Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?

'Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?' was an endearing 30 minute BBC sitcom from the 1970s, focussing on the lives of two young Geordies - Bob (Rodney Bewes) and Terry (James Bolam). There were two series and one 45 minute special, with 27 episodes in all. The first episode was screened on January 9th, 1973, and the last, which was the special, on December 24th, 1974.

The 1970s series was a revival of the 1960s series, 'The Likely Lads', also featuring Bewes and Bolam. Both shows were written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais.

Bob was a whining, slightly wet, worrier, who was in wife Thelma's (Brigit Forsyth) pocket. Terry was Bob's dour, cynical lifelong friend, who never missed an opportunity to sneer at Bob's domestic bliss. The interaction between the two was hilarious, and you wondered how they had remained friends - such were their differences.

They say comedy dates quickly, but 'Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?' still has a freshness about it, and it would be in my personal top 10 of all-time great British sitcoms.

- Paul Rance/booksmusicfilmstv.com.