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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{infobox television |
{{Use British English|date=May 2014}}
| show_name = Bottle Boys
{{More citations needed|date=September 2013}}
| image =
{{Infobox television
| caption =
| image = Bottle Boys titles.jpg
| format = [[Situation comedy|Sitcom]]
| runtime = 30 minutes
| runtime = 30 minutes
| creator = [[Vince Powell]] <br>
| creator = [[Vince Powell]]
| starring = [[Robin Askwith]]<br>
| starring = [[Robin Askwith]]
| country = {{UK}}
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| network = [[London Weekend Television]]
| first_aired = [[1 September]] [[1984]]
| company = [[London Weekend Television]]
| last_aired = [[24 August]] [[1985]]
| network = [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
| first_aired = {{Start date|1984|9|1|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1985|8|24|df=y}}
| num_series = 2
| num_episodes = 13
| num_episodes = 13
}}
}}
'''''Bottle Boys''''' is a British sitcom which ran for two series on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] between 1 September 1984 and 24 August 1985.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/b/bottleboys_1299000392.shtml |title=BBC – Comedy Guide – Bottle Boys |accessdate=2013-09-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050417222328/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/b/bottleboys_1299000392.shtml |archivedate=17 April 2005 }}</ref> Starring [[Robin Askwith]] as football-mad milkman Dave Deacon, the series mined broad comedy from randy Dave's amorous adventures.


However, as well as the sexual innuendo of his earlier big-screen adventures, Askwith was equally likely to find himself embroiled in more off-the-wall exploits, and found himself at various points in the series dressing up as a cow, inadvertently engaged to Sharon the secretary, and meeting then-Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] (played by an actor).
'''''Bottle Boys''''' was a British sitcom running on [[ITV]] in the 1980s, the first series running in 1984 and the second and final series in 1985. Starring [[Robin Askwith]] as football-mad milkman Dave Deacon, the series mined comedy of the broadest sort from randy Dave's amorous adventures, in a style familiar to viewers from Askwith's earlier ''Confessions'' films.


The part of Dave Deacon was originally written for [[Jim Davidson]], who was by this time moving into sitcom with ''[[Up the Elephant and Round the Castle]]'', also on ITV. Future BBC controller [[John Birt]], during his tenure at [[London Weekend Television]], suggested that Askwith take the part.
However, as well as the sexual innuendo of his earlier big-screen adventures, Askwith was equally likely to find himself embroiled in more off-the-wall exploits, and found himself at various points in the series dressing up as a cow, inadvertently engaged to Sharon the secretary, and meeting then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (played by an actor).


==Critical reception==
The part of Dave Deacon was originally written for [[Jim Davidson]], who was by this time already expanding into sitcom territory with ''[[Up the Elephant and Round the Castle]]'', also on ITV. It was future BBC controller John Birt, during his tenure at London Weekend Television, who suggested that Askwith take the part.
The series has a reputation as one of the worst British sitcoms ever produced. [[Mark Lewisohn]], writing in the ''Radio Times Guide to Comedy'' observes that "ITV sitcoms had often plumbed the depths, but this was the limit", and also observed that ''Bottle Boys'' was reputedly despised by comedy executives at ITV. He described ''Bottle Boys'' as his "worst ever" British sitcom.


Writer [[Vince Powell]] was no stranger to working on shows that attracted a bad press, however, having created two of the most controversial comedy shows of the 1970s: ''[[Love Thy Neighbour (1972 TV series)|Love Thy Neighbour]]'' and ''[[Mind Your Language]]''.
== Critical Reception ==


The programme also made number 97 in Channel Four's ''100 Greatest TV Moments from Hell'' list show, a retrospective of television's low points of the last fifty years.
The series has acquired something of a reputation as one of the worst British sitcoms ever produced. [[Mark Lewisohn]], writing in the Radio Times Guide to Comedy observes that "ITV sitcoms had often plumbed the depths, but this was the limit", and also notes that ''Bottle Boys'' was reputedly despised by comedy executives at ITV. Furthermore, he goes on to pick ''Bottle Boys'' as his "worst ever" British sitcom.


==Cast==
Writer Vince Powell was no stranger to working on shows that attracted a bad press, however, having created two of the most notorious comedy shows of the 1970s - ''[[Love Thy Neighbour]]'' and ''[[Mind Your Language]]''.


* [[Robin Askwith]] – Dave Deacon
== Cast ==
* [[David Auker]] – Billy Watson
* [[Oscar James]] – Joe Phillips
* [[Phil McCall]] – Jock Collins
* [[Richard Davies (Welsh actor)|Richard Davies]] – Stan Evans
* [[Eve Ferret]] – Sharon Armstrong
* [[Patrick Newell]] – Mr Dawson
* Leo Dolan – Wilf Foley
* Ann Michelle (one episode)
* [[Zara Nutley]] (one episode)
* [[Alan Gear]] (one episode)
* [[Candy Davis]] (one episode)
* [[Pam St. Clement]] (one episode)
* [[Don Henderson]] (one episode)
* [[Bernie Winters]] – himself (one episode)


