Whatever happened to the Likely Lads?
This classic series was a Christmas comedy gift back in the 1960s. We look back at its early days
GIRLS, pints and football were the normal three top topics of conversation for best mates Terry Collier and Bob Ferris. James Bolam and Rodney Bewes played the working class Geordie lads who had been friends since childhood and were like chalk and cheese in their approach to life.
Terry lived for adventure while Bob was the sensible one who was often led astray by his outgoing best friend.
The BBC 2 comedy came from the writing team of Dick Clements and Ian La Frenais and began on December 16, 1964. This was the writers’ first project for TV, but not their last. They went on to write Porridge, Lovejoy and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.
The comedy, filmed in front of a studio audience, was one of the first programmes made for the fledgling channel. The first episode, Entente Cordiale, saw the pair return home from a Spanish vacation determined to sustain their respective holiday romances.
The sitcom ended in 1966 after three series, but was even more successful when it returned in 1973 as Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? James Bolam and Rodney Bewes took it in turns each episode to have top billing.
Rodney once said: “People still stop me to discuss The Likely Lads. Some even ask me whether I mind talking about it after all these years. If I minded I’d deserve a swift kick because it was a great show and provided my 15 minutes of fame.”
James Bolam summed up the comedy’s appeal by saying: “You can believe in Bob and Terry.”
Many of the original episodes have been lost, but a 1965 show entitled The Last Of The Big Spenders was unearthed in 2001 and saw future EastEnders star Wendy Richards playing a character called Lynn. A film version also came out in 1976 which saw the friends attempting to survive a caravan holiday with their partners.
“When it comes to women you’re hardly
Omar Sharif,” Bob pointed out to Terry.
“If Omar Sharif lived in Gateshead I doubt he’d be Omar Sharif,”
Terry wryly quipped.