Open All Hours – Barker plays the miserly Northern shopkeeper Arkwright who victimises his errand boy nephew (played by David Jason). This entertaining episode also features Yootha Joyce playing the part of a customer. Sheila Brennan plays the part of Nurse Gladys (later to be played by Lynda Baron) and the shop is in a different location from the later series.

Prisoner and Escort – this is the classic precursor to Porridge, which sees Barker as prisoner Norman Stanley Fletcher being escorted to prison by Mr Mackay (played by Fulton Mackay) and Mr Barraclough (Brian Wilde).

My Old Man – this features Barker as an old man who is forced to leave his soon-to-be-demolished home to live with his daughter and her family. One of the best shows in the series, it features a funny cameo appearance by Leslie Dwyer.

Spanner’s Eleven – this episode follows the fortunes of Ashfield Athletic Football Club (or Ashfield Pathetic as a fan has daubed on the sign outside their ground). Barker is the manager of the beleaguered club, and is given an ultimatum by a local councillor (played by Bill Maynard) to achieve the impossible and actually win a game! The show has a similar feel to, but not quite the quality of, Michael Palin’s classic Ripping Yarns episode Golden Gordon.

Another Fine Mess – this enjoyable episode features Barker as an American man who sends his wife to sleep with tablets in order to escape for the evening to take part in a talent contest. Dressed as Oliver Hardy, he escapes from his bedroom to join up with Roy Castle whose character is dressed as Stan Laurel. However, they get sidetracked, to hilarious effect, on the way to the contest.

One Man’s Meat – written by Barker himself, this is the weakest show of the series and feels more like an extended sketch from The Two Ronnies than a sitcom. Barker’s character is a man who is desperate to escape a starvation diet imposed by his wife (played by Prunella Scales). The show also features guest appearances by Glynn Edwards, Joan Sims and Sam Kelly.

I’ll Fly You For A Quid – the final episode finds Barker as gambling Welshman Evan Owen, who is determined to retrieve his late father’s (cleverly also played by Barker) winning betting slip. The family in the show are keen to have a flutter on anything!

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