Duty Free

Time seems to have eclipsed exactly how popular this BAFTA-nominated British sitcom once was in its heyday. In its time it regularly topped the UK TV ratings, even elbowing Coronation Street and EastEnders from the top spot on occasions. This was definitely one of ITV's better sitcoms of the day and was often hailed as "ITV's answer to Fawlty Towers". This is something of an overstatement as it's not a patch on Fawlty Towers, but it certainly has SOMETHING going for it. Strictly lightweight fare, this is, perhaps, perfect viewing for a rainy Sunday afternoon (if you like this sort of thing that is).

Written by Eric Chappell and Jean Warr, the former being the mastermind behind another classic ITV sitcom, Rising Damp, Duty Free, like Rising Damp before it, began life as a stage play prior to being developed into a television series. With the television series going into production in late 1983, its first series aired in early 1984 and was an immediate hit, leading to three series', the final being aired in 1986 (the same year it was nominated for a BAFTA but lost out to Just Good Friends ).

The premise of Duty Free was centered around two warring couples, both from completely different backgrounds. David (Keith Barron) is in Spain with his wife Amy (Gwen Taylor) after having been made redundant following years of service as a draughtsman. This is meant to be like a second honeymoon for the couple but all of these plans go out the window when they meet another English couple at the San Remo hotel in which they're staying: the stuffy Robert (Neil Stacy) and the elegant though effected and snobbish Linda (Joanna Van Gyseghem). An instant attraction between the ever-pretentious David and Linda becomes all too apparent, while Robert remains completely oblivious and Amy looks on in horror, desperate to save her marriage. David and Linda often try to consummate their feelings for one another, but all often their plans are thwarted by Amy who outsmarts them every ti...