UK Comedy Shows of the 1970s Trivia Quiz

Answer: Porridge

Norman Stanley Fletcher, played by Ronnie Barker, was the main character in the series "Porridge" set in fictional Slade prison. The series ran from 1974-1977 and was followed up with the spin-off "Going Straight" also starring Ronnie Barker. The series was a favorite among real inmates!

Answer: On the Buses

Stan Butler, played by Reg Varney, was a bus driver working for the fictional Luxton & District Traction Company, driving a #11 double decker Bristol Lodekka bus. His nemesis in the series was Inspector "Blakey" Blake, played by Stephen Lewis, who's catchphrase was "I'll get you Butler!"
The series ran for a total of 74 episodes and three movies between 1969-1973.

Answer: Fawlty Towers

Polly, played by Connie Booth, was the hotel waitress but also given other hotel duties when necessary.
Connie Booth was married to John Cleese at the time of the first series which they wrote together, but divorced before the second series was finished.
The series was based on a hotel in Torquay, Devon which Cleese and the "Monty Python" cast stayed at and were treated to the deplorable antics of the hotel manager. The first series aired in 1975 and the second in 1979.

Answer: Some Mothers Do 'Av 'Em

Frank Spencer ,played by Michael Crawford, was a bumbling accident-prone man who meant well but managed to mess everything up. Some of Frank's catchphrases are amongst the best and well-loved in British comedy and Frank was often mimicked by impressionists. Michael Crawford performed all his own stunts for each of the 23 episodes shown from 1973-1978.
He then went on to star as the original "Phantom" in both the West End and Broadway productions of "Phantom of the Opera" in 1986 and 1988 respectively.

Answer: The Dick Emery Show

The Dick Emery Show ran from 1963-1981 with 166 episodes. Dick Emery portrayed a number of recurring characters over the 18 seasons including "Lampwick", "Bovver Boy", "Ton-up boy" and his best known character "Mandy". Dick Emery dressed up in drag to play the buxom blond who often interpreted questions to be sexual in nature.

Her favorite saying was " Ooh... You are awful...but I like you."

Answer: Open All Hours

Ronnie Barker portrayed the miserly, stuttering shopkeeper "Albert Arkwright" from 1973-1985 over 26 episodes. Apart from running his corner shop in South Yorkshire, his main focus is chasing the love of his life, Nurse Gladys Emmanuel, who lives across the street and educating his nephew, Granville, in the ways of the world.

Answer: Dad's Army

"Private Charles Godfrey" was played by Arnold Ridley in all 80 episodes shown between 1968-1977 and also in the 1971 film. He was the First Aid supervisor and only retired member of the "Home Guard" stationed in Walmington-on-Sea.

Arnold Ridley was wounded on multiple occasions in World War I and fought at the "Battle of the Somme" in 1916. In 1923, he wrote "The Ghost Train", a comedy thriller and received an OBE ("Most Excellent Order of the British Empire") in the Queen's New Year Honours in 1982.

Answer: The Dustbinmen

"The Dustbinmen" was a short-lived sitcom of 20 episodes which ran from 1969-1970 on ITV. The four members of the garbage truck are lazy and always shying away from work collecting trash. Their garbage truck was called "Thunderbird 3" after the TV show "Thunderbirds".
"Heaving Breathing", played by Trevor Bannister, was given the name as he thought he could have his way with all women, but is happiest when he is just resting and doing nothing. Trevor Bannister had a recurring role in both "Are You Being Served?" and "Last of the Summer Wine".

Answer: Are You Being Served?

"Miss Shirley Brahms", played by Wendy Richard, appeared all 69 episodes of the sitcom from 1972-1985 and also in the spin-off series "Grace & Favour" from 1992-1993. She was the junior sales assistant to Mrs. Slocombe working at "Grace Brothers" department store in London and the object of Mr. Lucas's attention.

Answer: Last of the Summer Wine

"Norman Clegg" was a character played by Peter Sallis who was the only member of the cast to appear in all 31 seasons (295 episodes) from 1973-2010 and two films. He is the easy going one in the trio of old men who reflect on their life in the small village in Yorkshire.
When Peter Sallis died, he was buried near Holmfirth, the village where the location filming for "Last of the Summer Wine" was shot.