Man About the House

Sitcom exploring the trials and tribulations created by one man and two women flat-sharing in the 70s.

Genre: Comedy

Cast:Richard O'Sullivan , Paula Wilcox , Sally Thomsett , Yootha Joyce , Brian Murphy , Doug Fisher , John Carlin , Bella Emberg , Michael Segal , Norman Eshley , Alison Hughes , Roy Kinnear , Kenneth Watson , Daphne Oxenford , Michael Redfern , Colin McCormack , Duncan Lamont , Leslie Sands

1Season 1

S1.E1 ∙ Three's a Crowd

Tue, Aug 14, 1973

After a farewell party for departing flatmate Eleanor, Jo and Chrissy are anxious to find a third girl to share but find cookery student Robin Tripp in the bath instead. Word gets out to landlady Mrs. Mildred Roper that the girls have a man upstairs and she sends husband George to investigate. He meets a prospective flat-mate called Gaby,which is apt as she never stops talking, and insults her by mistaking her for a man. She storms out and the girls are delighted. They want Robin to stay because he is an excellent cook.

2Season 1

S1.E2 ∙ And Mother Makes Four

Wed, Aug 22, 1973

With the girls having convinced the Ropers that Robin is gay and therefore it is quite proper for him to share with them, they have a new problem. On the day Robin moves in, Chrissy learns that her mother, who is no liberal, is to pay a visit. The girls try to bluff Robin into moving out temporarily but end up sharing the room with him whilst Chrissy's mother takes her bed.

3Season 1

S1.E3 ∙ Some Enchanted Evening

Wed, Aug 29, 1973

Jo is anxious to impress new boyfriend David and strong arms Robin into cooking a romantic meal for him. Robin duly obliges and,to make themselves scarce for the couple, he and Chrissy go down to the Ropers' flat to play Monopoly with them. Unfortunately Robin has innocently cooked pork dishes for David, who turns out to be Jewish,so the evening is not strictly kosher.

4Season 1

S1.E4 ∙ And Then There Were Two

Wed, Sep 5, 1973

Whilst Jo visits her family, Chrissy and Robin are left alone in the flat together and Chrissy is alarmed by Robin's libido as he has been reading sex manuals. However, when he and his friend Larry pull and Robin brings the attractive Liz back to the flat, Chrissy starts to feel jealous and scares Liz off by telling her she is carrying Robin's child.

5Season 1

S1.E5 ∙ It's Only Money

Wed, Sep 12, 1973

The flat-mates find that the rent money has gone missing and call the police. However,they are so anxious that the Ropers do not find out about the theft that,rather than explain to them what happened,they try to avoid them. Bad plan. George had picked up the rent and had the money all the time.

6Season 1

S1.E6 ∙ Match of the Day

Wed, Sep 19, 1973

Robin is due to play for the college in a football game but ends up in bed with a heavy cold,which he has caught from George Roper. The girls do their best to find ways to get him up and about in time for the game,only to find it was an entirely different game to what he expected.

7Season 1

S1.E7 ∙ No Children, No Dogs

Wed, Sep 26, 1973

Robin is conned by his friend Larry into looking after a puppy but he has to hide it from George,who operates a No Animals rule, until he can find a new home for it. Chrissy starts sleep-walking and Mildred's birthday is coming up,sending George to panic stations.

1Season 2

S2.E1 ∙ While the Cat's Away

Wed, Jan 9, 1974

The three flatmates plan a party,taking advantage of the fact that the Ropers will be out visiting Mildred's sister and her husband. The evening begins well but turns sour when Liz, whom Robin had previously pursued,takes an interest in Mark,the object of Chrissy's desire - and to cap it all,the Ropers return early.

2Season 2

S2.E2 ∙ Colour Me Yellow

Wed, Jan 16, 1974

A group of loud Irishmen are holding sway in the pub, one of whom insults Chrissy. Robin attempts to protest but is made to back down. George, on the other hand, wins the man, Mick's respect for standing up to him over a spilled drink. Robin decides that he will learn self defence and take the man on the next time he sees him. The girls are not sure if this is a good idea.

