Acorn delve into TV archives for DVD releases

Acorn Media, the DVD distribution company that has in the past issued such well-loved series as To The Manor Born and The Good Life, appears to be expanding its comedy offerings by delving deep into the BBC's television archives.

Comedy aficionados have long called for a BBC equivalent to Network DVD, the company responsible for pumping out hundreds of DVD releases of both loved and forgotten ITV series, over the past decade. However, with the BBC's own label, 2 Entertain, seeming unable - or just plain unwilling - to answer the call, American-owned Acorn Media appear to have stepped up to the plate with a number of fascinating releases both in the recent past, and coming up over the next 12 months.

One of their most interesting upcoming releases is Casanova '73 (pictured, right), starring British cinema legend Leslie Phillips. Penned by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson - the highly regarded writing duo behind Hancock's Half Hour and Steptoe And Son - the show focuses on Henry Newhouse ('new house', a translation of the Italian 'casa nova' - geddit?), a slightly reluctant middle-aged lothario; he loves his wife, but no matter how hard he tries, just can't help falling into bed with a string of glamorous, saucy and alluring young women.

The series, broadcast as the title suggests in 1973, caused quite a stir at the time, enraging clean-up-TV campaigners including Mary Whitehouse. One episode sees Newhouse's own niece attempting to seduce him, whilst another features Henry judging a beauty contest. It's interesting to note that the show was inspired by a one-off sitcom play written by Galton & Simpson, and also starring Leslie Phillips and Jan Holden (as his wife), from 1969. Broadcast as part of ITV's The Galton & Simpson Comedy series, the plot of The Suit saw Howard Butler caught at his girlfriend's flat in a state of undress when a burglar breaks in and steals his clothes. Sadly this earlier production isn't included in the Casanova '73 DVD set.

Although not released until next month, the DVD (which includes interviews with Phillips, and Galton & Simpson) is available to pre-order now. Orders placed through Acorn's own website are already being shipped. More information

One would have thought that the BBC would have already taken advantage of the works of the writers of Steptoe And Son, but one would be wrong: earlier this year, Acorn released an even earlier Galton & Simpson title, Citizen James.

An indirect spin-off from Hancock's Half Hour, the sitcom saw comedy legend Sid James take on his own starring role. His character's almost identical to that which we grew to love alongside the Lad 'Imself; a wheeler-deeler type, quick-witted gambler and constant fiancé with an eye for money-making schemes.

Sadly, Citizen James is one series that hasn't survived the infamous videotape purges of the 1960s, 70s and 80s: whilst Galton and Simpson's first series exists in its entirety (6 episodes), only 2 episodes each from Series 2 and 3 - penned by Sid Green and Dick Hills (who also wrote for Morecambe & Wise) - survive.

Those Green and Hills series marked a curious change for the series, with Sid becoming less of a cheeky 'spiv' and more of a social crusader, taking up various causes in each episode.

Thankfully, Acorn released all 10 surviving episodes, alongside another Galton & Simpson interview, and a feature talking to Series 1 co-star Liz Fraser about the show. More information

The company's digging through BBC comedy gold does not stop there, however.

Next in Acorn's eyes are two titles from Andy Hamilton, the co-creator and co-writer of sitcom hits including Old Harry's Game on Radio 4, BBC One's family hit Outnumbered, and biting 1990s satire Drop The Dead Donkey.

The first, to be released in May 2013, is Trevor's World Of Sport. Broadcast in 2003 it centres on Trevor Heslop (Drop The Dead Donkey's Neil Pearson), a manager and agent to various sports stars, alongside his deeply immoral business partner Sammy Dobbs (Paul Reynolds).

The 6-part series was thrown around the schedules by BBC One, but in British Comedy Guide's opinion was one of the best sitcoms of the early 2000s. Signature Hamilton wit combines with a ribbing at the expense of deluded and self-interested sport stars, and some wonderful satire of the cult of celebrity. As if to prove its quality, when BBC One refused to order a second series Radio 4 took up the TWOS torch - where it ran for another 3 full series until 2007.

As is the case with Casanova '73, the DVD release of Trevor's World Of Sport is not yet available in shops, but pre-orders placed through Acorn's website will be shipped in just a few weeks from now. Great for sport fans and not, what better a Christmas present than a DVD that's not even been released yet? Alongside the full TV series is an interview with writer-creator Andy Hamilton. More information

The second Hamilton title is 2001 to 2003 part-sitcom part-comedy drama Bedtime. Andrew and Alice Oldfield (Timothy West and Sheila Hancock) are the couple to whom - and around whom - so much is happening; a small suburban world of car alarms, noisy lovemaking, broken windows, newborn babies and revenge as a dish served fiery hot.

The series delves into the last half an hour awake each evening, of both the Oldfields and their neighbours. It's a subtle, keenly-observed series that shines a light on that supposedly quiet, calming time of the day when we should all be winding down and ready to sleep. Acorn's DVD includes all three series, plus an interview with Hamilton.

Again, the title won't be widely available until May 2013, but will be sent out to those pre-ordering via the Acorn website very soon - the first stock is expected by the end of October. More information

That brings us nicely to a particularly exciting and aged title: Marriage Lines.

Starring a young Richard Briers alongside an equally youthful Prunella Scales, Marriage Lines was an early contribution from prolific writer Richard Waring (...And Mother Makes Three, My Wife Next Door, Rings On Their Fingers, Ukridge, Miss Jones And Son, and many others).

First seen on BBC One in August 1963, the sitcom - tracing the trials, tribulations and pitfalls of marital 'bliss' for the Starlings - ran for five series until 1966, totalling 45 episodes. Alas, Marriage Lines is another victim of the videotape wiping policy, and only 17 editions are still known to exist; the complete Series 1, and complete Series 3.

Acorn describe the first series: "Newly-married George and Kate Starling arrive home from their honeymoon to discover that they've lost their door keys. How they come to meet their new neighbours and events that follow, sets the tone for a series that lovingly explores the perils and pitfalls of love, marriage, anniversaries, petty quarrels and the kind of making-up that's not so hard to do."

The third series - seven episodes first transmitted in January and February 1965 - sees the Starlings struggle to become parents for the first time.

Set for release in February, pre-orders direct through Acorn will be sent out soon. The 3-disc set includes all 17 existing episodes - the complete Series 1 & 3 - as well as The Starlings Reunited, a specially filmed interview feature with both Briers and Scales. More information

That is, of course, just a small selection of recent and upcoming Acorn Media comedy titles. Others include Dear Ladies, Dear John...., Chelmsford 123, Shine On Harvey Moon, and Filthy, Rich & Catflap - with plenty more to be announced, we are assured!

Whilst we admit we do balk slightly over titles such as Solo and the As Time Goes By reunion specials, both of which have been released on DVD by other companies in the past (albeit without Acorn's range of extras), we really must congratulate Acorn Media on their wider efforts to open up the BBC's tightly-closed archives and give us a chance to enjoy a wide range of wonderful comedy series, from the relatively recent Trevor's World Of Sport to the positively ancient Citizen James, and a healthy selection of others in-between: Don't Wait Up, Rings On Their Fingers, Brush Strokes...

Their output may not yet be quite as prolific as Network DVD's, but Acorn Media is definitely a company to watch for in future.