Romany Jones
| Romany Jones | |
|---|---|
Ronald Wolfe | |
| Starring | Arthur Mullard Queenie Watts James Beck Jo Rowbottom Jonathan Cecil Maureen Sweeney Kevin Brennan |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of series | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 27 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 25 minutes |
| Production company | London Weekend |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV |
| Release | 15 February 1972 – 11 July 1975 |
Romany Jones is a British sitcom made by London Weekend Television, broadcast between 1972 and 1975, involving the comic misadventures of two layabout families living on a caravan site. The show was designed as a vehicle for James Beck[notes 1] and also featured Arthur Mullard and Queenie Watts as Wally and Lily Briggs.
Following Beck's death in August 1973, Bert and Betty Jones were written out of the series. Jonathan Cecil and Gay Soper took over the lead roles, playing new neighbours, Jeremy and Susan Crichton-Jones.
The show's pilot episode had been made by Thames Television and broadcast in 1972. It was followed by a spin-off sequel in 1976 entitled Yus, My Dear, starring Mullard and Watts.
Cast
- Arthur Mullard - Wally Briggs
- Queenie Watts - Lily Briggs
- James Beck - Bert Jones (series 1 and 2)
- Jo Rowbottom - Betty Jones (series 1 and 2)
- Kevin Brennan - Mr Gibson (series 1 and 2)
- Maureen Sweeney as Val Finch (series 2-4)
- Jonathan Cecil - Jeremy Crichton-Jones (series 3 and 4)
- Gay Soper - Susan Crichton-Jones (series 3 and 4)
- Alan Ford as Ken (series 3 and 4)
Episodes
Pilot (1972)
| No. overall |
No. in series |
Title | Writer/s | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
1 |
Romany Jones |
Ronald Wolfe |
15 February 1972
|
Series 1 (1973)
| No. overall |
No. in series |
Title | Writer/s | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2 |
1 |
The More We Are Together |
Jon Watkins |
8 June 1973
|
3 |
2 |
The Ring |
Ronald Wolfe |
15 June 1973
|
4 |
3 |
Run Rabbit Run |
22 June 1973
| |
5 |
4 |
A Rough Night |
Ronald Chesney & Ronald Wolfe |
29 June 1973
|
6 |
5 |
The Competition |
Geoff Rowley & Andy Baker |
6 July 1973
|
7 |
6 |
An Addition To The Family |
13 July 1973
| |
8 |
7 |
Look After The Pennies |
22 July 1973
|
Series 2 (1973)
| No. overall |
No. in series |
Title | Writer/s | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
9 |
1 |
One And One Makes Three |
Geoff Rowley & Andy Baker |
14 September 1973
|
10 |
2 |
The Shower |
21 September 1973
| |
11 |
3 |
Just The Job |
Jon Watkins |
28 September 1973
|
12 |
4 |
For Better Or Worse |
Jon Watkins |
5 October 1973
|
13 |
5 |
Not So Sweet Charity |
Peter Denyer & Graham Hooson |
12 October 1973
|
14 |
6 |
Pack Up Your Troubles |
Story by: Roy Tuvey & Maurice Sellar Teleplay by: Jon Watkins |
19 October 1973
|
Series 3 (1974)
| No. overall |
No. in series |
Title | Writer/s | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
15 |
1 |
The New Arrivals |
Ronald Wolfe |
16 August 1974
|
16 |
2 |
The Invitation |
Story by: Chris Boucher Teleplay by: Jon Watkins |
23 August 1974
|
17 |
3 |
Loot |
30 August 1974
| |
18 |
4 |
The Dinner |
Ronald Chesney & Ronald Wolfe |
6 September 1974
|
19 |
5 |
Love Is All |
Henry Charles |
13 September 1974
|
20 |
6 |
She Loves Me, That Bird |
Jon Watkins |
20 September 1974
|
21 |
7 |
The Eggs |
Ronald Chesney & Ronald Wolfe |
27 September 1974
|
Series 4 (1975)
| No. overall |
No. in series |
Title | Writer/s | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
22 |
1 |
The Dogsbody |
Jon Watkins |
6 June 1975
|
23 |
2 |
Cold Comfort |
Ronald Wolfe |
13 June 1975
|
24 |
3 |
The Learner Driver |
Ronald Chesney & Ronald Wolfe |
20 June 1975
|
25 |
4 |
A Good Layer |
Ronald Chesney & Ronald Wolfe |
27 June 1975
|
26 |
5 |
The Washing |
Ronald Chesney & Ronald Wolfe |
4 July 1975
|
27 |
6 |
A Night Out |
Ronald Chesney & Ronald Wolfe |
11 July 1975
|
Trivia
- Chris Boucher, later to write extensively for science fiction shows including Doctor Who, Blake's 7 and Star Cops, wrote the episode "Run Rabbit Run".
- Arthur English played Wally Briggs in the pilot episode.
- Mullard and Watts reprised their roles as Wally and Lily in Holiday on the Buses.
DVD release
| DVD | Release date |
|---|---|
| The Complete Series 1 | 6 June 2011 |
| The Complete Series 2 | 23 January 2012 |
| The Complete Series 3 | 8 April 2013 |
| The Complete Series 4 | 20 January 2014 |
| The Complete Series 1 to 4 Box Set | 5 February 2018 |
Notes
- ^ James Beck played the black market spiv Private Walker in the Dad's Army
