Steptoe And Son. Image shows from L to R: Albert Steptoe (Wilfrid Brambell), Harold Steptoe (Harry H. Corbett). Copyright: BBC
Steptoe And Son

Steptoe And Son

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC One
  • 1962 - 1974
  • 57 episodes (8 series)

Albert Steptoe and his son Harold run a rag and bone business. Harold wants to move on in the world and leave home but his plans are always thwarted. Stars Wilfrid Brambell and Harry H. Corbett.

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Steptoe And Son. Image shows from L to R: Harold Steptoe (Harry H. Corbett), Albert Steptoe (Wilfrid Brambell). Copyright: BBC

Key details

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
1962 - 1974
Channel
BBC One
Episodes
57 (1 pilot + 8 series), plus 5 short specials
Stars
Wilfrid Brambell and Harry H. Corbett
Writers
Ray Galton and Alan Simpson
Directors
Duncan Wood, John Howard Davies and Douglas Argent
Producers
Duncan Wood, John Howard Davies and Douglas Argent
Company

Living at Mews Cottage, Shepherd's Bush, Albert Steptoe and his son Harold are a family business. They are rag and bone men. With a yard full of battered furniture, tyres and scrap metal, Albert refuses to sell half of what Harold collects and keeps it, filling the house with worthless ornaments rather than pay the bills.

Albert is a war veteran and lived at home with Harold since he was a child. His wife has passed on leaving just the father and son. Albert is so stuck with the same routine that it is impossible for his son to do anything without Albert devising some cunning ploy to stop him, (usually involving faking a condition to get Harold's sympathy). Because of Albert's background, he refuses to leave his home in Shepard's Bush and as such his son cannot escape the everyday toil of rag and bone work.

Harold is in his late thirties and still lives at home. Not that he likes it; he hates everything about it. Paying bills, living in squalor and being on constant surveillance by his father are his biggest problems. He tries constantly to leave home, from buying a flat to going on holiday alone but his father is determined to keep him alongside him until the day he dies. It has occured to Harold more than once that if his dad were dead his life would be so much better.

Harold likes to think himself a sophisticated gentleman. A love for classical music and literature compared to his dad, the 'dirty old man' who likes nothing more than gawping at girls and keeping secrets from his son, to which some are revealed during the course of the shows eight series run.

It is Albert and Harold's diverse personalities that cause the outbursts and the arguments and though there may be conflict and torment between the father and son, they both also take pleasure in annoying each other but always come to a comforting resolve in one of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson's classic comedy creations.

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Additional details

Part of

Comedy Playhouse

Also known as
  • Steptoe & Son
  • The Offer
Production
Studio
Camera set-up
Multi-camera
Picture
Black and white / Colour
Soundtrack
Theme by Ron Grainer.

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Friday 5th January 1962 at 8:45pm on BBC One
Most recent repeats
  • Tuesday 19th December 2023 at 7:50pm on BBC4 - Series 8, Christmas Special
  • Sunday 23rd October 2022 at 11:40pm on BBC4 - Series 7, Episode 6
  • Saturday 4th January 2020 at 7:30am on Gold - Series 8, Episode 6

Recording details

  • BBC Lime Grove

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