This opening episode was third in the BBC2 charts with 4.01 million viewers, a figure that was high enough to place it at 92nd place in the national Top 100 chart. However, none of the other episodes made the BBC2 Top 10, or the Top 100.
The script for the episode is the same one as used for Pilot (1984), with just minor changes to some lines.
One of the most notable elements changed is that the George Vance's anti-Welsh views are altered, understandably so given the casting of Windsor Davies in the lead role. A rant that he'd have sawn Wales off and pushed it out into the sea becomes "this part of Wales", while a reference to a caravan being called a stately home in "Wales" becomes "North Wales". Finally, a line where a solicitor tells George that he'd have been fighting on the side of the Welsh against Edward I, due to his ancestral roots in the pilot, gets the added proviso "As a Welshman..." before it.
Although some lines get minor changes, a real addition to the script is when George ejects the couple from the museum so he can close early. In the pilot he gives them directions to another town in a hurry to get away; in this episode he lists the things they'll see, with: "Turn right at Dinton there are thousands of sheep. Piano players... singer-songwriters... even a couple of black ones. Do an Ike and Tina Turner for you."
One of the most notable elements changed is that the George Vance's anti-Welsh views are altered, understandably so given the casting of Windsor Davies in the lead role. A rant that he'd have sawn Wales off and pushed it out into the sea becomes "this part of Wales", while a reference to a caravan being called a stately home in "Wales" becomes "North Wales". Finally, a line where a solicitor tells George that he'd have been fighting on the side of the Welsh against Edward I, due to his ancestral roots in the pilot, gets the added proviso "As a Welshman..." before it.
Although some lines get minor changes, a real addition to the script is when George ejects the couple from the museum so he can close early. In the pilot he gives them directions to another town in a hurry to get away; in this episode he lists the things they'll see, with: "Turn right at Dinton there are thousands of sheep. Piano players... singer-songwriters... even a couple of black ones. Do an Ike and Tina Turner for you."
While the two leads are recast for the series, all of the supporting actors are the same ones from the pilot; the sole difference being Dyfed Thomas plays the man who tells George about his inheritance, instead of Richard Davies.
The series didn't receive much notice in the way of newspaper reviews, though the Daily Mirror did publish a couple of readers' letters with contrasting views.
On 2nd October 1985 a Mrs. J. Moore of Studland, Dorset, wrote: "WINDSOR DAVIES and Anna Dawson make a wonderful couple in THE NEW STATESMAN (BBC-2). I'm sure the series will go on to become one of the classic comedies."
However, by October 17th 1985 an F. Jones of Solihull had written: "THANK heavens The New Statesman (BBC-2) is coming to an end. The character of George Vance has been a total waste of the talents of that excellent actor Windsor Davies."
On 2nd October 1985 a Mrs. J. Moore of Studland, Dorset, wrote: "WINDSOR DAVIES and Anna Dawson make a wonderful couple in THE NEW STATESMAN (BBC-2). I'm sure the series will go on to become one of the classic comedies."
However, by October 17th 1985 an F. Jones of Solihull had written: "THANK heavens The New Statesman (BBC-2) is coming to an end. The character of George Vance has been a total waste of the talents of that excellent actor Windsor Davies."