"Actor: Pauline Yates"

• The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin | DVD | (27/04/2009) from £15.99   |  Saving you £14.00 (87.55%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Adapted by David Nobbs from his novel The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin brilliantly captured the mid-1970s zeitgeist. It opened each week with a naked Reggie walking out into the sea to end it all before rapidly rethinking the whole idea and told the story of a man desperate to escape his loving but dull marriage disappointing offspring and the daily grind of his job. The first series - while hilariously funny - was incredibly dark focusing on a man in nervous breakdown. Each week Reggie's behaviour becomes more erratic his excuses to his secretary for lateness weirder and weirder (22 minutes late Joan: a badger ate a junction box at New Malden) and his fantasies of seducing her more vivid. The mere mention of his mother-in-law is enough to send an image of a hippo lumbering through his head and each episode ends with Reggie screaming in frustration. Ultimately he fakes his own death but is reunited with wife Elizabeth when he attends his funeral in disguise and can't resist wooing her all over again. Reggie returned a year later bent on setting up a new business Grot selling useless goods. It was of course a massive success leaving Reggie trapped back in the rat race. For the third less successful series he abandoned wage-slavery again this time setting up a commune for his former co-workers. A brilliant satire the programme will also be remembered for its catchphrases including Reggie's boss CJ's I didn't get where I am today by... and Reggie's brother-in-law Jimmy constantly cadging food on the basis of a bit of a cock-up on the catering front. Above all there was Leonard Rossiter's brilliant performance as Reginald Iolanthe Perrin. RIP to both.

• Nightingale's Boys - The Complete Series | DVD | (01/07/2013) from £8.39   |  Saving you £11.60 (138.26%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Nightingale's Boy's shows what happens when a master at a northern grammar school, Bill 'Tweety' Nightingale, tries to organise a reunion with the boys of the 'star' class of his career: the 1949 sixth form. Nearing retirement and aware that his gifts are fading, Bill fondly regards the class as the high point of his career, and now hopes to recapture some of its alchemy; as this seven-part series unfolds, we see just how the likely lads of '49 turned out - and whether Bill is doomed to disillusion. Derek Farr - like several cast members a former teacher himself - brings great sympathy to the role of Bill Nightingale, a radical who had fought in the Spanish Civil War, and a distinguished master with 35 years' teaching experience. Each drama focuses on a particular member of his favourite class, with Anton Rodgers, Ronald Lewis, David Swift and Bernard Gallagher among the noted actors portraying the sixth-formers in adult life; writers include award-winning playwright Jack Rosenthal, Arthur Hopcraft.

• Reckless - The Sequel | DVD | (02/02/2009) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £16.99

  The story opens 12 months later. Anna (Francesca Annis) has divorced Richard Crane (Michael Kitchen) and is now living with Owen (Robson Green). When Owen proposes to Anna they plan their wedding - for three days time. But Anna's ex-husband is having a hard time letting go and when he hears about the marriage plans he becomes intent on doing anything - anything - to prevent it. Whether that involves hiring one of Owen's gorgeous ex-girlfriends to work alongside him or banging on doors at all time of the day and night he's not letting go easily. And when it comes to the moment - is Anna really prepared to be let go? One thing is certain: whatever choices are made they're going to be Reckless.

• The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin - The Complete First Series | DVD | (21/10/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Boasting a virtuoso comic performance from Leonard Rossiter The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976-79) remains one of the greatest of all television sitcoms. Writer David Nobbs combined the surrealist absurdity of Monty Python with an on-going story line that unfolded through each of the three seasons with a clear beginning, middle and end; a ground-breaking development in 70s TV comedy. The first and best season charts middle-aged, middle-management executive Reginald Perrin as he breaks-down under the stress of middle-class life until he informs the world that half the parking meters in London have Dutch Parking Meter Disease. He fakes suicide and returns to court his wife Elizabeth (Pauline Yates) in disguise, a plot development that formed the entire basis of Mrs Doubtfire (1993). Series Two is broader, the rapid-fire dialogue still razor sharp and loaded with caustic wit and ingenious silliness, as a now sane Reggie takes on the madness of the business world by opening a chain of shops selling rubbish. The third season, set in a health farm, is routine, the edge blunted by routine sitcom conventions. At its best The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin is hilarious and moving, its depiction of English middle-class life spot on, its satire prophetic. Reggie's visual fantasies hark back to The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) and Billy Liar (1963), and look forward to Ally McBeal (1997-2002) and are the icing on the cake of a fine, original and highly imaginative show. On the DVD: Reginald Perrin's discs contain one complete seven episode season. There are no extras. The sound is good mono and the 4:3 picture is generally fine, though some of the exterior shot-on-film scenes have deteriorated and there are occasional signs of minor damage to the original video masters. Even so, for a 1970s sitcom shot on video the picture is excellent and far superior to the original broadcasts. --Gary S Dalkin

