As Time Goes By
The Korean War, and a long lost letter, separate the lives of young lovers Jean Pargetter and Lionel Hardcastle, whose paths cross again by happenstance.
Cast:Judi Dench , Geoffrey Palmer , Moira Brooker , Philip Bretherton , Jenny Funnell , Janet Henfrey , Frank Middlemass , Paul Chapman , Moyra Fraser , David Michaels , Joan Sims , Tim Wylton , Richard Holmes , Zoe Hilson , Vivienne Martin , Cheryl Hall , Daniel Ryan , William Chubb
S1.E1 ∙ You Must Remember This
Jean Pargetter, the head of a secretarial agency, is baffled when her daughter, Judith, goes out with one of their clients, Lionel Hardcastle. The two meet and realize that they were once young lovers separated during the Korean War.
S1.E2 ∙ Getting to Know You - Again
Jean sends Sandy to Lionel's hotel to assist him with his book revisions however when Sandy gets to the hotel she is informed that Lionel has checked out. After a charade of confusions, Lionel's publisher, Alistair, invites him to a party and Lionel brings Jean along.
S1.E3 ∙ The Copper Kettle
Lionel and Jean spend the day at an old country town they used to visit frequently in their youth. Walking through the town they find that many things have changed but they manage to encounter old spots and some treasured memories.
S1.E4 ∙ Surprise, Surprise
Jean and Judy decide to pay Lionel a surprise visit while he lectures at a conference in Norwich. The surprise is not a very welcome one and Jean finds Lionel staying with another woman. As Alistair begins to show interest in Jean rather than in Judy, a battle of the sexes, and ages, erupts.
S1.E5 ∙ Relationships
After their visit to Norwich, it has become quite clear that Alistair is infatuated with Jean, not Judy. Refusing to believe this and at the same time flattered, Jean feels it's only right to get back at Lionel after what happened at the lecture. Then, after making Judy feel better about herself, Lionel discovers Jean's not the only one being sought after by the younger generation.
S1.E6 ∙ The Picnic
Realizing how absurd it is that Judy and Alistair are attracted to Jean and Lionel instead of each other, the elders plan a picnic for the four of them in the hope that Judy and Alistair will realize they're meant to be together.
S2.E1 ∙ White Hunter
Alistair has decided he wants Lionel to be photographed for the cover of his book, "My Life in Kenya." Convinced that this get rid of any potential buyers, Lionel grows more and more anxious as the day of the photo shoot nears. Once there, Alistair tells Lionel he wants him photographed as a hunter in a wild jungle background in an effort to present the book as danger, adventure, and
S2.E2 ∙ A Weekend Away
Judy has been dropping hints about Jean and Lionel, making Jean quite uncomfortable. Also, Judy says she is going away for the weekend and when Alistair says the same Jean automatically thinks they're going together. With the impending vacant house for the weekend, Jean becomes increasingly nervous and tries everything short of ridiculous to avoid spending the weekend with Lionel.
S2.E3 ∙ Visiting Rocky
After an embarrassing performance at rowing on the river, Lionel takes Jean to Hampshire where she meets his father, Rocky and his eccentric housekeeper Mrs. Bale. While in Hampshire, Lionel learns that his father plans on re-marrying.
S2.E4 ∙ Why?
As the date for the book launch gets closer, Lionel becomes more and more pessimistic about the popularity his book will generate. He begins to question Alistair's constant enthusiasm for his novel and wonders why anyone would put so much effort into a book that will never be a best seller.
S2.E5 ∙ Misunderstandings
Lionel and Jean bump into Jean's sister-in-law, Penny, and get invited to her and her husband's (Stephen) house for the weekend. Pretending they've only known each other for a few months, Jean and Lionel stumble into a weekend filled with lies about their relationship including the most personal of details.
S2.E6 ∙ The Cruise
Since her intimate weekend with Lionel, Jean's personal life has become the main topic of conversation between Judy and Sandy. Then, Lionel offers Jean a vacation with him on a cruise ship but makes the mistake of admitting the cruise would be free. With Alistair's support, Lionel gets ready for the final "push" before the book is launched.
S2.E7 ∙ The Book Signing
With Lionel's book finally on the shelves, Alistair has him in every book shop personally autographing the books. Jean, desperate to help Lionel, is phoning everyone she knows persuading them to buy Lionel's book. Then, Alistair comes up with a wild idea to help push book sales.
