Bottle Boys
A short-lived ITV sitcom remembered as one of the worst.
Bottle Boys is a British sitcom that aired on ITV from 1 September 1984 to 24 August 1985, spanning two series. It starred Robin Askwith as Dave Deacon, a football-obsessed milkman whose adventures combined sexual innuendo with surreal situations such as dressing as a cow or meeting Margaret Thatcher.
Quick Facts
- Runtime
- 30 minutes
- Creator
- Vince Powell
- Starring
- Robin Askwith
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Company
- London Weekend Television
- Network
- ITV
- First aired
- 1 September 1984
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- The part of Dave Deacon was originally written for Jim Davidson.
- Future BBC controller John Birt suggested Robin Askwith take the role.
- Margaret Thatcher was played by actress Janet Hargreaves.
Reception
The debut episode of Bottle Boys attracted 9.3 million viewers, ranking 16th for that week, but no subsequent episodes reached the Top Twenty. The series gained a reputation as one of the worst British sitcoms ever made. Mark Lewisohn, in the Radio Times Guide to Comedy, called it the "worst ever" British sitcom and noted that ITV comedy executives reportedly despised it. Writer Vince Powell had previously created the controversial 1970s shows Love Thy Neighbour and Mind Your Language. The programme also placed 97th in Channel Four's 100 Greatest TV Moments from Hell list.
More in London Weekend Television Shows
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