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As Time Goes By. Image shows from L to R: Jean (Judi Dench), Lionel (Geoffrey Palmer). Copyright: DLT Entertainment Ltd..

As Time Goes By

BBC One sitcom about a couple. 66 episodes (9 series), 1992 - 2005. Stars Judi Dench, Geoffrey Palmer, Moira Brooker, Jenny Funnell and Philip Bretherton.

Series 3, Episode 2 is repeated on Gold tomorrow at 7:45am.

As Time Goes By. Image shows from L to R: Lionel (Geoffrey Palmer), Jean (Judi Dench). Copyright: DLT Entertainment Ltd..

As Time Goes By

Lionel and Jean were young lovers until accidentally losing touch. Years later they meet again by chance and unexpectedly rekindle their romance

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
1992 - 2005
Channel
BBC One
Episodes
66   (9 series), plus 1 highlights special
Creator
Colin Bostock-Smith
Starring
Judi Dench, Geoffrey Palmer, Moira Brooker, Jenny Funnell and Philip Bretherton
Writer
Bob Larbey
Director
Sydney Lotterby
Producer
Sydney Lotterby

Lionel Hardcastle, a young man in the army, and Jean Pargeter, a nurse, are madly in love until Lionel is sent away to the Korean War and, through a lost love letter, they lose touch.

Thirty-eight years later Lionel, a curmudgeonly divorcee, is writing a book about his subsequent years spent living in Kenya and Jean, a no-nonsense widow, is running a secretarial agency in London. When Lionel requires a secretary to assist him with his book revisions he unwittingly contacts Jean's agency and the pair are reunited.

Gradually, after some reluctance and hesitation on both sides, Jean and Lionel begin to rekindle their old romance. Alongside this main story a more tempestuous relationship between Jean's daughter Judith (Moira Brooker) and Lionel's publisher Alistair (Philip Bretherton) plays out.

This popular BBC sitcom draws humour from the ups and downs of unexpected romance in later life.

Production Details

Production company
Soundtrack
Theme tune is a version of As Time Goes By, originally written by Herman Hupfeld in 1931. This version is performed by Joe Fagin and arranged by David Mackay.
Laugh track
Live audience

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Sunday 12th January 1992 on BBC One at 8:35pm
Last new broadcast
Friday 30th December 2005 on BBC One
Upcoming repeats
  1. Series 3 Episode 2: Tomorrow at 7:45am on Gold
  2. Series 3 Episode 10: Tomorrow at 6:40pm on Drama
  3. Series 3 Episode 3: Tuesday at 7:45am on Gold
  4. Series 4 Episode 1: Tuesday at 6:40pm on Drama
  5. Series 3 Episode 4: Wednesday at 7:45am on Gold
  6. Series 4 Episode 2: Wednesday at 6:40pm on Drama
  7. Series 3 Episode 5: Thursday at 7:45am on Gold
  8. Series 4 Episode 3: Thursday at 6:40pm on Drama
  9. Series 3 Episode 6: Friday at 7:45am on Gold
  10. Series 4 Episode 4: Friday at 6:40pm on DramaShow all repeats
  11. Series 3 Episode 7: Monday 3rd February at 7:45am on Gold
  12. Series 4 Episode 5: Monday 3rd February at 6:40pm on Drama
  13. Series 3 Episode 8: Tuesday 4th February at 7:45am on Gold
  14. Series 4 Episode 6: Tuesday 4th February at 6:40pm on Drama
  15. Series 3 Episode 9: Wednesday 5th February at 7:45am on Gold
  16. Series 4 Episode 7: Wednesday 5th February at 6:40pm on Drama
  17. Series 3 Episode 10: Thursday 6th February at 7:45am on Gold
  18. Series 4 Episode 8: Thursday 6th February at 6:40pm on Drama
  19. Series 4 Episode 1: Friday 7th February at 7:35am on Gold
  20. Series 4 Episode 9: Friday 7th February at 6:40pm on Drama

Website links

Cast & Crew Press Shop