List of ''To the Manor Born'' episodes

The following is a list of episodes for the British sitcom To the Manor Born, that first aired on BBC1 from 30 September 1979 to 29 November 1981, and for a one-off special on 25 December 2007.[1][2]

Each episode from the original series is thirty minutes long. The episodes were not originally broadcast with episode titles, although many have unofficial working titles.[3] The first series aired for seven episodes on Sundays at 8.45pm, the second series for six episodes on Sundays at 8.35pm and the seven-episode Series Three on Sundays at 7.15pm.[4] The Christmas special aired at 8.00pm. All episodes aired on BBC1.[4] In 2007, a one-hour Christmas Day special, featuring Penelope Keith, Peter Bowles, Angela Thorne and Gerald Sim reprising their original roles, aired at 9.30pm on BBC One.[5]

Several episodes received high audience figures. In 1979, the last episode of the first series received 23.95 million viewers, the fourth-highest figures for any programme in the UK in the 1970s and the highest for a non-live event.[6] The following year, 21.55 million people watched the series two finale, the fifth-highest viewing figure for the 1980s.[7] The 1981 finale, when Audrey and Richard marry, received 17.80 million viewers.[8] The 2007 Christmas Special was watched by 10.25 million viewers, and was the 6th most watched programme for that week.[9]

Series overview

Title Episodes Originally aired
First aired Last aired
Series 1 7 30 September 1979 11 November 1979
Christmas Special 1 25 December 1979
Series 2 6 5 October 1980 9 November 1980
Series 3 7 18 October 1981 29 November 1981
Christmas Special 1 25 December 2007

Series One (1979)

#EpisodeTitleOriginal airdate
11"Grantleigh"30 September 1979 (1979-09-30)
Richard DeVere, the millionaire founder of "Cavendish Foods", visits Grantleigh to be shown round Grantleigh Manor Lodge by estate agent J.J. Anderson. Richard is disappointed with it, and instead insists on being shown round the manor house, while the Lady of the Manor Audrey fforbes-Hamilton is at her husband Marton's funeral. Audrey is less than devastated by Marton's death, as she can now run the estate; however her solicitor Arnold Plunkett tells her during the reception that the Manor will have to be sold to pay off the mounting debts. She fails to buy it back at the auction when Richard outbids her.[10][11][12]
22"All New Together"7 October 1979 (1979-10-07)
Marjory helps Audrey to pack before leaving the Manor, while Richard and his mother, who complains about moving house again, drive to Grantleigh. Audrey moves into the Lodge at the end of the drive. Later that day, on the pretence of needing sugar, Richard's mother visits the Lodge and has tea with Audrey. She tells Audrey that Richard was born Bedrich Polouvicki and came over from Czechoslovakia in 1939. Back at the Manor, Richard tells Mrs. Poo that he needs a social secretary and she suggests Audrey, not knowing she used to occupy the Manor. When Audrey and Richard next meet, they bet each other £50 on whether Richard will convince the woman from the Lodge to become his secretary. When Richard later visits the Lodge, he discovers that it is Audrey who lives there.[10][11][12]
33"Rhythms Of The Earth / Going To Church"14 October 1979 (1979-10-14)
On his first Sunday at Grantleigh, Richard fails to turn up at church, to Audrey's annoyance. She goes to lecture him on his duties and responsibilities as Lord of the Manor. Later, Mrs. Poo insists that Richard invite Audrey for dinner and she accepts on the condition he will accompany her to church the following day, Sunday. He agrees; however, the following morning Audrey turns up at church as the service is ending, having forgotten to put her grandfather clock, recently mended by Old Ned, one hour forward.[10][11][12]
44"Nation's Heritage"21 October 1979 (1979-10-21)
When Audrey sees Richard throw out an Adam fireplace, she goes to the Manor and lectures him about preserving the nation's heritage. She also mentions how her mantelpiece is very small. When Audrey returns from the Manor, Marjory and Brabinger have discovered a beautiful antique Inglenook hearth fireplace, which was revealed while Brabinger was installing a bell. The following day, Audrey spends the day with Richard, first helping him choose a horse and then dining out with him. When they get back, Richard shows her that while they were out he has had installed in her Drawing Room, as a thank you, the Adam fireplace he threw out, covering the Inglenook hearth discovered the day before.[10][11][12]
55"The Summer Hunt Ball"28 October 1979 (1979-10-28)
At Mrs. Patterson's shop, Audrey talks to the Brigadier about the Summer Hunt Ball, which is always held at the Manor. Audrey refuses to organise it as she normally does, although she has sent out the invitations. She wants Richard to come to her on "bended knee"; however, he instead asks Marjory. A furious Audrey takes over, which was Richard's intention, but Marjory continues to organise it as well. On the day, Audrey and Marjory argue about a footbridge on the estate, which Audrey told Ned not to fix, contrary to Marjory's orders. When Audrey finds out that Marjory is going to the Ball as Richard's partner, she refuses to go and plays Scrabble with Brabinger instead. Richard visits her later on to apologise, but when he leaves Audrey directs him to the damaged footbridge.[10][11][12]
66"The Grapevine"4 November 1979 (1979-11-04)
When Mrs. Poo complains of being bored, Richard agrees to holding a party. At the party, rumours spread that Richard has suspicious business dealings. Meanwhile, everyone tells Audrey that she should take a holiday. Shortly after, Audrey pretends to go on holiday to Málaga, with only Brabinger knowing she is really hiding at the Lodge. While she is 'on holiday', rumours spread when Marjory and Richard are seen going behind her house each evening, but they are actually watching badgers. When she 'returns' from holiday, Audrey gives a party and on the terrace Richard tells her he saw her in the Lodge while she was meant to be in Málaga. He agrees to keep quiet if she stops spreading the rumours about his suspicious business dealings.[10][11][12]
77"A Touch Of Class"11 November 1979 (1979-11-11)
Audrey is having money problems, and on her first ever visit to a supermarket, a "Cavendish Foods" store, she gives Polly, the cashier, a cheque she knows will bounce. In an attempt to appear more English, Richard is starring in an advert for "Fontleroy's Old English Tonic" being filmed at the Manor. Audrey is curious to know what is going on and sends Brabinger over to find out; he is then asked to play the butler in the advert. Later, the director Bob Roberts (Blain Fairman) goes to the Lodge to ask to use Audrey's Rolls Royce. She then tells him that the Manor is not Richard's ancestral home, but hers, which makes him worried about what the sponsors will say. A few days later, Audrey arrives at the Manor to take Richard to the Lord Lieutenant's charity gala, and the advert appears on the television, with Audrey not Richard.[10][11][12] Guest starring Celia Imrie.

