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61 Episodes 1977 - 1977
Episode 1
New tenant Ruth has left her husband and is hardly over the threshold before hearing what one tenant thinks of the 'unofficial landlady' Mrs Beale, who has just returned from her late husband's funeral. Whilst unpacking, Ruth has a long chat with her friend Judy, who tries to convince her that she has other options and doesn't need to be stuck in a dingy bedsit.
Episode 2
Ruth meets her real landlady Kathy Singer, whilst tenant (and self proclaimed 'unofficial' landlady) Mrs Beale sticks her nose where it isn't wanted and causes trouble for tenant Linda Todd, leaving Mrs Singer with a bit of a quandary to resolve.
Episode 3
Carol and Ian West have set up home together in one of the rooms in Mafeking Terrace with their new baby, but Carol's disapproving mother (Pat Ashton) cannot stop constantly imposing her own opinions on the conditions that the couple find themselves in. Meanwhile Carol and Ian can't stop bickering over every trivial little incident.
Episode 4
Mrs Beale continues repeating her poisonous remarks about Linda Todd's loose morals with neighbour Brian Kettle, but he finds out from more than one source that Linda really is leaving to get married. When new landlord Mr Singer pays Mrs Beale a visit she turns her malicious tongue on separated tenant Mrs Harris, implying that having single female tenants could give the place a bad name.
Episode 5
Young tenant Lesley is feeling lonely and confides to her friend that she might start looking for a boyfriend. She decides to answer an advert in a lonely hearts column, but her intended date not only turns up very late, and drunk, but he isn't exactly what she was hoping for.
Episode 6
Ian has arranged a night out for himself and Carol with young tenant Lesley offering to babysit. Carol is furious and thinks there is something going on between Ian and Lesley. Ian storms out of the room and when Carol overhears them both leave for a night out she packs a suitcase and asks her dad to fetch her home. When he arrives to collect her he is nothing but trouble for all concerned.
Episode 7
Brian Kettle's daughter Jennifer pays her father a visit. They have long family discussions about her future, including his former wife's plan to remarry, move to Birmingham, and place Jennifer in a boarding school. She lets her father know that she is unhappy with home life, especially as she is never asked her opinion about her own future. Meanwhile Carol and Ian are struggling to survive as family of three on one wage.
Episode 8
Rose returns to her lodgings after a failed attempt at marriage and on the way in tells Mrs Beale in no uncertain terms she's back for good. Mrs Beale has an uncharacteristically pleasant conversation with artistic tenant Geoff but things turn sour when he berates her for listening to his private conversations on his cassette recorder whilst he is out of the room. An apologetic Mrs Beale tries to explain that she thought she was listening to a play on a radio. Meanwhile Rose's 'intended' Lawrence turns up to try and persuade her to change her mind and come back with him.
Episode 9
With Linda Todd back in her room Mrs Beale wastes no time stirring up trouble with landlady Mrs Singer. There are some harsh words between Geoff and his girlfriend Marcia when she turns up after receiving a letter from him ending their relationship, and she wants some answers. Mrs Singer pays Linda a visit to ask whether she plans to stay or go. She tells her that her 'intended' was already married and no longer has any reason to leave.
Episode 10
Carol seems to be leading a life of domestic drudgery while others are having a good time. Lesley has a date with Ian's workmate Tony, who just happens to be Ian's excuse for his being late home from work, but Carol already knows he wasn't working as Tony is next door with Lesley. However all is well because Ian has a pleasant surprise for Carol's birthday. Brian and Ruth go for a night out at the greyhound races, followed by a cosy meal for two in his flat.
Episode 11
Arthur has collapsed at the foot of the stairs late on a Saturday night and Mrs Beale thinks he's drunk - again. Linda and Geoff think differently and call an ambulance just in case. Linda shows her caring side by going with him to the hospital and Geoff and Mrs Beale have a chat over a cup of tea. Linda returns to Geoff's room with an update. The next morning Geoff gives Mrs Beale a piece of his mind over her attitude to Linda and Arthur discharges himself from hospital.
Episode 12
Ruth invites snobby friends the Wisharts to dinner and neighbour Brian to make up the numbers; he drinks too much and upsets Ruth by insulting them. Meanwhile Ian takes Carol and the baby to a pub in his three wheeler.
Episode 13
A new health visitor arrives unannounced to visit baby Alison and seems overly officious over every aspect of the conditions that the Wests are bringing the baby up in. Carol is worried that her baby might be taken away from them if they stay where they are and suggests to Ian that it might be a good idea for them to move back with her parents for the child's wellbeing. Ian isn't happy with the idea.
