"To the Manor Born" (1979) TV series 1979-1981

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Creator:

Peter Spence

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

25 March 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

Audrey fforbes-Hamilton is sad when her husband dies but is shocked when she realises that she has to...

Plot Keywords:

Manor | Butler | Supermarket | Lodge | Mother

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Penelope Keith	...	Audrey / ... (22 episodes, 1979-2007)
Peter Bowles	...	DeVere / ... (22 episodes, 1979-2007)
Angela Thorne	...	Marjory / ... (22 episodes, 1979-2007)
Daphne Heard	...	Mrs. Polouvicka / ... (17 episodes, 1979-1981)
John Rudling	...	Brabinger (16 episodes, 1979-1981)
Gerald Sim	...	The Rector / ... (15 episodes, 1979-2007)
Michael Bilton	...	Ned / ... (14 episodes, 1979-1981)

Runtime:

USA:30 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G | Singapore:PG | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Cricket St. Thomas Estate, Nr. Chard, Somerset, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The manor house is 18th century Grade II listed building, designed by Sir John Soane, and belonged to the father-in-law of series creator Peter Spence. It is in Cricket St. Thomas, in Somerset. The manor house now forms part of a country hotel with its own wildlife park. The lodge is in reality several miles from the manor house, but with the magic of TV appears to be much closer.

Quotes:

Old Ned: Sounds like rain.
Richard DeVere: How can you tell? No, don't tell me. Clouds.
[Ned stares at him]
Richard DeVere: Bird formation? Cows lying down? No, you said it sounded like rain. I know, you heard it on the wind.
Old Ned: No, sir. Heard it on the weather forecast this morning.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Comedy Connections: To the Manor Born (#4.5)" (2006)

Classic British Comedy!

To the Manor Born is about how old money and new money don't necessarily mix very well. The show stars the wonderful Penelope Keith CBE OBE (a comedy veteran) who plays Audrey Fforbes Hamilton who represents old money and Peter Bowles as Richard Devere who represents new money. After Audrey's husband and lord of the manor has died much to Audrey's dismay, they didn't have a good marriage. She lets out a scream that she finally free to rule the Manor. Unfortunately, Audrey learns that she is in debt after his death. She must sell her beloved home to Richard Devere, a self-made millionaire entrepreneur who really is both Czech and Polish heritage. She sells but she moves close by and is still active in her community with her best friend played by a terrific actress whose name I can't remember. Daphne Heard plays the wonderful foreign born mother of Richard. The episodes are all classically funny and it is one of Britain's best exports. Penelope Keith is one of Britain's brilliant funny ladies up there with Patricia Routledge CBE OBE and Dame Judi Dench.