Take a Letter Mr. Jones [DVD]

John Inman stars as Graham Jones,male secretary to tycoon boss,the divorced,Joan Warner(Rula Lenska)in this early 80s comedy.

Graham is just an extension of Mr Humphries,though not as outrageous. Miriam Margolyes in an early TV role,plays the Italian nanny,Maria, to Rula Lenska's daughter,Lucy.
John Inman can play to great comedy effect even when the script isn't too strong,so the four stars aren't for the writing,rather for John Inman's performance.

The catchy theme tune is very amusing according to some lyrics Graham's "a computer and a wife!".
A lot of people say this show was not a success,not quite true,Southern TV lost its francise,which saw the death of "Take A Letter Mr Jones" and "Worzel Gummidge"(though Worzel returned in New Zealand a few years later)
Glad to see this forgotten comedy finally come to DVD,I hope John Inman's other comedy,"Odd Man Out" makes it to DVD too.

Step back in time...it's 1981, Margaret Thatcher has been in power for barely two years, the country, and the wider world is changing fast. 'Take A letter Mr. Jones', written by the Chesney and Wolfe writing partnership who brought us such classics as 'On The Buses' and 'The Rag Trade' simply could not have been made, even a few years previous in the 1970's. In itself it makes this comedy series quite astonishing. That being said, it could hardly be described as liberation for those (not me!) who may have been offended by 1970's British, sexist, racist stereotype bases comedy (just watch the opening credits for example!) And at the same time listen out for one of the most catchy theme tunes...ever...it will drive you mad!

The plot, being quite basic is based, mainly around an office in a fictional company called 8-Star, who deal in wide range of markets from audio/visual media, to travel - could this be forward thinking to a Richard Branson 'Virgin' type company, who was still to conquer the train, airline, cola markets etc? Joan Warner (Rula Lenska) is a divorced, single mother, as well as a busy top female executive (and annoyingly, refers to herself as such, frequently!) who is keeping a balance (or trying to) between her professional life and her personal one. At home she has a six year old daughter called Lucy and a 'mad' over-excitable Italian maid called Maria (Miriam Margolyes). John Inman plays her secretary (Graham Jones)

Situations border at times on the slapstick (squeezing sausages into a suitcase at one point!) and whilst being enjoyable to watch, I felt little sympathy for any of the characters, except for John Inman's. Joan grossly oversteps the mark on a number of occasions using Graham as little more than a slave and nanny and a vehicle in which to make herself look better and further her career, and while this may be a refreshing role reversal, does little to further the cause of women in the workplace, which one feels that the writers are consciously trying to highlight. Miriam Margolyes (Maria) is given very little slack with the script and situation, her daughter Lucy, whilst being very sweet is nothing more than a manipulative little Madam! - like her Mum.

John Inman...ahh...Mr Inman, is simply superb. Watching John Inman at work makes up for most weaknesses in the script writing. He wins the audience over completely...just listen to the audience reaction when he realises that he has missed his holiday flight.

So in short, don't look into it too much, see it as something a little different, from an era where change was the keyword. Definitely worth the purchase...ironically, Thatcherism did little for women in the workplace!

Episode 1: The Interview Originally aired 5 September 1981
Episode 2: The Protector Originally aired 12 September 1981
Episode 3: The Holiday Originally aired 19 September 1981
Episode 4: The Japanese Contract Originally aired 26 September 1981
Episode 5: The Trade Fair Originally aired 3 October 1981
Episode 6: Business Before Pleasure Originally aired 10 October 1981

For John Inman fans this will be a joy to behold. I had forgotten this little comic gem and so had quite a few laughs watching it. John Inman is pretty restrained compared with his Are You Being Served performances - it is Miriam Margolyes who goes totally off her head. Ruth Lenska is fine as the boss to John Inman's male secretary and you get many pleasing comic scenarios to help pass the time. This show is not the strongest of sitcoms and the fact it only lasted one series should come as no great surprise. Neither has it aged that well being a real product of its time. But there are worse ways to pass the time than in the comic company of the late great John Inman.