S3.E1 ∙ We'll Always Have Paris
Lionel and Jean take the trip to Paris they've been dreaming of ever since they met 38 years ago. After taking an endless walk, they meet Anne, a young honeymooner who has had a fight with her husband, Terry, who has left her. Feeling sorry for the young couple, Jean consoles Anne and attempts to patch up her marriage. Meanwhile Lionel struggles to actually enjoy the holiday they came to Paris for.
S3.E2 ∙ Rocky's Wedding Day
Jean, Lionel, Judy, Sandy and Alistair all go to Rocky and Madge's wedding. Lionel learns to accept his crackpot father and soon-to-be stepmother and the fact that their bizarre marriage is really filled with the utmost love.
S3.E3 ∙ Living Together, But Where?
Lionel and Jean decide to move in together as soon as possible, tomorrow in fact. But what they don't know is that they are both labeling under a huge misapprehension. Lionel thinks Jean is moving into his flat while Jean thinks Lionel is moving into her house.
S3.E4 ∙ Covering Up
After their argument over who should move in with who, Jean and Lionel are 'taking a break.' Both too proud to make amends, they are thrown together when Penny and Stephen come over for a visit and Jean and Lionel must pretend that everything is fine.
S3.E5 ∙ Moving In
Now that Lionel has agreed to move in with Jean, the day has come for him to pack his bags and sell his flat. Once together however, Jean and Lionel find that living together is nothing like they imagined it would be.
S3.E6 ∙ Branching Out
Jean opens up a second Type for You branch and starts looking for a manager to run it. Assuming she will be the natural choice, Judy is disappointed, nay shocked when she finds out Jean has offered the job to Sandy. Meanwhile, Alistair confronts Jean with the idea of adapting Lionel's book into a TV mini-series.
S3.E7 ∙ The Mini-Series
Alistair comes back from Los Angeles with news that a television company wants to turn Lionel's book into a miniseries. While trying to make copies at Jean's agency Lionel accidentally shreds the miniseries summary. Despite this catastrophe, the station decides to go ahead with the idea. So Jean and Lionel return to L.A.
S3.E8 ∙ A Trip to Los Angeles
Jean and Lionel head to Los Angeles to begin discussing ideas for Lionel's mini-series. But Lionel is not prepared for what America has in store for his manuscript, and things soon take a turn for the worse.
S3.E9 ∙ Dealing with Sally
Upon returning home from the United States, Jean and Lionel are hit with jet lag while the women find it hard not to be jealous of the super efficient Sally Curtis running Type For You 2.
S3.E10 ∙ Problems, Problems
Jean hires a new secretary to replace Daisy, Lionel's super efficient, attractive temp. However, the new secretary is not as efficient as Lionel would have hoped. Later, news reaches them that Madge and Rocky are in the hospital.
S4.E1 ∙ A House Full of Women
After a row with her boyfriend, Sandy moves in with the family. As she does, Lionel begins to question his own living arrangements with Jean.
S4.E2 ∙ Rewrites
Lionel struggling with Mrs. Flack continues as he embarks upon rewrites to his original script at the request of Mike and Sol. Then, things begin to move about in the house and Mrs. Flack is under suspicion.
S4.E3 ∙ Getting Rid of Gwen
Feeling sorry for Mrs. Flack, Jean and Lionel are at a loss for ideas on how to get rid of her. Then Jean comes up with a crafty plan that will force Mrs. Flack to leave of her own accord.
S4.E4 ∙ The Affair
Just as Lionel starts to think he may actually get some work done on his miniseries, Penny bursts in claiming that she has left Stephen, who is having an affair.
S4.E5 ∙ Welcome News
Mike flies over from L.A. to announce that, along with more rewrites, the producers in America want to start looking for locations to film. Believing it will be the perfect setting, Mike insists on visiting Rocky and Madge's house.
S4.E6 ∙ The Anniversary Party
While Jean and Lionel announce their engagement to everyone, Stephen sets in motion his surprise anniversary party for Penny.
S4.E7 ∙ Wedding Preparations
As the day of the wedding draws closer and closer, nerves are on high, the stress is mounting, the guest list is increasing and every day Jean and Lionel find something new that needs to be done.
S4.E8 ∙ Wedding Day Nerves
Jean and Lionel try to remain calm on their wedding day, but many surprises including hiccups and missing family members don't help on the big day.
