British Comedy Guide

Cockles

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC One
  • 1984
  • 6 episodes (1 series)

Arthur Dumpton returns to the seaside town of Cocklesea and attempts to restore it to its past glory. Stars James Grout, Joan Sims, Norman Rodway, Tim Wylton, Elizabeth Edmonds and more.

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Key details

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
1984
Channel
BBC 1
Episodes
6 (1 series)
Stars
James Grout, Joan Sims, Norman Rodway, Tim Wylton, Elizabeth Edmonds, Jane Lowe, Fanny Carby and David Bamber
Writer
Douglas Livingstone
Director
Barry Davis
Producer
Ruth Boswell
Company

When Arthur Drumpton is made redundant he chooses to leave London and return to Cocklesea, the seaside resort he frequented as a schoolboy. Already deserted by his wife (she ran off with his best friend), he hopes to re-create the glorious days of his youth.

With lay-off cheque in hand, he seeks out childhood friend Jacques du Bois, who it turns out is failed landscape painter and, unfortunately for Arthur, also a conman.

Jacques is married to the long-suffering Gloria. Gloria is proprietress of the Sunnysides Guest House but business is not great because Cocklesea is fading fast. Its pleasures appear to be all in the past and tourists are shunning its advances. With bigoted Jacques's bogus advice, the optimistic, easily-hoodwinked Arthur ploughs his wealth into schemes to rejuvenate the resort.

Additional details

Production
Studio
Picture
Colour

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Wednesday 4th January 1984 at 8:05pm on BBC One

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