3Season 2

S2.E3 ∙ In Praise of Older Men

Wed, Jan 23, 1974

Chrissy's new boyfriend wants to take her to Bournemouth for the weekend, but Robin discovers something about him that he thinks might make Chrissy want to reconsider.

4Season 2

S2.E4 ∙ Did You Ever Meet Rommel?

Wed, Jan 30, 1974

The flatmates throw a party for the Ropers' wedding anniversary and Robin invites a German student, Franz to come along. Unfortunately this sets off George's obsession with the Second World War,leading to a falling-out between the two men. One of a set of cuff-links bought as a present for George also goes missing and ends up in the food.

5Season 2

S2.E5 ∙ Two Foot Two, Eyes of Blue

Wed, Feb 6, 1974

To allow Jo to go out on a date Chrissy and Robin agree to baby-sit on her behalf for Mr. and Mrs. Randall but Robin is severely disappointed. The colour television has been sent back, the drinks cabinet is locked with no sign of a key and every time he tries to get close to Chrissy the baby starts crying.

6Season 2

S2.E6 ∙ Carry Me Back to Old Southampton

Wed, Feb 13, 1974

Robin has got the results of his cookery exam and he has failed. He considers moving back to Southampton to work for his father and the two girls are far from pleased at the prospect of his slobbish mate Larry taking over his room. Fortunately Robin's father arrives to talk some sense into him.

1Season 3

S3.E1 ∙ Cuckoo in the Nest

Wed, Oct 9, 1974

Larry has moved into the flat but his slovenly ways and habit of nicking the others' food are not exactly endearing him as a house-mate. Then Mildred comes up with an excellent idea. Clear out the attic and let him take it as his room. George was spending too much time up there anyway.

2Season 3

S3.E2 ∙ Come Into My Parlour

Wed, Oct 16, 1974

Robin has taken his new girl-friend Angie out on a couple of dates but now he hopes to bring her back to the flat to have his wicked way with her. However, not only is she against sex before marriage but she is also an old school-friend of Chrissy, who takes a very protective attitude towards her.

3Season 3

S3.E3 ∙ I Won't Dance, Don't Ask Me...

Wed, Oct 23, 1974

There is a formal dinner-dance at the firm where Jo and Chrissy work but Chrissy's prospective dance partner has injured himself so Robin, after a few dance lessons from Mildred,becomes her partner instead. He tells people that he is a brain surgeon but ultimately comes unstuck.

4Season 3

S3.E4 ∙ Of Mice and Women

Wed, Oct 30, 1974

There's a mouse loose about the house and, though Larry kills it,Robin wants him to keep quiet about it as the girls are scared of the mouse and Robin can exploit their fear to get closer to Chrissy. George also wants to keep up the pretence that the mouse is still around to ward off a visit from Mildred's family, but it is ultimately Robin who gets trapped.

5Season 3

S3.E5 ∙ Somebody Out There Likes Me

Wed, Nov 6, 1974

An anonymous admirer is sending Chrissy flowers and chocolates,which she gives to Mildred. Mildred tries to make George jealous by pretending that in fact she is the one with the secret admirer. An old flame of Chrissy's,who is not the sender but is keen to see her again turns up at the house and is mistaken for Mildred's lover by George.

6Season 3

S3.E6 ∙ We Shall Not Be Moved

Wed, Nov 13, 1974

Whilst Mildred is visiting family George tries to evict the four flat-mates by saying that he needs the flat for his - non-existent - aged mother. The truth is that he wants to turn the existing flat into bed-sits so that he can charge more money from individual tenants but his plan is thwarted when Mildred returns.