Episode 14
Ian contacts the health visitor Vera Pusey and asks her to return to their room to try and clear up some issues he has with her report, seeing that he wasn't there on her first visit. All is fine to start with before Ian starts to lose his temper with her apparent attitude towards their plight. Things calm down and after she leaves Ian and Carol consider what steps they can take to improve on their current living situation. Someone turns up to view a vacant room but she is not the friendly well travelled potential tenant she portrays herself as.
Episode 15
Mrs Singer is having trouble trying to evict the non-paying sub-let squatters living illegally in the basement, but not without a heated argument about its legality. Brian Kettle steps in to calm things down and give Mrs Singer some moral support. She confides in Brian that she and her husband are thinking of selling off the basement as separate premises to try and alleviate financial problems. Meantime Lesley and friend Meryl consider becoming door to door cosmetics sales girls to make extra money. Brian offers to redecorate the now empty basement to save Mrs Singer some money.
Episode 16
Mrs Beale is convinced that the Wests have packed their cases and done a bunk early in the morning. She receives some bad news from the police that her erstwhile missing cat George is dead, and we discover her first name when the constable addresses her as 'Mrs Ivy Beale'. Geoff shows what a kind chap he is by offering to do her shopping and returns with her 'missing cat' - (he is unaware that George is dead and pretends he's found him by obtaining a replacement). An old friend pays her a visit and they talk about what life is like when people get to their age. There's trouble for her when the Wests return after a day out and threaten legal action if she continues to slander them.
Episode 17
Lesley and Meryl raise the money needed to buy into their cosmetics business but soon find out that the products they've been supplied are worthless and won't sell. Ruth pays her estranged husband a visit only to find he's moved a new girlfriend in, prompting Ruth to seek legal advice about getting a divorce. Brian's plans to redecorate the basement flat gets the approval of landlord Mr Singer.
Episode 18
Lesley and Meryl have been taken for a ride, so they trick their supplier Mr Brannigan into delivering more products to their room, then use the opportunity to lock him in and accuse him of being a con artist - and they want their money refunded. Linda intervenes on the girls' behalf because she recognises him as the conman previously known to her as Jimmy Doyle. Brian's runaway teenage daughter Jennifer turns up out of the blue just as he and Ruth are beginning an intimate relationship.
Episode 19
Landlady Kathy Singer's artist brother Eric moves into one of the rooms and Mrs Beale wastes no time in introducing herself to him. As Jennifer Kettle and Brian's girlfriend Ruth Harris get to know each other better Brian is already calling his ex wife Pat to arrange for her to take Jennifer back. Linda Todd gets acquainted with Eric and persuades him to do a portrait of her. Pat turns up and makes an arrangement to return runaway Jennifer back home and back to school.
Episode 20
Lesley gets a visit from Dave Marsden, an admirer from the laundrette, and together with Meryl all three get acquainted. Dave asks Lesley for a date, which she accepts. Ian and Carol invite her parents for a conciliatory lunch that turns out better than expected.
Episode 21
Mrs Beale as ever sticks her nose into the other tenants' business when she reproaches Brian Kettle for having his daughter residing as an extra tenant, threatening to report him. Linda is delighted with artist Eric Prentiss's portrait of her. Over dinner Brian and Ruth persuade Jennifer that it would be in her best interest to return home and complete her education. Landlady Kathy Singer has a long heart to heart with her brother Eric, and Jennifer finally decides to go home with her mother.
Episode 22
Ian is questioned by the police about a minor accident his car was reported for, but his wife Carol discovers he's covering for someone else as the car was actually being driven by New Zealander tenant Geoff. Ian pretended he was driving because Geoff has overstayed his visa and if the police found out about him he feared he'd be deported. Lesley organises a party in her room and invites a few of her neighbours for drinks.
Episode 23
Lesley is getting serious with her boyfriend Dave, even asking if he would like to meet her parents, but Dave initially doesn't seem as keen. Ian and Carol decide to treat themselves to a night out and fellow tenant Geoff babysits. When Lesley wonders why Dave isn't with her for the evening Meryl suspects she may be in for a disappointment.
Episode 24
Mrs Beale complains to landlady Mrs Singer about her brother Eric running a photography business from his room. When Ruth's husband Don comes to discuss their divorce she demands that he sells the marital home so she can get her own place with her share of the proceeds. The visit turns sour when Ruth makes it clear she is not happy with his current girlfriend moving into the house, and Don in return makes disparaging remarks about her own love life. Kathy tries to get her brother Eric his old job back, but he is having none of it and decides to quit the house.
Episode 25
It's bad news for the West family finances as Ian has been made redundant. Lesley is bored with her life now that boyfriend Dave is out of the picture and wants something better for herself, but she doesn't know where to start. Carol West's mother is visiting and trying to run Carol's life for her, as well as Ian's when imposing a potential employer on him without his knowledge.
