As a Brit in his 50s, myself and my family would watch this show every week. Trust me, it was hilarious. The script writing was amazing along with the Characters. Rigsby (Leonard Rossiter) was an amazing actor. Sadly now deceased. Stick with it, it's a must. Glad to see your laughter, something this world is in need of today.

@stevesouthall4718

2 жыл бұрын

Yes he was amazing actor he was brilliant as johnny in the steptoe and son desperate hours when him and his mate break out of jail and end up at the steptoe house a must watch episode

@rolthesole

2 жыл бұрын

@@stevesouthall4718 and " Welsh Hughie " in " the lead man cometh ".

@logicalnetwork1611

2 жыл бұрын

Leonard rossiter died in 1984. So it was a long time.

When he gets REALLY agitated (which is quite often) Rigsby's facial expressions & frenetic body movements are a joy to behold. Top script, top actors. A fantastic series.

@Maesterful

2 жыл бұрын

Lose that wild look about the eyes man! 😂👀

When Alan (Richard Beckinsale) died in 1979, the whole country went into mourning. It was so unexpected, and he was a brilliant character. He would've done so much more comedy.

@jo.s7993

2 жыл бұрын

I remember it well. He was only 32, & had a heart attack due to an undiagnosed defect he was born with. His death really did upset the country in a massive way.

There's another brilliant episode where Philip convinces Rigsby that an african wood is an aphrodisiac!!

@PatriciaKelly-gz7vg

2 жыл бұрын

That’s my favourite too.

@lioncurlew

2 жыл бұрын

"Stage Struck" is a great episode

@tutts999

2 жыл бұрын

The best one they made, so funny. also the boxing match episode.

@paulbanks223

2 жыл бұрын

The ceremonial wood is a classic.

@danieleyre8913

2 жыл бұрын

I remember there was a great episode where they had a thespian staying there (and Rigsby was a c*nt to, but which got turned on his head).

Don Warrington (Philip) was so cool in this. It was based on a play called 'The Banana Box' and the original Rigsby on stage was Wilfred Brambell who was in The Beatles 'Hard Day's Night' but also in another 70's series worth watching, 'Steptoe and Son' which became 'Sanford and Son' over there. 'The Desperate Hours' Christmas episode would be good as that also has Leonard Rossiter as an escaped convict.

For Sitcoms of the 70’s this is easily top 5. Rossiter’s performance is quite incredible and a solid supporting cast.

You need to get into Porridge. Richard Beckinsale and Ronnie Barker are superb together.

This show gets better and better, stick with it....

What's interesting is that you end up feeling sorry for Rigsby the more you see of this show. He's ultimately a lonely nobody, and all of these prejudices of his just continue to make him seem foolish and out of touch. It made for great comedy back in the 70s, who knew that in 2021 we'd still be dealing with this crap?

The character development of Rigsby is impressive as you go through these. Glad you're sticking with them.

Don Warrington (Philip) once asked Leonard Rossiter (Rigsby) how he played the character so well. He replied "it`s the easiest thing in the world Don. I grew up with people like Rigsby, I know that kind of petty, small-minded prejudice inside out".

@peezebeuponyou3774

2 жыл бұрын

You got a link?

@johnbrereton5229

2 жыл бұрын

@@peezebeuponyou3774 I somehow doubt that he has !

@pxr0583

2 жыл бұрын

@@peezebeuponyou3774kzread.info/dash/bejne/m2WW26-EZrTgac4.html Rising Damp TV Series Documentary 29:54.

@pxr0583

2 жыл бұрын

@@johnbrereton5229 Oh, ye of little faith.

@johnbrereton5229

2 жыл бұрын

@@pxr0583 Well I watched it, and at 29.54 Don Warrington quotes Leonard Rossiter as telling him 'I know that man inside out' when referring to playing Rigsby. Therefore, he didn't actually say what you claimed about being racist and small minded. Perhaps you just misremebered it and elaborated it.

Richard Beckinsale is just as funny in porridge with Ronnie barker

@vilebrequin6923

2 жыл бұрын

He's got to check that series out!

@bpfromowc

2 жыл бұрын

Yes. “Porridge” is also brilliant.

