We had all Manor of fun
MARION McMULLEN looks at how To The Manor Born ended on a high 40 years ago
IT was the happy ever after ending viewers had all been hoping for when the on-off romance between Audrey Fforbes-Hamilton and millionaire businessman Richard DeVere ended in wedding bells.
BBC sitcom To The Manor Born finished with a romantic flourish on November 29, 1981, with almost 24 million watching the final episode – one of the highest viewing figures for a British sitcom.
It was the perfect role for Dame Penelope Keith who had found TV fame as well-meaning suburban snob Margo Leadbetter in BBC sitcom The Good Life.
To The Manor born offered full scope for her comedy talents as she played a widow forced to sell her beloved country estate following the death of her husband.
Smooth-talking businessman Richard became the new owner of Grantleigh Manor and moved in with his mother, Mrs Polouvicka, while Audrey moved into the small lodge on the estate with family butler Brabinger ... and continued to keep an eye on her old home and its new residents.
Angela Thorne played Audrey’s loyal friend Marjory Frobisher and Angela’s real-life husband, actor Peter Penry-Jones, also appeared in the last two episodes. Penelope once said: “A lot of people have it – that fantasy of being lord or lady of the manor, either in the present or at some time in history.” The sitcom launched on BBC1 in 1979 and was regularly watched by up to 20 million viewers a week who quickly became hooked on the growing relationship between Audrey and Cavendish Foods owner Richard.
But it was only when Audrey was finally able to buy back her old home that she ended up proposing to Richard... and he accepted.
The happy couple were seen again in a one-off special in 2007 when To The Manor Born caught up with Audrey and Richard as they prepared to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.