My Family. Image shows from L to R: Michael Harper (Gabriel Thomson), Susan Harper (Zoë Wanamaker), Ben Harper (Robert Lindsay), Janey Harper (Daniela Denby-Ashe)
My Family

My Family

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC One
  • 2000 - 2011
  • 120 episodes (11 series)

A long-running, high rating BBC One sitcom about an average middle class family. Stars Robert Lindsay and Zoe Wanamaker. Stars Robert Lindsay, Zoë Wanamaker, Gabriel Thomson, Daniela Denby-Ashe, Siobhan Hayes and more.

Episode menu

Series 9, Episode 1 - Bully For Ben

Ben joins the young Harpers for a pub quiz, which leads to some awkward questions being asked.

Further details

My Family. Image shows from L to R: Janey Harper (Daniela Denby-Ashe), Susan Harper (Zoë Wanamaker), Michael Harper (Gabriel Thomson), Ben Harper (Robert Lindsay). Copyright: DLT Entertainment Ltd. / Rude Boy Productions

It's Ben and Susan's wedding anniversary. Ben is trying to write a loving message in a card but is having serious difficulties, despite fierce prompting from daughter Janey.

Janey sets off for the local pub quiz with her brother, Michael, lodger Alfie and Ben's annoying work colleague, Roger. Ben is insulted that he wasn't invited but decides to tag along anyway.

As their team falls behind in the quiz, Alfie points out that a player on another team has been cheating by texting all night. Ben decides to confront the phone cheat, Barry, who invites him outside to settle their disagreement. Ben backs out of the fight but is determined to get into shape so he can return to confront Barry.

Michael and Alfie later find Ben in a heap surrounded by gym equipment and figure out what he's up to. They force Ben to confess that the real reason for wanting to fight Barry is that he was bullied at school.

With the encouragement of his family, Ben heads back to the pub to confront Barry and his school demons. But, when Ben arrives, he's not so sure he can go through with it - especially as humiliating facts come to light about the identity of his school bully. But, if he backs out now, will the rest of the family ever look at him in the same way?

Broadcast details

Date
Thursday 2nd April 2009
Time
8:30pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Saturday 4th April 2009 5:55pm BBC1
Wednesday 27th July 2011 1:00pm W
Wednesday 27th July 2011 7:00pm W
Tuesday 29th November 2011 5:20pm W
Tuesday 29th November 2011 11:40pm W
Monday 9th January 2012 1:20pm W
Monday 9th January 2012 6:20pm W
Friday 25th May 2012 11:40am W
Friday 22nd June 2012 11:40am W
Thursday 27th September 2012 12:20pm W
Thursday 27th September 2012 6:20pm W
Thursday 22nd November 2012 7:40pm Gold
Friday 23rd November 2012 1:40pm Gold
Tuesday 4th December 2012 12:20pm W
Tuesday 4th December 2012 6:20pm W
Saturday 18th May 2013 5:00pm W
Sunday 19th May 2013 3:00pm W
Thursday 22nd August 2013 8:15am Gold
Thursday 22nd August 2013 2:00pm Gold
Friday 27th March 2015 6:20pm Gold
Monday 30th March 2015 11:20am Gold
Wednesday 28th October 2015 12:00pm Gold
Wednesday 28th October 2015 6:00pm Gold
Tuesday 1st March 2016 11:20am Gold
Tuesday 1st March 2016 6:00pm Gold
Thursday 29th September 2016 1:00pm Gold
Thursday 29th September 2016 5:40pm Gold
Saturday 21st January 2017 6:00pm W
Tuesday 23rd May 2017 12:40pm Gold
Tuesday 23rd May 2017 6:00pm Gold
Monday 31st July 2017 5:20pm W
Saturday 12th August 2017 7:20pm W
Wednesday 12th December 2018 3:40pm W
Friday 11th January 2019 12:00pm Gold
Friday 11th January 2019 2:40pm Gold
Saturday 13th April 2019 8:20pm W
Sunday 14th April 2019 7:20pm W
Saturday 16th April 2022 6:55pm W
Sunday 17th April 2022 5:50pm W
Saturday 20th August 2022 8:20pm W
Sunday 21st August 2022 6:20pm W
Thursday 22nd December 2022 6:20pm W
Friday 23rd December 2022 5:00pm W
Saturday 7th January 2023 5:00pm W
Sunday 8th January 2023 3:00pm W
Saturday 20th May 2023 6:20pm W
Sunday 21st May 2023 4:20pm W
Saturday 11th November 2023 3:00pm W
Sunday 12th November 2023 1:00pm W
Saturday 23rd March 2024 7:40pm Dave

Cast & crew

Cast
Robert Lindsay Ben Harper
Gabriel Thomson Michael Harper
Daniela Denby-Ashe Janey Harper
Keiron Self Roger Bailey Jr.
Rhodri Meilir Alfie Butts
Tayler Marshall Kenzo Harper
Guest cast
Richard Graham Barry
Tony Bluto Quizmaster
Allison Ryan Danni Jarvis
Writing team
Brian Leveson Writer
Paul Minett Writer
Ed Dyson Writer (Additional Material)
Amy Shindler Writer (Additional Material)
Robin Taylor Writer (Additional Material)
Production team
Nic Phillips Director
John Bartlett Producer
Donald Taffner Jr. Executive Producer
Micheál Jacob Executive Producer
Tom Anderson Executive Producer
Chris Wadsworth Editor
Ian Fisher Production Designer
Sandie Shepherd Production Designer
Graham Jarvis Composer

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