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Amazon.co.uk Review
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads was actually a revival, in 1973, of the successful Dick Clements/Ian La Frenais 1960s comedy The Likely Lads, so notable for its fibrous but sympathetic treatment of life for two young men coming of age in North East England. This "Very Best of" collection brings together classic episodes from the 1973 series. Although tinged with nostalgia--the décor and styles of the early 1970s are almost pungently evocative--the quality of the writing defies the passage of time.
Seven years on from their initial adventures, Rodney Bewes (upwardly mobile, self-improving Bob) and James Bolam (feckless, chippy Terry) meet by accident on the train. Bob is about to marry Thelma and move into modern semi-detached heaven, while Terry is just out of the army and drifting back home without a great deal of purpose. The relationship between the two men, basically sound but frequently compromised by their very different aspirations, is very cleverly drawn and played so that your sympathies never stay on one side for very long. Best of all, Brigit Forsyth's Thelma, a dragon in the making, adds an astringent dynamic. She is, says Terry, "so stuck up she thinks her backside's a perfume factory". The insecurity he generates in her is responsible for much of the comedy.
On the DVD: The Very Best of Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads comes to disc with no extras, simply standard 4:3 picture format video production and episode selection. But it's still fresh as a daisy all the same. --Piers Ford
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2.4 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Mono ), English ( Subtitles ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: "The Very Best of ""Whatever Happened to The Likely Lads?""; 6 Episodes (01/09/1973 - 3/27/1973):; Stranger On A Train; Home Is The Hero; Cold Feet; No Hiding Place; Count Down; Boys Night In - Bob and Terry plan to spend a quiet night in before the wedding."; SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards, ...Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
There cannot be many people who have not seen at least one episode from this classic series. It is - in my opinion- almost the best television ever made. The series starts off with the characters being re-introduced,
we catch up with Bob and Thelma by way of their slideshow.
Bob heads to London for the day, only to get on the same train home that a returning Terry is on. They meet in the famous scene as the compartment lights fail and come on again. Even tho it's watched a thousand times and we know what is about to happen, it always raises a laugh.
From then on, we follow the pair, essentially the lead up to Bob's wedding to Thelma. Bolam and Bewes are excellent, with their characters bouncing off each other (and Thelma) brilliantly.
Some of the most hilarious scenes ever seen on TV are in this series,
from Thelma finding terry in bed with her, to the 'surprise' for terry's birthday to the 'stag night' run in with the law.
I cannot recommend this series enough. Even with satellite today, TV can be monotonous and uninteresting. buy this and you have a guaranteed laugh every single time. I am not sure if canned laughter was used, but either way, some of Clement and La Frenais' subtle humour misses the audience, or the producer, and you can miss these gems time after time, before suddenly seeing or hearing something to bring yet another laugh.
Ive rated it 5 stars only because that is the maximum - it should be more!
Buy it now!
we catch up with Bob and Thelma by way of their slideshow.
Bob heads to London for the day, only to get on the same train home that a returning Terry is on. They meet in the famous scene as the compartment lights fail and come on again. Even tho it's watched a thousand times and we know what is about to happen, it always raises a laugh.
From then on, we follow the pair, essentially the lead up to Bob's wedding to Thelma. Bolam and Bewes are excellent, with their characters bouncing off each other (and Thelma) brilliantly.
Some of the most hilarious scenes ever seen on TV are in this series,
from Thelma finding terry in bed with her, to the 'surprise' for terry's birthday to the 'stag night' run in with the law.
I cannot recommend this series enough. Even with satellite today, TV can be monotonous and uninteresting. buy this and you have a guaranteed laugh every single time. I am not sure if canned laughter was used, but either way, some of Clement and La Frenais' subtle humour misses the audience, or the producer, and you can miss these gems time after time, before suddenly seeing or hearing something to bring yet another laugh.
Ive rated it 5 stars only because that is the maximum - it should be more!
Buy it now!
40 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads" was a follow on from the 60's series "The Likely Lads" which followed the comic misfortunes of Terry and Bob, played to perfection by James Bolam and Rodney Bewes. Much of the humour of this series centres around the different paths the two have taken: Terry enlisted in the army and has returned after 5 years unemployed and with no prospects while Bob has done well for himself, has his own business and is about to get married to Thelma. Thelma (a fine perforance from Brigit Forsyth) fears that Terry will lead Bob astray and put doubts into his head about the wedding. The dynamic between the 3 of them makes for great comedy which has lost none of its force despite the great culture gap between Britain today and Britain in the early 70's.
If you have never seen it before, this "Best of" is a good introduction although it only covers the first of the 2 series. It is amazing to me that the whole series has never been brought out in its entirety; it is one of the funniest and often one of the most poignant comedies I have ever seen and I watch it again and again.
