studioAT 'In loving memory' is a show that if you watch ITV3 very early in the morning you'll catch.Is it worth watching though? Yes, if you accept the fact that it's very much of its time. I was surprised to not see Roy Clarke's name attached because it's very much of his ilk. Slow paced, character driven comedy. But it is slow, and that for me is why I can't say i'd rush to watch it again. There are so many gaps between laughs amongst the studio audience at times you forget it's even a sitcom.In this age of revisiting classic comedies this one is never mentioned as a possibility, and for me with good reason. It was alright, not spectacular comedy, and very much of its time.

ShadeGrenade It is Christmas. As children sing carols and snowflakes tumble out of the night sky, we focus on a funeral parlour whose front window is regaled by the memorable sign: A Merry Xmas To All Our Customers.And with that, another episode of 'In Loving Memory' was underway. This popular show was created and written by Dick Sharples, and centred round a Northern funeral parlour, owned by Jeremiah Unsworth. The pilot - made by Thames - starred Edward 'Mr.Grimsdale!' Chapman as 'Unsworth', Marjorie Rhodes as wife 'Ivy', and Harold Goodwin as their accident-prone nephew 'Billy'. It went out in late 1969, but the series proper did not materialise for another ten years - made by Yorkshire Television - and was recast. Freddie Jones replaced Chapman, Thora Hird took Rhodes' place, with Christopher 'Upstairs, Downstairs' Beeny cast in the Goodwin role. It was set in 1929 as it was when motor vehicles started to replace horse-drawn hearses. Jeremiah drove off in a hearse whose brakes Billy happened to be fixing. They failed, and he was killed, leaving Ivy and Billy in control of the family business. She was a lot kinder to him than his uncle had been.The show had a lovely period flavour, and good central performances, particularly Hird. I used to laugh whenever Ivy answered the phone and put on a posh voice when talking to prospective clients, and - rather like Albert Steptoe - could feign an illness whenever her nephew discussed his future. Avis Bunnage played 'Amy Jenkinson', Ivy's friend, in the first three seasons, while Colin Farrell ( no, not THAT Colin Farrell. The one who dug up a cricket pitch looking for treasure in 'Porridge' ) was 'Ernie Hadfield', Billy's pal, who had a propensity to laugh at funerals. And there was plenty to laugh at in this show. It did, however, upset some viewers who saw nothing amusing about the sight of coffins falling out of hearses and sliding into rivers.Elisabeth Sladen ( 'Sarah Jane Smith' from 'Dr.Who' ) was in one episode, while the great Liz Smith was in another. Richard Wilson guested twice.Billy's complicated love life provided a major source of comedy. In one episode, Billy was all set to make love to the local bike 'Daisy Plummer' ( Lori Wells from 'Get Some In' ) when Auntie Ivy came home unexpectedly early. She caught him stark naked in the larder, with her best jelly mold covering his privates. He married 'Mary Braithwaite' ( Sherrie Hewson ) eventually, and she moved into the parlour for the last two seasons. A running gag had their bed creaking loudly each time they got into it, resulting in Ivy putting lots of bromide in Billy's tea.'Memory' had a good run - 36 episodes ( not counting the pilot ) and a Christmas Special - and is now out on D.V.D. It is a charming show in the mold of early 'Last Of The Summer Wine', and the theme tune is wonderfully English ( also used in the children's series 'Vision On' ). Rather like the 'Steptoe' theme, it has you smiling even before the episode has properly begun.

The-Other-Monkey This is a classic British comedy. It's about an undertakers business run by Auntie Ivy ( Thora Hird ) and her nephew, Billy Unsworth ( Christopher Beeny).The pilot episode featured Freddie Jones as Jeremiah Unsworth ( Ivy's husband). He died in that episode and Ivy took over when the series proper began. The early series were excellent but the later ones became weaker particularly after Billy got married. The location filming practically disappeared at this point and was studio bound, which caused the series to lose a lot of its appeal and charm. It was filmed in the village of Luddenden near Halifax in West Yorkshire.

fibreoptic When i was a nipper i used to watch this particular British comedy every week. It's about an Aunt (Thora Hird) and her nephew (Christopher Beeny) who run an undertaker business in Lancashire in the twenties and thirties. Thora Hird plays a religious, old fashioned over bearing and bossy woman who is always nagging at her nephew Billy. Billy is in his late twenties or early thirties and is single because he is an undertaker and that kind of occupation isn't what you would call a chick magnet so he always has trouble getting and keeping girlfriends especially with his Aunt Ivy on the prowl ready to split up any tongue action she might catch Billy doing. Infact she would rather not have him with any women PERIOD! And that is where the humour lies, Billy sneaking around behind her back and if i can remember rightly he does more than snog a few women ;o)'In Loving Memory' is very similar to 'Last Of The Summer Wine' and does have that gentle approach to it but it isn't as goody goody as 'Last Of The Summer Wine'. Thora Hird is truly fantastic and funny with her wise cracking quips and the expressions she makes when Billy gets the best of her. I havn't seen this for a few years because it's been awhile since it was repeated. It may be showing somewhere on Sky but i havn't come across it. I don't think i've seen the original pilot so that's something for me to watch out for. If anybody has a chance to watch 'In Loving Memory' then i advise you do so especially if you like watching British comedies.