Visitor Rating: All Gas And GaitersThe fictional St. Oggs Cathedral is the setting for a good natured look at life among the clergy Genre:
Sitcom
Broadcast:
1966 - 1971 (BBC One)
Episodes:
34 (pilot + 5 series)
Starring:
William Mervyn, Robertson Hare, Derek Nimmo, John Barron, Ernest Clark, Joan Sanderson
Writers:
Pauline Devaney, Edwin Apps
Production:
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
The 13th Century St. Oggs Cathedral is home to Bishop Hubert Cleaver and his support staff: Henry, the Archdeacon, who is prone to a tipple, whilst the Rev. Mervyn Noote, as his chaplain, provides support in his own naive, bumbling manner. Their life would be a fairly cosy affair if it were not for the officious Dean, Lionel Pugh-Critchley, who never tires of telling the Bishop where he is going wrong. Our Review: A whimsical series that enabled us to laugh gently at the church and its foibles and, indeed, many of it's fans were from that walk of life. Written by husband and wife team, Pauline Devaney and Edwin Apps, it was initially inspired by producer Stuart Allen. In order not to place undue pressure on their friend, Frank Muir (who was head of comedy at the BBC at the time), they wrote the pilot script under the pseudonym John Wraith. However, before it was even transmitted in the Comedy Playhouse presentations, a 6 episode series was commissioned. |