• The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin - The Complete Third Series | DVD | (19/05/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Boasting a virtuoso comic performance from Leonard Rossiter The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976-79) remains one of the greatest of all television sitcoms. Writer David Nobbs combined the surrealist absurdity of Monty Python with an on-going story line that unfolded through each of the three seasons with a clear beginning, middle and end; a ground-breaking development in 70s TV comedy. The first and best season charts middle-aged, middle-management executive Reginald Perrin as he breaks-down under the stress of middle-class life until he informs the world that half the parking meters in London have Dutch Parking Meter Disease. He fakes suicide and returns to court his wife Elizabeth (Pauline Yates) in disguise, a plot development that formed the entire basis of Mrs Doubtfire (1993). Series Two is broader, the rapid-fire dialogue still razor sharp and loaded with caustic wit and ingenious silliness, as a now sane Reggie takes on the madness of the business world by opening a chain of shops selling rubbish. The third season, set in a health farm, is routine, the edge blunted by routine sitcom conventions. At its best The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin is hilarious and moving, its depiction of English middle-class life spot on, its satire prophetic. Reggie's visual fantasies hark back to The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) and Billy Liar (1963), and look forward to Ally McBeal (1997-2002) and are the icing on the cake of a fine, original and highly imaginative show. On the DVD: Reginald Perrin's discs contain one complete seven episode season. There are no extras. The sound is good mono and the 4:3 picture is generally fine, though some of the exterior shot-on-film scenes have deteriorated and there are occasional signs of minor damage to the original video masters. Even so, for a 1970s sitcom shot on video the picture is excellent and far superior to the original broadcasts. --Gary S Dalkin

• The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin - The Complete Second Series | DVD | (21/10/2002) from £9.23   |  Saving you £6.76 (73.24%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Boasting a virtuoso comic performance from Leonard Rossiter The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976-79) remains one of the greatest of all television sitcoms. Writer David Nobbs combined the surrealist absurdity of Monty Python with an on-going story line that unfolded through each of the three seasons with a clear beginning, middle and end; a ground-breaking development in 70s TV comedy. The first and best season charts middle-aged, middle-management executive Reginald Perrin as he breaks-down under the stress of middle-class life until he informs the world that half the parking meters in London have Dutch Parking Meter Disease. He fakes suicide and returns to court his wife Elizabeth (Pauline Yates) in disguise, a plot development that formed the entire basis of Mrs Doubtfire (1993). Series Two is broader, the rapid-fire dialogue still razor sharp and loaded with caustic wit and ingenious silliness, as a now sane Reggie takes on the madness of the business world by opening a chain of shops selling rubbish. The third season, set in a health farm, is routine, the edge blunted by routine sitcom conventions. At its best The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin is hilarious and moving, its depiction of English middle-class life spot on, its satire prophetic. Reggie's visual fantasies hark back to The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) and Billy Liar (1963), and look forward to Ally McBeal (1997-2002) and are the icing on the cake of a fine, original and highly imaginative show. On the DVD: Reginald Perrin's discs contain one complete seven episode season. There are no extras. The sound is good mono and the 4:3 picture is generally fine, though some of the exterior shot-on-film scenes have deteriorated and there are occasional signs of minor damage to the original video masters. Even so, for a 1970s sitcom shot on video the picture is excellent and far superior to the original broadcasts. --Gary S Dalkin

