After a shaky start, Perrins is at last on its feet. The place is chock-full of guests. With space running out, Reggie asks C.J. to share a room with McBlane. He panics. Reggie then asks Doc Morissey to share a room with C.J. He faints. The idea is scrapped. On Elisabeth's recommendation, Reggie tries to sack McBlane, but the violent, incomprehensible cook scares him so much he cannot bring himself to do it.
Mr.Dent ( Robert Gillespie ) of the Planning Department of Botchley Borough Council asks why Reggie is apparently running a business in a residential area. After a cup of tea and a homemade ginger nut, he likes the place so much, he decides to stay. Others from the same department arrive, and each falls under its unique spell.
Tom comes up with a revolutionary new idea - boxing without the aggression. No opponent!
There's a touch of 'Darling Buds Of May' to this episode. You may remember that, in the first episode, the Philip Franks character turned up at the Larkins' farm to investigate Pop Larkin's tax returns ( i.e. why he hadn't made any ), fell in love with the place ( as well as the Larkins' beautiful eldest daughter ) and stayed. That happens here ( minus the romantic element ), not once but several times. Nobbs later contributed to the show, by the way.
Again, it is funny, but irrelevant. The boxing match where fighters try to knock themselves out rather than each other feels like a left-over skit from 'Monty Python'.
Janet Davies, who plays a housewife afflicted with the unfortunate name 'Ethel Merman', was 'Mrs.Pike' in 'Dad's Army', while Robert Gillespie, a.k.a. 'Mr.Dent', played the eccentric cartoonist 'Dudley Rush' in the I.T.V. sitcom 'Keep It In The Family' ( which also starred Pauline Yates ). Bunny May, the insurance salesman, appeared in Eric Idle's 'Rutland Weekend Television' and 'The Rutles'.
Funniest moment - a gay factory owner expressing concern that his staff will find out about his ( and one of his workforce's ) sexuality. "Its a 'them and us' situation!", he sighs. Reggie replies: "But you're both one of Them, surely?".
Second funniest moment - Joan, dressed as a hippie, singing ( if that's the right word ), a song about love and peace, while everyone looks thoroughly bored!
Mr.Dent ( Robert Gillespie ) of the Planning Department of Botchley Borough Council asks why Reggie is apparently running a business in a residential area. After a cup of tea and a homemade ginger nut, he likes the place so much, he decides to stay. Others from the same department arrive, and each falls under its unique spell.
Tom comes up with a revolutionary new idea - boxing without the aggression. No opponent!
There's a touch of 'Darling Buds Of May' to this episode. You may remember that, in the first episode, the Philip Franks character turned up at the Larkins' farm to investigate Pop Larkin's tax returns ( i.e. why he hadn't made any ), fell in love with the place ( as well as the Larkins' beautiful eldest daughter ) and stayed. That happens here ( minus the romantic element ), not once but several times. Nobbs later contributed to the show, by the way.
Again, it is funny, but irrelevant. The boxing match where fighters try to knock themselves out rather than each other feels like a left-over skit from 'Monty Python'.
Janet Davies, who plays a housewife afflicted with the unfortunate name 'Ethel Merman', was 'Mrs.Pike' in 'Dad's Army', while Robert Gillespie, a.k.a. 'Mr.Dent', played the eccentric cartoonist 'Dudley Rush' in the I.T.V. sitcom 'Keep It In The Family' ( which also starred Pauline Yates ). Bunny May, the insurance salesman, appeared in Eric Idle's 'Rutland Weekend Television' and 'The Rutles'.
Funniest moment - a gay factory owner expressing concern that his staff will find out about his ( and one of his workforce's ) sexuality. "Its a 'them and us' situation!", he sighs. Reggie replies: "But you're both one of Them, surely?".
Second funniest moment - Joan, dressed as a hippie, singing ( if that's the right word ), a song about love and peace, while everyone looks thoroughly bored!
