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Goodnight Sweetheart

Most Recent News

The DVDs
1/1/06: The first three seasons of Goodnight Sweethart are available on DVD, produced by Revelation Films, who have also released cult series such as The Tomorrow People and Bugs. Season Three will be released on 23 January in the UK.

Season One: Buy it from Amazon.co.uk
Released: June 2005
Goodnight Sweetheart charts the life of Garry Sparrow who has miraculously discovered a portal in time which allows him to travel between the present and wartime Britain. This handy little trick results in a bizarre cross time love triangle...
Special features:
• Commentaries with Series Creators and Writers Maurice Gran and Laurence Marks
  • Interviews With Nicholas Lyndhurst, Christopher Ettridge (PC Deadman) and David Ryall
• Original Music from the TV broadcast

Season Two: Buy it from Amazon.co.uk
Released 24 October 2005
The second series from the combined pens of Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran (Shine On Harvey Moon, The New Statesman and Birds Of A Feather).
In the east end of London lies a strange alley called Ducketts Passage, an alley that for Gary Sparrow leads back to the 1940’s war torn London, to a little pub called the Royal Oak and to a lonely and frustrated barmaid called Phoebe, played by Dervla Kirwan, now totally alone after the death of her domineering father.
Special features:
• Commentaries with Maurice Gran And Laurence Marks
• Interview with Christopher Ettridge (PC Deadman)
• Original Music From TV Broadcast

Season Three: Buy it from Amazon.co.uk
Released: 23 January 2006
The series continues with the arrival of Phoebe’s war hero husband Donald, bringing serious consequences for Gary. As Gary prepares to give up Phoebe forever, circumstances change and a path becomes clear for him to continue his double life…
Special features:
• 8 Episode Commentaries from Series Creators Laurence Marks And Maurice Gran
• Exclusive Interview with Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran
• Exclusive Interview with Chris Ettridge (PC Deadman)

PAST NEWS...

Shown at last: (14/8/02): Dennis Canright from Dallas, Texas writes to say that the final episodes of Goodnight Sweetheart are finally being screened there.
"I have been a British comedy fan for almost 25 years," he says. "Our local PBS station KERA has been airing them since the 1970's. They started a Sunday evening line up with Monty Python and Fawlty Towers then added Are You Being Served I believe. Over the years we have been fortunate enough to also have To the Manor Born, Red Dwarf, Keeping Up Appearences, Black Adder, The Vicar of Dibley, As Time Goes By and Waiting for
God... just to name a few of my favourites!
"They just announced that they would (hopefully) be airing the final 17 episodes of Goodnight Sweetheart! These have not aired as of yet so a year and a half ago we were
left hanging, so I'm really excited about this. There are some of us here in the Bible Belt that love this
show a lot! My thanks to the cast and crew for some great times!"

End of the Show: Goodnight Sweetheart has finished, having enjoyed one final season in 2000. This is a shame, since it had just begun to introduce some nice ideas as throwaways, such as a time engineer turning up to 'mend' the continuum - much to Gary's alarm! Fan fiction centring on the series can be found on the excellent, if unofficial goodnightsweetheart.co.uk web site, which also features some wonderful information about the real-life situations of those who lived through World War Two.

Writers Laurence Mark and Laurence Gran have been commissioned to write two new comedies for BBC1 - Cry Wolf and Starting Out. Their other long running hit, Birds of a Feather, has also been chopped, but the BBC says special episodes of their older comedies (including Men Behaving Badly) are a possibility.
The BBC replied to my own recent enquiry as to the show's status as follows:

Dear Mr Freeman

Thank you for your e-mail regarding 'Goodnight Sweetheart'.  I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed this programme.
I am afraid that at present there are no plans for a new series, after the current run comes to an end.  Any changes to this will, however, be given via on-air announcements and in TV listings.

Regards,

Cathy McNeill
BBC Information

Previously: There had been rumours that a US version of this show might be made, but this seems to have evaporated. Goodness only knows what the southern bible belt would have made of a lead character who was a serial adulterer...

