Duncan is undergoing a mid-life crisis which takes the form of bursts of uncontrollable rage. Everything seems to upset him, from coffee machines that do not work to hermetically sealed sandwiches. He even loses his temper with one of his patients, a young boy.
Concerned for his well being, Dick suggests he sees a psychiatrist. Luckily, Duncan is married to one.
It becomes clear Duncan is jealous of Collier's success. Dick suggests he goes into the private sector too. Paul leaves him in charge of his patients for a day to see what it is like. Unfortunately, his first is the same boy he shouted at in St. Swithins...
The last episode of 'At The Top' was by Bill Oddie and, while not as good as his others, was better than those at the start of the series. Funniest moment - Snell trying to calm Duncan by giving him coffee, only to get it thrown in his face!
The big audience for 'Sins Of The Father' did not stick around. First impressions count and its particularly true of sitcoms. Unless viewers bust a gut laughing at the first episode, they do not tune in again. Which means they would have been unaware of the upswing in quality which occurred with the fourth episode. A similar upswing took place in the first series of 'In The House' in 1969. In those days, each season had a longer run ( usually thirteen episodes ) meaning viewers had time to get to like the characters. In 'At The Top', what few viewers remained had just gotten accustomed to the new-look St. Swithins, when it was axed.
There's no use in denying it was a ratings failure. For all its faults, though, it was superior to other revived sitcoms of that era, such as 'The Liver Birds' and 'Agony Again'. It deserved a second season, preferably with new writers aboard.
When Layton was the subject of a 'This Is Your Life' later in the decade, Oddie came on as a guest, and made light of the failure of 'At The Top'. Apart from a solitary repeat on U.K. Gold in the mid-90's, it has not been seen since. If nothing else, it gave an extra dimension to the characters, reminding us that youth is something we only have once and ought to cherish while it lasts.
Five years after 'At The Top', the St. Swithins' gang were back on British T.V. screens, courtesy of the then-new satellite channel 'Granada Plus'. A whole new generation was able to enjoy a complete run of the L.W.T. 'Doctor' series, commencing ( rather oddly ) with the second season of 'In Charge'. 'Men & Motors' recently repeated both seasons of 'In The House' and it is out on D.V.D. There seems little chance of it being forgotten.
Reviewing all these episodes has left me exhausted, and in need of a nice, soothing massage. Wonder if Nurse Willett is available?
Concerned for his well being, Dick suggests he sees a psychiatrist. Luckily, Duncan is married to one.
It becomes clear Duncan is jealous of Collier's success. Dick suggests he goes into the private sector too. Paul leaves him in charge of his patients for a day to see what it is like. Unfortunately, his first is the same boy he shouted at in St. Swithins...
The last episode of 'At The Top' was by Bill Oddie and, while not as good as his others, was better than those at the start of the series. Funniest moment - Snell trying to calm Duncan by giving him coffee, only to get it thrown in his face!
The big audience for 'Sins Of The Father' did not stick around. First impressions count and its particularly true of sitcoms. Unless viewers bust a gut laughing at the first episode, they do not tune in again. Which means they would have been unaware of the upswing in quality which occurred with the fourth episode. A similar upswing took place in the first series of 'In The House' in 1969. In those days, each season had a longer run ( usually thirteen episodes ) meaning viewers had time to get to like the characters. In 'At The Top', what few viewers remained had just gotten accustomed to the new-look St. Swithins, when it was axed.
There's no use in denying it was a ratings failure. For all its faults, though, it was superior to other revived sitcoms of that era, such as 'The Liver Birds' and 'Agony Again'. It deserved a second season, preferably with new writers aboard.
When Layton was the subject of a 'This Is Your Life' later in the decade, Oddie came on as a guest, and made light of the failure of 'At The Top'. Apart from a solitary repeat on U.K. Gold in the mid-90's, it has not been seen since. If nothing else, it gave an extra dimension to the characters, reminding us that youth is something we only have once and ought to cherish while it lasts.
Five years after 'At The Top', the St. Swithins' gang were back on British T.V. screens, courtesy of the then-new satellite channel 'Granada Plus'. A whole new generation was able to enjoy a complete run of the L.W.T. 'Doctor' series, commencing ( rather oddly ) with the second season of 'In Charge'. 'Men & Motors' recently repeated both seasons of 'In The House' and it is out on D.V.D. There seems little chance of it being forgotten.
Reviewing all these episodes has left me exhausted, and in need of a nice, soothing massage. Wonder if Nurse Willett is available?