This is the first regular series since 1979. It looks like Roy Clarke had other writing commitments such as Rosie, Potter and Open all Hours.
The series also has Alan Bell as a regular director who would increasingly steer it through a different course with more slapstick, cast changes and in the 1980s huge ratings.
It shows in this episode, the trio look older but we get a pattern of Foggy wanting to do something each week to stave off the boredom. This week he sees a pile of clothes by the river and thinks someone might be drowning. It actually someone just out in a canoe.
Before long Foggy has an idea and wearing a red cross vest he looks to help people who might be injured or in trouble even if it means fighting with the St John's Ambulance at the football match to carry out someone on a stretcher or rescuing Nora Batty from her bedroom.
The episode ends with a great sight gag and you can see why the viewers suddenly liked what they saw. There is still some grittiness, even mention of politics which would reduce as the years go by.
The series also has Alan Bell as a regular director who would increasingly steer it through a different course with more slapstick, cast changes and in the 1980s huge ratings.
It shows in this episode, the trio look older but we get a pattern of Foggy wanting to do something each week to stave off the boredom. This week he sees a pile of clothes by the river and thinks someone might be drowning. It actually someone just out in a canoe.
Before long Foggy has an idea and wearing a red cross vest he looks to help people who might be injured or in trouble even if it means fighting with the St John's Ambulance at the football match to carry out someone on a stretcher or rescuing Nora Batty from her bedroom.
The episode ends with a great sight gag and you can see why the viewers suddenly liked what they saw. There is still some grittiness, even mention of politics which would reduce as the years go by.