If you have never seen it before, this "Best of" is a good introduction although it only covers the first of the 2 series. It is amazing to me that the whole series has never been brought out in its entirety; it is one of the funniest and often one of the most poignant comedies I have ever seen and I watch it again and again.
70 of 73 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
It never ceases to amaze me how completely neglected this series has been through the years. Apart from being repeated in around the mid-nineties the series has scarcely been shown in full since the 70s.
Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? is the perfect example of how great a sitcom series can potentially be particuarly in light of what's been on offer in more recent years.
Maybe it hasn't aged quite as well as a number of comedies from that era (mainly due to the fact it is very socially aware (with the class system being a prime talking point)) but this isn't actually a criticism - Whatever Happens To The Likely Lads? has almost become a time capsule which highlights the hopes, aspirations and attitudes that were prevalent in the time it was set.It's a very enlightening series particuarly for the younger viewers who were not around at that time.
I'd have to say if you only intend to buy one Likely Lads DVD this is the one to get. The story (which picks up from Terry's return from the army to Bob's wedding day) flows particuarly well where each episode's storyline leads neatly to the next.
I'm sure there may be a few younger viewers who may find the Likely Lads subtle gestures and intricate dialogue a little hard to swallow particuarly after watching the more shallow, gag a second type comedy of today but if you're looking for an intelligently written dose of reality Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? is simply impossible to beat.
Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? is the perfect example of how great a sitcom series can potentially be particuarly in light of what's been on offer in more recent years.
Maybe it hasn't aged quite as well as a number of comedies from that era (mainly due to the fact it is very socially aware (with the class system being a prime talking point)) but this isn't actually a criticism - Whatever Happens To The Likely Lads? has almost become a time capsule which highlights the hopes, aspirations and attitudes that were prevalent in the time it was set.It's a very enlightening series particuarly for the younger viewers who were not around at that time.
I'd have to say if you only intend to buy one Likely Lads DVD this is the one to get. The story (which picks up from Terry's return from the army to Bob's wedding day) flows particuarly well where each episode's storyline leads neatly to the next.
I'm sure there may be a few younger viewers who may find the Likely Lads subtle gestures and intricate dialogue a little hard to swallow particuarly after watching the more shallow, gag a second type comedy of today but if you're looking for an intelligently written dose of reality Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? is simply impossible to beat.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Comedy Gold
Series 1 (and its Series 2 companion) of Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads represent arguably the greatest British sitcom ever made. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Keith M
haway the lads.
This series in my humble opinion has to be one of the best situation comedies ever made.James Bolam and Rodney Bewes are soooooo good in this,and the writing is side splitting with... Read more
Published 8 months ago by philip foy
Six snapshots of Bob, Terry and Thelma
My advice is don't hesitate, just buy it! If you are hooked on the situation comedy of the Likely Lads and that atmosphere of change and social dynamics in the 1970s North East -... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Michael King
Bob Ferris and Terry Collier return for Whatever Happened To The...
The Likely Lads is an amazing 70s sitcom that makes me laugh out loud all the time.
The best episodes has to be Strangers On A Train where Bob and Terry meet up on a... Read more
The best episodes has to be Strangers On A Train where Bob and Terry meet up on a... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Mr. Alan M. Foster
Comedy with extra bite
I was very young when this was first shown so i only really understood the more knock-about jokes at the time. Read more
Published on 3 April 2010 by AndyC
An early 70's time-capsule
My wife and I are both North-Easteners, although we have lived in Cheshire for many years.
We were young marrieds at the time this series was made, so we can relate completely... Read more
We were young marrieds at the time this series was made, so we can relate completely... Read more
Published on 14 Mar 2010 by Jim Alexander
STILL GREAT
The two likely lads continued to have some of the funniest lines spoken. The timing was almost perfect with a few corrections along the way. Read more
Published on 7 Sep 2009 by C. M. Mckenzie
ONE OF THE BEST SITCOMS EVER
I am 33 years old so i never saw this in the original run
very intelligent sitcom the acting the script i cannot say enough
i watched the original likely lads on... Read more
very intelligent sitcom the acting the script i cannot say enough
i watched the original likely lads on... Read more
Published on 21 Jun 2009 by A. Girvan
Whatever happened to this quality of comedy
Whey aye man, its a cracker.
Gan straight to Amazon an get it bought
Gan straight to Amazon an get it bought
Published on 5 Jun 2009 by C. STEVEN
Haway the Lads!
A vastly under-rated sit com, so rarely revisited on TV. The alternating conflict and loyalty between the two lads is both heart warming and poignant. Read more
Published on 21 May 2009 by LFJ Hardwick
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