day. Must've been up after 10 o'clock. I like the bit about you'd be worried if people didn't take the Mick! Definitely 😊 I rate people by whether I'd go for a pint with them. Wouldn't that be fab? Thanks fellas.

[@paulbrown1241]

Great show... Another series please 🙏

[@royksk]

It’s such a great start to the day. Phenomenal series, I’m on my second viewing on Iplayer. I’m originally from Old Trafford, didn’t drink much until I moved to the Northeast in 1968. I can easily relate to the pub and characters from my return visits to Manchester. Absolutely brilliant 👍👍👍

[@roberttaylor139]

Get the dvds,watch mine about 10times a year. Must watch with the commentary, fascinating all the bits you've missed.

[@TONY_SNELL-THE_NOISE]

100 %

[@TONY_SNELL-THE_NOISE]

Cheers 🍻

[@stevesandford1437]

Perfect sit-com... WAY UP THERE!!! (The two cops are genius... But then everyone in it is... Ken is a heart-breaking creation...) xx SF

[@ntleaver29]

Please please please let us get what we want (😉) and make more Early Doors ! Fantastic comedy, makes you howl laughing and cry once or twice as well

[@tarkusuk]

Great interview really enjoyed it

[@TONY_SNELL-THE_NOISE]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@danielwhittaker8597]

This has be come back for another only just seen it love it

[@Choccoxlattejosie]

The best one liner was Quiz night. What is the Capital of Chile, Eddy and Joan’s answer- Con Carne.

[@TONY_SNELL-THE_NOISE]

Class

[@ThefightingCelt]

Manchester, Glasgow and Liverpool have a very similar sense of humour. I've met many characters like this. It's all about the banter where everyone gets it and no one takes offence.

[@stevesandford1437]

Very Irish too... xx SF

[@MarcoNegrisEye]

Glaswegian here and I always thought those cities were pretty much the same place but I always include Newcastle too. Maybe cos it's the only place in England a Glaswegian doesn't need to adjust the accent!

[@MarkBak76]

Dublin too......similar to humour in bars in Dublin City

[@ntleaver29]

Add Birmingham to the list. Fantastic comedy, one of the best 👌

[@roberttaylor139]

@@ntleaver29 jeez, don't do one for Birmingham,we always sound thick as shit!

[@philipwelsh5236]

A Christmas special would be brilliant

[@altwhitmann7899]

Never forgotten, even if you never do a series 3 Phil. You wrote about us and for us. Lines from the show have become part of my family's sayings. "Holding hands when you're not even on your holidays".

[@PatrickKelly-lz3pv]

Fruit in the house when no one is sick.

[@pablocortando1]

The collection had me in tears.

[@jakeriese4862]

Phil sounds lovely

[@mrdeafa25]

Heartwarming, beautiful, and fucking funny.

[@TrysilBoy]

'This Charming Man' now on my playlist thanks to Duffy :)

[@TONY_SNELL-THE_NOISE]

Enjoy!

[@neiljones2747]

Absolutely love it.....

[@ams3903]

Grapes - proper boozer and real characters..... 'I wish I was there'.

[@bridgetdoman1386]

A group for this programme on Facebook. Excellent.

[@jumpfortyfour9965]

best show ever

[@Martyncox16]

40 Grand!!

[@22pcirish]

Tanya, pull me one! 😮😮😮

[@tinatina1104]

Love this kind of humour

[@tonyb5884]

what we talking about joan?..circuses eddy!

[@philipcohen3942]

The live show is on KZbin, Well worth watching. Some of the actors are new but doesn't detract from the original. Very funny.

[@borytastards2035]

I wish I was there 😂😂

[@stephenholmes1036]

Rodney Litchfield was great as Tommy

[@nello878]

He sure was! He was greatly missed in the live show!

[@SPARKLEPANDA4LIFE]

When the actor who played Tommy died they'd asked him before if he wanted to be buried with his wife and he said "No thanks, I'll stay on my own"

[@nealadsett8484]

Crime won’t crack itself!