S4.E9 ∙ Judith's New Romance
Jean and Lionel return from their honeymoon in Scotland. Upon arrival, they discover that Judy has a new boyfriend and Jean automatically suspects the worst.
S4.E10 ∙ Improvements
Filming for Lionel's mini-series continues and Jean, Lionel, Judy and Sandy are invited down to the country to watch the scenes being shot in Rocky's house.
S5.E1 ∙ The Country Set
Making use of the country house, Jean and Lionel stay in the country for the weekend hoping to get a bit of rest and relaxation. But when they meet the "country set" they learn that there'll be no relaxation had this weekend.
S5.E2 ∙ Lionel's Ex-Wife
After receiving a letter from her, Lionel and Jean spend an evening with Lionel's ex-wife, Margaret, and her young boyfriend, Gary. Meanwhile, Jean is concerned about Judy, Sandy and Alistair's love lives.
S5.E3 ∙ Lionel's New Hobby
When Jean asks why Lionel has suddenly taken up model boat building, he admits it's because he's been feeling bored lately. In an effort to find a hobby for Lionel, Jean, Judy and Sandy brainstorm ideas and enlist the help of Alistair to cure Lionel's boredom.
S5.E4 ∙ Avoiding the Country Set
After their last encounter with the country set, Jean and Lionel reluctantly sneak back to the country house, hoping for some time to themselves. When they get there however they learn of an 'element' that seems to be terrorizing the village.
S5.E5 ∙ Broadcast Plan
The mini-series is due for release very soon in the States. In order to witness the event first-hand, Alistair has offered Jean and Lionel a trip and overnight stay in New York to watch it on the small screen. When they decline, he takes Judy and Sandy instead and Jean and Lionel wait at home to hear how good, or bad, it turns out.
S5.E6 ∙ At Death's Door
Because she is going in for an operation, Penny is convinced that she will not be around for much longer. In order to console the worrying Stephen, Jean and Lionel agree to look after him while Penny has her operation.
S5.E7 ∙ Showered with Gifts
Due to their last encounter with the country set, Jean and Lionel have abolished all hopes of remaining friends with the village people. When they go down to the country for a weekend however, they find that they are the new local heroes with a huge reputation to live up to.
S6.E1 ∙ The Stalker
Lionel's masculinity is questioned when a man starts to follow Sandy and an unopened jar of pickled onions takes over the family life. Jean must call in some reinforcements to save Lionel from making a fool of himself.
S6.E2 ∙ The Psychotherapist
While Lionel is content to live his life slowly, Jean feels she must keep working, irritating Judy and Sandy to no end. It may be that a professional psychiatrist is the only person who can help Jean.
S6.E3 ∙ The Dinner Party
Penny and Stephen are arriving soon and Jean is worried what Penny will think of the new changes in her life. But Lionel has a plan that will stop Penny and her relentless questions dead in their tracks.
S6.E4 ∙ What's Wrong with Mrs Bale?
While staying at their country house for the weekend, Jean and Lionel notice that Mrs.Bale seems to be more agitated than usual. While Jean is determined to get to the bottom of it, Lionel stays in bed with a bug.
S6.E5 ∙ Alistair's Engagement
Jean and Lionel return home from the country to meet Paul, Judy's new boyfriend. Then, Alistair surprises the whole family when he announces that he has become engaged.
S6.E6 ∙ The House Next Door
As excited as they are at the prospect of more exciting neighbors coming to live next door to them, Jean and Lionel soon find themselves longing for their old neighbors when they learn who the prospective buyers for the house are.
S6.E7 ∙ A Surprise for Jean
Jean has been complaining about the lack of surprise in her and Lionel's life. Taking this to mean that Jean is bored, Lionel decides to plan a surprise vacation telling Jean at the last minute and then whisking her away. With the help of Judy, Sandy and Alistair, he pulls out all the stops to plan the most surprising surprise ever.
S7.E1 ∙ Pardon?
The family begins to notice that Lionel has become a tad hard of hearing. Feeling that they must do something about it, Jean, Judy and Sandy enlist Alistair's help in trying to find a way to tell Lionel, gently.
S7.E2 ∙ An Old Flame
Jean gets a call from an old flame and goes out to dinner with him to catch up and reminisce. Meanwhile, Sandy dresses up as a St.Trinian's girl to go with Harry to a rugby dance.
S7.E3 ∙ The New Neighbours
When Alistair tells the family that he has finally sold the house next-door, Jean is anxious to learn who the new home owners are. But when the family meets their new neighbors, they soon find themselves wishing Penny and Stephen were living next-door.
