I can only echo what many reviewers have already said. Bob Larbey's writing, although not brilliant in this comedy, is nonetheless very competent and the combined skills of Waterman,Kelly and Sims comfortably slot into their respective roles. You can see that they ALL probably had a lot of fun making the series as the interactions seem natural. The basic setup is very familiar with Denis having come from poor and made his money the hard way....hard work. At his side the whole time is his lifetime friend Sam who, nonetheless wishes his boss were a little truer to his roots. The cook, played delightfully by Joan Sims of Carry On fame, steals many a scene and her years of experience show nicely. Denis' business manager Maggie, provides a nicely done foil to the almost ex-wife and an always-lurking POSSIBLE love interest to either of the 2 male leads. The trio of talent provides all that is necessary to bring this otherwise pretty 'ordinary' comedy up to the level of VERY good. Has held it's age well as of this year anyway.
7 Reviews
''Just the one!''
Rabical-9113 February 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Bob Larbey for many years made a living devising sitcoms with John Esmonde such as 'The Good Life', 'Get Some In', 'Please Sir' and its sequel 'The Fenn Street Gang' and 'Brush Strokes', however in later years he began creating sitcoms by himself such as 'A Fine Romance', 'As Time Goes By' and this, 'On The Up', a delightful class conflict sitcom which ran easily to three series.
Tony Webster, played to the hilt by Dennis Waterman, is a self made millionare who runs a successful mini-cab firm. Despite his wealth, he has managed to hang on to his working class roots, much to the disgust of his ghastly wife Ruth, who whenever she falls out with Tony, spends her time at Claridge's ( at his cost ). Ruth also dIsaproves of Tony's friendly relationship with their domestic staff who include Sam, the chauffeur and lifelong friend of Tony's, sherry supping cook Fiona Wembley and young Scottish secretary Maggie ( the gorgeous Jenna Russell ).
Caught between a rock and a hard place with her squabbling parents is Stephanie ( Vanessa Hadaway ), who resides in a boarding school. Also on the scene to cause embarrasment to Ruth is Tony's marxist mother Mrs. Carpenter ( played first by Dora Bryan, then by Pauline Letts ) and family friend Dawn ( Michelle Hatch ), a blond bimbo who works as a model. In the final series , Tony and Ruth get a divorce and Tony begins a relationship with the lovely Jane Webster ( Fiona Mollison ).
'On The Up' is no classic by any means but it is light, satisfying entertainment. Dennis Waterman's touching portrayal as the successful but down to earth Tony made the show charming to watch. It was unusual to see him in a sitcom after years of seeing him in shows such as 'Minder' and 'The Sweeney'. Judy Buxton, who played Ruth, specialised in playing snooty women. Bob Larbey gave his characters many good lines, particularly 'Carry On' stalwart Joan Sims who with her ''just the one!'' catchphrase, always spouted following her consumption of a glass of sherry, stole the show. Also giving an air of romance to the show was Sam Kelly and Jenna Russell. The latter, still a sexy woman ( and who also sang the closing theme to 'Red Dwarf' ), is now to be seen in the role of Michelle Fowler ( after Susan Tully chose not to reprise the role ) in 'Eastenders'.
Some episodes are better than others, but then that is the way with sitcoms generally and when it was enjoyable it was very much so and is fondly remembered.
Tony Webster, played to the hilt by Dennis Waterman, is a self made millionare who runs a successful mini-cab firm. Despite his wealth, he has managed to hang on to his working class roots, much to the disgust of his ghastly wife Ruth, who whenever she falls out with Tony, spends her time at Claridge's ( at his cost ). Ruth also dIsaproves of Tony's friendly relationship with their domestic staff who include Sam, the chauffeur and lifelong friend of Tony's, sherry supping cook Fiona Wembley and young Scottish secretary Maggie ( the gorgeous Jenna Russell ).
Caught between a rock and a hard place with her squabbling parents is Stephanie ( Vanessa Hadaway ), who resides in a boarding school. Also on the scene to cause embarrasment to Ruth is Tony's marxist mother Mrs. Carpenter ( played first by Dora Bryan, then by Pauline Letts ) and family friend Dawn ( Michelle Hatch ), a blond bimbo who works as a model. In the final series , Tony and Ruth get a divorce and Tony begins a relationship with the lovely Jane Webster ( Fiona Mollison ).
'On The Up' is no classic by any means but it is light, satisfying entertainment. Dennis Waterman's touching portrayal as the successful but down to earth Tony made the show charming to watch. It was unusual to see him in a sitcom after years of seeing him in shows such as 'Minder' and 'The Sweeney'. Judy Buxton, who played Ruth, specialised in playing snooty women. Bob Larbey gave his characters many good lines, particularly 'Carry On' stalwart Joan Sims who with her ''just the one!'' catchphrase, always spouted following her consumption of a glass of sherry, stole the show. Also giving an air of romance to the show was Sam Kelly and Jenna Russell. The latter, still a sexy woman ( and who also sang the closing theme to 'Red Dwarf' ), is now to be seen in the role of Michelle Fowler ( after Susan Tully chose not to reprise the role ) in 'Eastenders'.
