There Seems To Be A Bit Of A Nostalgic Theme Developing This Morning. Did Anyone Else Think Steptoe And Son Was The Blackest Of Black Comedies?

sandyRoe | 10:49 Tue 18th Aug 2015 | Film, Media & TV

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I wouldn't have been surprised if the son had done-in his old dad and then hung himself with the reins of their horse in a final episode.

Educating Archie

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VHG

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I should also say it WAS brilliant writing (and acting). I remember the one where two prisoners (one Leonard Rossiter) escape from prison and break into the Steptoe house. There is the younger prisoner (Rossiter) an and older prisoner, and they are mirror images of the two Steptoes. The younger prisoner says the older prisoner is holding him back, the older...

11:22 Tue 18th Aug 2015

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hellywelly4

Bathsheba - perhaps so, but he was so creepy. I felt he was like that in real life.

Bathsheba

yep, helly, I agree ;)

x x

andy-hughes

I think that is the sill of the actor.

Ben Drew (Plan B) who appears as a villain in the Harry Brown film plays an utterly repugnant character, but a mutual friend confirms that he is the loveliest man you could meet in 'real life'.

andy-hughes

Oops - make that the 'skill' of the actor!

Elina

Thanks for the links Tony, great to listen to them again! Well .. from the horses mouth ... at least he was respectful to his acting partner .. even though they obviously had their differences.

sandyRoe

Question Author

JG Devlin, a Belfast actor, was the older Steptoe's doppelganger. I think it was maybe the best of all the episodes.
I remember a line directed at the Steptoes: You're worse off here than we were in prison.

SeaJayPea

Some of you may not be aware that the BBC made radio versions of all the TV episodes and broadcast them on Radio 4. These are available on Radio 4 Extra every Thursday now at 08:00, with repeats at 12:00 and 19:00.

chaptazbru2

Never liked it, the dirty hovel they lived in always put me off !

Samuraisan

For me , Fools and Horses was the greatest comedy sitcom ever made. Inhave seen the same episodes over and over again and necer
tire.

chaptazbru2

I agree Sam .....

andy-hughes

I love F & H, and it also fits in with my premise that great comedy comes from the 'trapped' scenario.

Plus - great comedy is never afraid to dip into pathos. It's a very fine line, but it can be walked successfully by the best actors and writers.

An example is the Meldrews, who in all their series, made one and one only, reference to their son who had died in infancy, it was a very poignant moment - but it was never mentioned again.

A little glimpse under the surface of characters like that is what makes such writing and acting so wonderful to enjoy.

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