• She'll Be Wearing Pink Pyjamas | DVD | (07/06/2004) from £12.15   |  Saving you £-6.16 (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  She'll be Wearing Pink Pyjamas (1984) epitomises the early work of the FilmFour brand: solid productions, usually awash with issues, a strong dose of prickly humour and a reliable ensemble of British character actors. This tale of female bonding concerns a miscellaneous group of women thrown together on an Outward Bound course. They've all come for their own reasons--men (the lack of, or to escape from), midlife crisis, feelings of now-or-never--and as the course escalates, these are discovered and shared. Even the rather tiresome and bossy course leader has a moment of revelation. Think Steel Magnolias in a tent. Will they make it? The bonding scenes are sufficiently well counterpointed by the wet and muddy action to keep you guessing. There are plenty of laughs to keep the clichés at bay, although John Goldschmidt's direction could have been tighter. The performances, led by Julie Walters at her most attention-seeking, are good and often touching. All in all this is a brittle but warm-hearted little comedy about optimism and survival. On the DVD: She'll be Wearing Pink Pyjamas is presented in 4:3 picture format with a dull mono soundtrack, which betrays its made-for-television origins. There are no subtitles and, apart from a scene index, no extras. --Piers Ford

• Keep It in the Family - The Complete Second Series | DVD | (27/06/2011) from £5.99   |  Saving you £7.00 (116.86%)   |  RRP £12.99

  A resounding success over five series between 1980 and 1983 this Thames comedy is set in the delightfully chaotic home of Dudley and Muriel Rush whose daughters Jacqui and Susan satisfy a hankering for freedom by moving into the family's vacant basement flat. Dudley is a gifted cartoonist but an inveterate procrastinator with a fondness for practical jokes who finds it hard to concentrate amid an ever-increasing number of distractions - to the despair of his long-suffering agent Duncan. But at least he can still keep an eye on his wayward daughters and their visitors... Starring Stacy Dorning (Black Beauty) and Pauline Yates (The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin) Keep It in the Family was created by sitcom veteran Brian Cooke (Man About the House George and Mildred). This complete second series features guest turns from Barbara Flynn Garfield Morgan Burt Kwouk and Norman Mitchell.

• Keep It in the Family - The Complete Series 4 | DVD | (18/02/2013) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  A resounding success over five series this Thames comedy created by sitcom veteran Brian Cooke (Man About the House) is set in the delightfully chaotic home of Dudley and Muriel Rush whose daughters Jacqui and Susan satisfy a hankering for freedom by moving into the family’s basement fl at. Dudley a gifted cartoonist but inveterate procrastinator finds it hard to concentrate amid the ever-increasing number of distractions – to the despair of his long-suffering boss Duncan. But at least he can still keep an eye on his wayward daughters and their visitors...

• Keep It in the Family - The Complete Series 3 | DVD | (28/05/2012) from £10.43   |  Saving you £2.56 (24.54%)   |  RRP £12.99

  A resounding success over five series, this Thames comedy created by sitcom veteran Brian Cooke (Man About the House) is set in the delightfully chaotic home of Dudley and Muriel Rush, whose daughters, Jacqui and Susan, satisfy a hankering for freedom by moving into the family's vacant basement flat. Dudley, a gifted cartoonist but an inveterate procrastinator, finds it hard to concentrate amid the ever-increasing number of distractions to the despair of his long-suffering boss, Duncan. But at least he can still keep an eye on his wayward daughters, and their visitors! Starring Robert Gillespie, Stacy Dorning and Pauline Yates, this third series sees Jacqui contemplating marriage, Susan passing her driving test, and Muriel attempting to play matchmaker for hapless bachelor Duncan...

• Keep it in the Family - The Complete First Series | DVD | (18/10/2010) from £8.98   |  Saving you £6.00 (85.84%)   |  RRP £12.99

  A resounding success over five series between 1980 and 1983 this Thames Television comedy is set in the delightfully chaotic home of Dudley and Muriel Rush whose daughters Jacqui and Susan satisfy a hankering for freedom by moving into the family's vacant basement flat. Dudley is a gifted cartoonist but an inveterate procrastinator with a fondness for practical jokes who finds it hard to concentrate amid an ever-increasing number of distractions - to the despair of his long-suffering agent Duncan. But at least he can still keep an eye on his wayward daughters and their visitors... Starring Robert Gillespie Stacy Dorning (Black Beauty) and Pauline Yates (The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin) Keep It in the Family was created by sitcom veteran Brian Cooke (Man About the House George and Mildred) and co-written by Fenn Street Gang star David Barry. The complete first series - also featuring Roy Kinnear Pat Coombs and Bert Kwouk - is released here for the first time on DVD.