Nearest And Dearest. Image shows from L to R: Nellie Pledge (Hylda Baker), Eli Pledge (Jimmy Jewel). Copyright: Granada Television
Nearest And Dearest

Nearest And Dearest

  • TV sitcom
  • ITV1
  • 1968 - 1973
  • 45 episodes (7 series)

Sitcom about brother and sister, Eli and Nellie Pledge, forced to run a pickle factory together. Stars Hylda Baker, Jimmy Jewel, Joe Gladwin, Madge Hindle, Edward Malin and Bert Palmer

Episode menu

Series 5, Episode 1 - Make Yourself At Home

Walter is ill and laid up in the Pledge household following subsidance problems and an evacuation of his and Lily's own home. Eli and Nellie are quite keen to see that his will is satisfactorily completed before he, you know...

Further details

It's Friday night! And the Pledges are looking forward to two wholes days without pickling... until Lily and Walter appear. Apparently their house has subsided and they've got nowhere to go.

The doctor is sent for as Walter has severe shock. He's soon sent straight to bed to be waited on hand and foot by Nellie. Whilst there he sends Lily down for paper and a pencil to write out his will. The pound signs ring in Nellie and Eli's eyes, and they are soon dashing upstairs to be at his bedside. To make things worse, Stan is setting out to woo Miss Lily. "With her money, and my looks, we'll be the toast of Colne!" he says.

It turns out that Walter is set to get better, and Lily is despatched back to make the house "fit for co-habitation", but while she has gone, Walter sends the three knock signal on the ceiling, the sign that he thinks he's going. The Pledges could be in the money after all!

Broadcast details

Date
Thursday 17th December 1970
Time
6:55pm
Channel
ITV1
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Hylda Baker Nellie Pledge
Jimmy Jewel Eli Pledge
Joe Gladwin Stan Hardman
Madge Hindle Lily Tattershall
Edward Malin Walter Tattershall
Guest cast
Freddie Rayner Grenville
Lennard Pearce Doctor
Writing team
Roy Bottomley Writer
Tom Brennand Writer
John Stevenson Script Editor
Production team
Bill Podmore Director
Bill Podmore Producer
Eric Deakins Production Designer
Derek Hilton Composer

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