Christmas Special (1979)

#TitleOriginal airdate
8"The First Noel"25 December 1979 (1979-12-25)
With the fforbes-Hamiltons always providing the church's crib, Audrey, Marjory and Old Ned, who is acting as Audrey's butler while Brabinger is visiting his granddaughter, make a crib. However, when they go to place it in the church, Richard, having been asked by the Rector, has installed a brand new crib. After an initial argument, both favour the other's crib, but the Rector decides upon Richard's. On Christmas Day, Audrey and Marjory are both bored at the Lodge, having declined invitations to the Manor. Later in the day, an equally bored Richard and Mrs. Poo arrive at the Lodge, whereupon Audrey suggests they play Sardines.[10][11][13]

Series Two (1980)

#EpisodeTitleOriginal airdate
91"The Farm Manager"5 October 1980 (1980-10-05)
Richard wants to make the Estate more efficient and more profitable, so employs a new Farm Manager, Mr Spalding. Brabinger is away due to illness, so Ned takes his place temporarily while Richard renovates his tied cottage. Audrey suspects Richard wants to get rid of Ned by pawning him off on her, so she hosts a dinner party to prove how awful his cooking is.
102"The Spare Room"12 October 1980 (1980-10-12)
Audrey and Marjory's old school friend, Diana ("Podge Hodge"), comes to stay after her divorce. Formerly quite large, the ladies believe it will be safe to have her stay at Richards, due to Audrey's leaky roof. It turns out she's now quite lovely, and she and Richard enjoy riding together.
113"Never Be Alone"19 October 1980 (1980-10-19)
Marjory goes away on residential course to produce Antony and Cleopatra, leaving Audrey so bored and lonely she invites tradesmen round to give her free estimates. Richard has bought a £40,000 Egyptian vase from Christie's, and it goes missing the day after he gets it home. The local police suggest he keep his eyes open for someone with unexpected money to spend, so Audrey becomes a suspect in the theft. Guest starring Roger Brierley.
124"Tramps and Poachers"26 October 1980 (1980-10-26)
Arthur Smith, a tramp, makes his annual visit to the Estate, and Richard is forced to put him up while he does work on the Grantleigh Estate. Richard and the game keeper are trying to catch a poacher on the Estate.
135"The Honours List"2 November 1980 (1980-11-02)
As part of effort to modernise Grantleigh, Richard wants to destroy the hedgerows to enlarge the fields. Audrey leads the rest of the community to stop this, until she discovers that someone is going to receive an honour in the New Year's Honours List. Believing it's Richard, she turns on the protestors to curry favour with him.
146"Vive Le Sport"9 November 1980 (1980-11-09)
After Audrey injures her back, her private doctor refuses to see her as she has not paid her bills, so she is forced to go to the NHS. Meanwhile, Richard is learning to ski before he goes on holiday, and he asks Audrey to go with him. Guest starring Celia Imrie.

