"He was an engine driver, you know!"

"He was an engine driver, you know!"

After we finished watching 'Hi-de-Hi!' we decided to watch another David Croft related comedy.
 I had bought 'Oh Doctor Beeching!' a while ago having had fond memories of it. The setting is a interesting one and gives you scope for fun situations.

Set in 1963, with the Beeching railway cuts looming, it is very much an ensemble piece featuring many David Croft regulars, but in this show they are given different things to do and novel characters to play.

The lovely Jeffrey Holland goes from the naive Spike to the slightly pompous Cecil Parkinson who arrives to be the new Station Master in Episode One ('All Change'). Cecil finds that the love of his life May (played by Sherrie Hewson in the pilot and Julia Deakin in the actual series) is the canteen manager. But also married to porter Jack Skinner played by Paul Shane.

Also featured is Ethel Schumann, the slightly scatty booking clerk as played by the ever wonderful Su Pollard.

There is also grumpy signalman Harry Lambert, played by Stephen Lewis, who is making his debut in a David Croft production. Also not forgetting Vera Plumtree, whose late husband was "an engine driver you know". She is played by 'You Rang, M'Lord?' (and 'Emu's Broadcasting Company') stalwart Barbara New in a delightfully batty fashion, complete with mangled sentencings.

There are also a couple of other regulars in Ivor Roberts as engine driver Arnold Thomas who is frequently driven mad by trainee engine driver Ralph (Perry Benson) whose stopping style leaves a lot to be desired. And he really must learn to stop playing with his whistle. Which is wise advice for all of us, really...

Randy guard Percy (Terry John) is always around to flirt with Ethel, but that is as far as it gets.

Ethel's son Wilfred has the very funny habit of knocking on Cecil Parkinson's office door and then calling out "Come in!" without actually waiting for permission.

You also get co-creator and writer Richard Spendlove popping up in episodes as Mr Orkindale from the District Office.

Someone has clearly hired a massive camera crane for the OB work, with the opening tracking shot of 'All Change' being one of the most ambitious we've ever seen in the whole of British comedy. It just keeps going... and going... and going!

The show also features one of the most catchy theme tunes (I've resisted the urge to say "feem toon" there!) you will ever hear. And is that the studio audience singing along at the end? It certainly sounds like it. It's one of those songs that I find myself singing days later.

We're currently working our way through the second season and have just watched the episode 'Father's Day'. This one showcases a wonderful piece of physical comedy from Su Pollard involving a bar stool which is hilarious. She doesn't use a stunt woman, so full marks to her for that!

'Oh Doctor Beeching!' is available on DVD from Acorn Media.

(By Lisa Parker)