'Love Thy Neighbour' Down Under

I was rifling through a few old UK sitcom videos on YouTube today and came across Love Thy Neighbour from the 1970s.

Thames TV Production

Love Thy Neighbour was a Thames TV production screened on the ITV network that would certainly never see the light of day in these more liberated times.

Starring Jack Smethurst and Rudolph Walker (now featuring as Patrick in BBC’s flagship soap ‘EastEnders’ - see right), it was the story of two couples living next door to each other. One couple were black while the other were white and it brought to the fore the animosity held between the two male characters, meanwhile their character wives were great friends.

Racist Overtones

The racist overtones expressed quite freely throughout the programme were, in my opinion, even totally unacceptable back then and the reason the show has not seen a more recent airing on the numerous satellite channels we now have, bears witness that this holds true, if not more so, to this day.

Sequel Down Under

But I was unaware that the show, like other 70s sitcoms actually received a sequel ‘Down Under’ as it was produced in Australia after its run in the UK came to a close. 

Again it featured Jack Smethurst, this time playing the same Eddie Booth character who had supposedly emigrated to the other side of the world and was awaiting his family to join him.

The difference however, was that his neighbours were white and consequently it was just based on two sets of home dwellers not getting on and nothing to do with colour as in its UK version.

Other 70s Sitcoms in Australia

Other UK shows that have made it to the other side of the world for Australian series in addition to their UK predecessor include such greats as ‘Doctor in the House’ (as ‘Doctor Down Under’), ‘Father Dear Father’ and ‘Are You Being Served’.

‘Love Thy Neighbour in Australia’ is available to watch on YouTube should you so desire, though somehow I don’t think I will bother tuning in.

Whatever Happened to "Doctor in the House" Star Barry Evans?

Fresh faced actor Barry Evans was a regular on our TV screens in the 1970's. 

The star of "Doctor at Large" and "Mind Your Language" who became a British sitcom favourite, was born in 1943 in the Surrey town of Guildford. 

Abandoned as a baby, Evans was educated at orphanage boarding schools and later attended the infamous Italia Conti Academy before gaining a scholarship to study at the central School of Speech and Drama.

His first leading role was in the 1967 film "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush" with Judy Geeson and three years later he gained the part of Michael Upton in the UK smash hit comedy "Doctor In The House" moving on to the sequel hit "Doctor at Large".

Doctor in the House - episode 1

 

In 1975 he starred in the hit big screen sex comedy "The Adventures of a Taxi Driver", but soon returned to ITV for the leading role in a new sitcom "Mind Your Language". 

Here he played the part of a teacher of English to foreign students. Again the show was a big TV success, gaining a worldwide audience.

Mind Your Language - episode 1

However, as the 80's came, Evans found it more and more difficult to find work. His so called youthful image worked against him and he found difficulty in finding parts to match his age.

By the late 1990's, as his acting work diminished, he was known to be working as a mini-cab driver in the English East Midlands. 

Sadly, in 1997 he was  found dead in his bungalow at Claybrooke Magna, Leicestershire aged only 53. 

He was found to have suffered a blow to the head and an autopsy showed he had high levels of alcohol in his system. Although an 18 year old man was initially arrested for the murder, he was subsequently released without charge.

The Coroner eventually gave an open verdict and to this day it is still unclear how Evans met his end.

 CLICK TO FIND OUT WHATEVER HAPPENED TO:
The "Are You Being Served" Cast
 On The Buses Cast

All Creatures Great and Small Cast

 Richard O'Sullivan

Watching Star: Emma Wray

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