Bless This House (1971)

Made in the gap year when there was no Carry On production for the small screen, this one-off special stars Sid James as Sid Jones, a put-upon father of two who is not too far distant from one Sid Abbot.

Sid tries desperately to understand his two teenage children, but the more he tries, the less he understands them.

Sid overhears a conversation between the doctors and, as usual, gets crossed messages.

Sally has a date with a mystery man, and Jean has a surprise for Sid for Father's day; but Sid's suspicious mind throws a spanner in the works.

Sid tells Mike to find a job, but much to Jean's dismay, Mike announces he is leaving home. Sally is so upset that she decides she is leaving too. How will Jean react to her children both leaving? And how will Sid cope with the fall out?

Sid's boss asks him to look after a special gift that he has bought for his wife for a special anniversary. What could possibly go wrong?

Dinner time at the Abbotts turns into a debate about the generations, and the morals of meat eating, as Sally and Sid lock horns. Sid and Jean suspect Mike is planning to elope.

After many years as a stay at home mother, Jean decides she wants to get a job. She knows the family will struggle without her though, so she hires a cleaner.

It's Sunday, and Sid wants a day of rest, but with the sink blocking, and Mike creating his sculpture, a day of rest is the last thing he's going to get. Jean and Sid meet their new neighbors.

Betty and Trev have a huge row, and Trev decides he wants to come stay at Sid and Jean's house. However, this doesn't make everyone happy, and trouble ensues. Mike meanwhile, decides he wants to be spiritual.

Mike and his friends decide to spend the weekend living on bread and water, and give what they would have spent on food to charity. He encourages his parents to join him. They do; but Sid finds it a lot harder than he expected it to be.

Sally has been looking after the elderly in the area, and brings a dog home to stay, as one of the men she has been caring for has had to get rid of him. Sally, Jean, and Mike love 'Fred' the mongrel, and want him to stay, but Sid has other ideas.

Sid wakes up with a hangover after a night with the guys. He has no memory of what happened the night before, and is stunned to see an array of items that don't belong to him. Meanwhile, Mike advertises his sculptures to raise some money.

Something is missing from Sid's garden, and he has his suspicions as to who is responsible....

Sid's problems start when the family returns from holiday. Apart from having nothing to wear, everything seems as it was before they left - or is it?

It doesn't often happen that Sid is able to get home from work early, but when he can, he does - and this time it doesn't do him much good.

Of course Sid doesn't have to ask Jean if he can go fishing for the weekend. But Jean is expecting Sid to be home - after all, Sid never plans anything without consulting her.

When Sid gets home after a hard day's work, he's perfectly right in expecting his dinner to be waiting for him - but circumstances dictate otherwise...

Sid and Jean's reminiscences of what happened just after the war make "The Naked Flesh" seem like the epilogue.

Sid's plans for the Saturday afternoon do not include Jean's sister; and if she can't make arrangements to fit in then the only course for Sid is to take to his bed - dangerously ill.

If Jean hadn't started checking up on Sid, because he was late home for supper, then she wouldn't have discovered that he had a date the following evening.

It's not often that Sid agrees with Jean about anything, and when he does it usually takes her by surprise and ends in disaster.

It comes as quite a surprise to Sid to discover Mike would rather not have a gold watch for his birthday - but what he wants instead comes as an even bigger surprise.

Sid waits in trepidation when he finds out that Mr Marshall, his boss, is coming round on Saturday morning. Of course, nothing goes to plan.

Sid's problems start when Betty brings something into the house. Mike also brings something into the house and things get worse.

The Abbotts have to cope with a death in the family...

Mike goes off his food, takes to wearing a collar and tie, and is reluctant to say where he disappears to every evening...

It is not that Sid and Jean are actually spying, but when they do happen to notice something going on next door, they can't ignore it, can they?

Most families have a skeleton in the cupboard, and Sid's skeleton has been hidden away for forty years...

