The Likely Lads

Social historians of the future seeking evidence of shifting class attitudes in the Britain of the 'Seventies could do far worse than study the phenomenal success on television, radio, and film, of The Likely Lads. Two heroes, superbly delineated by the script-writing partnership of Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais (also responsible for such successes as Otley and Porridge) admirably embody two dominant and clashing trends in working-class attitudes of the period. On the one hand we have the up-and-coming Bob Ferris (Rodney Bewes) married to the socially ambitious Thelma (Brigit Forsyth) - all badminton, wall-to-wall to carpeting and 26 inch colour T.V., in their chic little mortgaged love-nest in a trendy new suburb. On the other, not too far away, we have Bob's lifelong bachelor crony Terry - caustic, disillusioned, nostalgic for an earlier era of fish-and-chips wrapped up in Andy Capp and washed down with Newcastle Brown Ale - living in a council flat in a high-rise block where the lifts are perpetually out-of-order. This film version, made in 1976, sees Bob and Thelma, together with Terry and his new girlfriend Christina, set off on a touring holiday by caravan. The ensuing complications come to a head when, confident that their original partners are still safely asleep in the caravan behind them, the boys - hopeful as ever - give a lift to a pair of sexy girl hitch-hikers. In fact, Thelma and Christina have been stranded in their nighties at a busy set of traffic lights... Understandably in disgrace with their furious womenfolk, the boys embark on a nostalgic bachelor pilgrimage to a wintry Whitley Bay, where yet more catastrophes are in store. On top of everything else, their favourite boozer The Fat Ox isdemolished as part of an alleged municipal improvement. A shattered Terry decides to start life afresh, and signs aboard a ship leaving for foreign parts - and the lads meet for a final booze-up.