"To the Manor Born" (1979)TV series 1979-1981

Creator:

Peter Spence
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

25 March 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

Audrey fforbes-Hamilton is sad when her husband dies but is shocked when she realises that she has to...

Plot Keywords:

Male Female Relationship | Dog | Riding School | Meals On Wheels | Auction

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Penelope Keith	...	Audrey / ... (22 episodes, 1979-2007)
Peter Bowles	...	DeVere / ... (22 episodes, 1979-2007)
Angela Thorne	...	Marjory / ... (20 episodes, 1979-2007)
John Rudling	...	Brabinger (14 episodes, 1979-1981)
Daphne Heard	...	Mrs. Polouvicka (14 episodes, 1979-1981)
Michael Bilton	...	Ned / ... (14 episodes, 1979-1981)
Gerald Sim	...	The Rector / ... (13 episodes, 1979-2007)

(more)

Series Directed by
Gareth Gwenlan		(1 episode, 2007)

Series Writing credits
Peter Spence		(14 episodes, 1979-2007)
Christopher Bond		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Gareth Gwenlan	....	producer (14 episodes, 1979-2007)

Series Original Music by
Ronnie Hazlehurst		(13 episodes, 1979-1980)

Series Cinematography by
John Sorapure		(1 episode, 2007)

Series Film Editing by
John Dunstan		(13 episodes, 1979-1980)

Series Casting by
Sarah Hughes		(1 episode, 2007)

Series Production Design by
Ian Rawnsley		(13 episodes, 1979-1980)
Gloria Clayton		(unknown episodes)
Dacre Punt		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Jane Shepherd		(1 episode, 2007)

Series Costume Design by
Judy Allen		(7 episodes, 1979)
Dorinda Rea		(6 episodes, 1980)
Rupert Jarvis		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Fran Needham	....	makeup artist (13 episodes, 1979-1980)
Heather Squire	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Maria Cooper	....	production manager (1 episode, 2007)
Rupert Walz	....	unit manager (1 episode, 2007)
Richard Boden	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Vivien Ackland-Snow	....	first assistant director (1 episode, 2007)
Grenville Bartlett	....	second assistant director (1 episode, 2007)
Lisa Thornton	....	third assistant director (1 episode, 2007)

Series Art Department
Stewart Austin	....	graphic designer (2 episodes, 1979-1980)
Ruth Hyde	....	property buyer (unknown episodes)
Derek Leigh	....	property buyer (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Paul Roberts	....	sound re-recording mixer (8 episodes, 1979-1981)
Ian Sansam	....	sound recordist: film (7 episodes, 1979)
Jack Sudic	....	sound (7 episodes, 1979)
Bryan Showell	....	sound recordist (6 episodes, 1980)
Michael McCarthy	....	sound (5 episodes, 1980)
Bruce Gallaway	....	sound recordist (unknown episodes)
John Holmes	....	sound (unknown episodes)
Tony Philpot	....	sound (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Keith Edwards	....	special effects supervisor (1 episode, 2007)

Series Visual Effects by
Stuart Brisdon	....	visual effects designer (unknown episodes)
Mat Irvine	....	visual effects designer (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Bruce Cain	....	stunt performer (1 episode, 2007)
Richard Hanson	....	stunt performer (1 episode, 2007)
Kim McGarrity	....	stunt performer (1 episode, 2007)
Tony Smart	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 2007)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Henry Barber	....	lighting technician (13 episodes, 1979-1980)
Alec Curtis	....	camera operator: film (13 episodes, 1979-1980)
Ron Peverall	....	senior camera operator (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
John Barclay	....	vision mixer (3 episodes, 1980)
Joan Duncan	....	vision mixer (2 episodes, 1980)
Shirley Coward	....	vision mixer (unknown episodes)
Angela Wilson	....	vision mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Ronnie Hazlehurst	....	composer: title music (1 episode, 2007)

Series Other crew
Christopher Bond	....	script associate (13 episodes, 1979-1980)
Richard Boden	....	production assistant / production team (7 episodes, 1979-1980)
John B. Hobbs	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1979)
Sue Bysh	....	production team (6 episodes, 1980)
Jane Hawley	....	production team (6 episodes, 1980)
Liz Cranston	....	production team (unknown episodes)
Camilla Howard	....	production team (unknown episodes)
Sylvie McRoberts	....	production team (unknown episodes)
Dave Perrottet	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Harry Rankin	....	production team (unknown episodes)
Ian Sansam	....	film recordist (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributors

• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)

Runtime:

USA:30 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G | Singapore:PG | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Cricket St. Thomas Estate, Nr. Chard, Somerset, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Originally written by Peter Spence as a pilot for BBC Radio in 1968 starring Penelope Keith and Bernard Braden.

Quotes:

Richard DeVere: When I say I want to know all about pig-breeding, I want to know the full facts. All you've told me here is that pigs are dirty little pink things which go 'Oink!'

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Funny Ladies of British Comedy (2004) (TV)

Aristocrats in the poor house

This likable series followed hot on the heels of Penelope Keith's success in 'The Good Life'. In 'The Good Life', Penelope played the thoroughly snobbish Margot Ledbetter and it is possible to see that 'To the Manor Born' was a somewhat carry on from that. In this series, made for the BBC from 1979 to 1981, Penelope plays Audrey Fforbes-Hamilton, a member of aristocracy, (and boy, doesn't she know it) and one of the 'old girls' with the very proper up-bringing. When her husband dies, Audrey discovers she is in serious debt and must sell the house, Grantley Manor. The Estate is bought by Mr Richard DeVere, a Czechoslovak immigrant who has established a very successful chain of supermarkets called 'Cavendish Foods'. Audrey moves into the Gate-Keepers lodge and continues to live the aristocratic life. The show is a gentle dig at English aristocratic life and those who are members of it and those who are trying to. The show is also dominated by the 'will-they-or-won't-they' relationship between Audrey and Richard (played by Peter Bowles). One of the many likeable British comedy series.