Some episodes are better than others, but then that is the way with sitcoms generally and when it was enjoyable it was very much so and is fondly remembered.
Neither bad nor great
marktayloruk17 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Curious as to how they get together in the first
place. Sorry for Stephanie in that I don't approve of boarding schools but couldn't resist wondering - Tony once lost his temper and spanked his wife. How come he restrained himself with his daughter?
Charming comedy, fondly remembered
Youkilledmypine15 November 2005
Dennis Waterman had a winning formula that endeared him to the British public. He often sang a show's theme tune, played a role with likable affability and his supporting cast are usually comprised of familiar faces from film comedy classics. On The Up is no exception, Waterman (Tony) is joined by the experienced comedy favourite Sam Kelly and the sorely missed, wonderful, late First Lady of Carry On films Joan Sims.
It is perhaps the personal touches that made this show a success for the BBC. Calling the driver Sam and having namesake Kelly play him worked well for the mostly straight-faced banter between him and Tony. It is Sims however that adds a level of sentiment that is simply heart wrenching. Having endured much personal tragedy in her life, Sims began drinking during the 1980's until it hospitalised her and she rehabilitated. On The Up sees her playing a charming housekeeper (Mrs. Wembley) who is kept company at the end of her weary day by a glass of sherry while she sits quietly in the dark alone (until joined by Tony of course). A fitting catchphrase and in-joke was coined with her 'Just the one!' drinking policy, only to hear back 'Just the one Mrs. Wembley'. The extremely versatile actress had a diverse, impressive and extensive body of work, but it is this sitcom that I remember as a suitable commentary on a much sadder period in her life.
On The Up was a light and impossibly inoffensive comedy that ran only for an enjoyable couple of series. The jokes weren't bad, the wife was cold, the daughter wayward and the hired help sassy. Simple and effective. Another case of 'they don't make them like they used to' perhaps.
It is perhaps the personal touches that made this show a success for the BBC. Calling the driver Sam and having namesake Kelly play him worked well for the mostly straight-faced banter between him and Tony. It is Sims however that adds a level of sentiment that is simply heart wrenching. Having endured much personal tragedy in her life, Sims began drinking during the 1980's until it hospitalised her and she rehabilitated. On The Up sees her playing a charming housekeeper (Mrs. Wembley) who is kept company at the end of her weary day by a glass of sherry while she sits quietly in the dark alone (until joined by Tony of course). A fitting catchphrase and in-joke was coined with her 'Just the one!' drinking policy, only to hear back 'Just the one Mrs. Wembley'. The extremely versatile actress had a diverse, impressive and extensive body of work, but it is this sitcom that I remember as a suitable commentary on a much sadder period in her life.
On The Up was a light and impossibly inoffensive comedy that ran only for an enjoyable couple of series. The jokes weren't bad, the wife was cold, the daughter wayward and the hired help sassy. Simple and effective. Another case of 'they don't make them like they used to' perhaps.
Instantly forgettable
martin-intercultural29 March 2021
There are BBC comedies from the Nineties one can watch a thousand times and not get tired (AbFab, Keeping Up Appearances). This is not one of them. The cast is reasonably talented and some of the dialog did give me a chuckle or two. But as soon as I'm done with the DVD box set, I'm giving it away. Perhaps the premise of "self-made millionaire's domestics have it in for his posh wife" was meant to be a post-Thatcher take on Upstairs, Downstairs. But it just isn't engaging enough. Worse, as viewers we not only never quite suspend our disbelief - we can practically see the scriptwriting team racking their brains, trying to create drama out of the most trivial of situations. Whatever has been done or said in the plot, everyone is constantly up in arms - discussing the implications till the cows come home. And by "everyone" I mean everyone - grandma, daughter who's back from boarding school, daughter's classmate's mother and several folksy characters who end their sentences with "...innit?". I could understand if these were seasons 23 and 24 of an endless soap. But they're not.
Not even diverting - less than average at best
gb90119 November 2021
This very so so early 90s BBC sitcom. Vaguely recall watching it but certainly didn't wasn't an avid viewer of all episodes throughout the three series! The pairing of the young secretary and very very much older Sam Kelly at its denouement very much stretched credibility!
Mediocre
atrickyone10 May 2022
The writer, Bob Larbey, never seems to have managed to drag himself out of the rut of bland comedy. Typically this one raises the occasional mild chuckle but if you like the occasional uproarious laugh, or actual wit, or even broad humor, you'll invariably need to look elsewhere. The leading actors are all seasoned professionals but even they can't redeem this one.
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