Episode 26
The newly refurbished basement is going on the market. The estate agent suggests to Mrs Singer that she should think about putting the rest of the house up for sale, for it is the type of place a property developer would be interested in. Mrs Beale is in trouble following a visit from her local DHSS office, for it seems she has been less than truthful regarding her late husband's pension book. She thinks Linda Todd reported her, and out of spite calls Mrs Singer to accuse Linda of keeping a man in her room.
Episode 27
Ian and Carol West are facing difficult times with no money coming in and Ian's attempts to stop smoking are making him edgy. Ruth is advertising in the newspapers offering private tuition but didn't expect her first customer to be an illiterate 22 year old girl. Things take an unexpected turn when the girl's angry boyfriend turns up.
Episode 28
Linda Todd's erstwhile boyfriend, former convict Eddie, returns from Devon and could be in trouble for failing to adhere to his parole terms. Mrs Singer has the estate agent back with an offer which results in an argument between her and her husband, and Mrs Beale still has the man from the Social Security to deal with following her pension fraud.
Episode 29
Landlord Mr Singer catches ex-con Eddie Graham squatting in one of the rooms and wants him out, but Brian Kettle acts as peacemaker to give Eddie more time to find a new place to live. Eddie has been in Devon trying out country life and is trying to persuade Linda to go with him to live on a farm there. Ruth gives Linda some advice, which angers Eddie's friend Brian.
Episode 30
Ian is not very comfortable with wearing a suit and tie for his job interview but Carol insists on it as he needs to look smart to be successful. Poor Meryl has her own problems to deal with, she has left home because her wastrel father has arrived home from sea - his gambling is interfering with her relationship with her mother and they're both making her life a misery.
Episode 31
Ruth and Brian are an item again but Ruth is feeling down-in-the-mouth as she's sure she's not good enough for a job she has an interview for. Her father pays her a surprise visit and she has a tough time with his constantly inquiring into her life and finances. He's not happy with her living in bedsitter land and wants her to do better for herself.
Episode 32
Kiwi Geoff has returned from his holiday in Greece and has brought back a mysterious package for a local Greek au pair, but the girl who turns up isn't quite what he was hoping for. Meanwhile, Brian is planning a holiday break in the North Yorkshire moors for himself and Ruth. He wants them both to do a bit of mountain-climbing, but Ruth is having none of it.
Episode 33
When Mr Singer turns up to collect the rent Mrs Beale takes the opportunity to bend his ear with a barrage of complaints against Lesley Losey. Ian West has lost his job and the rent is due, so Carol decides to pawn the stereo to make up the rent money.
Episode 34
Carol is suffering from morning sickness and that can mean only one thing - however, she hasn't told Ian, and doesn't plan to. Lesley Losey has a surprise visitor: her 14-year-old sister Kim, who is sick of life at home. As usual, busybody Mrs Beale is meddling in other people's affairs.
Episode 35
Geoff hasn't seen the last of au pair Sophia, who has walked out on her employer, and since Geoff is the only person she can trust she heads back to his room suitcase in hand. Landlady Kathy thinks she might be able to help her with a new job. Meanwhile Brian invites Ruth to his room for a cosy dinner for two, but the occasion somehow turns into a blazing row between the two of them. Could this be the end of their relationship?
Episode 36
Carol's opinionated mother is giving her a hard time on every aspect of her life, from how she looks and dresses, to Ian's prospects on employment. Lesley Losey has some pills for Carol which, she thinks, will solve her pregnancy problem. Ian is hoping to get a job on the oil rigs, giving him and Carol a chance of a new life away from Mafeking Terrace.
Episode 37
Retired military captain James Passmore and his wife Fay are new tenants recently arrived from Africa and take up Linda Todd's vacated room, but Mrs Passmore is none too happy with their situation. They appear to have money problems due to his previous financial dealings and they appear to be on a downward spiral. It doesn't take Mrs Beale too long to pry into their affairs.
Episode 38
It seems that the Passmore's were forced to leave Rhodesia after some financial irregularities and were close to going to jail. Now that they are back home Mrs Passmore is worried that her husband may be returning to his fraudulent ways in order to survive. Whilst her husband is out doing the shopping (passing a bad cheque as it turns out) Mrs Beale lets Fay Passmore know what she thinks of some of the tenants.
Episode 39
New resident and recovering alcoholic Jim is facing his demons alone in his top-floor room, helped out by his son Chris. Jim quickly strikes up a good relationship with Carol West; they both find it easy to relate to each other's circumstances.
Episode 40
Jim gets an unexpected visit from an Alcoholics Anonymous member Bill, who is also a recovering alcoholic, and they have much in common to discuss. Ian surprises Carol with an unexpected return, but flies off the handle when he finds out about her discussions with Jim. Initially angry with Jim, he later goes up to his room to apologise. Don pays Ruth a visit - he wants to save their marriage and asks her to return to the marital home.
