The Good Life
- TV sitcom
- BBC One
- 1975 - 1978
- 30 episodes (4 series)
After Tom Good becomes disillusioned with his life, he packs in his job and he and his wife attempt to live a completely self-sufficient life in suburbia. Stars Richard Briers, Felicity Kendal, Penelope Keith and Paul Eddington.
Episode menu
When I'm 65
Further details
Tom and Barbara call at the Leadbetters' and arrive to hear from Margo that Jerry is being examined for a pension-related routine medical check-up. He enters the sitting room to inform them all that, whilst he passed, he is not nearly as healthy as he thought he was. Tom is far from surprised and blames excess on Jerry's health issues. He scares Jerry so much that Margo asks Barbara to take him home.
The theme of death continues into the Goods' kitchen: Tom realises that when they are old they will have nothing to live off, unlike the Leadbetters who are heavily insured and will have Jerry's plush private pension.
The next day the Goods are returning home on the rotary cultivator when they see Jerry and Margo jogging back up the Avenue! Fascinated, they follow them up the driveway and and find Jerry working out in the sitting room. He admits that what the doctor said made him think about his future and so they have begun a keep-fit regime in order to prolong his life and enjoy his retirement. As the Goods leave Jerry asks Tom what he is going to live off of when he retires.
Tom goes to the bank and tries to offer ownership of his house upon his death in return for 20 years of pension payments after he retires at 65. When Tom reveals that he house is only worth £25,000 and the manager points out that the loan would be over £70,000, the 'offer' is rightly refused!
Tom tells Barbara of his worries and after joking about suicide she reassures him that they have all the time in the world to enjoy life and that's all that matters. At that moment Jerry enters and asks if he can borrow a spanner to put his wall bar up. Tom continues to mock Jerry and the two are soon throwing further jibes at each other's physical fitness. Margo enters and backs Jerry up, to which Barbara backs up Tom. A showdown is on the cards - by way of a race around the neighbourhood - and the Leadbetters withdraw to talk tactics.
The next morning the athletes line up sporting lifestyle-matching attire. The race begins, and whilst their husbands disappear off down the road Margo and Barbara retire for tea. Jerry and Tom, meanwhile, pound down streets and through parks but finally come to a sweating, breathless halt at the same point, conveniently directly outside a pub where they decide to grab a refreshment...
As Margo and Barbara wait at the finish line, Tom and Jerry round the corner together - quickly crossing the line in unison. They shake hands and declare honours even. As they turn to leave a taxi pulls up in front of the houses, with the driver waving Jerry's wallet from his window! The two husbands panic and run away again as their wives shout after them.
Notes
This episode was recorded as a special Royal Command Performance, with Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in attendance for what was reported to be their favourite television programme, in aid of a drive to fund British teams' trips to the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada. The broadcast episode is bookended by 15 minutes' footage of the Royal couple arriving at Television Centre, meeting BBC executives, and the programme's cast in the studio.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Saturday 10th June 1978
- Time
- 7:40pm
- Channel
- BBC One
- Length
- 45 minutes
Repeats
Show past repeats
Date | Time | Channel |
---|---|---|
Tuesday 16th August 2011 | 7:20pm | Gold |
Tuesday 6th December 2011 | 6:05pm | Gold |
Wednesday 7th December 2011 | 10:00am | Gold |
Wednesday 28th December 2011 | 1:30pm | Gold |
Thursday 29th December 2011 | 9:55am | Gold |
Tuesday 3rd January 2012 | 1:35am | Gold |
Tuesday 3rd January 2012 | 3:00pm | Gold |
Sunday 22nd July 2012 | 12:00pm | Gold |
Sunday 22nd July 2012 | 6:40pm | Gold |
Saturday 8th September 2012 | 9:00am | Gold |
Sunday 6th January 2013 | 9:00am | Gold |
Monday 26th August 2013 | 9:00am | Gold |
Tuesday 27th August 2013 | 6:15am | Gold |
Saturday 28th September 2013 | 2:00pm | Gold |
Sunday 29th September 2013 | 8:45am | Gold |
Monday 28th October 2013 | 7:00pm | Gold |
Tuesday 29th October 2013 | 5:00pm | Gold |
Wednesday 24th December 2014 | 6:40pm | BBC2 |
Wednesday 24th December 2014 | 7:25pm | BBC2 Wales |
Friday 25th December 2015 | 1:15pm | BBC2 |
Wednesday 28th December 2016 | 7:00pm | BBC2 |
Wednesday 6th December 2017 | 7:20pm | Gold |
Thursday 7th December 2017 | 6:15pm | Gold |
Sunday 24th December 2017 | 5:40pm | Drama |
Saturday 1st December 2018 | 11:25am | Gold |
Monday 10th December 2018 | 1:35pm | Gold |
Tuesday 11th December 2018 | 10:50am | Gold |
Monday 24th December 2018 | 7:10am | Gold |
Monday 24th December 2018 | 1:20pm | Gold |
Friday 31st May 2019 | 8:00pm | Gold |
Saturday 1st June 2019 | 11:40am | Gold |
Thursday 5th December 2019 | 12:15pm | Gold |
Saturday 14th December 2019 | 3:15pm | Gold |
Sunday 15th December 2019 | 10:05am | Gold |
Wednesday 18th December 2019 | 7:00pm | Drama |
Thursday 19th December 2019 | 4:30pm | Gold |
Friday 20th December 2019 | 12:15pm | Gold |
Sunday 6th December 2020 | 8:00pm | Gold |
Monday 7th December 2020 | 12:45pm | Gold |
Friday 18th December 2020 | 4:20pm | Drama |
Wednesday 31st May 2023 | 12:55am | Gold |
Cast & crew
Richard Briers | Tom Good |
Felicity Kendal | Barbara Good |
Penelope Keith | Margo Leadbetter |
Paul Eddington | Jerry Leadbetter |
George Cole | Mr. Downs |
Steve Ismay | Taxi Driver |
Brian Johnston | Announcer |
John Esmonde | Writer |
Bob Larbey | Writer |
John Howard Davies | Director |
John Howard Davies | Producer |
John Dunstan | Editor |
Paul Munting | Production Designer |
Marianne Ford | Make-up Designer |
Ron Koplick | Lighting Designer |
Burt Rhodes | Composer |
Peter Shepherd | Costume Designer |
Brian Jones | Production Assistant |
Michael McCarthy | Sound Designer |