@1998TDM

2 жыл бұрын

I was just thinking about Porridge, another side splitting show. EB needs to get that box set!

I was a young man when this first aired. It was really showing how stupid we were about race back then. The show was absoutley one of my favourites along with a couple of thers. I also liked Man about the House which played on end Hippy days fantasy really. Glad your not seeing it how others like to portray older stuff. You have to put yourself in the timeframe, situation and humour and clearly after watching a lot of your stuff, your fully able to do so. I like that you judge stuff from an uncontaminated impartial view point which is something a lot of younger folk seem not to be able to do now. Peace Boss

@batintheattic7293

Жыл бұрын

So much as there is a theme of racial prejudice, in this and similar series, it was actually morally enlightening. It can't be just the part of Britain, I'm from, but the ordinary people were a lot more obviously and egregiously racist than Rigsby. I'm white. I know what the elders in my family were like. They may not have been tub thumping and ready to kill but they really did have a settled conviction that 'white' DNA was superior to 'black' DNA. It was ugly. It was ugliness in a twinset. It was lazy and it was real. But then there were the likes of Pipkins and Playschool, aimed at my demographic, so it was always a bit shocking and confusing to be around my relatives when they were on a bit of a bigoted rant. I think, where I was, it was just at the cusp between past and future (culturally - if that makes any sense).

Philip is a genius. He knows exactly how to manipulate Rigsby and make a complete idiot of him :)

Heartbreaking that we lost Richard Beckinsale so young in 1979, and Leonard Rossiter in 1984.

@sahhull

2 жыл бұрын

Everything has to die at some point.

@malimbep4298

2 жыл бұрын

@@sahhull Not at 31 and 57 fool.

Believe it or not, this show just keeps getting better.

Alan is basically in modern current parlance "trolling" Rigsby. 😁

When you've got a chance try 'Porridge' with Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale (Alan in Rising Damp)

The trips down memory lane I'm having watching you react to some of the old classics I grew up watching. Lol. Always loved Rising Damp. And a fun fact for you, did you know that the actress Kate Beckinsale is Richard Beckinsales Daughter.

What you have to understand here with Philip is that he's having everyone else on about his background. There'll be some elements of truth woven in, but the majority of it is just confirming the expectations of what he thinks everyone else thinks about him. It's all tongue in cheek and eventually, Alan cottons on, but still plays along so they can both have fun at Rigsby's expense. Ruth, of course, does eventually get the message that Philip isn't interested in her and they become friends. Being the second episode, we haven't quite reached that point, yet, but it's a very interesting development.

Rigsby is a brilliant character, some episodes are masterpieces

"Ten wives, so he's a Mormon......Awesome"....... Oh that response cracked me up!!!

Stanley Kubrick thought highly of Leonard Rossiter (Rigsby) and he appeared in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and Barry Lyndon (1975). Sadly Leonard died towards the end of 1984.

the reason it worked so well is because 3 of the cast were in a play called the banana box on which this is based so had been playing the same people every night for about 4 years or more in reality rigsby and miss jones hated each other and the cat hated rigsby you can see how he had to cling on to it in some scenes.

This show was just amazingly funny. It was so cleverly written. There is a brilliant documentary about Leonard Rossiter and his work, the man was a perfectionist. It didn`t matter how many times they rehearsed a scene, he would keep them at it until it was just right. They were all hugely talented and it`s a shame that we don`t have humour like this anymore.

All four were excellent actors. The many episodes 1974-1978 were expertly written, without a hint of real malice, and the participants were all much loved. Sadly Richard Beckinsale died suddenly, of coronary heart disease, aged just 31. Perfectionist Leonard Rossiter died in his dressing room during a performance of 'Loot', aged 57. Frances is a Tony award winner and three times Olivier award winner. Don Warrington is an accomplished theatre actor. The latter two still occasionally appear on British tv.

@peterjackson4763

Жыл бұрын

Don Warrington appears regularly on Death in Paradise. I think his character is one of two originals still appearing

Some more British comedies for you to consider. Bless This House, George and Mildred, Citizen Smith and Last Of The Summer Wine.