7Season 3

S3.E7 ∙ Three of a Kind

Wed, Nov 20, 1974

When Robin is rushed to hospital during a poker game he asks Chrissy to take his place. This is a very bad idea as she has not got a clue as to how to play and puts the rent money at risk. George steals from Mildred in order to get the stake money to take part in the game and pays the price.

1Season 4

S4.E1 ∙ Home & Away

Thu, Mar 6, 1975

Chrissy and Robin borrow George's old car to drive down to Southampton to watch a football match but it breaks down. Ultimately help comes from an unexpected quarter which is just as well because when they ring home George is in the pub, showing off his new wig.

2Season 4

S4.E2 ∙ One for the Road

Thu, Mar 13, 1975

With the price of beer going up at the Legion,George brews his own and Robin samples some before giving Chrissy a driving lesson. Sadly she rams a man's bike and Robin, as the supervising driver,is tested and proved to be over the limit,losing his licence. George drives Chrissy to the test ground but the examiner turns out to be the man whose bike she rammed.

3Season 4

S4.E3 ∙ All in the Game

Thu, Mar 20, 1975

When suspected woodworm is discovered in the upstairs flat the girls and Robin have to find alternative accommodation whilst George calls in his so-called handyman, the useless Jerry. Chrissy and Jo are all right but Robin has to share with George.

4Season 4

S4.E4 ∙ Never Give Your Real Name

Thu, Mar 27, 1975

A girl tells Jo and Chrissy that she is pregnant by Robin after sleeping with her. When they confront him,he agrees to do the decent thing and to stand by his girl-friend, Linda. But this isn't Linda, it's Sandra and she slept with Larry,who told her that he was called Robin Tripp.

5Season 4

S4.E5 ∙ The Tender Trap

Thu, Apr 3, 1975

Robin accompanies Chrissy to her nephew's christening, where, to his surprise, Chrissy's mother, feeling that it's high time she was married, tries to match-make her with Robin. Jo,meanwhile, runs out of excuses not to hear George sing in the British Legion's choir concert and is subjected to his renditions of Frank Sinatra hits.

6Season 4

S4.E6 ∙ My Son, My Son

Thu, Apr 10, 1975

In order to fiddle his tax returns George has been claiming for a non-existent son for the past nineteen years but is in danger of being found out when a tax inspector is about to visit. Only one thing for it - Robin will have to pose as George and Mildred's son.

1Season 5

S5.E1 ∙ The Last Picture Show

Thu, Sep 4, 1975

Chrissy's film buff boyfriend Neil gives her a movie camera for her birthday and lends her a projector to screen the film she has made. Larry hopes to use the projector to show blue movies to George and Robin when the women are out. They are interrupted by the ladies but the film Larry has been given only turns out to be a Mr. Magoo cartoon.

2Season 5

S5.E2 ∙ Right Said George

Thu, Sep 11, 1975

The Ropers need money with which to mend George's old car so they agree to sell Robin their piano,as they never use it. The problem is how to get it upstairs. George's friend Jerry tries to winch it through the upstairs window into the flat but the rope breaks and the piano comes crashing down...on top of George's car.

3Season 5

S5.E3 ∙ A Little Knowledge

Thu, Sep 18, 1975

Robin gets a job selling encyclopaedias to earn extra money and is given a set on approval to sell. George is doing a competition to win a holiday and needs general knowledge answers so Robin prepares to sell him the books. Unfortunately he fills in the forms incorrectly so that he ends up buying the books whilst George receives the commission.

4Season 5

S5.E4 ∙ Love and Let Love

Thu, Sep 25, 1975

The three flatmates agree to a system whereby,if one of them wants to bring home a partner,they will give notice so that the others can arrange to be out. But Robin spoils the arrangement when the nurse he is dating has to change shifts so he brings her home without warning. He takes her up to Larry's attic but is interrupted when Larry arrives back with a girl and goes back downstairs,only for Chrissy to ruin his plans.

