Robin's Nest

infobox television
show_name = Robin's Nest


caption =
genre = Sitcom
runtime = 30 minutes
creator = Brian Cooke and
Johnnie Mortimer
starring = Richard O'Sullivan
Tessa Wyatt
Tony Britton
David Kelly
Peggy Aitchison
country = UK
network = ITV
producer = Peter Frazer-Jones
first_aired = 11 January 1977
last_aired = 31 March 1981
num_episodes = 48
list_episodes =
preceded_by = "Man About the House"
related = "George and Mildred" "Three's a Crowd"
imdb_id = 0075569

"Robin's Nest" was a British sitcom starring Richard O'Sullivan as Robin Tripp, one of the lead characters in the sitcom "Man About the House", which had ended in 1976. "Robin's Nest" aired for six series from 1977 to 1981, and co-starred Tessa Wyatt as Robin's girlfriend and later wife and Tony Britton as her father. It was made by Thames Television and aired on ITV.

Format

In the first episode Robin and Vicki, who share a flat over a Chinese take-away, discover that their landlords, unable to pay the rent, have disappeared and that the building is in danger of re-possession. It is the practical Vicky who comes up with the perfect solution: Robin should take over the take-away and convert it into a bistro (The "Robin's Nest" of the title). Robin could not afford to go it alone so he had to go cap-in-hand to Vicky's father, James Nicholls (Tony Britton), to ask him to be his business partner. Although Nicholls disapproved of Robin (believing him to be beneath his daughter) he knew a sensible business deal when it was offered to him - despite his failings, Robin was a brilliant chef - and he agreed. Lots of tension and misunderstandings were to arise from their mis-matched relationship.

Creators Cooke and Mortimer had to get special permission from the IBA (the then governing body of Independent TV in Britain) to be able to portray an unmarried couple living together; special concern arose at scenes in which Robin and Vicky were seen in an obvious state of undress in bed. In 1978, Robin and Vicky were married and later had a set of twins.

Other characters

Other characters included:
* the one-armed Irish kitchen hand Albert Riddle (David Kelly), who always broke more crockery than he cleaned, and who once asked Robin's culinary advice; unable to cook egg on toast, he asked Robin "How do you stop the egg dribbling into the bottom of the toaster, Mr Tripp?".
* Vicky's mother (divorced from her father), would occasionally appear, played first by Honor Blackman, later by Barbara Murray.
* Gertrude, Albert's girlfriend, played by ex-"Crossroads" actress Peggy Aitchaison. The late Peggy often said that it was a shame that Albert and Gertrude never married "There was so much comic potential there."

The show was remade in the United States as "Three's a Crowd", a sequel to "Three's Company"—originally based on "Man About the House"—but was unsuccessful.

Star of the show Richard O'Sullivan wrote the theme music for the programme, which was performed by Brian Bennett.

DVDs releases

The first five series of "Robin's Nest" have so far been released on DVD in the UK (Region 2). The sixth and final series has yet to be released.

Series 1 was set to be released in Australia during July 2008, but has changed until August 16 2008. Series 2 is expected in October 2008.

External links

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20070318073133/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/r/robinsnest_7775505.shtml "Robin's Nest"] at bbc.co.uk