Desmonds was very much inspired by The Cosby Show with a British twist.
Norman Beaton was Desmond Ambrose, the barber who one day dreams to return to Guyana and the house he has built.
He has wife Shirley and three children but only two of the kids are shown in the first episode.
Much of the action takes place in the barber's shop in Peckham. It is more than a place for getting a haircut but a social gathering place.
Regulars include Desmond's best friend Porkpie Grant and African student Matthew.
The first episode sees Shirley having French language lessons. Desmond is perturbed when she stays out late one evening, thinking she might be having an affair.
The show benefits from its vast range of characters. It was from a black writer who wrote primarily for the black community.
It would only be many years later on a trip to Africa, I realised that a hairdresser could double up as an internet cafe and also be a meeting place.
The opener has a weak central story. What it does have is a good chemistry between the cast.