"Yus My Dear" Brother Benny (TV Episode 1976) Poster

(TV Series)

(1976)

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4/10
Brother Benny
Prismark101 August 2023
Yus My Dear was a spin off to the ITV sitcom Romany Jones. Broadcast for only two series, Yus My Dear is regarded as the pits for television comedy. That's no mean feat for an ITV sitcom as it has a lot of competition.

I reckon part of the issue was that after his death, Arthur Mullard was accused by his own daughter of sexually assaulting her. He was also extremely violent to his wife and drove her to suicide.

I have to confess that I liked Yus My Dear when it was originally broadcast. In my defence I was still at primary school.

Wally (Arthur Mullard) and Lily (Queenie Watts) Briggs have moved from their gypsy caravan site to a council house. Wally seems to be doing well working in a building site.

Life would be idyllic but Lily takes the wage packet leaving him with just a few quid. He is also made to wear garish clothes.

The fly in the ointment is Wally's sponging brother Benny (Mike Reid.) Life for him is birds, booze and the bookies. Benny is always tapping Wally for money.

In the first episode while Wally and Lily have gone to an important committee meeting. Benny invites his girlfriend Molly round to their house to eat their food and maybe a bit of nookie. Benny starts by getting Molly's dress wet so she has to strip to her underwear.

Wally and Lily are in for a shock when they return with the prim, proper and middle class Mr and Mrs Hartington in tow.

This is a broad comedy with some Carry On type smut. Surprisingly it was shown rather early in the evening. The punchline was signalled as Molly only claps eyes on Mrs Hartington late on.

The comedy is mainly provided by Mike Reid, then better known as a stand up comic. He even seems to flirt a bit with Lily who usually sees right through his tricks.

I did find it amusing here and there. I liked how Benny managed to get Lily to turn around as she only had her front covered with a towel.

The sore point was to see Arthur Mullard in the bath.
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9/10
''I didn't know cheese floated!''
Rabical-9115 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Shortly after the fourth and final series of 'Romany Jones' ended, the characters of Wally and Lil Briggs proved so popular that writers Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney wrote a sequel especially for them entitled 'Yus, My Dear'.

Joining the cast is Mike Reid as Wally's conniving layabout brother Benny ( who was never mentioned in the earlier show ) who each week would mercilessly sponge off of his gullible older brother at every opportunity.

Wally returns home from work ( he has now gotten a job on a building site and he and Lil have now moved from their dingy caravan to a council house ) and is told by Lil that he must have a bath as they have been invited to a committee meeting. Whilst luxuriating in the bath with a cheese sandwich ( his slobbish ways have not deserted him! ), he receives a visit from Benny who says he is in dire need of £25. Wally lends him the money, much to Lil's annoyance.

Benny wastes the money on a horse, much to the displeasure of his girlfriend Molly ( the lovely Valerie Walsh ) whom he promised a night out on the town with. Instead, he takes her back to Wally and Lil's house, only later to be caught in a compromising position with her when Wally and Lil return home with the chairman of the committee and his prudish wife ( whom they invited back for supper)!

A decent opener. Yes, the show was a one trick pony ( before certain trolls try and point that out to me ) but if you are broad minded enough to accept it for what it was it was perfectly worth watching for getting a good easy laugh, something which a lot of comedy shows these days cannot do. Mike Reid was hilarious as Benny and his scenes with Mullard were hilarious. Also catching on the eye was Valerie Walsh. She really was a sexy piece of work. She reminded me of a teacher I once had a crush on back in high school!

The chairman and his wife are played by Noel Coleman and Joan Sanderson. Coleman was The Commander in 'The Top Secret Life Of Edgar Briggs' whilst Joan Sanderson was Mrs. Ewell in 'Please Sir!' and was Mrs. Richards in the classic 'Fawlty Towers' episode 'Communication Problems'.

Funniest bit - Benny telling Wally he needs the money because a man he owes money to has threatened to cut his throat if he doesn't pay him back. Wally says to ask Lil. ''You're joking!'' says Benny, ''she'll help him sharpen the knife!''.
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