==Episodes==
Dave Deacon - [[Robin Askwith]]


Series One (1 Sep – 6 Oct 1984):
Billy Watson - David Auker


*Fools Rush In
Joe Phillips - [[Oscar James]]

Jock Collins - Phil McCall

Stan Evans - [[Richard Davies]]

Sharon Armstrong - Eve Ferret

Mr Dawson - [[Patrick Newell]]

Wilf Foley - Leo Dolan

Ann Michelle (one episode)

[[Zara Nutley]] (one episode)

[[Candy Davis]] (one episode)

[[Pam St. Clement]] (one episode)

[[Don Henderson]] (one episode)

[[Bernie Winters]] - himself (one episode)

== Theme Song ==

Bottle Boys had a very catchy theme song, played over an animated title sequence of milkman Dave going about his rounds. The theme song sums up the shows ethos:

"<i>Bottle boys, bottle boys,

Up with the lark,

Who cares if it's raining,

Who cares if it's dark,

There's a whole lot of bottle boys taking a pride,

In making sure each customer is satisfied!

Milk, eggs and butter, got it all on the float

Anything you're short of darling, leave us a note

You'll be glad you wrote it, when you hear the noise

Of the rattle of the bottles of the Bottle Boys!</i>".

== Episodes ==

Series One (1 Sep - 6 Oct 1984):

*Fools Rush In
*God Save Our Dairy
*God Save Our Dairy
*Danger, Woman at Work
*Danger Women at Work
*All in a Day's Work
*All in a Day's Work
*One Good Turn
*One Good Turn
*Here Comes the Groom
*Here Comes the Groom


Series Two (13 July - 24 Aug 1985)
Series Two (13 July – 24 Aug 1985)


*Things That Go Bump in the Night
*Things That Go Bump in the Night
*I Gotta Horse
*I Gotta Horse
*Out of the Frying Pan
*Out of the Frying Pan
*If the Cap Fits
*If the Cap Fits
*High Noon
*High Noon
*I Love Paris
*I Love Paris
*The Milk Cup Runneth Over
*The Milk Cup Runneth Over


==External Links==
==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1048398/usercomments-1 review of episode ‘here comes the groom’]
*{{IMDb title|id=0086674|title=Bottle Boys}}
*[http://sitcoms.frey-united.com/tv-comedy-series/sitcom/bottle-boys/1808/episodes Bottle Boys episode guide on ComedySeries.info]


{{Vince Powell}}


[[Category:1984 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:1985 British television series endings]]
[[Category:1980s British sitcoms]]
[[Category:ITV sitcoms]]
[[Category:ITV sitcoms]]
[[Category:Television series by ITV Studios]]
[[Category:London Weekend Television shows]]
[[Category:British English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Television shows set in London]]

Latest revision as of 07:48, 6 February 2024

Bottle Boys
Created byVince Powell
StarringRobin Askwith
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes13
Production
Running time30 minutes
Production companyLondon Weekend Television
Original release
NetworkITV
Release1 September 1984 (1984-09-01) –
24 August 1985 (1985-08-24)

Bottle Boys is a British sitcom which ran for two series on ITV between 1 September 1984 and 24 August 1985.[1] Starring Robin Askwith as football-mad milkman Dave Deacon, the series mined broad comedy from randy Dave's amorous adventures.

However, as well as the sexual innuendo of his earlier big-screen adventures, Askwith was equally likely to find himself embroiled in more off-the-wall exploits, and found himself at various points in the series dressing up as a cow, inadvertently engaged to Sharon the secretary, and meeting then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (played by an actor).

The part of Dave Deacon was originally written for Jim Davidson, who was by this time moving into sitcom with Up the Elephant and Round the Castle, also on ITV. Future BBC controller John Birt, during his tenure at London Weekend Television, suggested that Askwith take the part.

Critical reception

[edit]

The series has a reputation as one of the worst British sitcoms ever produced. Mark Lewisohn, writing in the Radio Times Guide to Comedy observes that "ITV sitcoms had often plumbed the depths, but this was the limit", and also observed that Bottle Boys was reputedly despised by comedy executives at ITV. He described Bottle Boys as his "worst ever" British sitcom.

Writer Vince Powell was no stranger to working on shows that attracted a bad press, however, having created two of the most controversial comedy shows of the 1970s: Love Thy Neighbour and Mind Your Language.

The programme also made number 97 in Channel Four's 100 Greatest TV Moments from Hell list show, a retrospective of television's low points of the last fifty years.

Cast

[edit]

Episodes

[edit]

Series One (1 Sep – 6 Oct 1984):

  • Fools Rush In
  • God Save Our Dairy
  • Danger Women at Work
  • All in a Day's Work
  • One Good Turn
  • Here Comes the Groom

Series Two (13 July – 24 Aug 1985)

  • Things That Go Bump in the Night
  • I Gotta Horse
  • Out of the Frying Pan
  • If the Cap Fits
  • High Noon
  • I Love Paris
  • The Milk Cup Runneth Over

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "BBC – Comedy Guide – Bottle Boys". Archived from the original on 17 April 2005. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
[edit]
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