That said, I have received an e-mail from Shelli, in Wichita Falls, Texas, who writes: "You'll be shocked to know that KERA (PBS in the Dallas/Ft Worth area) has been airing British comedy, including the aforementioned, for some 20 years now. I believe it all began with Fawlty Towers and Monty Python on Sunday evenings. Now it goes from Friday to Sunday evenings and includes programmes such as Blackadder, Are You Being Served?, Waiting for God, Vicar of Dibley, Keeping Up Appearances, My Hero... the list goes on but I can't think of them all!"

GOODNIGHT, SWEETHEART EPISODE GUIDE

SEASON ONE (1993)
Goodnight Sweetheart charts the life of Garry Sparrow who has miraculously discovered a portal in time which allows him to travel between the present and wartime Britain. This handy little trick results in a bizarre cross time love triangle...

Season One DVD: Buy it from Amazon.co.uk
Released: June 2005
Special features:
• Commentaries with Series Creators and Writers Maurice Gran and Laurence Marks
• Interviews With Nicholas Lyndhurst, Christopher Ettridge (PC Deadman) and David Ryall
• Original Music from the TV broadcast

Rites of Passage
First Aired: 18 November 1993 Directed by Robin Nash
Writers: Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran
Guest stars: David Ryall (Eric, the pub landlord, Phoebe's father); John Rapley; Pete Drummond (Open University Lecturer)
Gary Sparrow inadvertently discovers a timeslip to Forties, war-torn Britain in Duckett's Passage in the London's East End - and something more besides.

Fools Rush In
First Aired: 25 November 1993 Directed by Robin Nash

Is Your Journey Really Necessary?
First Aired: 2 December 1993 Directed by Robin Nash

The More I See You
First Aired: 9 December 1993 Directed by Robin Nash

I Get Along Without You Very Well
First Aired: 16 December 1993 Directed by Robin Nash

In the Mood
First Aired: 23 December 1993 Directed by Robin Nash

SEASON TWO (1995)
In the east end of London lies a strange alley called Ducketts Passage, an alley that for Gary Sparrow leads back to the 1940’s war torn London, to a little pub called the Royal Oak and to a lonely and frustrated barmaid called Phoebe, played by Dervla Kirwan, now totally alone after the death of her domineering father.

Season Two DVD: Buy it from Amazon.co.uk
Released 24 October 2005
Special features:
• Commentaries with Maurice Gran And Laurence Marks
• Interview with Christopher Ettridge (PC Deadman)
• Original Music From TV Broadcast

Don't Get Around Much Anymore
First Aired: 20 February 1995 Directed by Robin Nash

I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good
First Aired: 27 February 1995 Directed by Robin Nash

Just One More Chance
First Aired: 6 March 1995 Directed by Robin Nash

Who's Taking You Home Tonight
First Aired: 13 March 1995 Directed by Robin Nash

Wish Me Luck
First Aired: 20 March 1995 Directed by Robin Nash

...As You Wave Me Goodbye
First Aired: 27 March 1995 Directed by Robin Nash

Would You Like to Swing on a Star
First Aired: 3 April 1995 Directed by Robin Nash

Nice Work If You Can Get It
First Aired: 10 April 1995 Directed by Robin Nash

Let Yourself Go
First Aired: 24 April 1995 Directed by Robin Nash

Don't Fence Me In
First Aired: 1 May 1995 Directed by Robin Nash

Christmas Special 1995
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (1)
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (2)
First Aired: 26 December 1995 Directed by Robin Nash

SEASON THREE (1996)
The series continues with the arrival of Phoebe’s war hero husband Donald, bringing serious consequences for Gary. As Gary prepares to give up Phoebe forever, circumstances change and a path becomes clear for him to continue his double life…