If you don't start to love Richard Beckinsale over the course of this series, you definitely will when you watch his relationship with Ronnie Barker in 'Porridge'.

Another classic British comedy worth watching is "in sickness and in health" Alf Garnett was so funny

I don't think race has ever been the issue in the UK that it is in the USA, 25 years before this programme aired most Brits had never met a black person and the racism shown by Rigsby in this series is borne more from ignorance and unfamiliarity as much as anything. I was 10 when this series was made in 1974, we had maybe a dozen black kids at my school, which had about a 1000 pupils. My best mate back then was from a Barbadian family, never saw him get any shit, he'd be welcomed into all our friends homes in exactly the same way as all the other kids.

Believe it or not it gets even better...love Rising Damp. Great reaction 🤣

one of the best comedys ever written gets better annd better every episode

The young guy playing Alan , is Richard Beckinsale, father of Hollywood actress Kate Beckinsale. Sadly he passed away very young from cancer. Brilliant comedy with an awesome cast.

@eddhardy1054

2 жыл бұрын

I always thought it was a heart attack

@Tractionengine_556

2 жыл бұрын

charlie fc He had a massive heart attack.

@Charlie3vans

2 жыл бұрын

@@eddhardy1054 my mistake, maybe it was a heart attack, I forget.

Archie Bunker was a US copy of 'Til Death Do Us Part' and he was based on Warren Mitchell's character Alf Garnet

I sometimes think the word "seedy" was invented just to describe Rigsby.

Archie Bunker is based largely on the character Alf Garnett from the BBC comedy Till Death Us Do Part.

This is exactly how we handled prejudice in those days, when progressivism was on the right path. We made straw men out of bigots, and burned them down. People like Rupert Rigsby, Alf Garnett; they depicted the outdated, prejudiced side of conservative social politics, and were always, ALWAYS made to look fools for it. And it was working. Decade after decade saw progress. Progress that may have been too slow for some, but it was permanent, irreversible. Because it didn't push the pendulum too far, inviting backlash. It simply moved the point of equilibrium. It worked by convincement, not angry condemnation. Hearts and minds, not shock and awe. Evolution, not revolution. But then along came the woke, the new ultra-progressives of generation Y and Z, desperate to be angry about something, looked at things like this and completely got the wrong idea. Before we knew it, they'd grabbed the wheel, mashed their feet into the floor and promptly driven the whole damned thing into the nearest wall. If people on the right of the line shake their heads in disbelief at the remit of the left, at the uncomfortable feeling that free speech is being trampled on, and we're all having to walk on eggshells for fear of cancellation, they're not alone. As a proud progressive who leans right on no topic I can think of, I have been tearing my hair out that the careful balance we worked for for decades to maintain the appeal of progressive thinking has been well and truly lost. Free speech was always as much a concern of leftist liberals as right-wing libertarians. Free speech must be protected, so long as everyone remembers that the right to speak freely is not the right to speak unopposed. This is too complicated for the woke individual, who by their intellectual cowardice prefers to negate the whole concept of free speech, for anyone marginally to the right of themselves at least, with de-platforming and cancellation. The left is becoming hated, and I can't be alone in being rather embarrassed to admit to being on all fours with it. Hell, it was five years before I summoned up the courage to admit publicly to being vegan, for fear of being associated with militant vegan activists screaming murder in faces of people who are simply not ready to abandon the natural food chain. The word vegan invoked an image of a dreadlocked hippie chained to railings outside MacDonalds, something I am not. Rather someone who doesn't eat meat, fish or dairy for personal reasons of health and ecology. That's all. But I digress. The progressivism of the past was on the right path. We need to reset. Go back 20 years and pick up from there, before the tantrums of impatient millennials, when people with unpopular ideas were lightly mocked with comedy, not angrily cancelled, when we celebrated and rejoiced in each others cultures, before the woke cried "cultural appropriation!" and replaced it with cultural apartheid. When we could say what we wanted knowing that the worst result would be a productive conversation. When we were slowly becoming a rainbow society, learning to tolerate, if not appreciate, our differences, and we all had fun in the process. That was the way forward. But what happened? The left went too far left, too fast, too hard, and found a kind of fascism of its own, making us all look batshit crazy, discouraging the centre from joining us, and pushing the right further right as a result. Anger and bitterness, division, schism, social civil war, has ruled ever since. Perhaps, if I were to be kind, I would say it is not the fault of the woke generation, but the battleground they found themselves in. Television, banter over a pint of beer in a pub, casual conversations by the watercooler, magazine articles, this was how ideas were transmitted back in the day. Progressive ideas filtered down slowly enough to take root, and never be a shock to the system. By comparison, social media is way too fast, too ubiquitous, too anonymous. It's too easy to say dangerous things without thought or sagacity, without checks and measures, and as such is too prone to unchecked extremism. If this is true, I'm sorry to say, I'm not sure what we can do about it without giving everyone with a strong online opinion a sore bottom and starting again from 2001. Those are my thoughts. Sorry to rant. Change my mind if you can.