5Season 5

S5.E5 ∙ How Does Your Garden Grow

Thu, Oct 2, 1975

The flatmates are doing the Ropers' garden in lieu of rent and Larry gives Mildred a new plant,which she decides to use in the arrangement she is making,to display at the up-coming flower show. Unfortunately Larry gets word that the plant is actually cannabis. It isn't but by this time Mildred has got into a panic and destroyed her display.

6Season 5

S5.E6 ∙ Come Fly with Me

Thu, Oct 9, 1975

Chrissy is given two free tickets for a Frank Sinatra concert and Jo and Robin fight for the privilege of having one - Jo offering to do all her household chores and Robin even offering to stuff a budgie up his jumper. Coincidentally it is the Ropers' wedding anniversary and George gives Mildred a cage bird which Jo and Robin end up looking after.

1Season 6

S6.E1 ∙ The Party's Over

Wed, Feb 25, 1976

The youngsters want a party but George,recalling the last one, is against the idea. Mildred,however,is all for it and gives it her blessing. Unfortunately,come the night of the party,none of the guests show up and it turns out that George put a sign on the door saying the party was cancelled. This leads to friction between the Ropers.

2Season 6

S6.E2 ∙ One More for the Pot

Wed, Mar 3, 1976

With the lease up for renewal George announces he is raising the rent so the tenants look around for another person to share costs. Jo puts forward James,a friend of a friend, but Robin champions Linda,who,unknown to Jo and Chrissy,he already knows - very well. In the event Linda and James decide to have their own flat share whilst Mildred,vexed that George has taught her bird to swear,kicks the offending budgie out. He can be the other flat-sharer and the rent will stay the same.

3Season 6

S6.E3 ∙ The Generation Game

Wed, Mar 10, 1976

When George refuses to go with Mildred to a dance on board a boat in the Thames,she asks Robin to be her escort and he agrees. Mildred basks in the fact that her partner is much younger than the other males present and,when George eventually turns up at the boat and falls in the river,Mildred prevents Robin from jumping in after him as it would ruin his suit,so they throw him a life-belt instead.

4Season 6

S6.E4 ∙ The Sunshine Boys

Wed, Mar 17, 1976

George sells Mildred's sun lamp to Larry,who then sells it on to Robin,who wants a pre-holiday tan. Mildred spots Robin's tan and accuses him of stealing from her but he explains what happened and she gets George to swear on the bible that he was not involved. Actually he swears on a cookery book,hoping Mildred will not notice.

5Season 6

S6.E5 ∙ Mum Always Liked You Best

Wed, Mar 24, 1976

Robin's brother Norman,a handsome,successful businessman,arrives,soaking Robin as his sports car swishes through a puddle. Robin is jealous but Chrissy is very taken by Norman as the three dine in a restaurant. Robin is sick,having ignored Norman's advice on what to eat and the Ropers,also at the restaurant,end up washing dishes as Mildred has made George change into his best jacket,leaving the one with his wallet in at home.

6Season 6

S6.E6 ∙ Fire Down Below

Wed, Mar 31, 1976

Chrissy and Norman have been dating for some weeks,to the annoyance of Robin,who goes on a disastrous double date with Larry. George decides to start using the chimney to have coal fires and cut the gas bill. However,the chimney is blocked and,as he uses a machine to unblock it,soot comes cascading down all over Chrissy and Norman,who are too loved-up to care as he proposes and she accepts.

7Season 6

S6.E7 ∙ Another Bride, Another Groom

Wed, Apr 7, 1976

Chrissy and Norman's wedding day comes round,and Robin,against Jo's counsel,does not tell Chrissy he loves her. He has made a wonderful cake but,later,when drunk,destroys it,and has to come up with a second,less impressive substitute. George tries to keep the Ropers' invitations from Mildred because he wants to go to a darts match instead and Mildred is furious when she finds out. The knot is tied and Robin kisses the bride - very passionately,not that she seems to mind. The lads all but vandalize the car in which they think the happy couple are to drive off but it turns out to be Robin's father's.