User Reviews

Fawlty Towers had Lord Melbury, Rising Damp had Seymour. Rigsby is in awe of his sophisticated, eloquent, smart new resident, Seymour, the only problem, is that he's a crook, Alan and Philip aren't taken in by his charms.

It really is an episode for the boys, is this the only episode not to feature Miss Jones or Brenda?

It really is a classic, one of Rising Damp's finest, it exposes Rigsby's desperate need to social climb, his real weakness. It's an episode that shows just how wonderful Alan and Philip are, thy really are the Ood guys, and stick up for their miserly landlord.

Henry McGee is wonderful as Seymour, it's a brilliant performance, you are never aware that anyone is missing.

Classic, 9/10.

With Miss Jones being written out from the rest of the second series. It allowed the writers to experiment with new lodgers.

In this episode we are introduced to the suave and sophisticated Seymour played by Henry McGee. It seems he has come over from some colonial part of Africa, he is into financial investments and he has Rigsby polishing his shoes.

Rigby is fawning all over Seymour despite him not yet paying the rent. Seymour is from the right sort of breeding, he knows the mayor and is up there with the committee of the local golf club.

Alan and Philip view him as a scrounger who is appealing in Rigsby's snobbish side. In short he is a con man and Rigsby has just invested in a company that has found oil in the Pennines.

Henry McGee was regarded as one of the best straight man in the business and he was better known for his work with Benny Hill.

I think the description does a disservice to him as he was adept at light comedy himself. He had honed his skills in the theatre where he had done work ranging from Shakespeare to farce. This episode works because he understands comedy, he just knows when to exaggerate his actions enough such as pickpocketing Rigsby.

However Seymour also shows his sneering racist side to Philip when he describes Birmingham as 'White man's grave.'

This is undoubtedly the best episode of Rising Damp and part of the plot was recycled in the movie version of the television series.

I would go as far to say that this episode easily ranks alongside with the best episodes of Dad's Army and Steptoe and Son.