It amuses me to see other reviewers complaining about this show's so-called 'schoolboy humour'. That was intentional. It was aimed at children!
One of the few good things about television nowadays is that you can tune into an archive channel, such as 'Talking Pictures T. V.', and be unexpectedly confronted by something you've not seen in years. It can be simultaneously exciting and disconcerting. Last year, Michael Pertwee's children's sitcom 'Hogg's Back' got its first airing since its original transmission back in the mid-70's. This popular show starred the late Derek Royle as 'Dr. Hogg', a useless G. P. called out of retirement who causes havoc wherever he goes, a sort of geriatric Frank Spencer. Jacki Piper played his receptionist originally, then Wendy Richard, and finally Pat Coombs. Gordon Rollings made occasional appearances as an undertaker, with Robert Dorning as a pompous retired Colonel. The show was as slapstick as is possible to get, with Royle ( an acrobat in his younger days ) tripping, stumbling and lurching all over the place.
Of course, some people will not to be too thrilled to see it again, while others who missed it the first time will judge it by today's standards and turn up their noses at it. Well, all I can say is, in an era when Miranda Hart falling over repeatedly is regarded as the ultimate in side-splitting hilarity ( it isn't ), give me 'Hogg's Back' every time. The country village setting and use of established character actors made this for me a pleasure to watch recently, and I hope it isn't too long before it is shown again. If only 'Bright's Boffins' still existed in the archives, it could be repeated and then I would be very happy indeed!
One of the few good things about television nowadays is that you can tune into an archive channel, such as 'Talking Pictures T. V.', and be unexpectedly confronted by something you've not seen in years. It can be simultaneously exciting and disconcerting. Last year, Michael Pertwee's children's sitcom 'Hogg's Back' got its first airing since its original transmission back in the mid-70's. This popular show starred the late Derek Royle as 'Dr. Hogg', a useless G. P. called out of retirement who causes havoc wherever he goes, a sort of geriatric Frank Spencer. Jacki Piper played his receptionist originally, then Wendy Richard, and finally Pat Coombs. Gordon Rollings made occasional appearances as an undertaker, with Robert Dorning as a pompous retired Colonel. The show was as slapstick as is possible to get, with Royle ( an acrobat in his younger days ) tripping, stumbling and lurching all over the place.
Of course, some people will not to be too thrilled to see it again, while others who missed it the first time will judge it by today's standards and turn up their noses at it. Well, all I can say is, in an era when Miranda Hart falling over repeatedly is regarded as the ultimate in side-splitting hilarity ( it isn't ), give me 'Hogg's Back' every time. The country village setting and use of established character actors made this for me a pleasure to watch recently, and I hope it isn't too long before it is shown again. If only 'Bright's Boffins' still existed in the archives, it could be repeated and then I would be very happy indeed!