About The Magnificent Evans

The Magnificent Evans. Image shows from L to R: Plantagenet Evans (Ronnie Barker), Rachel (Sharon Morgan). Copyright: BBC

Following the success that they had when collaborating on Open All Hours, writer Roy Clarke and performer Ronnie Barker elected to work together again on this sitcom in 1984.

Clarke chose to return to the subject of photography which he had written about for a Comedy Playhouse episode entitled Pygmalion Smith in 1974. Despite Leonard Rossiter appearing in the title role a full series was never made, but the writer felt that the idea had potential and thus penned The Magnificent Evans.

Location filming took place at Llanwrtyd Wells in Powys and the setting allowed Barker to return to the Welsh accent which he had enjoyed using in Seven Of One episode I'll Fly You For A Quid.

The beautiful locations and Ronnie Hazlehurst's affecting score helped to draw comparisons with Last Of The Summer Wine but The Magnificent Evans could never achieve the same level of popularity. It ran for only one series and, until Ronnie Barker's death in 2005, was largely forgotten about.

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