Hylda Baker, is a Queen of the Comedianes, her Charecter Nelly is truly unique and portrayed in way that made them both 60's icons. Nearest and Dearest will always be remeber fondly for its slap stick and offensive humour. But more so of course for Nellys Tongue Twisters and oneliners.
When you watch this show it appears that it was often the case that they one had one take on filming so it can be a bit rough around the edges, nevertheless the 'live' feeling is always good and fun to watch. Of course the famous long running joke which still makes me cry with laughter involved the withering Speechless and incontinant OAP Walter, and the line "Has he been?" and the longer "Has he been? I say Have you been Walter...I think he's been"
The reast of the cast added to make a fun team, notibly Eli, who through real-life tensions, use to spark emotions on set often!
Being from the early days of TV and the sitcom genre, and it being made outside the the Key Television studios in London, I can easily forgive this show for any mistakes or rough edges. Its more than apparantly when you watch it and solid and loving effort was made.
As I'm too young to have watched it in the 60's I caught it on repeats in the 90's, and have since brought it on DVD. I have to say I was shocked at a lot of the humour - A lot of which is still edgy and close to the knuckle by todays standards. Theres also a fair bit of comedy that wouldnt pass the regualators any more either. Namely sexist behaviour, Germaine Greer eat your heart out!
Below are a few examples of more memorable lines of this Classic Northern England 60s/70s comedy.
"I'll Thank you to think on"
"Oh Look it's A Quater to....Oh I must get a little hand put on this watch"
NELLY:"Are you hungry"
WHOEVER: Yeah
NELLY:"Oh what a pity. We've just ate" (Or something to this effect)
Nelly in Court talking to a judge, trying to explain she is her brothers legal representative:
"Your magnitude, I am Soliciting for my brother"
Long Live Hylda Baker!moreless
Nearest and Dearest
ITV (ended 1973)
- 1 TOTAL REVIEWS Write A Review
- 0 EPISODES ONLINE Watch Online
-
No Editor User Score: 0EDITOR
EDIT
Show Summary
- Ended
On the death of their father Joshua, siblings Eli and Nellie Pledge inherit the family business, Pledge's Purer Pickles, at Colne, Lancashire, in the north of England. Their faithful workers include the myopic Stan Hardman, Bert and Grenville. Never far away are cousin Lily and her husband Walter. While Nellie works hard to keep the business going, Eli prefers to indulge in the delights of beer, cigarettes, gambling and young women. Granada Television's most popular comedy series, "Nearest and Dearest" produced a feature film in 1972. Most of the regular cast are no longer with us, but their comic legacy remains.moreless
-
Leslie Sarony
Bert
-
Joe Gladwin
Stan Hardman
-
Hylda Baker
Nellie Pledge
Weird, no one has discussed Nearest and Dearest yet.
What are your thoughts? Start a conversation!
-
lovenorwegians
User Score: 280
-
TheOldBill
User Score: 66
-
sarahjanesmith
User Score: 46
-
TrickMeNot
User Score: 5
-
Mafeu
User Score: 4
-
ntonks_tvtome
User Score: 2
-
fuddle2
User Score: 1
More
Less
