Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em could return in 2016

Sunday 4th October 2015, 2:18pm

Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. Image shows from L to R: Betty Spencer (Michele Dotrice), Frank Spencer (Michael Crawford). Copyright: BBC

Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em could be set to return to screens next year.

According to a report by The Mirror, stars Michael Crawford and Michele Dotrice have talked about reviving the show, potentially for BBC One's Landmark Sitcom Season.

In an interview, the paper asked Dotrice if she planned to work with Crawford again. The responsed: "Well, I can't really say, but yes. Possibly next year - but I can't really say anything about it."

The BBC confirmed to the paper: "It's one of several shows being considered for BBC One's Landmark Sitcom Season, but nothing is confirmed as yet and none of the original cast has been approached by us."

It is not known whether any revival of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em would be for a one-off, multiple specials, or a full series. Many sitcoms have been revived in recent years, with mixed results. To The Manor Born returned for a single Christmas special in 2007; Birds Of A Feather has had three brand new series broadcast by ITV; and following a 2013 Christmas special revival of Open All Hours, a second new series of Still Open All Hours is now filming.

Written by Raymond Allen, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em originally ran for 22 episodes over three series from 1973 to 1978, following the hapless, disaster-prone Frank Spencer (Crawford), as he met, eventually married, and had a child with with next-door neighbour Betty (Dotrice), much to her mother's horror.

Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. Frank Spencer (Michael Crawford). Copyright: BBC

Seemingly unable to complete even the simplest of tasks without bringing chaos, former RAF man Frank was seen ever in search of a job he could keep, and a home set-up he could not destroy.

Crawford, now 73, was famed at the time for his physical comedy capabilities and the wild array of stunts he performed as Spencer. He would go on to international fame in the 1980s, originating the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's smash-hit musical The Phantom of the Opera.

Michele Dotrice, meanwhile, married fellow actor Edward Woodward, with whom she has a daughter, Emily. Following his death in 2009, Dotrice, now 67, told the paper: "[Michael] has been a true friend since I lost Edward, he encouraged me to get back to work and it really does give me strength."

She said of the sitcom: "I look on it very fondly. It's wonderful it still goes out on television to a new audience.

"It's like looking at my daughter Emily. She's 32 now and gets totally embarrassed with my outfits, with bunches and everything else."

Michele is currently starring with David Suchet in a new West End production of Oscar Wilde's comedy The Importance of Being Earnest, attracting rave reviews.

In recent years Crawford has also returned to the West End stage, playing the Wizard in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 2011 production of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium.

The original series is available now to own in one box set, albeit with a number of cuts.

In the following clip - perhaps the most famous in the show's history - Frank dons a pair of roller-skates.

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