- Six Dates With Barker
infobox television
show_name = Six Dates With Barker
caption = Six Dates With Barker
format =Comedy
runtime = 25 minutes
country =United Kingdom
starring =Ronnie Barker Christopher Timothy Valentine Dyall Lesley-Anne Down
Michael BatesFreddie Jones Michael Hordern
country =United Kingdom
network =London Weekend Television
first_aired =8 Jan ,1971
last_aired =12 Feb ,1971
num_episodes = 6
imdb_id = 0131185|"Six Dates With Barker" were a series of six one-off, half hour situation comedies showcasing the talents of
Ronnie Barker . All were broadcast byLondon Weekend Television early in 1971.Writers on the series included
John Cleese ,Graham Chapman andSpike Milligan . The producer wasHumphrey Barclay .Episode list
*Show 1 - 1937: The Removals Person
*Transmitted8 January 1971
*Barker plays Fred, a short sighted removals man who works whilst the owner of the house watches The Coronation. Also starring Joan Behham, Gillian Fairchild, Nan Braunton andChristopher Timothy . Written byHugh Leonard . [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/686312] [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0502941/fullcredits]*Show 2 - 1899: The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town
*Transmitted15 January 1971
*A mysterious figure who blows raspberries at people terrifies Victorian London. Also starring Alan Curtis, Moira Foot, Larry Noble, Christine Ozanne and John Sharp. Written by Spike Milligan [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/686326] [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0502939/fullcredits]*Show 3 - 1970: The Odd Job
*Transmitted22 January 1971
*When his wife leaves him, Barker hires a passing odd job man to kill him when he least expects it. When his wife returns he finds his previous request impossible to cancel. Also starring David Jason and Joan Sims. Written by Graham Chapman and Bernard McKenna [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/473375] [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0502942/fullcredits]*Show 4 - 1915: Lola
*Transmitted29 January 1971
* A top female agent goes missing after the German Head of Espionage fails to monitor her properly. Also starring Graham Armitage,Valentine Dyall , Freddie Earle,Freddie Jones and Dennis Ramsden. Written by Ken Hoare and Mike Sharland [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/686329] [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0502940/fullcredits]*Show 5 - 1971: Come in and Lie Down
*Transmitted5 February ,1971
*Barker plays Dr Swanton, a psychiatrist who is visited by a patient (Michael Bates), who is so terrified of being diagnosed with mental problems, he pretends to be a gasman. Written by John Cleese [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/685072] [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0502943/fullcredits]*Show 6 - 2774 AD: All the World's a Stooge
*Transmitted12 February ,1971
*Also starring Lesley-Anne Down, Joyce Grant, Michael Hordern and Victor Maddern [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0502944/fullcredits]pin-offs
There were several spin-offs to come from this series.
*
The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town was turned into a series of sketches in the 1976 series ofThe Two Ronnies , though this timeDavid Jason was the disguised phantom blower.
* The Odd Job Man became a 1978 film, retitledThe Odd Job . Extended from the original TV version to feature length. Though this time, original co-writerGraham Chapman took Barker's part,Diana Quick took the part of his wife, originally played byJoan Sims .David Jason as the hitman was the sole original cast member in this movie (though even his part was at first going to be played byKeith Moon ).
* The Removals Persons was turned into Ronnie Barker's final TV series Clarence, seventeen years after the original was made. This time, written by Barker, using the pseudonym, Bob Ferris. Coincidentally the name of Rodney Bewes character inThe Likely Lads .Archive Status
Unlike many television programmes of its time, all six shows exist in the archives. They have not yet been released on DVD.
Trivia
All episodes were filmed in colour except The Odd Job, which was filmed in black and white due to a
Colour Strike . [http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:RS4pLDDNpGsJ:www.zetaminor.com/roobarb/archive/index.php/t-7199.html+%22six+dates+with+barker%22+%22colour+strike%22&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=2]External links
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/s/sixdateswithbark_66600290.shtml "Six Dates With Barker"] at the
bbc.co.uk Guide to Comedy
* [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/21009 "Six Dates With Barker"] at theBritish Film Institute
*imdb title|id=0131185|title=Six Dates With Barker
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