naseby This deservedly rates as ten-out-ten. Sure, it only ran for 27 episodes, but when you mention this to anyone, they can't believe it only ran for that amount - that's a sure sign that in its short run over four years it had the desired impact. Leonard Rossiter was at the top of his game in this/the '70's. Miserly landlord Rigsby (Rossiter) is always at odds with his regular tenants, Alan (Richard Beckinsale), Phillip (Don Warrington)and Miss(Ruth)Jones (Frances De La Tour). Phillip, being a black African chief especially incurred Rigsby's bigoted racist wrath.Strangely, Phillip's African chief was exposed as a sham in the film version. (Which it has to be said, included scripts from the series and wasn't too good, especially with another character filling the void for the late Beckinsale). Wherever there's debate, or another new tenant to either criticise, or get on the good side of, it created a classic comedy situation. Rigsby constantly tried to bed the unimpressed Miss Jones (as he always called her), who, ironically for him, was sex-starved and seeking attention.The excellent Henry McGhee played a suave, posh 'conman' tenant named 'Seymour' in one episode, whom Rigsby played up to but fell foul of. (So much so, that although McGhee was already a stalwart from 'The Benny hill Show', he mentioned that more people called out to him in the street "Hey, Seymour!" remembering his role in 'RD'). Rigsby's selfish, bigoted attitude provided some great slanging matches between him and the regular tenants. Temporarily with Ms De La Tour's departure for a few episodes, Canadian actress Gay Rose provided the younger character, Brenda for us all. Although pretty non-descript and not a replacement, she still held her own against Rigsby, whilst finally making Alan come out of his shell with the opposite sex. Richard Beckinsale was absent for one series, but it still made its mark. (A popular comedy actor, he was starring in the excellent 'Porridge' prison comedy in the '70's as well). Everyone has a favourite episode, but while they may have a least favourite, that and others are still great in their own right. Writer, Eric Chappell excelled with this comedy and although he had other successes, this has to be his finest. It has to be said that the PC brigade have got their teeth in to the series when repeated (cut), at least on British channel ITV3/4 which misses the point, especially as it wasn't originally shown in this edited version - however offensive to some, to display Rigsby's right-wing and bigoted views and to have him brought down to earth. A good episode which demonstrates this, to check out, is 'Food Glorious Food', on the subject of poverty, charity, race - perfect fodder for Rigsby's ranting! I just had to buy the DVD box set of this, and so should any situation comedy fan.

richardclarke13 Make no mistake Rising Damp is the best t.v comedy of the 70's and of all-time! The programme revolves around the most lecherous, cantankerous, nasty, racist, rude mannered person you are ever likely to see on British television. Yet despite all this it's hard not to feel sorry for landlord Rupert Rigsby (played to perfection by the late Leonard Rossiter) as you certainly get the feeling that he is a victim a circumstance and this leads to his sometimes tactless approach to life.Rigsby was very much in love with Miss Jones (one of his tenants) and this led to some of the show's most hilarious scenes with him trying and failing miserably to get her attention romantically. Thankfully the scriptwriters didn't go the same way that most most forthcoming American t.v shows would go with the two leads eventually getting together after many mishaps (Moonlighting, 6 Million dollar man and Lois and Clark to name but few) as this would have done to rising damp what it did to them (effectively killed them off).Another key part of the programme was the relationship between Phillip (Don Warrington playing a fellow tenant at rigsby's flat) and rigsby. Phillip used to flirt like mad with Miss Jones (mainly to annoy Rigsby) and miss Jones adored Phillip whilst Rigsby was always left being sidelined but still defiant and trying everything in his power to come between them. Also living in rigsby's place of residence Was Alan (played superbly by the late Richard Beckinsale who died far too young) who was a student with many opposing views to rigsby's. This led to many great comedic arguments (mainly about the permissive society) between them and created some of the programme's greatest moments (and there were many). A semi-regular character was next door neighbour Spooner an ex-army boxer who also from time to time would but rigsby in his place. All in all this is a fantastic ensemble comedy with marvellous spot on performances from the main leads and is a comedy that should be treasured for years to come.

didi-5 'Rising Damp' is shown pretty regularly on TV all these years after production ceased on the series, which must be a testament to its staying power.Set in a grimy house where landlord Rigsby and his tenants (the refined Miss Jones, object of his affections; Alan, a long-haired student of medicine who never seemed to do anything useful; and Philip, a black man of tribal descent, possibly ...) rubbed along together week by week, with new lodgers coming and going, and Rigsby continuing his relentless pursuit of Miss Jones, 'Rising Damp' was pretty much perfect.Not dated at all when viewed recently, these are genuinely comic characters (especially the excellent performance of the peerless Leonard Rossiter as Rigsby) in amusing situations. Rather like Rigsby's cat, Vienna, we sit back and watch with interest as events unfold and entertain us.I loved it. Laurels all round (Frances de La Tour, who is an accomplished dramatic actress on stage aside from her comedy work here, as Miss Jones; Don Warrington, still around and not looking much older, as Philip; and lovely Richard Beckinsale, who sadly died in his early thirties at the end of the 1970s, as Alan) and long may the brown door and that tinkly pub piano theme grace our screens.

hayden-8 There is an annoying tendency among certain people, especially in my country, to gain some sort of smug satisfaction from being able to say "Oh, I love British humour" as if this somehow gives them an air of intelligence and satisfaction. Now, while I have yet to see an American sitcom that matches the subtlety and sly humour of "Yes, Minister", or the sheer inventiveness of "The fast show", in the same breath brilliant American comedies like "MASH" and "Seinfeld" could simply not have been made in England.The aforegoing paragraph could easily have served as an introduction to a review of a truly abysmal British comedy like "Absolutely fabulous" as a means of illustrating my point, or even for a review of a silly comedy like "The Goodies" to lend credence to my contention that not all British humour is sophisticated. However, I have instead decided on a classic comedy of the Seventies, "Rising damp".The shows two stars, Leonard Rossiter and Richard Beckinsale are both deceased, the latter at a tragically young age. Rossiter is Rupert Rigsby (as far as I know his first name was only mentioned in the disappointing 1980 film version), the tightfisted and mean spirited owner of a lodging house. Beckinsale is Alan, a student boarder. The other cast members were Don Warrington and Frances de la Tour. de la Tour is Ruth Jones, an unhappy spinster with whom Rigsby is in lust, and Warrington is Philip, an African student lusted after in turn by Miss Jones.Most of the show's humour was derived by the witty and often biting dialogue, and kudos must go to the series' scriptwriters.Sadly, in keeping with British tradition only 27 episodes were ever made, despite the show running for years. Those 27 episodes, however, must be savoured.