British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide
The Liver Birds. Image shows from L to R: Beryl Hennessey (Polly James), Sandra Hutchinson (Nerys Hughes). Copyright: BBC
The Liver Birds

The Liver Birds

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC One
  • 1969 - 1996
  • 86 episodes (10 series)

Sitcom exploring the lives and loves of two young, single females sharing a flat together in Liverpool. Stars Nerys Hughes, Polly James, Elizabeth Estensen, Pauline Collins, Mollie Sugden and more.

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See also

Comedy Playhouse

Comedy Playhouse

The first and most celebrated of all pilot and comedy trial seasons, Comedy Playhouse was originally devised to find new programmes for Ray Galton and Alan Simpson following the end of Hancock's Half Hour.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC TV

You Me And Him

Unbroadcast sitcom pilot in which Michael Angelis reprises his role as Lucian from The Liver Birds.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC TV

No Strings

Carla Lane-penned sitcom about Derek and his new, quirky flatmate Leonora, and their burgeoning relationship.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC TV

The Bachelor Girls

Sitcom pilot about two young ladies sharing a flat in a fashionable area.

Artsnight: A Tribute To Carla Lane. Carla Lane. Copyright: BBC TV

Comedy Classics: Bread, Butterflies & Liver Birds

Documentary celebrating Carla Lane's celebrated sitcoms, The Liver Birds, Butterflies and Bread.

Bless This House. Image shows from L to R: Jean Abbott (Diana Coupland), Sid Abbott (Sid James), Mike Abbott (Robin Stewart), Sally Abbott (Sally Geeson). Copyright: Thames Television TV

Bless This House

A popular 1970s sitcom starring Sid James. Sid Abbott is, day-in, day-out, hindered in anything and everything by his family.

BBC One. Copyright: BBC TV

Divided We Stand

Comedy from Liver Birds co-creator Myra Taylor about a married couple living almost separate lives in the same house.

Butterflies. Image shows from L to R: Ben Parkinson (Geoffrey Palmer), Ria Parkinson (Wendy Craig) TV

Butterflies

Sitcom following dissatisfied housewife Ria Parkinson as she considers embarking on an exciting romantic affair with successful businessman Leonard.

Solo. Gemma Palmer (Felicity Kendal). Copyright: BBC TV

Solo

Sitcom about Gemma Palmer, a newly single girl intent on making her own, independent way in the world, with varying degrees of failure.

Bread. Image shows from L to R: Joey Boswell (Graham Bickley), Aveline Boswell (Melanie Hill), Nellie Boswell (Jean Boht), Grandad (Kenneth Waller), Shifty (Bryan Murray), Adrian Boswell (Jonathon Morris), Billy Boswell (Nick Conway), Freddie Boswell (Ronald Forfar). Copyright: BBC TV

Bread

Liverpudlian Boswell family are experts at exploiting the system to get by in life, with plenty of dodgy deals and government handouts to help.

The Likely Lads. Image shows from L to R: Terry Collier (James Bolam), Bob Ferris (Rodney Bewes) TV

The Likely Lads

Bob and Terry are two lads from the North East with contrasting desires and ambitions - except when it comes to chatting up girls.

Our Day Out. Mr Briggs (Alun Armstrong). Copyright: BBC TV

Our Day Out

Comedy amidst a school trip of deprived students.

No Surrender. Mike (Michael Angelis). Copyright: No Surrender Films Ltd Film

No Surrender

Dark comedy drama by Alan Bleasdale, centred around a run-down nightclub in Liverpool and a particularly shambolic New Year's Eve party.

Babes In The Wood. Image shows from L to R: Caralyn (Natalie Walter), Charlie (Karl Howman), Ruth (Samantha Janus), Leigh (Denise Van Outen). Copyright: ITV TV

Babes In The Wood

A peek into the steamy lives of three young women who share a flat in London, and their neighbour Charlie, a middle-aged divorcee.

Dream Stuffing. Image shows from L to R: Mo (Amanda Symonds), Jude (Rachel Weaver). Copyright: Limehouse Productions TV

Dream Stuffing

Sitcom about two young women sharing a high-rise flat in east London, struggling to find work, love, and their place in society.

Sex And The Sitcom. Copyright: Crocodile Media TV

Sex And The Sitcom

Documentary examining how society's attitudes towards sex and sexuality since the 1950s have been reflected in sitcom.

Dressing For Breakfast. Louise (Beatie Edney) TV

Dressing For Breakfast

Louise is single, bright and attractive. She likes her independence, but would love to meet Mr Right. Or at least Mr Reasonable.

Girls On Top. Image shows from L to R: Amanda Ripley (Dawn French), Candice Valentine (Tracey Ullman), Lady Chloe Carlton (Joan Greenwood), Shelley DuPont (Ruby Wax), Jennifer Marsh (Jennifer Saunders) TV

Girls On Top

Four girls share a flat together in London. Having nothing in common aside from their gender, they barely manage to co-exist.

Comedy Playhouse: Where It All Began. Copyright: BBC TV

Comedy Playhouse: Where It All Began

A documentary looking back at the original BBC Comedy Playhouse pilot strand, featuring contributions from some of those involved.

Artsnight: A Tribute To Carla Lane. Carla Lane. Copyright: BBC TV

Artsnight: A Tribute To Carla Lane

BBC Two's Artsnight pays tribute to comedy writer Carla Lane.

It's Awfully Bad For Your Eyes, Darling.... Image shows left to right: Pudding (Jane Carr), Clover Mason (Elizabeth Knight), Bobby Dutton (Jeremy Lloyd), Samantha (Joanna Lumley), Dominic (Jonathan Cecil). Credit: BBC TV

It's Awfully Bad For Your Eyes, Darling...

Flatshare sitcom about a group of girls from well-off backgrounds.

ITV1 logo. Credit: ITV TV

Third Time Lucky

When George meets his first wife Beth again, he realises that he is still in love with her and proposes - but now they must tell their daughters.

Watching. Image shows from L to R: Malcolm Stoneway (Paul Bown), Pamela Lynch nee Wilson (Liza Tarbuck), Brenda Wilson (Emma Wray). Copyright: Granada Television TV

Watching

Sitcom following the relationship of a mismatched couple.

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