User Reviews

By the time the third season of 'Steptoe & Son' went on air, the programme had become a national institution.

Harold and Albert are in the country when they espy a lovely old Victorian house. Harold wonders if it is the property of a millionaire. His enthusiasm for the place causes his father to be suspicious. He is right to be. It is an old folks' home, which Harold intends putting him into while he goes off on a two year round-the-world cruise.

The old man is understandably horrified. After a long argument, he finally moves in, and Harold goes home to prepare for the trip. Until a letter from the organisers puts him firmly in his place...

A good start to the third series of 'Steptoe & Son', expertly mixing pathos and humour as usual. Harold comes across as pretty heartless here, attempting to talk his father into going into a home while of course the old man is having none of it. The shot of a tearful Albert sitting alone in his room is affecting. Naturally this situation is not permanent ( there would have been no series otherwise! ), with Harold's plans wrecked before they have a chance to come to fruition.

Peggy Thorpe-Bates plays the 'Matron'. Fans of 'Rumpole Of The Bailey' will recall she played his fearsome wife Hilda ( 'She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed' ) in the early seasons of the hit Thames show.

Funniest moment - on being told that five men and five women will be on Harold's cruise, Albert jumps to the wrong conclusion about what sort of trip it is going to be.