S7.E4 ∙ The Bypass
When Jean, Lionel, Judy, Sandy, and Alistair stay at the house in the country for a weekend, they learn of a plan to install a bypass around the village. But when Jean tries to oppose the bypass, she finds herself in an embarrassing situation.
S7.E5 ∙ Too Old... or Too Nosy
Penny and Stephen are expected for lunch, but when they arrive there appears to be something unusual going on between the couple. When Sandy announces she will be away from work for a week, Jean volunteers herself to stand in temporarily, much to Judy's dismay.
S7.E6 ∙ The Old Folks' Party
Jean volunteers to hold a party for the elderly residents of a local retirement home. With the help of the whole family, she attempts to entertain the guests to the best of her ability, but some of the old folks are more enthusiastic than others.
S7.E7 ∙ The Proposal
Once again, the house next-door is up for sale and Jean is as curious as ever to discover who their new neighbors will be. Little does she know that a surprise question from Alistair may bring them neighbors they never imagined they'd have.
S8.E1 ∙ A Deeply Personal Problem
With Judy and Sandy down in the dumps, Jean enlists Alistair's help to cheer them up. But when Jean lies to cover her tracks, the girls end up thinking that Lionel has a "deeply personal problem".
S8.E2 ∙ Animal Magnetism
When a stray dog follows Lionel home one day, Jean, Judy, and Sandy begin to feel sentimental towards the dog and beg Lionel to keep him.
S8.E3 ∙ The Bathroom
After an embarrassing incident involving Lionel walking in on Sandy in the bath, Jean becomes convinced that the house is not big enough and immediately arranges to have a second bathroom put in. Feeling that she is the cause for all this, Sandy considers whether or not she should move out.
S8.E4 ∙ Surprising News
As the house next-door goes up for sale once again, Jean and Lionel anticipate the arrival of Penny and Stephen who are returning from a holiday in Spain. When Penny and Stephen announce that they have a surprise, Jean and Lionel fear the worst.
S8.E5 ∙ Future Imperfect
When Lionel confides in Alistair that he is unsure about his future financially, Alistair suggests selling the country house. Agreeing that this is the best solution, Jean and Lionel soon find that selling the house will mean firing both Mrs.Bale and Lol.
S8.E6 ∙ Going Online
After a visit to the office, Jean feels out of touch with modern technology and decides the house needs to be connected to the Internet. While Jean and Lionel work the ins and outs of the new machinery, Sandy and Judy think about their situations concerning Alistair.
S9.E1 ∙ Time to Settle Down
It seems like Judy and Sandy might be finally settling down when Alistair proposes again to Judy and Sandy gets a visit from Harry. But Harry's visit doesn't bring the best of tidings.
S9.E2 ∙ Wedding Plans
Judy and Alistair make plans for their upcoming wedding and decide that a country wedding at the big house would be perfect. But when Alistair begins to take things out of control, Judy starts to worry about the wedding becoming more than just a quiet affair.
S9.E3 ∙ The Wedding
The day of Alistair and Judy's wedding is here and everyone hopes it will go off without a hitch. But a best man with a broken leg and the threat of an emotional breakdown from Alistair threaten to wreck everything.
S9.E4 ∙ What Now?
Although Judy and Alistair are away on their honeymoon, Jean has not finished match-making, determined to bring Sandy and Harry together at last. Then, against the advice of Lionel, Jean befriends a young back-packer found on their front door step.
S9.E5 ∙ You Must Remember This....
Discussing the plot of Lionel's possible second autobiography, Jean and Lionel look back at their meeting after a 38 year separation and their last 9 years together. As they reminisce, they remember Judy, Sandy, Alistair, Penny and Stephen, Rocky and Madge and their time together. They recall the love, the laughter, meetings and partings and anticipate their future together as one family.
S10.E1 ∙ Reunion Special: Part 1
Judy, Alistair, Sandy and Harry return to Jean and Lionel's for a visit. Feelings run high as Jean begins to wish for grandchildren, Harry aims for a more dangerous side of the police force, and Alistair struggles to prove himself.
S10.E2 ∙ Reunion Special: Part 2
Judy and Sandy play a horrid trick on the strait-laced Penny and Stephen. The entire extended family winds up at the A&E when Rocky is injured line dancing and Stephen's quest to become a celebrity results in injuries for himself and Penny.