Season Three DVD: Buy it from Amazon.co.uk
Released: 23 January 2006
Special features:
• 8 Episode Commentaries from Series Creators Laurence Marks And Maurice Gran
• Exclusive Interview with Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran
• Exclusive Interview with Chris Ettridge (PC Deadman)

It Ain't Necessarily So
First Aired: 1 January 1996 Directed by Robin Nash

One O'Clock Jump
First Aired: 8 January 1996 Directed by Robin Nash

It's a Sin to Tell a Lie
First Aired: 15 January 1996 Directed by Robin Nash

Change Partners
First Aired: 22 January 1996 Directed by Robin Nash

Goodnight Children Everywhere
First Aired: 29 January 1996 Directed by Robin Nash

Turned Out Nice Again
First Aired: 5 February 1996 Directed by Robin Nash

There's Something About a Soldier
First Aired: 12 February 1996 Directed by Robin Nash

Someone to Watch Over Me
First Aired: 19 February 1996 Directed by Robin Nash

The Yanks Are Coming
First Aired: 26 February 1996 Directed by Robin Nash

Let's Get Away from It All
First Aired: 4 March 1996 Directed by Robin Nash

SEASON FOUR (1997)

You're Driving Me Crazy
First Aired: 3 March 1997 Directed by Robin Nash

In the Mood
First Aired: 10 March 1997 Directed by Robin Nash

Out of Town
First Aired: 17 March 1997 Directed by Robin Nash

And Mother Came Too
First Aired: 24 March 1997 Directed by Robin Nash

The Leaving of Liverpool
First Aired: 8 April 1997 Directed by Robin Nash

How Long Has This Been Going On?
First Aired: 15 April 1997 Directed by Robin Nash

Easy Living
First Aired: 22 April 1997 Directed by Terry Kinane

Come Fly with Me
First Aired: 29 April 1997 Directed by Terry Kinane

Heartaches
First Aired: 6 May 1997 Directed by Terry Kinane

Careless Talk
First Aired: 13 May 1997 Directed by Terry Kinane

The Bells Are Ringing
First Aired: 20 May 1997 Directed by Terry Kinane

SEASON FIVE (1998)

A Room with a View
 First Aired: 23 February 1998 Directed by Terry Kinane

London Pride
First Aired: 2 March 1998 Directed by Terry Kinane

When Two Worlds Collide
First Aired: 9 March 1998 Directed by Terry Kinane

Mairzy Doats
First Aired: 16 March 1998 Directed by Terry Kinane

Pennies from Heaven
First Aired: 23 March 1998 Directed by Terry Kinane

We Don't Want to Lose You ... (1)
First Aired: 30 March 1998 Directed by Robin Nash

... But We Think You Have to Go (2)
First Aired: 6 April 1998 Directed by Robin Nash

Have You Ever Seen a Dream Walking ...
First Aired: 13 April 1998
Writers: Gary Lawson and John Phelps Directed by Robin Nash
Guests: Penelope Solomon (as Therapist) Anna Karen (as Mrs Hardcore); and Rolf Harris (as himself)

Web Links
• Read a transcript of the episode Goodnight Sweetheart" Site

Love the One You're With
First Aired: 20 April 1998 Directed by Robin Nash

My Heart Belongs to Daddy
First Aired: 27 April 1998 Directed by Robin Nash

SEASON SIX

Mine's A Double
First Aired: 18 April 1999 Directed by Nic Phillips

All About Yvonne
First Aired: 25 April 1999 Directed by Nic Phillips

California Dreamin'
First Aired: 2 May 1999 Directed by Nic Phillips
Phoebe dreams of a better life in California... and so does Yvonne!

Grief Encounter
First Aired: 16 May 1999 Directed by Nic Phillips
One of Noel Coward's actor friends takes a shine to Phoebe and she ends up with a part in Brief Encounter. But is she in the video? Gary and Ron take time out to ponder the logistics of time travel in this episode

...The 'Ouses in Between
The 'Ouses In Between
First Aired: 23 May1999 Directed by Nic Phillips
Gary discovers that there is more than one hole into the past and find himself in late Victorian East End. Jack the Ripper is on the prowl, and the murderer has found a rather interesting escape route from pursuit...