[@johnthompson354]

One of the best ever script cast marvel lous

[@StephenMerchant-up8sg]

You're right Tony those pubs have gone. Phil and Craig have a job on especially with new characters. But I'll be watching

[@fabdave425]

Top dollar

[@anthonybaird1451]

I wanted the interviewer to ask if the BBC were cold on it, why they couldn't have offered it (3rd series) to another channel?

[@geoffcurrie5508]

Very poignant remark that Phil makes, about the difference between what people want to watch, and what the BBC think you should watch!

[@garydavidson6476]

I had absolutely no knowledge of it.

[@JohnSmith-gp3co]

😂

[@SoulLegendsRadio]

sod the BBC, bring it to UKTV, A Christmas special would be class

[@JacknVictor]

Unfortunately with the UKTV, they are basically a subsidiary of the BBC (basically owned under a different company to circumvent the no advertising rule that is implemented by the BBC to obtain the TV license funding) so probably wouldn't have much luck through there either. But somewhere like Netflix would be good, if they were to pick it up, as I don't think the BBC own the intellectual rights to early doors, only the rights to the series they made, so therefore in theory another TV company could make and release a third series if the BBC don't want to. The BBC, they have also been known to make a few series in conjunction with Netflix or have let Netflix take over production of certain shows, pretty much how channel 4 made the first few series of black mirror then as netflix acquired them they made the later series. Since early doors came out, I always said that if the BBC never did a new series, and if I ever won big on the lottery, then I would love to fund it. I wouldn't lose out even if it cost me a few million, because you are guaranteed to make your money back from it. But even if I didn't make my money back, I would be happy in the knowledge I helped to bring back something that should have been done years ago. I know I'll probably never win the lottery, but maybe crowdfunding would be the way to go with this, even if only enough was raised for a feature length 80 minute Xmas episode. I think that would be enough for the fans. I can guarantee the BBC would air it if it came today them already made and edited for airing. It would kickstart renewed interest in the show bringing it to new audiences, and it could even end up recommissioned. We can only hope.

[@timsmith8898]

Susan, if you are reading this, it's over

[@SuperRobo2010]

That was something to do with Peter Kay I think

[@jumpfortyfour9965]

why not on uk netflix

[@ianmedlen4633]

I miss the old fashion pubs hate the modern pub full of crap food

[@mrt8694]

Crime can’t crack it’s self

[@bridgetdoman1386]

Was supposed to be going to see the live show, near enough this date 5 years ago, but had just been diagnosed with arthritis and in agony so couldn't go. Annoying cos I'd paid for the ticket - a birthday present to me from me (birthdaty 1 October) - and it was a good seat. I was so disappointed.

[@spongebobsquaretits]

its uploaded on KZbin, tbh its not very good. Though I imagine it would have seemed better seeing it live

[@robinlloydhughes6110]

Cant u go to another channel to make early doors brilliant programme to make another series or xmas special

[@roystonvasey5471]

77 and never been to the seaside - one of the first lines said, so bitter sweet, poignant script writing.

[@bolanmark]

I love this show and would love to see a third series. So called "funny", woke series just do not do it for me.

[@Rugbyman269]

Foxtrot Alpha Romeo Tango 😂

[@SPARKLEPANDA4LIFE]

Tango Oscar Sierra Sierra echo Roger Sierra 😂

[@jaediccacairns4754]

This wasn’t a comedy, it was real life if you were ever in the north west, old dark wood, aluminium pressed out ashtrays, worn out Lino by the oche, how my early pubgoing was with all the characters recognised, like the seafood bloke Sally Army chuggers, and fella flogging Sergio Tachinni tracksuits and meat from in the same adidas bag….

[@nealadsett8484]

Keep ya hands on ya hapeney

[@Rugbyman269]

Not surprised the bbc didn't get the humour, full of middle class woke planks

[@nealadsett8484]

Do you like circuses?

[@shaunmann5347]

Who likes circuses then.