Rivalry between the physicians ( Dr.McKenzie, Professor Avery ) and surgeons ( Dr.Waring, Professor Sir Geoffrey Loftus ) breaks out into open warfare when a butcher named Mr.Wilkes ( John Tordoff ) arrives at St. Swithins. His X-ray has revealed what appears to be a gallstone. The surgeons want to operate, McKenzie insists this is not necessary. So determined is Waring to win the argument he gets Dick to pretend he has a gallstone and then writhe about in sheer agony...
A very funny Steve Thorn/Paul Wolfson episode. Underlining it is a subplot in which Dick is collecting labels off bottles of 'Vita-Fizz' to get a new Aston Martin. Mr.Wilkes is collecting them too, and has come up with what he hopes is a catchy slogan: 'Vita-Fizz The Fizz That Gives You Whizz'. The pitting of Dr.McKenzie against Dick and Duncan makes a nice change. Eventually, it is discovered ( by Gascoigne ) that the gallstone was in fact a 'gas shadow', hence no operation is needed.
Liz Gebhardt - 'Maureen' from 'Please Sir!' and 'The Fenn Street Gang' - plays 'Jane', a snooty medical student. John Tordoff had previously been 'Wally Cadaver' in the 'In Charge' episode 'A Night With The Dead' and was 'Tofkin' in three episodes of 'Citizen Smith'. Leslie French, cast as the absent-minded 'Professor Avery', was a distinguished character actor of considerable note.
Funniest moment - the final scene. As an angry Wilkes leaves the ward, he lets the doors swing back into Duncan and McKenzie's faces!
A very funny Steve Thorn/Paul Wolfson episode. Underlining it is a subplot in which Dick is collecting labels off bottles of 'Vita-Fizz' to get a new Aston Martin. Mr.Wilkes is collecting them too, and has come up with what he hopes is a catchy slogan: 'Vita-Fizz The Fizz That Gives You Whizz'. The pitting of Dr.McKenzie against Dick and Duncan makes a nice change. Eventually, it is discovered ( by Gascoigne ) that the gallstone was in fact a 'gas shadow', hence no operation is needed.
Liz Gebhardt - 'Maureen' from 'Please Sir!' and 'The Fenn Street Gang' - plays 'Jane', a snooty medical student. John Tordoff had previously been 'Wally Cadaver' in the 'In Charge' episode 'A Night With The Dead' and was 'Tofkin' in three episodes of 'Citizen Smith'. Leslie French, cast as the absent-minded 'Professor Avery', was a distinguished character actor of considerable note.
Funniest moment - the final scene. As an angry Wilkes leaves the ward, he lets the doors swing back into Duncan and McKenzie's faces!