Just In Time
First Aired: 30 May1999 Directed by Robin Nash
A time repairman arrives in Gary's backyard and it looks as though Sparrow will finally have to choose which period he must decide to live in for good. The choice seems easy but one era has particular attractions. Meanwhile, Ron make a surprising bargain that could earn him a fortune...

How I Won The War
First Aired: 6 June 1999
Writer: Sam Lawrence Directed by Robin Nash
Guest stars: Bonnie Langford (Nancy Potter); Sonya Walger (Flic); Simon Sherlock (Nipper Smith); Gary Cady (Rock Justice) Paul Grunert (Sid Potter); and Jim McManus (Brian Merry)

Gary and Phoebe join a concert party in Belgium and are cornered by a German patrol. Meanwhile, Ron's romance looks set to end and Yvonne is acting very mysteriously.

Web Links
• Read a transcript of the episode Goodnight Sweetheart" Site

Something Fishie
First Aired: 13 June 1999 Directed by Terry Kinane

Flash, Bang, Wallop
First Aired: 20 June 1999 Directed by Terry Kinane

Accentuate the Positive
First Aired: 27 June 1999 Directed by Terry Kinane
Writers: Lawrence Marks, Maurice Gran
Guest stars: Alan David (Clement Attlee); Tony Millan (Kenneth)
Gary finds himself trapped in the past when he changed an important event in history. But if there had been any proper resolution, my guess is that if the show had continued we might have discovered the reason exactly why Yvonne seems to be so lucky in the 1990s - her recent honours award to name but one element of this. Perhaps an older Gary had something to do with her success all along? 

Web Links
• Read a transcript of the episode Goodnight Sweetheart" Site

WEB LINKS

Official website: None Found

ACTORS
• David Benson's Official Website
David played Noel Coward in seasons Five and Six.

BEST ALL-ROUND FAN SITE
• Goodnight Sweetheart
An unofficial fan page with fan ficition and some excellent Second World War resources. Well worth a look.

FORUMS
• Goodnigt Sweetheart Fan Forum
Includes an episode guide for seasons 1 and 2

LOCATION GUIDE

• Ducketts Passage
This site catalogues many of the location shoots for Goodnight Sweetheart, including the Royal Oak and of course the location of the time-hole, Ducketts Passage, actually part of Horatio Street in Shoreditch. The site also includes information on the main cast.

EPISODE GUIDES
• The Goodnight Sweetheart Fan Page Index
Maintained by Ailsa Jenkins. This includes a much more detailed episode guide and a report on a set visit.

• Dave©Comedy.Com's Goodnight Sweetheart Site
In addition to information on the show, includes information on wartime rationing, clothing etc.

• SitComs Online
This US based site includes a "Britcoms" section

MERCHANDISE
• Goodnight Sweetheart is being relesed on DVD by Revelation Films Ltd: www.revfilms.co.uk
Revelation Films Ltd, The Barn House, 38 Meadow Way, Eastcote Middlesex HA4 8SY Tel: 020 8866 7145

• Season One: Buy it from Amazon.co.uk
Released: June 2005
• Season Two: Buy it from Amazon.co.uk
Released 24 October 2005
• Season Three: Buy it from Amazon.co.uk
Released: 23 January 2006

ANALYSIS
• British TV Reviews
American Ryan K. Johnson despairs of the kind of culure anti-hero Gary Sparrow represent, describing it as "A bizarre time-travel fantasy sitcom with Nicholas Lyndhurst which seems to endorse adultery," and "I know this is only a comedy but the message this show seems to endorse is 'If you can get away with it, do it.' Remember what I was saying earlier about the bible belt? If you're British and want a laugh at the expense of an American who seems to think that running scams is unique to British culture, you'll enjoy this.