The penultimate episode of 'In Sickness And In Health' begins where the last one left off. Alf is in the office of a smarmy bank manager ( the late John Normington ) and trying to explain where he acquired his newly-found wealth ( he found it in a case inside a secret compartment in Mrs. Hollingbery's wardrobe ). Alf has a brainwave; he says he won the money on the pools, and then forgot about it. Like you do. He gets away with it. When we next see his flat, it is decked out with expensive new furniture, including a bar. His Millwall-supporting neighbours rob the flat, forcing Alf to buy new furniture which he then chains to the floor ( why does he not move? ). The kitchen door is replaced by a wall of bars that looks like it has come straight from Wormwood Scrubs.
The first few episodes of Season 6 were below par, in my view, but the storyline about Alf's wealth perks things up considerably. Arthur English is greatly missed though. Given Alf's bigoted view of the Irish, its strange he now has an Iirishman ( Michael, played by the late James Ellis ) as his new drinking partner. Ken Campbell makes a brief return as 'Fred Johnson'. He is seen drinking and singing in Alf's private hospital room. His wife leaving him for another woman is not mentioned.
Viewers did not know that Alf's time on the BBC was coming to a close. After this series, Garnett would next be seen on U. K. Gold's 'A Word With Alf' ( which I never saw ). ITV did 'The Thoughts Of Chairman Alf' which was essentially the character facing a live audience. It was not the same. When this show was axed, Warren described the decision as 'dreadful'. It is hard to disagree.
Funniest moment - Alf has put his money in different bank accounts under false names, which he has written in a notebook. Looking for the book, he fumbles around in his trousers, causing a lady customer to have a fit of the vapours.
( I wish to dedicate this review to my beloved wife, who sadly died last December ).
The first few episodes of Season 6 were below par, in my view, but the storyline about Alf's wealth perks things up considerably. Arthur English is greatly missed though. Given Alf's bigoted view of the Irish, its strange he now has an Iirishman ( Michael, played by the late James Ellis ) as his new drinking partner. Ken Campbell makes a brief return as 'Fred Johnson'. He is seen drinking and singing in Alf's private hospital room. His wife leaving him for another woman is not mentioned.
Viewers did not know that Alf's time on the BBC was coming to a close. After this series, Garnett would next be seen on U. K. Gold's 'A Word With Alf' ( which I never saw ). ITV did 'The Thoughts Of Chairman Alf' which was essentially the character facing a live audience. It was not the same. When this show was axed, Warren described the decision as 'dreadful'. It is hard to disagree.
Funniest moment - Alf has put his money in different bank accounts under false names, which he has written in a notebook. Looking for the book, he fumbles around in his trousers, causing a lady customer to have a fit of the vapours.
( I wish to dedicate this review to my beloved wife, who sadly died last December ).