Slinger's Day (1986–1987) User Reviews

Still likeable

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 13 January 2020]

Review of Series One and Two:

A generally likeable albeit low budget follow up to the Leonard Rossiter-starring TRIPPER'S DAY. After Rossiter's death, Bruce Forsyth was drafted in to replace him in his only long-running TV acting role. And he's very good too, always willing to look ridiculous and laugh at himself, which makes him a treat playing the harassed supermarket manager. One of the episodes closes with a seemingly ad libbed food fight with the staff running around chucking things at each other, Forsyth included, and it's one of the funniest things I've seen.

The supporting cast have been replaced but the newcomers are generally up to the job, with David Kelly standing out as always. The episodic nature and small scale plotting of each episode becomes repetitive after a while (particularly with two series) but it's generally well meant and amusing enough, and another fitting time capsule of normal life in the 1980s.

Bruce gets slung in at the deep end!

[Rabical-91 · 8/10 · 10 May 2021]

Leonard Rossiter, star of 'Tripper's Day', died in 1984, halfway through the show's screening. It would be two years before Thames Television would revive the show with a new star. Game show host Bruce Forsyth as Cecil Slinger became the new manager of Supafare and the show was now titled 'Slinger's Day'. Many of the same supporting cast returned to their posts, save for Pat Ashton ( who played the canteen lady Hilda ), Gordon Gostelow ( as security man Alf ) and David John ( who played dopey shop floor member Laurel ). A new cast member was brought in - David Kelly- who played the new security man Fred. Kelly was funnier than his predecessor. Gordon Gostelow's Alf was a pain.

Things are more or less the same as before so there is not really much else I can say about this show that wasn't already said in my 'Tripper's Day' review. Brucie is not bad in the role of Slinger, despite his acting range being somewhat limited. Alas it would be his only ever sitcom role.

'Slinger's Day' managed to gain itself a second series, though this time other writers such as David Renwick and Vince Powell contributed to the writing process. Out of all twelve episodes, the show's original creator, Brian Cooke, only contributed two scripts. Liz Crowther left after the first series and was replaced by Suzanne Church as the more posh, and not as funny, Miss. Foster. Vicky Licorish also was replaced in series two by Joanna Hargreaves as Marilyn.

Despite obvious improvements, the public still did not know what to make of it and did not return for a third series. Like the earlier show, it was not for one moment brilliant, but certainly was not a dreadful show. In fact it is miles funnier than anything that is on television now.

The format of the show was sold to Canada, where it got remade as 'Check It Out' ( starring Don Adams ). That truly was a dire show and thankfully has never been screened in Britain.