After Henry
After Henry

After Henry (1988)

5.74 seasonsComedy

After Henry is a British sitcom written by Simon Brett, and starring Prunella Scales and Joan Sanderson. Originating as a radio programme on BBC Radio 4 from 1985 to 1989, it was adapted for television by Thames Television. Sarah is the 42-year-old widow of GP Henry France. She lives in an often volatile family situation with her elderly mother Eleanor Prescott, and her daughter, 18-year-old Clare, with both of whom she shares a house. Following Henry's death, the family have to find a way to cope with each other as best they can. The BBC was initially hesitant to produce a series but after three successful runs on BBC Radio 4, it was commissioned for the small screen. The series was surprisingly popular, attracting over 14 million viewers. Four seasons were made, with the last transmitted after the death of Sanderson, who died on 24 May 1992.

📺 Seasons & Episodes

Specials1 episodes
Series 17 episodes
Series 213 episodes
Intellectual Aspirations

1. Intellectual Aspirations

30 min

Clare gets into an intellectual challenge with her new boyfriend whom she believes to be terribly brainy. Eleanor decides it's a contest she can't be left out of.

Open Secrets

2. Open Secrets

30 min

When Sarah is invited out for lunch by a man, she has to make contingency plans to prevent her mother's 'Geriatric Mafia' finding out about it.

Memory Games

3. Memory Games

30 min

It's quiz night and Clare and Eleanor are in opposing teams, while Sarah seems to be having problems with the accuracy of her memory.

The Cold

4. The Cold

30 min

Sarah feels lousy, but in her family she's last on the list of casualties allowed to be treated if other people feel ill as well.

Wedding Bells

5. Wedding Bells

30 min

Eleanor wants to have a family wedding because she has heard that Vera Polling is having one and that, of course, puts the pressure on Sarah and Clare.

Lines of Communication

6. Lines of Communication

30 min

Sarah and Eleanor have fallen out and there seems little chance of a reconciliation. But Clare decides to use one of her old school games to alleviate the problem.

Gossip

7. Gossip

30 min

Sarah is accused of scandal-mongering after inadvertently starting a rumour about the pension counter's sister.

Out on a Limb

8. Out on a Limb

30 min

With Eleanor off to the Bridge Club dinner and dance with Vera Polling, Sarah decides to invite Dr. Sam Greenland over for a quiet dinner but things do not go according to plan.

Upstagers

9. Upstagers

30 min

With Eleanor off to the Bridge Club dinner and dance with Vera Polling, Sarah decides to invite Dr Sam Greenland over for a quiet dinner. But the best laid plans...

Idle Speculation

10. Idle Speculation

30 min

Sarah, Eleanor and Clare are enlisted by the local amateur dramatic society when it suddenly loses its leading players.

Efficiency

11. Efficiency

30 min

Eleanor is left in charge of the bookshop when Russell and Sarah go off for a special lunch. She initiates an efficiency drive, which goes badly wrong.

Going Away

12. Going Away

30 min

Eleanor is left in charge of the bookshop when Russell and Sarah go off for a special lunch. She initiates an efficiency drive, which goes badly wrong.

A Week of Sundays

13. A Week of Sundays

30 min

Sarah makes plans to escape to Portugal for two weeks with her glamorous friend, Alison. But Eleanor brings all her emotional blackmailing skills to the fore to scupper the plans.

Series 312 episodes
Mr Right

1. Mr Right

30 min

Christmas at home will never be the same without Henry, so Sarah, Eleanor and Clare decide to accept all the invitations they’re offered. Anything to get out of the house...

Curiosity

2. Curiosity

30 min

Clare’s love life has been rocky in the past, but at last she has a boyfriend who seems perfect in every way. But is he too perfect for Sarah?

Home Comforts

3. Home Comforts

30 min

Sarah knows her mother answers the phone for her, and also suspects Eleanor reads her mail. Russell decides to catch her out…

Relative Movement

4. Relative Movement

30 min

For years, Eleanor has said that everyone would be happier if she moved into a home, and now, finally, she goes with Vera to investigate the delights of ‘The Sycamores’.

The Dinner Party

5. The Dinner Party

30 min

Sarah asks some friends round for dinner, but finds that Clare is giving a party on the same day.

Mr Fixit

6. Mr Fixit

30 min

Clare feels insulted when her new boyfriend pays more attention to fixing up her new car than to her.

Charity

7. Charity

30 min

Sarah figures out how she can use her fund-raising activities for the local hospital as a way of securing a nice quiet evening with a nice quiet man.

The Mysterious Affair at Bygone Books

8. The Mysterious Affair at Bygone Books

30 min

When a crime occurs at Russell's shop, Eleanor brings her experience of reading Agatha Christie novels to bear in solving the case.

Party Politics

9. Party Politics

30 min

Eleanor intends to show off her social skills by giving a party, but Sarah is not on the guest list. Unfortunately, she involves Vera in the preparations.

Unforseen Circumstances

10. Unforseen Circumstances

30 min

Sarah meets a smooth-talking gentleman who uses astrology as part of his chat-up routine but doesn't reckon with any of his predictions coming true.

Family Album

11. Family Album

30 min

When Eleanor's sister Lilian visits, Eleanor's version of her past life is called into question.

Last Chances

12. Last Chances

30 min

Sarah suddenly finds her uneventful life at a crossroads when she is offered a chance to change it completely. But can she take it...?

Series 46 episodes

Cast

Prunella Scales

Prunella Scales

Sarah France

Joan Sanderson

Joan Sanderson

Eleanor Prescott

Janine Wood

Janine Wood

Clare France

Jonathan Newth

Jonathan Newth

Russell Bryant

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