@smcnicoll

2 жыл бұрын

The most eloquent explanation of the contextual circumstances and a totally level headed summation of the complex mess we find ourselves in.

Fun fact Rigsby went to the same school in Liverpool as an old mate,and back in the early 1980s Rigsby turned up and did a turn on the school stage my mate said he had the place going mental! 😅

@jazztheglass6139

6 ай бұрын

He was from Wavertree in Liverpool, same area I grew up in. He went to Collegiate school ( not far from Everton Valley ) it's the same school Craig Charles went to. The school had a very good reputation.

You will absolutely love Alf Garnet in another classic British comedy, in sickness and in health, very funny, nobody rants like Alf.

Classic comedy, one of my favourites..

Miss Jones was just a frustrated spinster. She was after anything in trousers. In this episode, it was Phillip.

@susanashcroft2674

2 жыл бұрын

Well almost anything...not too keen on Rigsby!

It was progressive writing for it's time. The 'older' generation's ingrained prejudices being removed [or atleast being reduced] bit by bit by the younger [better educated] generation and a coloured character, who is also better educated than the 'I know best because I'm older' character, is clever writing. Plus it's funny !! Double whammy.

@nigelw7626

2 жыл бұрын

Very much like "In sickness and in health", exceptional comedy entwined with social commentary,

@johnbrereton5229

2 жыл бұрын

That's a very judgemental opinion of the 'older' generation ENNESS. And Indeed one that I can't say that I recognise at all.

@PatriciaKelly-gz7vg

2 жыл бұрын

It uses the inversion of the “usual” hierarchy technique that is so well done in “Dad’s Army” with Capt. Mainwaring being socially inferior to his sergeant. I love that Philip is a real character rather aloof and superior and not just a perfect person too, which with a far more racist Britain at the time many writers would have chose to write him as.

@DeneF

2 жыл бұрын

@@johnbrereton5229 True though, for every generation to the next.

Rising damp is 1 of the funniest comedies ever made it up there with love thy neighbour/ porridge & only fools and horses they definitely don't make them like this nowadays pure comedy gold

It took a lot of skill and polish to act as Rigsby. RIP Leonard Rossiter.

Love seeing old shows through new eyes, it's like a breath of fresh air and by you having a different mind set (American) you notice things that are so ingrained in our comedy's that we brits take for granted, so it's works so well to see you not just appreciating our humour but adding to it with your own comments, like I said before old shows through new eyes

Rigsby was the nosey, interfering, racist, bigoted landlord from hell. But Leonard Rossiter made him somehow loveable.

I LOVED this series back then 😍 it gets better and better believe me, Leonard Rossiter (Rigsby) was a brilliant actor and ad libbed a lot of the time...this is how we dealt with racism back then....🤩

The actor playing the landlord, Leonard Rossiter, appeared in many films BTW. Including Stanley Kubrik's 2001 A Space Odyssey and Barry Lyndon.

Archie Bunkers character was based on Alf Garnet from the UK show Til Death us Do Part , its on KZread and we'll worth watching 🤣

@danieleyre8913

2 жыл бұрын

Unfortunately a lot of ‘till death do us part is lost forever as the BBC wiped the episodes.

Brilliant, when you get a chance you should take a look at some of the Alf Garnett TV series.

