British Comedy Guide
Nearest And Dearest. Image shows from L to R: Nellie Pledge (Hylda Baker), Eli Pledge (Jimmy Jewel). Copyright: Granada Television
Nearest And Dearest

Nearest And Dearest

  • TV sitcom
  • ITV1
  • 1968 - 1973
  • 45 episodes (7 series)

Sitcom about brother and sister, Eli and Nellie Pledge, forced to run a pickle factory together. Stars Hylda Baker, Jimmy Jewel, Joe Gladwin, Madge Hindle, Edward Malin and Bert Palmer

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Series 3, Episode 5 - Getting To Know You

Nellie and Eli somehow manage to lock themselves in their cellar.

Further details

Eli is off for a dirty weekend in the country, but before he goes, Nellie wants him to mend the fuses in the cellar. Whilst down there, they manage to get locked in, and their constant cries for help prove fruitless, so they are forced to spend the night sleeping under a pile of newspapers.

The next day dawns and they have yet to have anything to eat. Nellie discovers a jar of pickles from 1922, but there is only one left, so Nellie gets to eat it. They then start to reminisce about the old times, and Nellie feels she can confide in Eli about her secret, a tattoo of a heart in a place where no living soul can view it. Eli then whispers to her about his secret of wearing a corset to keep his belly in.

Finally they are rescued by Lily and Walter who hear them banging on the cellar door. Eli is raring to go and attempt to rescue what bit of dirty weekend there is left, but Nellie refuses to let him go until he has mended those "bloody fuses". She then slams the cellar door, and they are back to square one!

Notes

This episode was broadcast with no closing credits.

This series was filmed in colour, but ITV was still only broadcasting in black and white at the time of its first transmission.

Broadcast details

Date
Thursday 6th November 1969
Time
9pm
Channel
ITV1
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Hylda Baker Nellie Pledge
Jimmy Jewel Eli Pledge
Joe Gladwin Stan Hardman
Madge Hindle Lily Tattershall
Edward Malin Walter Tattershall
Guest cast
Leslie Sarony Bert
Stella Moray Celia
Writing team
John Stevenson Writer
Production team
June Howson Director
Peter Eckersley Producer
Eric Deakins Production Designer
Derek Hilton Composer

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