British Comedy Guide
Only When I Laugh. Image shows from L to R: Dr. Gordon Thorpe (Richard Wilson), Roy Figgis (James Bolam), Norman Binns (Christopher Strauli), Archie Glover (Peter Bowles). Copyright: Yorkshire Television
Only When I Laugh

Only When I Laugh

  • TV sitcom
  • ITV1
  • 1979 - 1982
  • 29 episodes (4 series)

Roy Figgis, Norman Binns and Archie Glover are long-term residents of the NHS. Despite this, they never fail to get themselves into trouble. Stars James Bolam, Peter Bowles, Christopher Strauli, Richard Wilson and Derrick Branche

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Only When I Laugh. Image shows from L to R: Archie Glover (Peter Bowles), Roy Figgis (James Bolam), Norman Binns (Christopher Strauli)

Key details

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
1979 - 1982
Channel
ITV
Episodes
29 (4 series)
Stars
James Bolam, Peter Bowles, Christopher Strauli, Richard Wilson and Derrick Branche
Writer
Eric Chappell
Director
Vernon Lawrence
Producer
Vernon Lawrence
Company

James Bolam plays Roy Figgis, a long-term NHS hospital bed occupant. Archie Glover (Peter Bowles) and Norman Binns (Christopher Strauli) are his wardmates, all suffering from extreme cases of hypchondria.

Despite being apparently 'ill', the three don't just get themselves into trouble, but seem to have difficulty behaving.

Richard Wilson plays Dr Gordon Thorpe, and Derrick Branche is Gupte, the ward orderly, who are both the bane of the three's lives, and they the bane of theirs.

Additional details

Production
Studio
Camera set-up
Multi-camera
Picture
Colour

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Monday 29th October 1979 at 8pm on ITV1
Most recent repeats

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