When's Sid's boss goes on holiday, Sid takes it upon himself to guard the 'goodies', but the family are not too happy to stand guard on rota.

It is not that Sid is out of condition, it's just that fridges are getting heavier these days!

When Mike has a brilliant idea it usually costs Sid money. But when it only involves the grotty old garage, Sid can be persuaded.

Jean going down with flu is one thing, Sally is another, and Mike is another - but Sid can cope. Then Betty gets pregant twinges...

Most soldiers left their hearts in Paris, but not Sid. However, when Sid and Jean spend a weekend in Paris, they discover that the entente is not so cordiale.

Jean finds out that Sexy Sandra is what makes a shrivelled-up old prune with a wire brush on top turn into Putney's oldest Teeny Bopper.

When an old flame rekindles warmth in Jean's heart, Sid begins to burn. It really is not as though he's jealous. Then Betty opens her mouth...

If Sid had not interfered with Sally's job interview, Sally would not believe there are times when a girl's worst friend is her father.

Anxious to share in Sid's bonus and commission, Jean, Sally and Mike remind Sid of the things they are always doing for him.

The trouble starts when Sally and Mike go into business buying and selling old junk. Sid puts up with it until 'one big thing' arrives in his garden.

When Betty from next door pops in to ask a 'little' favour, Sid is not at all keen - but Jean insists they are friends and encourages her to persist.

When Mike and Sally bring home something that has 'fallen off the back of a lorry', Sid warns them about mixing with villains like 'Fingers' Taplock.

Sid's overjoyed at Mike marrying into a wealthy family but when another close tie between the two families is announced, Sid takes a different view.

Sid and Jeans 25th Wedding Anniversary is coming up and Sid is planning a party.

Sid Jones is a put-upon father of two who is not too far distant from one Sid Abbot.

Sid decides to enter a songwriting competition with his un-acknowledged classic "You Can Have My Welks and Cockles But Leave My Winkles Alone."

The trouble starts with Sid's morning paper - Sid wants to do the crossword and Jean wants to read her horoscope. Not that she really believes it - unless it turns out right.

Sid brings home an old wodden chair, but there's something wrong with it. Meanwhile, Mike's dancer girlfriend comes to stay, but Mike doesn't explain what sort of dancer she is.

Sid isn't too fond of Mike and Sally's latest scheme to raise some money for a holiday.

Sid is shocked when Jean tells him she wants a lover!

Sid's efforts to avoid 'The Pirates of Penzance' lead him into trouble with a pot of paint and a policeman. And then Travor brings in the Japanese...

What should a husband do if his family give him a birthday present he can't use?

Sid doesn't like the idea of Sally and Mike befriending a tramp. He likes it even less when Sally brings him home and everyone takes the tramp's side.

Disenchanted with the local Residents Association, Sid leads a revolt against the Chairman. Then Trevor takes things one step too far.

Family weddings aren't Sid's idea of a good time, but he'll put up with them as long as there's a booze-up.

Sid has more than a few problems when Jean convinces him to buy a deep freeze.

Sid has a series of restless nights.

Sid is feeling a bit off colour and his doctor suggests he find himself a hobby.

When Mike moves into a flat of his own Jean decides to re-decorate his old room.

Sid's sponging family are anxious to share in his bonus and commission.

When Sid's Uncle Percy dies, he leaves Sid two large packing cases and a small brown parcel.

Sid is awake night after night worrying about the countries troubles.

Sid tells Jean he has a temporary promotion at work. But soon Jean is beginning to doubt what he told her.

Jean is worried about strange noises coming from next door.

A damp patch on the living-room carpet doesn't bother Sid - until he takes the skirting board off.

Sid wins a large export order, but Jean's plan for Mike to take a photograph of him for the local paper goes awry.

Sid discovers where the money for his birthday party has come from, and he doesn't like it.

When Sid discovers why Jean is sulking and Sally and Mike won't talk to him, he goes to the pub with Trevor where they devise a plan to set things right.