You're Only Young Twice (1977–1981) User Reviews

Sweet and funny overlooked gem

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 14 August 2015]

I discovered this completely by accident, I'd never heard of it, and i'm sure not many people have either.

Each episode focuses on the residents of Paradise Lodge, the clan of Ladies who live there, the staff, and the owner Miss Milton.

The main character is Flora Petty, wonderfully played by Peggy Mount, a stern matriarch who rules Paradise Lodge with an iron fist, aided and abetted by her scatty best friend Cissy Lupin, brilliantly played by Pat Coombs.

Miss Milton, an upper class ex Public School girl runs Paradise Lodge through her staff Finchy and Roger, Miss Milton does not nurse, so the ladies must not get ill, or face being packed off to Penge. Fellow residents Dolly a retired actress, and Honda loving Mildred look on in frustration at Flora's behaviour and class on many an occasion.

It is lighter then a helium filled balloon, but incredibly easy viewing, and very funny in parts too. Pretty surprisingly it lasted four years and produced 4 series. The earlier series are the funnier, the 2 funniest episodes Birthday Girl and Too many cooks both coming in the first series.

Very 70's, but very funny. Pat Coombs, a foil for so many greats, often has the last laugh, and is a true delight to watch.

Love the show.

Dated When It Debuted in 1977... But Wonderful!

[vintageTVaddict · 10/10 · 31 December 2015]

You're Only Young Twice is kind of timeless. In a way, it was dated when it debuted in 1977. It's the kind of sitcom that had been around since the late 1950s. Unoffensive (apart from attitudes towards an off-screen gay character which were, unfortunately, very much part of the 1970s, and vanquished at the start of the 1980s), character-led and funny.

I recall revelling in this show back in the late 1970s and early 1980s because of the sheer acting talent of the veteran cast, and the fabulous writing. There are occasional flights of fancy (a certain Mrs Petty being hypnotised for one), and these do not sit easily with me, but the vast majority of episodes are wonderful, and it retains its tremendous quality right to the final series, with stand-out episodes there including "Breakfast At Peabody's", "Flora's Big Mistake" and "The Gypsy's Curse". I have re-watched "You're Only Young Twice" many times since its DVD release. It always stirs fond teenage memories. And the cast continue to weave their magic and bring Paradise Lodge to life for me at each sitting.

Watch and enjoy.

Growing old disgracefully!

[Rabical-91 · 1/10 · 1 November 2017]

The underrated and very much missed Peggy Mount made a career out of portraying hard-faced, domineering old battle axes in shows such as 'George & The Dragon' and 'Lollipop Loves Mr. Mole'. Five years after 'Lollipop' ended in 1972, Mount felt it was time for her to go back to the world of sitcom. Pam Valentine & Michael Ashton devised the premise of a group of elderly women living in a retirement home, a stellar cast was made up and so 'You're Only Young Twice' was made, screened by Yorkshire Television. With all these good points, how on earth then is it possible that 'You're Only Young Twice' turned out to be nothing but a load of cods-wallop? 'You're Only Young Twice' ( also the name of a now forgotten ATV sitcom which funnily enough was also set in a retirement home ) took place in Paradise Lodge ( of all names ), a retirement home for retired gentlefolk. The residents include ageing former film star Dolly Love, snobbish Mildred Fanshaw and simple minded Cissie Lupin. Lording it over these old crones is the appropriately named Flora Petty, an outspoken old biddy with a voice that could grate cheese and a tongue you could shave with. The home is run by Miss. Milton, who is helped out by young Miss. Finch.

It made the ratings when it debuted in 1977, running for a total of four series, though we can only but wonder how, the scripts were about as funny as leprosy and each punchline was yelled out to no avail. The worst thing about the show however is the theme tune, supplied by Dennis Wilson, which in my opinion is the musical equivalent of a migraine. Unusually for Peggy Mount, her talent here seems to have deserted her and her relationship with the dopey Cissie ( played by the normally brilliant Pat Coombs ) was nothing short of embarrassing. Equally irritating was Diana King, who in the '70's was typecast as toffee-nosed women. Lally Bowers ( who played Dolly ) and the gorgeous Georgina Moon ( Miss. Finch ) were the only ones in the cast to emerge any real credit.

'You're Only Young Twice' thankfully ended in 1981. Peggy never did another sitcom. Ironically, she ended her final days in a care home. She died in 2001, aged 86, following a stroke. A short time later, Pam Valentine & Michael Ashton devised another sitcom for Yorkshire Television, the hilarious 'That's My Boy', which starred Mollie Sugden.

In 1990, the setting of a retirement home was used yet again for the BBC in the Michael Aitkens' scripted sitcom 'Waiting For God'.