Series Three (1981)

#EpisodeTitleOriginal airdate
151"Scout Hut"18 October 1981 (1981-10-18)
Just after Audrey, as County Commissioner for the Girl Guides, leaves the scout hut with the Vicar, the building collapses. Richard decides to "anonymously" donate a new scout hut, which everyone finds out thanks to the cub leader, Mr Spalding. Richard and Audrey have a picnic together, and get back just in time to see the scout raft race.
162"Station Closing"25 October 1981 (1981-10-25)
The local railway station is to be closed, so Audrey launches a campaign to save it. Richard, however, secretly buys it and plans to turn it into a cash and carry. Then British Rail decide to keep the station open after all to service a new school, but Richard soon finds a new site. Guest starring Richard Thorp, Bruce Bould and William Moore. Maiden Newton station was used for the railway scenes. Other scenes were at Montacute, outside the School House.
173"Horses Vs Cars"1 November 1981 (1981-11-01)
While Richard takes lessons in his new helicopter, Audrey cannot afford to have her Rolls Royce mended, so while looking after the stables for Mrs Proctor, she uses a horse instead. Guest starring Gordon Peters. The scenes involving the parked horse getting a parking ticket were filmed in Montacute, at The Borough. The onlookers in the wide-angle shots are local villagers who came to watch the filming and found themselves included in the film. The presence of the temporary dummy parking ticket machine caused some confusion for visiting tourists.
184"Birds Vs Bees"8 November 1981 (1981-11-08)
In an attempt to make money, Audrey starts keeping bees. Then a rare bird, a bee-eater, turns up on the Estate and it has to be guarded from twitchers, and Audrey's honey suddenly starts selling quickly.
195"Cosmetics"15 November 1981 (1981-11-15)
Richard is trying to get a lucrative deal with the head of a cosmetics firm, Mademoiselle Dutoit (Rula Lenska), who propositions him, so he invents a wife to get him out of the situation. Audrey agrees to act the part when Mademoiselle Dutoit comes to stay for the weekend, while Marjory pretends to be "Mrs. fforbes-Hamilton".
206"Business Troubles"22 November 1981 (1981-11-22)
The Board of Directors at Cavendish Foods are fighting Richard over his plans for a refrigeration plant in Argentina, and he is about to be removed as Chairman, until Audrey's wealthy black-sheep uncle, Greville Hartley (Ballard Berkeley) intervenes. Guest starring Peter Penry-Jones and John Barron.
217"The Wedding"29 November 1981 (1981-11-29)
After Uncle Greville's sudden death, Richard has to sell the Manor so he can finance the refrigeration plant. In the auction, Audrey uses the money left to her in Uncle Greville's will to buy back the Manor, and then asks Richard to marry her. Written by Christopher Bond. Guest starring Peter Penry-Jones and Daniel Chatto.

Christmas Special (2007)

#TitleOriginal airdate
22"Christmas Special"25 December 2007 (2007-12-25)
As Richard and Audrey prepare to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary, they both plan a surprise party for the other. However, before their anniversary, Audrey leaves Richard when he tells her that he owns "Farmer Tom", a supermarket supplier company that has put many neighbouring estates out of business. Audrey then stays with Marjory who now lives at the Lodge, while Richard goes to his mother's grave (his mother having died in 1988) to ask for help. He then arranges for a rock concert to be held on Grantleigh and a neighbouring estate owned by Archie Pennington-Booth, who has nearly gone bankrupt due to "Farmer Tom". The Manor is soon left with no staff, when Audrey gives them time off and Emmeridge (their butler) moves to the Lodge with Audrey. Richard and Archie go to the Magistrates' Court to apply for a licence for the concert. Audrey, who is strongly against holding a rock concert on the estate, is in Court and hears Richard tell the magistrate that he has changed his mind and will no longer hold the concert. However, this still does not make Audrey forgive him. The following day, their anniversary, Marjory leads Audrey to the Manor where Richard has arranged a surprise party, and she forgives him.

References

  1. ↑ Roche, Elisa (25 October 2007). "To the Manor Reborn". Daily Express.
  2. ↑ "Manor reborn for one-off special". BBC. 30 October 2007.
  3. ↑ "To The Manor Born Episodes Guide". British Sitcom Guide. 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  4. 1 2 Lewishohn, Mark (2003). Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy. London: BBC Worldwide. ISBN 0-563-48755-0.
  5. ↑ "Christmas Day TV Listing". Radio Times. 22 December 2007.
  6. ↑ "BFI - Britain's Most Watched TV - the 1970s". British Film Institute. 4 September 2006. Archived from the original on 22 November 2005.
  7. ↑ "BFI - Britain's Most Watched TV - the 1980s". British Film Institute. 4 September 2006. Archived from the original on 6 January 2007.
  8. ↑ "Highest Rated Programmes - 1981". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Archived from the original on 2006-09-25.
  9. ↑ BARB UK Viewing Figures (week 24th-30th Dec 2007)
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Edwards, Amelia (2007). "SERIES 1 - First broadcast 1979". British Sitcom Guide. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Episode Guide : Series 1". British TV Comedy. 2006. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Episode Guide 1". To the Manor International Appreciation Society. 1998. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  13. ↑ "Episode Guide 2". To the Manor International Appreciation Society. 1999. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
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