Bottle Boys

infobox television
show_name = Bottle Boys


caption = A screenshot of the title sequence
format = Sitcom
runtime = 30 minutes
creator = Vince Powell
starring = Robin Askwith
country = UK
network = London Weekend Television
first_aired = 1 September 1984
last_aired = 24 August 1985
num_episodes = 13

"Bottle Boys" was a British sitcom running on ITV in the 1980s, the first series running in 1984 and the second and final series in 1985. Starring Robin Askwith as football-mad milkman Dave Deacon, the series mined comedy of the broadest sort from randy Dave's amorous adventures, in a style familiar to viewers from Askwith's earlier "Confessions" films.

However, as well as the sexual innuendo of his earlier big-screen adventures, Askwith was equally likely to find himself embroiled in more off-the-wall exploits, and found himself at various points in the series dressing up as a cow, inadvertently engaged to Sharon the secretary, and meeting then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (played by an actor).

The part of Dave Deacon was originally written for Jim Davidson, who was by this time already expanding into sitcom territory with "Up the Elephant and Round the Castle", also on ITV. It was future BBC controller John Birt, during his tenure at London Weekend Television, who suggested that Askwith take the part.

Critical Reception

The series has acquired something of a reputation as one of the worst British sitcoms ever produced. Mark Lewisohn, writing in the Radio Times Guide to Comedy observes that "ITV sitcoms had often plumbed the depths, but this was the limit", and also notes that "Bottle Boys" was reputedly despised by comedy executives at ITV. Furthermore, he goes on to pick "Bottle Boys" as his "worst ever" British sitcom.

Writer Vince Powell was no stranger to working on shows that attracted a bad press, however, having created two of the most notorious comedy shows of the 1970s - "Love Thy Neighbour" and "Mind Your Language".

The programme also made number 97 in Channel Four's "TV Hell" list show, a retrospective of television's low points of the last fifty years. A clip of Richard Davies and Robin Askwith arguing over a customer who was having trouble "with her tits" was used to demonstrate the level of humour viewers could expect.

Cast

Dave Deacon - Robin Askwith

Billy Watson - David Auker

Joe Phillips - Oscar James

Jock Collins - Phil McCall

Stan Evans - Richard Davies (actor)

Sharon Armstrong - Eve Ferret

Mr Dawson - Patrick Newell

Wilf Foley - Leo Dolan

Ann Michelle (one episode)

Zara Nutley (one episode)

Candy Davis (one episode)

Pam St. Clement (one episode)

Don Henderson (one episode)

Bernie Winters - himself (one episode)

Theme Song

Bottle Boys had a very catchy theme song, played over an animated title sequence of milkman Dave going about his rounds. The theme song sums up the shows ethos:

"Bottle boys, bottle boys,

Up with the lark,

Who cares if it's raining,

Who cares if it's dark,

There's a whole lot of bottle boys taking a pride,

In making sure each customer is satisfied!

Milk, eggs and butter, got it all on the float

Anything you're short of darling, leave us a note

You'll be glad you wrote it, when you hear the noise

Of the rattle of the bottles of the Bottle Boys!".

Episodes

Series One (1 Sep - 6 Oct 1984):

*Fools Rush In
*God Save Our Dairy
*Danger, Woman at Work
*All in a Day's Work
*One Good Turn
*Here Comes the Groom

Series Two (13 July - 24 Aug 1985)

*Things That Go Bump in the Night
*I Gotta Horse
*Out of the Frying Pan
*If the Cap Fits
*High Noon
*I Love Paris
*The Milk Cup Runneth Over

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1048398/usercomments-1 review of episode ‘here comes the groom’]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1049242/usercomments-1 review of episode ‘danger, woman at work’]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1049241/usercomments-1 review of episode ‘all in a day’s work’]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1048402/usercomments-1 review of episode ‘one good turn’]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1049243/usercomments-1 review of episode ‘I got a horse’]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1048403/usercomments-1 review of episode ‘Out of the Frying Pan’]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1048399/usercomments-1 review of episode ‘High Noon’]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1048400/usercomments-1 review of episode ‘I Love Paris’]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1048404/usercomments-1 review of episode ‘The Milk Cup Runneth Over’]