Series 8 No. 73 September 1987 - January 2nd 1988 9.25 - 11am Harry Stern Nick Staverson Dawn Lodge Andrea Arnold Neil Neil Buchanan Kim Kim Goody Jules Julian Callaghan Nadia Nadia de Lemeny Hamilton Dent Richard Waites  Also featuring: Rob the builder/actor Robert Debenham Frank Sidebottom Francis Sidebottom Jo Jo Connor James Squire Chris Donat J.C. Birch ? David David Rubin Phillipa Tessa Morton David Taylor     Picture from 'Look-In' (9th January 1988)

ON SCREEN "The Occupiers,   We hereby confirm that your tenancy is to be terminated on January 2nd 1988. Please have all furnishings, animals, bands, zoo-vets and other artefacts and paraphernalia removed by said date. Yours faithfully, James Squire (acting on behalf of J.C. Birch).   PS. Give my love to Dawn."

Following on from the Rentaghost-style burst water pipe at the end of the previous series, the house continued to deteriorate. At first it was relatively minor mishaps - a broken window here, a crack in the living-room ceiling there. On November 7th, though, it culminated in the bathroom falling through into the lounge, with Neil in it (a rip-off of / homage to The Young Ones).

 

All this only helped the plans of their villainous landlord, J.C.Birch, to force them out so that the street could be redeveloped. The gang tried to reason with him through his solictor, posh drip James Squire - especially when they discovered his passion for Dawn - but to no avail. On Janurary 2nd, bulldozers rumbled into the street and finished the job. Our pals then moved to their new home: a Wild West theme-park. In Maidstone.

ON SCREEN So what was all this upheaval about? It seems that the programme's permanent set at TVS's Maidstone studios was taking up room needed by other shows, such as Roy "It's good, but it's not right" Walker's Catch Phrase. To solve this problem, the production team decided to follow the example of Coronation Street and relocate to an outdoor set. Rather than simply replicating the house, however, they decided to take advantage of the extra space and relaunch the show in a new, more expansive setting. "Say what you see. What's Mr Chips doing? He's killing our favourite programme? Ah, it's right, but it's not good." (Article from Issue 2 of TV Scene, the TVS staff magazine, March 1987).

• Unheeding of tradition, the post office saw fit to change the show's postcode from ME15 6RS to ME14 6RS. Some of the presenters had great trouble remembering this.
• Harry mentions Ethel in the November 28th episode - while reminiscing about the hatstand, of all things. It is a charming and unexpected moment.
• Series 8 Script Editor Richard Morss is now 'Controller of Children's Programmes' at Meridian TV.
• Occasional Script Associate Mike Barfield now draws cartoons for Private Eye!!!

Picture above includes the lesser-spotted Rob Debenham (top left), David Rubin (left of Harry) and Jo Connor (botom right) alonsgide the series regulars and Harry's girlfriend Phillipa (front bottom).