The Larkins (1958)

The Larkins family live in domestic disharmony at 66 Sycamore Street, somewhere in East London.

Put-upon but wily Alf is a typical working class husband and father, henpecked but denying it and perhaps a little too fond of beer and betting for his own good; he's a proud member of local pub The Lion and Unicorn's drinking society, the FLUIDS. His wife Ada is a domineering battle-axe of a woman who rules the roost with a fiery temper and a no-nonsense attitude to just about everything.

Their son Eddie is in his early 20s. Freshly demobbed from National Service, he is not quite a walking disaster area but certainly attracts more than his fair share of minor calamity and misfortune! His elder sister, Joyce, is far more well-adjusted to dealing with both of their parents and life in general; she still lives in the family home, with her American husband, an ex-GI turned comic-book writer, Jeff. He's not too different to Alf in many regards and feels the same sharp end of Ada's tongue with quite some regularity, but she's got a particular soft spot for his easy-going, witty charm.

Occasionally warring but usually on good terms as best friends, number 66 is completed by the more-often-than-not presence of next door neighbour Hetty Prout and her daughter, Myrtle, who's long been head-over-heels in love with Eddie - something he alone is entirely oblivious to!

After four hit series the sitcom came to an end, but public adoration for the characters ensured its return three years later.

The revived series sees Eddie employed overseas on government business, whilst Jeff has found greater success as a writer of plays and moved back to America with Joyce to capitalise on his burgeoning career whilst he can. Back in London, Sycamore Street has succumbed to post-war redevelopment and Alf has been made redundant; the combined financial benefits of which he and Ada have used to purchase their own business: a nearby, traditional working man's café.

Hetty's now a constant presence, working as their waitress and kitchen-hand, whilst Alf and Ada live in accommodation above the business. The property also has a small handful of extra rooms that they run as a guest-house, with Major Rigby-Soames (retired) a full-time resident. He and Alf get on famously, and the café is rounded out by regular diners Lofty, Henry and Paddy.