My Uncle Silas

Five stories by H.E. Bates about a roguish English countryman.

Cast:Albert Finney , Sue Johnston , Joe Prospero , Julian Holloway , Jennifer Piercey , Janet Henfrey , Lisa Kay , Andrew Greenough , Harriet Walter , Beatie Edney , Bryan Pringle , Tim Preece , Annabelle Apsion , Lynda Bellingham , Emma Fielding , Lesley Dunlop , Charlotte Rampling , Gerard Horan

1Season 1

S1.E1 ∙ The Wedding/Queenie White

Sun, Oct 28, 2001

The Wedding:- In the last years of Queen Victoria's reign, Ned, a middle-class schoolboy, whose parents are working abroad, spends his Summer holiday in the Bedfordshire countryside with his great-uncle Silas, who is sixty but very hearty and attractive to women still. He does odd jobs and poaches on the sly, to the horror of his long-suffering housekeeper Mrs. Betts. His son Abel is getting married and, at the wedding reception, Silas recalls his own happy times with his late wife and duets her favourite song with his daughter-in-law. Queenie White:- Silas takes Ned to decorate the Railway Hotel and is appalled to find that the landlord, once a jolly man, has become a dour, strict tee-totaller, refusing to serve alcohol to his guests. Queenie, his put-upon wife, takes her share of the profits from the hotel safe, using them to have a happy, platonic day at the sea-side with Silas. On her return she vows that changes will be made, starting with the sale of alcohol.

2Season 1

S1.E2 ∙ The Widder/The Blue Feather

Sun, Nov 4, 2001

The Widder:- On his way to see his solicitor to make a will, Silas makes a detour to visit Mrs. Gadsby--a feisty, attractive middle-aged widow. Whilst Ned is sent into the garden to pick fruit, she and Silas share some afternoon delight but she gives him good advice as to changing his will to Ned's benefit. The Blue Feather:- Whilst digging a grave in the local churchyard Silas meets the aristocratic Lady Sylvia, who, unknown to herself, is terminally ill. She is outraged to see Silas drinking in the graveyard but, when he tells her it is herbal tea and she takes some herself, she becomes more friendly. Indeed, she ultimately demands a very saucy favour from Silas to stop her from pressing charges when he is caught poaching on her land.

3Season 1

S1.E3 ∙ Silas & Goliath/The Revelation

Sun, Nov 11, 2001

Silas and Goliath:-Silas agrees to fight a much younger and fitter boxer known as the Gorilla, in a fairground side-show and plans to weaken his opponent by giving him a diet which will debilitate him. However it fails to work and Mrs. Betts is forced to take drastic action to save Silas from a good hiding. The Revelation:- All is revealed when Silas takes a bath and tells Ned how years earlier, when he was a teenager, he was swimming nude in the river and a girl stole his clothes. He had to bare everything in order to chase her and regain his trousers and says that, to this day, he has no idea who she was. Mrs. Betts does though.

1Season 2

S2.E1 ∙ A Funny Thing

Sun, Jan 5, 2003

Silas's nose is put out of joint by the visit of cousin Cosmo, who thrills Ned with his stories of foreign travel and charms Mrs. Betts by flirting with her. Seeking attention, he agrees to pose for Hermione, a sculptress, but she ends up revealing more than she should of herself, which causes trouble with her boyfriend.

2Season 2

S2.E2 ∙ Finger Wet, Finger Dry

Sun, Jan 12, 2003

Silas takes his prize boar to mate with a sow belonging to Sam Tilly, the village policeman. Sam is not at home but his ample wife Connie is and she is feeling rather neglected by her husband in the amatory stakes. Silas is only too willing to help but when Sam returns unexpectedly Silas has to hide in the cellar until Ned manages to rescue him to avert a scandal.

3Season 2

S2.E3 ∙ Shandy Lil

Sun, Jan 19, 2003

Silas gets work helping with the harvest at the farm owned by Pamela Farrell. He takes pity on Shandy Lil, the put-upon serving girl at the farm, and plays Cupid between her and Pikey, an equally shy young thresher. His efforts to demonstrate the act of courtship to Pikey go awry when they are misconstrued by Pamela who sets her cap at Silas.

4Season 2

S2.E4 ∙ The Race

Sun, Jan 26, 2003

When Silas challenges the wirier Goffy Windsor to a five-mile race around the local countryside, Uncle George takes bets on the result and Silas is sure of victory. However, after suffering a series of ailments Silas realizes that he will have to cheat and, literally, take short cuts to win.

5Season 2

S2.E5 ∙ A Happy Man

Sun, Feb 2, 2003

Uncle Silas has only one real rival likely to beat his roses in the forthcoming show - retired soldier Walter Hawthorn. Ned is fascinated by Walter's collection of military memorabilia; Silas is fascinated by 'Topsy' Turvey, the local district nurse. Will this diversion give Walter his break or is he falling prey to painful memories of the past?

6Season 2

S2.E6 ∙ The Christening

Sun, Feb 9, 2003

Georgina and Abel have their first child, making Silas a proud grandfather. One of the guests at the christening is Georgina's friend Ellen, a professional cook, who knows the way to a man's heart and finds Silas as irresistible as most of the women he encounters.