Review for Hugh & I - Series 1 & 2 (Remaining Episodes)

I love it when stuff like this gets released. ‘Hugh and I’ is a little-seen but much enjoyed series from yesteryear, very much in the Hancock mode (well, Duncan Wood produced some of these and Wally Stott penned the theme song) with a slightly pompous and deluded Terry Scott enduring the docile deadpan of his sidekick, Hugh Lloyd.

It was popular enough to run for a full seven seasons on BBC1, from 1962 to 1967, (and spawning a brief 6 episode sequel called ‘Hugh and I Spy’ a year later) but sadly most of the episodes are now missing, presumed wiped. In fact, just 24 are known to still be existence, with just a single episode of the sequel surviving.  


Terry Scott and Hugh Lloyd star as two friends sharing lodgings with Terry's mother. Terry has aspirations for the finer things in life whereas Hugh is a bit more sedate and a whole lot more dopey. The pair work extremely well together, no doubt as a result of their music hall double-act which had gone on for some time prior to their appearing together on TV. Strange that we now think of Terry Scott as an indelible part of the Terry and June (Whitfield) double-act but that’s show-biz!

The series was produced for the most part by David Croft who went on to considerable success with shows like Dad’s Army, ‘Allo ‘Allo and ‘Are You Being Served?’.


Featuring all the surviving episodes from Series 1 and 2, it features Terry Scott as a young bachelor who lives with his mother at 33 Lobelia Avenue in Tooting. He passes his days dreaming of easy wealth - no hard work required. Simpleton, Hugh Lloyd is Terry's lodger. When he's not hard at work at the local aircraft factory, he whiles away his free time getting haplessly roped into Hugh's get-rich-quick schemes.


Recorded ‘live’ to a large degree, straight to video (with exteriors shot on film and inserted later as was the norm) the recordings look incredibly dated but watchable nonetheless, similar in quality to the surviving ‘Hancock’ episodes if you have those. Audio fares pretty well throughout whilst video quality does vary from merely OK to just about acceptable.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed the show; actually far more than I ever did ‘Terry and June’. There’s something very sparky about the way the duo work together – their comic timing is impeccable. Even though you can usually see the gags coming a mile off, it frequently took me by surprise and made me laugh aloud. There is plenty of farcical slap-stick but also lots of rather good one liners, usually delivered at Terry’s expense.


The series also stars Molly Sugden (Are You Being Served?) typecast as snobby neighbour Mrs Crispin and Patricia Hayes (Carry On films, A Fish called Wanda) as neighbour, the aptly named Mrs Wormold. Mr Crispin is a loud mouth who thinks violence is always the answer whilst Mrs Crispin is just a snob. Their daughter Norma injects a touch of glamour and is constantly chased after by men.


On the other side, the Wormolds are an older couple with Harold being particularly old and doddery – a part you’ll see in all Croft’s comedies, from the store owner in ‘Are You Being Served’ (‘You’ve all done very well!’) to the older chaps in Dad’s Army.

There seems to be a long history of male comedians seemingly living together in Britain – from Morecambe and Wise to Hancock and Sid James to Cannon and Ball. This works particularly well with Terry’s mother being placed firmly in the middle to keep the peace.


Episodes feature a range of adventures, from starting their own insurance business (with their first claim being from a man who has been hit on the head by their own sign) to high farce when Terry takes on responsibility for a local church fete which is a complete wash-out in more ways than one.

A highlight perhaps was an episode where Terry and Hugh end up with a bill they can’t pay at the Ritz and, far from working for the rich and famous as a personal aide as was planned, they have to wash dishes to pay the bill. Another fun episode features a neighbour dispute over a parked car which sees Terry getting fined for painting a line outside his own house.


You get the picture - lots and lots of inventive and farcical fun in true British sitcom style.

Hopefully this release will get the series the classic status it probably deserves. It’s a shame that its principal stars didn’t live to see it revived.
If you like vintage comedy then this will certainly be a pleasing addition to your collection. It’s better than you might think; not quite Hancock of course, but with plenty of laughs and some great character acting by all concerned. Recommended!