A Bit of a Do
ComedyDrama
A Bit of a Do is a British comedy drama series based on the books by David Nobbs. The show starred David Jason and was aired on ITV in 1989. It was made for the ITV network by Yorkshire Television. The show was set in a fictional Yorkshire town. Each episode took place at a different social function and followed the changing lives of two families, the working-class Simcocks and the middle-class Rodenhursts, together with their respective friends, Rodney and Betty Sillitoe, and Neville Badger. The series begins with the wedding of Ted and Rita Simcock's son Paul to Laurence and Liz Rodenhurst's daughter Jenny; an event at which Ted and Liz begin an affair. The subsequent fallout from this affair forms the basis for most of the first series.
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Seasons & episodes
- 1The White Wedding13 Jan 1989It is the day of Paul and Jenny's wedding and their families must conceal their differences. Liz takes this to extremes by propositioning Ted and the two disappear to a hotel room at the reception. The day ends in violence and recrimination on all sides.
- 2The Dentists' Dinner Dance20 Jan 1989Laurence and Liz do not want Ted and Rita to attend the dance but feel compelled to invite them. Ted and Rita do not want to go but feel unable to decline. The event sees Liz confessing to Ted that she is pregnant with his child and Laurence and Rita becoming more aware of their affair.
- 3The Angling Club Christmas Party27 Jan 1989Ted and Liz attend the party as a couple which causes awkwardness amongst their family and friends. This is heightened when Laurence and Rita also put in an appearance. Ted is also blackmailed due to having cheated in a fishing tournament and shamefacedly resigns.
- 4The Charity Horse-Racing Evening3 Feb 1989Ted has to face his family and friends after having been declared bankrupt and subsequently left by Liz. She already has her eye on Neville however, but so does Rita. Meanwhile, Paul must try to keep his unfaithfulness a secret from Jenny.
- 5The Crowning of Miss Frozen Chicken (U.K.)10 Feb 1989Tensions run high among the group for a variety of reasons. Rodney has purchased Ted's foundry which causes no small degree of acrimony, Paul confesses to Jenny about his dalliance with Carol and protesters interrupt the beauty pageant. The evening climaxes with Neville and Liz agreeing to marry; much to the shock of Rita and Laurence.
- 6The Registry Office Wedding17 Feb 1989It is the day of Neville and Liz's wedding but Laurence's recent suicide casts a cloud over proceedings. There is brighter news for Rita though, as she attends with a new man and Jenny and Paul reunite due to Jenny's pregnancy. The wedding breakfast takes place at the restaurant in which Ted now works and he must endure the embarrassment of waiting on his former wife and lover.
Details
- Created by
- David Nobbs
- First aired
- 13 Jan 1989
- Last aired
- 1 Dec 1989
- Status
- Ended
- Language
- English
- Network
- ITV1
- Episodes
- 13
- Votes
- 11 on TMDB
Cast
David JasonTed Simcock
Gwen TaylorRita Simcock
Nicola PagettLiz Badger (née Rodenhurst)
Stephanie ColeBetty Sillitoe
Tim WyltonRodney Sillitoe
Sarah-Jane HolmJenny Simcock
Wayne FoskettElvis Simcock
Nigel HastingsSimon Rodenhurst
Karen DruryCarol Fordingbridge
