Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?

Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (1973)

7.72 seasonsComedy

Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? is a British sitcom which was broadcast between 9 January 1973 and 9 April 1974 on BBC1. It was the colour sequel to the mid-1960s hit The Likely Lads. It was created and written, as was its predecessor, by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. There were 26 television episodes over two series; and a subsequent 45-minute Christmas special was aired on 24 December 1974. The cast were reunited in 1975 for a BBC radio adaptation of series 1, transmitted on Radio 4 from July to October that year. In 1976, a feature film spin-off was made. Around the time of its release, however, Rodney Bewes and James Bolam fell out over a misunderstanding involving the press and have not spoken since. This long-suspected situation was finally confirmed by Bewes while promoting his autobiography in 2005. Unlike Bewes, Bolam is consistently reluctant to talk about the show, and has vetoed any attempt to revive his character.

📺 Seasons & Episodes

Specials1 episodes
Season 113 episodes
Strangers On A Train

1. Strangers On A Train

30 min

Five years have passed. Bob has travelled to London to buy a wedding present and Terry has returned from Cyprus after a spell in the army. By chance, they meet on the last train home and the events of the past few years flood out.

Home is the Hero

2. Home is the Hero

30 min

Thelma isn't happy that Terry and Bob have rekindled their friendship and she's worried that Terry will cause Bob to have second thoughts about their wedding. Terry starts to feel homesick for the army as his family don't exactly welcome him back with open arms.

Cold Feet

3. Cold Feet

30 min

Bob is deeply involved in preparations for his forthcoming wedding to Thelma, completing a period of courtship that started in form 4B at Park Junior School. But Terry's return has caused Bob to have doubts, especially when Terry teases him that his fate was sealed long before their 11-Plus.

Moving On

4. Moving On

30 min

Appalled by the changes in Newcastle, Terry considers leaving to get a job in Berwick. Meanwhile, his friend's wanderlust sets Bob thinking.

I'll Never Forget Whatshername

5. I'll Never Forget Whatshername

30 min

Terry tries to track down some of his old flames, but probing into the past produces embarrassing results.

Birthday Boy

6. Birthday Boy

30 min

Terry feels depressed when everyone, even his mother, forgets his birthday. To make up for it, Bob throws a surprise party, but preparations for the bash don't go according to plan.

No Hiding Place

7. No Hiding Place

30 min

Bob and Terry are desperate not to know the result of the England v Bulgaria football match, but with eight hours to go will they succeed in their mission?

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?

8. Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?

30 min

Bob thinks Terry needs new friends, but inviting him to Alan and Brenda's trendy dinner party might not be such a great idea.

Storm In a Tea Chest

9. Storm In a Tea Chest

30 min

Terry helps Bob move his most treasured possessions from his old house to the new one, but Thelma refuses to have his junk in their home.

The Old Magic

10. The Old Magic

30 min

Terry is disappointed that Bob has asked someone else to be his best man at the wedding, but eventually agrees to go out for a meal with his friend before he gets hitched. After a few drinks at the restaurant, they start to chat up a couple of pretty girls who are also eating there.

Count Down

11. Count Down

30 min

Mrs Chambers has grandiose plans for Thelma's wedding to Bob that leaves the men feeling overwhelmed, so they decide to rebel.

Boys Night In

12. Boys Night In

30 min

Terry is horrified when Bob refuses to go on a stag night and insists on a quiet night in instead. But pre-wedding nerves mean Bob's plan to celebrate his nuptials sober goes awry.

End of An Era

13. End of An Era

30 min

The day of the wedding dawns and the women are racing around getting ready for the big event. Meanwhile, Terry has his hands full looking after a nervous Bob.

Season 213 episodes
Absent Friends

1. Absent Friends

30 min

Bob and Thelma are on a Norwegian honeymoon, far away from the influence of Terry - or so they think. Terry is striving to get to know Thelma's sister Susan a lot better.

Heart to Heart

2. Heart to Heart

30 min

Terry is off his beer and making midnight visits to Bob's house to discuss the meaning and mystery of life - could this be love?

The Ant and the Grasshopper

3. The Ant and the Grasshopper

30 min

Bob's married life promises work, worry and wallpapering. Terry wastes the days away in the pub and the bookies, as happy as ever. Bob wonders who has the right answer.

One For the Road

4. One For the Road

30 min

According to Bob and Shakespeare, 'wine is a gentle stimulant and good companion' and so is Terry on the night Bob gets breathalyzed.

The Great Race

5. The Great Race

30 min

Bob and Terry argue about fitness over a pint and challenge each other to a cross-country cycle race to see who's the fittest.

Some Day We'll Laugh About All This

6. Some Day We'll Laugh About All This

30 min

Terry suggests he look after the house when Bob and Thelma go away to Scotland for the weekend. Bob is reluctant at first, but agrees to hand over the keys when Terry promises to do some much-needed DIY. But Terry has an ulterior motive for making such a generous offer.

In Harm's Way

7. In Harm's Way

30 min

Bob is in so much pain from the injury caused by Terry's shoddy DIY that he goes to the hospital. Terry is working there as a porter, a fact he tries to hide from his friend, even going so far as to don a disguise. But his attempts to help Bob only cause him more harm.

Affairs and Relations

8. Affairs and Relations

30 min

Bob takes time off from marriage to join Terry on a quiet weekend's fishing. He's racked by guilt, but he's not the guilty party.

The Expert

9. The Expert

30 min

Thelma has gone back to her mother, leaving Bob to bemoan his fate.

Between Ourselves

10. Between Ourselves

30 min

Thelma has left Bob and is still with her mother, leaving Terry to soothe Bob's furrowed brow. Bob is anxious in case people talk.

The Go-Between

11. The Go-Between

30 min

Bob becomes more and more depressed by Thelma's absence and Terry's housekeeping. Finally, Terry can take no more and leaves him as well.

Conduct Unbecoming

12. Conduct Unbecoming

30 min

When faced with a fight, Terry has a golden rule: 'Do unto others as they would do unto you - but do it first'.

The Shape of Things to Come

13. The Shape of Things to Come

30 min

The death of disreputable old Uncle Jacob is received by the Collier family with a mixture of regret and relief. The funeral gives Bob an insight into his future.

Cast

Rodney Bewes

Rodney Bewes

Bob Ferris

James Bolam

James Bolam

Terry Collier

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