When this was originally shown in the 70s, they had a nude calendar on the wall in a later series that my dad also had a copy of (he was a builder and it was the done thing in those days to have girlie calendars made to promote firms like that). Out of curiosity, many years later, I tried to track the calendar down. Haven't managed to do it, but did find the photo shoot of the calendar page on the wall in Rising Damp. Francesca Hastings in a peacock backed wicker chair. What a woman. :)

@robertcreighton4635

2 жыл бұрын

It used to be normal here in ukI was younger to see some chick with her boobs out in pubs and places of work. You'd not get away with it today lol Anyone remember page 3 in national newspapers?

@paulmurphy5648

2 жыл бұрын

We had a few topless pubs in Sheffield, back in the day!!!!!

This is one of my absolute favourite shows, you have so many great episodes to watch in the future 😁👍

Love your wonderful laugh Mr Beard. Keep on watching our historic TV programmes, and bringing them back to life 🇬🇧

So many great comic actors in Britain during the 70's and 80's.Every member of this cast is/was exemplary.Even Vienna :)

Fun Fact. Despite his accent, Don Warrington was an adopted Tyneside lad. He and his brother were friends with my brother-in-law when they were at school

So happy your reacting to this. Your laugh is brilliant

*_"The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin"_* was the funniest show of my childhood.

In the UK, tabloid papers used to have a top less model on page three for decades.

I have always loved rising damp. The series was way ahead of its time. Leonard Rossiter and Ms Jones became iconic characters whom impressionist and comics imitate to date.

There was another tv series running about the same time exploring similar subjects called "Love Thy Neighbour". You should give that a try too. Another great comedy series.

Episode : Stage Stuck .... Camp actor / writer Hilary rents a room . .. if not the funniest episode of the entire series 🤣😃 🇬🇧

Brilliant so glad you have discovered another one of our gems. Clever writing and brilliant acting.

In the unlikely event you don't already know, Richard Beckinsale (the young tenant) is Kate Beckinsale's father. He died when she was not quite 6. He was only 31.

Eric Chappell the writer/creator of the series was born in a town called Grantham where I currently live.

@highpath4776

2 жыл бұрын

The town where nothing happens, and gave us Margaret Thatcher.

Over 98 percent of the total seasons is just the 4 actors. Brilliant !

Once you’ve chuckled your way through rising damp you should check out Rossiter’s even funnier series that he did for the BBC (which this ITV show landed him): *The fall and rise of Reginald Perrin* Seriously, if it wasn’t the best British 1970s sitcom then it can only be second to Fawlty Towers.

@cathyb46

2 жыл бұрын

Agree, the boss saying I didn't get where I am today... Everyone was saying it. Also the series, Richard Beckinsale in The Lovers always after Percy Filth as Beryl called it, she wanted marriage 😉

@richardjones4466

2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely, my favourite sitcom. I didn't get where I am today without being a massive Perrin fan! Great! Super!

@cathyb46

2 жыл бұрын

@@richardjones4466 He has to look at his adverts with Joan Collins if they are on KZread too

@sargonsblackgrandfather2072

2 жыл бұрын

Smashing, super.

@Whippy99

2 жыл бұрын

It was superb.

This show proves Stephen Fry's point about the British comic hero. You could definitely use the phrase "he's a bit of a Rigsby"

Hi EB.A few years back there was a big poll held to find the best decade for British TV involving the public & TV historians & the 70s easily won.I think we were years ahead of u for what we could say & see on our TV.I wish u could watch an episode of Fawlty Towers called THE PSYCHIATRIST at least from about 15 mins in when the Aussie lady books in. U would shake your head in disbelief. Iv'e seen several requests pop up for this over the last year. Have u tried for it & been blocked.All the best

no matter your politics this is some of the very very best acting you will ever see anywhere.

This was originally a play that had a very successful theatrical run. It became a very popular TV comedy series. Cheers for the upload.

Richard Beckinsale died in 1979 aged 32. Way too soon. The whole country went into mourning for this great actor

You've no doubt worked your way throught these DVDs by now but yes Leonard had an amazing act in stuttering out words, one of the greatest at acting nervous or annoyed characters. Great reaction as always, so much fun!

