User Reviews

When Frank Spencer drove into the sea on Christmas Day 1975, viewers must have thought they had seen the last ( repeats excluded ) of the accident-prone character. Michael Crawford was keen to move on to stage musicals. But, at the climax of a 1977 documentary entitled 'To Be Perfectly Frank' ( which basically was about how the stunts were performed ) the actor said: "Although I have said I won't play Frank again, I wouldn't like to close any doors just yet...I miss him very much!".

In early 1978, 'The Sun' reported that Crawford had been signed for a third run of 'Some Mothers'. Good news indeed. It also claimed Peter Cook and Dudley Moore were all set to revive 'Not Only But Also'. Very good news indeed. Well, one out of two was not bad.

Michael Mills having moved to Thames ( where he produced the successful 'Get Some In!' ), ex-'Porridge' producer Sydney Lotterby replaced him. Raymond Allen was still writing the scripts, but this time the credits carried an addition: 'Based On Stories By Michael Crawford'. Frank is basically the same, except for his vocabulary which seems to have expanded considerably since we last saw him, hence expressions such as "we've been ejaculated from our home!".

'Moving House' begins with the Spencers doing just that. The removal men are too nervous to venture upstairs, so Frank has to bring the furniture down himself. No sooner have they left their old home than it literally collapses. Betty's reckless driving means the removal van has to keep up, causing Frank to be buffeted about like a rag doll. Most of their belongings wind up on the road. Frank even falls into a barrel of tar at one point, and emerges looking like something out of 'Quatermass 2' ( he chats briefly to an Indian man played by Babar Bhatti - of 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum' - but this scene is missing from the D. V. D. Release ).

Minus shirt, he goes to see Mr. Wright ( Glyn Houston ) to see about getting a phone installed in his shed. He fails. At 27 Sodbury Terrace, he turns the water back on, drenching neighbour Mr. Lewis ( Glynn Edwards ) who had been trying to unblock the sink...

I'm sure impressionists must have been horrified when they saw this opener and found Frank not wearing his trademark beret and mackintosh. Luckily, these returned in the very next episode. To promote the show, Crawford appeared on 'Larry Grayson's Generation Game' the very evening it was broadcast. He was in character, and fell off the top of a big stepladder.

Ronnie Hazlehurst's theme has ( to emphasise this is a new show ) been augmented by a tuba.

Funniest moment - it is night time. Frank goes up into the loft, and falls head-first through his neighbour's ( Jean Boht ) ceiling, clutching the cat: "Hello. I'm your new neighbour!".