Anyone else got the early series om DVD? Started off watching The Return Of Shelley (Series 7) when I was a kid and thought I'd see what the early series were like, and was impressed. I found the character in TROS to be bitter and cynical - unurprising given his wife walks out on him - whilst the Shelley of the early shows rebelling against the system was refreshing.
I enjoyed the later shows, & would love to see some of the earlier ones again as I was a bit to young to appreciate them fully at the time.
I remember this being on as a kid. I think my Dad liked it. Hywel Bennett wasn't it? I was always put off by his boggly eyes.
I'd be interested to watch an episode now though.
Yes, that's him.
*clears throat*
Series 1
See Amazon product listing
[p=http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/3276529/Shelley_Series_1/Product.html]
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Series 2
See Amazon product listing
[p=http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/3342689/Shelley_Series_2/Product.html]
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Series 3
See Amazon product listing
[p=http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/3439529/Shelley-Series-3/Product.html]
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The first three series, written by Peter Tilbury, were highly amusing, but when other writers took over the character seemed to lose his charm. I suspect that with mass unemployment it became unacceptable to have a lead who revelled in being on the dole (I recall an earnest young woman informing me that the show "mocked the unemployed"), so Shelley was increasingly in the workplace and, rather unappealingly, sneering at superiors less educated than himself.
If you like the original Shelly you should also try to track down It Takes A Worried Man, in which Tilbury himself plays the lead.
I have thought about getting the first three series on DVD. I remember it being on during my childhood but I was too young to really appreciate it back then. I recall that the theme tune to the show was particularly downbeat and almost haunting. To me it kind of embodied Shelley's existence. Oh well, I know what I mean in any case.
Def.
The theme tune was by Ron Grainer, who did the Steptoe & Son theme, and also Doctor Who, if I'm not mistaken. It reminds me of the Steptoe theme a little bit, albiet a jauntier version.
Edited by Aaron.
It's something I've been tempted to buy myself.
I was also too young to really appreciate it, the first time around, but I'm intrigued by it, and would be interested in watching it. Would someone tell me exactly what it was about? I'm guessing he was an underachieving slacker, right?
Yep, to start off he's living with his girlfroemd Fran who he eventually marries. He has to get a job as she becomes pregnant with his child; I've only watched up until the end of the third series where she gives birth, but from what I remember of what follows next, Fran gets sick of Shelley always beimg unemployed and leaves him, emigrating to Canada with their daughter Emma. The first run of Shelley ends with him heading to Saudi Arabia to teach English (I think).
Edited by Aaron.
Thanks. I'll definitely try and get hold of the DVDs, in the future.
Quote: catskillz @ May 3 2009, 9:33 PM BSTThanks. I'll definitely try and get hold of the DVDs, in the future.
Welcome
Series 4 is now available:
See Amazon product listing
[p=http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/9663450/Shelley-Series-4/Product.html]
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I saw that, comes out 2 days after my birthday lol 
Get it pre-ordered for a present then. 
The cheapest place online to order it is HMV (link above) for £8.49.