My paternal grandfather got a job as a missionary, he said it was an interesting position.

Always been my favourite sitcom- great writing and wonderful actors.

Richard Beckinsale died far too young, he was an amazing tallent which we saw too little off.

12:06 I'm hearing you with the back and forth between the characters; the reason why this particular show has remained popular for so long is not just the comedy, it's the great acting performances they all put in.

A sitcom that is another great, fantastic actors and characters.

I think what makes it work is that though Rigsby has racist, bigoted views he is still liked, somewhat by the other characters...he isnt hated for them... they see it, realise what he is... He isn't cancelled, as happens these days in cancel culture... He wont change, yet every time he loses, and that is the point, of the comedy, one hopes he will learn his lesson.. It doesnt work. But that is what makes the comedy.

@highpath4776

2 жыл бұрын

Rigsby is prejudiced, rather than Racist as such - he has rented a room (ok part of ) and not refused to talk to him or poisoned his tea.

nice to watch you enjoy these iconic shows

Just a sweet gentle funny show. Love all of the cast, they worked so good together. xx

You should watch in sickness and in health. Now that shows the stupidity of racism and an incredibly funny show

@johnmiller0000

2 жыл бұрын

That was the basis for the US version All In The Family. I generally don't like US remakes of UK comedies, but I think All In The Family was much funnier.

I had forgotten how great these were, thanks EB

There was also a film version which was ok but not as good as the TV series. There is a great episode called "Charisma" where Philip convinces Rigsby that he has a piece of "African Love Wood" who's smoke will intoxicate any unwilling victim. Of course Rigsby has to try it on Ms Jones with hilarious results. Especially when you find out the true source of the aforementioned timber.

The script of this has laughs , but I can't help feeling a little sorry for every character in it......I guess that's clever writing of a sitcom

@highpath4776

2 жыл бұрын

ITV jokes always seemed forced - a bit like carry on films.

Don Warrington is the Police Chief in Death in Paradise. A series that has run for many years.

Hello Alan. No Yorkshire flag, but Yorkshire TV instead. There are some other gems in YTV back catalogue. Enjoy.

The character Alan, is the father of kate Beckinsale of the Underworld movies. he died in 1971 at the age of 31.

One of the best British sitcoms of all time & it only gets better, strap yourself in & enjoy the ride

Love thy neighbour was the same with the racist bloke having a black family moving next door and the ongoing battles between the racist and the black fella while the wives just getting on with it , witnessing their husbands antics with exasperation .

@johnbrereton5229

2 жыл бұрын

I wouldn't compare the two myself. Rising Damp was well written, well acted, and is sublime comedy. Whereas, Live thy Neighbour was just crude and embarrassing.

@davidfaulkner4760

2 жыл бұрын

@@johnbrereton5229 I have to agree with you John. Those two sitcoms where light years apart.

Another series that Leonard Rossiter starred in was “The fall and rise of Reginald Perrin”. Give it a try.

Thoroughly enjoyed the episode & your reaction Alan. Please do more!!

Poetic licence. This comedy was hilarious.

Wonderful comedy which I remember very fondly - it just adds to the fun hearing you burst out laughing!!

Fantastic comedy I used to love when I was growing up. You are in for a treat as it just gets better 😄

This programme was made before the tenancy laws came into effect giving tenants protective rights, against unscewtable landlords, & yes it is a good reflection on mixed relationships at that period

Great to seeing you laughing at one of our greatest sit-coms!

Landlords in the UK had the right of access to rented rooms until the Housing Act of 1988, when the law was changed to insist they gave their tennants 24 hours notice of entry.

This is an example of the tenants using Rigsby's prejudices to their advantage. Episode 4 is an even better example of the same thing. Also, of course no one ever knocks before entering a room, that makes it funnier. It means that people can easily be caught in compromising positions. That happens a lot in Rising Damp. LOL

Had forgotten how good this program was....great reaction...cheers.

You should watch 'Porridge' with Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale , they are two blokes who start a prison sentence, Barker is an old hand at prison and Beckinsale is in for the first time. The whole cast are brlliant, brilliantly written comedy.