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Only When I Laugh. Image shows from L to R: Dr. Gordon Thorpe (Richard Wilson), Roy Figgis (James Bolam), Norman Binns (Christopher Strauli), Archie Glover (Peter Bowles). Copyright: Yorkshire Television.

Only When I Laugh

ITV sitcom about hospital patients. 29 episodes (4 series), 1979 - 1982. Stars James Bolam, Peter Bowles, Christopher Strauli, Richard Wilson and Derrick Branche.

Series 3, Episode 5 is repeated on ITV4 on Monday at 2:10am.

Only When I Laugh. Roy Figgis (James Bolam). Copyright: Yorkshire Television.

Only When I Laugh

Roy Figgis, Norman Binns and Archie Glover are long-term residents of the NHS. Despite this, they never fail to get themselves into trouble

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
1979 - 1982
Channel
ITV
Episodes
29   (4 series)
Starring
James Bolam, Peter Bowles, Christopher Strauli, Richard Wilson and Derrick Branche
Writer
Eric Chappell
Director
Vernon Lawrence
Producer
Vernon Lawrence

James Bolam plays Roy Figgis, a long-term NHS hospital bed occupant. Archie Glover (Peter Bowles) and Norman Binns (Christopher Strauli) are his wardmates, all suffering from extreme cases of hypchondria.

Despite being apparently 'ill', the three don't just get themselves into trouble, but seem to have difficulty behaving.

Richard Wilson plays Dr Gordon Thorpe, and Derrick Branche is Gupte, the ward orderly, who are both the bane of the three's lives, and they the bane of theirs.

Production Details

Production company
Laugh track
Live audience

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Monday 29th October 1979 on ITV at 8pm
Last new broadcast
Thursday 16th December 1982 on ITV at 7:30pm
Length of episodes
30 minutes
Upcoming repeats
  1. Series 3 Episode 5: Monday at 2:10am on ITV4
  2. Series 3 Episode 7: Monday at 6am on ITV4
  3. Series 4 Episode 1: Tuesday at 6am on ITV4
  4. Series 4 Episode 2: Wednesday at 6am on ITV4
  5. Series 3 Episode 6: Thursday at 2:15am on ITV4
  6. Series 4 Episode 3: Friday at 6:05am on ITV4
  7. Series 4 Episode 3: Friday at 4:20pm on ITV4
  8. Series 4 Episode 1: Sunday 27th October at 3:30am on ITV4
  9. Series 3 Episode 7: Monday 28th October at 2:10am on ITV4
  10. Series 4 Episode 3: Monday 28th October at 6am on ITV4Show all repeats
  11. Series 4 Episode 4: Tuesday 29th October at 6am on ITV4
  12. Series 4 Episode 5: Wednesday 30th October at 6am on ITV4
  13. Series 4 Episode 6: Thursday 31st October at 6am on ITV4
  14. Series 4 Episode 7: Friday 1st November at 6am on ITV4

Website links

Cast & Crew Episodes Shop