Play For Today - The Fishing Party 1972

[drsmithi]

A fantastic piece of comedy drama from a period when quality was so important. The follow up, Shakespeare or Bust, is now available and is brilliant as well. Hopefully, the holy grail of the trilogy, Three for the Fancy, might be unearthed one day to complete the full set.

I remember watching all three when I was a kid and thought they were all great.

The BBC ought to hang its head in shame that the Play for Today season has never been officially released.

[quaker57]

It's Whitby ain't it?

[davidgrahamscott]

That's a bit odd. They show a still from Penda's Fen on the titles yet that wasn't aired till 1974.

[MYBIGKINDHEART]

i only found this by looking up english pro wrestlers, i don't know anything about this series as i'm too young to even remember it but i like old tv shows and this looks a good show

[cryingonion2]

I wonder why it came up when you searched wrestlers! Glad you like it, enjoy!

[geraberl]

@cryingonion2 Brian Glover used to be a professional wrestler before he turned to acting.

[12salary]

aaah! found it at last! Lost the Video years ago and always remembered it as a great piece of t.v.. Ray Mort is brilliant!

Thank you! Thank you!

[cryingonion2]

You're welcome!

[orchardcottage]

This was a brilliant play. I watched it at home in Hartlepool with me mam.

[LordLemsip]

Superb stuff. i caught this about 10 years ago - and the VHS its on is one of my most treasured titles. its now on a dvd for my dad for christmas....should anyone else want a copy please email.....!!!

[eddietwang]

my friend john rowley owned the guest house where this was filmed!..bryan glover had poached eggs "drumshambo" every morning for breakfast.

[cryingonion2]

Does it still exist? Would be nice to go and stay there!

[hamshankerbank]

I know Whitby really really well mate as my mum and my sister live there, also ive fished there 25 years too! Which street was your mates B&B? Im guessing John Street or Normanby Terrace on the west cliff???

[skankinhappy]

thanks for this what a gem this is

[cryingonion2]

You're welcome! Yes tis a gem for sure.

[steve01274]

how come when they get off the bus.its all wet the road & path, go down the steps all dry, MAGIC

[patlyons]

"A Drunken mans very observant..."-This was part of a threesome of plays involving these characters. Anyone got the others - Shakespeare or Bust and Threes's a fancy??

[flanneryged]

That fat bloke in the Sandwich bar is Sid

from "Last of the Summer Wine" and the old Witch making the Bed plays Sids Wife

in the sames Ancient so-called comedy.

Last of the Summer used to be funny but the have squeezed every single drop of humour out of it.That Chinese bloke is simply awful and as for Blakey off On the Buss es,and Jean Alexander the entire show is a real embarrassment and it should be stopped NOW.

[mcnewlove]

Thanks for posting this. I remember watching this about 20 odd years ago with my brother.We still quote lines from it today to each other. "lining of grease on the stomach fisherman" "lads, lads,lads" etc. etc - top stuff!!!

[cryingonion2]

Glad you enjoyed - it must be one of the most quotable plays ever.

[podfunk]

@mcnewlove

ha ha . Me and my younger brother used to love this too. "You should serve kippers."

[philipsmovies]

I can't believe it! I have been waiting more than 30 years to see this again. Thanks for uploading mate.

[cryingonion2]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it again.

[0121apj]

brian glover fantastic, who can forget kes the football match...brilliant film

got the crap kicked out him by john wayne in brannigan great actor RIP

[984rtgh]

Brian Glover, John Comer, Ray Mort all gone now...

[cryingonion2]

You're very welcome! I know that one - a friend of mine taped over my classic 80s TOTP with the Jay Leno show - I still bear a grudge!

[tarak1ng]

Thank you for this! I all but had given up hope of finding this play after my dad taped over it with Morse. Thanks a million. xxxx

[impbr]

Thnx for putting this on. Oh i miss the old Play For Todays. The theme tune is so evocative of that era, when the viewing public were treated as intelligent beings capable of independent thought. I wonder how many PFT's were wiped or lost-never to be seen again.

[cryingonion2]

I know, when you compare to todays offerings, there's no comparison.

[tomelty]

There are about 40 missing, the latest being Commitments from 1982 - terrible to think they were wiping as late as that. Around 280 still exist, very few have been released or repeated, pity, it was the best strand ever.

[tubs1000]

Brian glover is buried in brompton cemetery if anyone's interested in visiting it.

[ranader]

very well done for posting this.

loved this and tersons shakespear or bust was even better.bit depressing to see how long ago since it was first shown mind you..

[cryingonion2]

You're welcome! I might contact the BBC at some point, when this has had a really large number of viewings, and ask if they would release the 3 plays on DVD. I don't hold out much hope, but I think if you can prove there is a demand, they will consider it.

[Wolverhampton1]

It's Ivy and Stan from LOSW

[IrishKyokushin]

John Comer's character in LOSW was Sid not Stan.

[northwest500]

Fantastic posting cryingonion2.....been looking for this for ages...you have made my day, Thanks.

[cryingonion2]

You're welcome! I should be uploading part 5 in the next couple of days, so keep watching.

[SirNightMonkey]

Please please please post part 3 as soon as possible - and remeber.........

"best behaviour lads"

[UPTHEFARM]

Where on earth did you find that ? Iv'e been looking for it for ages any chance of anymore.

As far as I remember they did three different stories.

[cryingonion2]

Hi

I've had it on video since the 1990s, when all the play for todays were repeated - I think maybe on BBC2. I will try and post more - I'm still learning how to upload as I'm new to it! Glad you like - I think its an absolute classic of the time.

[UPTHEFARM]

Cheers mate do your best. The other two stories made later were called "three for the fancy" where they took a trip to the Bradford show and "Shakespeare or bust" where they hired a canal boat and went to Stratford upon Avon.

[cryingonion2]

I never knew that - they would be great to see! I only have this one. Part 2 is now up and I will upload more, if there's a demand for it.

[UPTHEFARM]

Can you put the rest of it on mate. Cheers.