Episode 41
James Passmore is on the scrounge, first trying to persuade Lesley to place a bet for him using her money, then borrowing from Brian Kettle. He looks in on Mrs Beale when he hears a noise and thinks she may have had a fall. Mrs Beale is out but returns in a state of shock - her purse has gone missing from her room. Fay Passmore is suspicious and wonders whether her husband is a thief.
Episode 42
Ian wants to make the job on the oils rigs permanent and move the family to Aberdeen but Carol is refusing to go. Ruth receives a visit from Jane, her estranged husband's ex- girlfriend. She wants to know why Don is refusing to have anything more to do with her, and suspects it has something to do with a possible reunion with Ruth. Recovering alcoholic Jim has a chat and a cup of tea with Kiwi Geoff and discovers that his mother is also an alcoholic.
Episode 43
Ian has called the doctor, for Carol has fallen ill and is in danger of losing their baby. The doctor advises her that she needs to get to hospital for some tests. Ruth's estranged husband is back to apologise for his former girlfriend's intrusion, and she takes the opportunity to persuade him to sell their home. Jim is struggling to cope without alcohol, and is close to falling off the wagon just as his son pays him a visit.
Episode 44
Mrs Beale is suspicious when a surveyor arrives to measure the rooms and starts a rumour that the house might soon be up for sale. James Passmore hires a financial advisor to negotiate a loan of £2000 but is caught out when asked for a registration fee before proceeding, which, of course, he doesn't have. Things get worse when his wife suddenly arrives home and finds out what he's up to.
Episode 45
Mrs Beale takes on a new job making curtains for a local draper, but is she along with her old sewing machine up to task? Lesley and Meryl argue over Lesley's new boyfriend Malcolm, Meryl doesn't believe he is interested in her and suspects she won't hear from him again. Ruth's husband is back to persuade her why she should return home, and she begins to come round to his way of thinking. Malcolm calls on Lesley and seems keen to help her further her career with retraining, a better salary and higher aspirations. Landlady Kathy lets slip to Brian that Ruth is going back to her husband.
Episode 46
Mrs Beale is doing her best to take the coffee stains out of the curtains she's making. The draper Mr Fairlie is at her door asking for them right away but she will not answer because of her mistake, and she has to make excuses later on when she mistakenly opens the door to him. Brian makes a final call on Ruth to figure out why she is returning to her former life. Lesley and Meryl get ready to go to a formal dance but there's a problem - Malcolm says Meryl can't go without an invitation, but given his snooty family background Lesley suspects there may be another reason.
Episode 47
Just as Carol and Ian return from the hospital James Passmore meets them on the landing and starts his coin scrounging routine, but Ian gives him the brush off. Passmore is also having trouble with the financial consultant who is threatening to sue him, is given the brush off by Kiwi Geoff, then falls out with his wife. Carol and her friend Shirley are thinking about starting a freelancing hairdressing business. Recovering alcoholic Jim is looking forward to a visit from his wife Nina.
Episode 48
Carol and her long time friend and fellow hairdresser Shirley get together to talk over old times. She gets her hairdressing equipment out and practices her skills on her friend. Kiwi Geoff is cornered once again by James Passmore who seems to have some business ideas to talk over but Geoff gives him short shrift as he's not interested. Geoff confronts his travel agency colleague Maureen whom he thinks has been fiddling the books with her boyfriend and their manager.
Episode 49
Brian Kettle helps landlady Mrs Singer fit a new shower head and shower curtain. Lesley Losey is the first to use it but accidentally leaves the shower head loose over the edge of the bath and still running, causing water damage in Brian's room. Mrs Beale takes a tumble in the cluttered basement area and makes the most of her injury. Brian and Kathy Singer have a cosy chat over a couple of drinks.
Episode 50
The travel agency where Kiwi Geoff was working has gone bust and with his boss having done a runner after embezzling the company funds, he has no choice but to go home, given that his visa has expired. He decides to hold a farewell party and everyone is invited, even Mrs Beale, who makes it up the stairs despite her apparent leg injuries. In the privacy of Brian's room, landlady Kathy confesses she has discovered her husband is having an affair with a fellow solicitor. Lesley falls out with Malcolm and has an angry confrontation with him over a failed job prospect.
Episode 51
James Passmore is full of confidence as he heads off the the Job Centre looking for work. Carol and Ian seem to be a lot happier than they've ever been, and Ian surprises Carol with news of a new job. Fay Passmore is deeply depressed and tells James that she can't take much more of their current situation. James tries to lift her spirits with news of a job interview.
Episode 52
The police turn up at the Wests' door looking for a James Wilson, with the news that he had died in a car crash, but the description given matches James Passmore. There was a mix up in the identification because Jim had loaned Passmore his driving licence. It turns out that he'd borrowed the licence in order to hire a car and because it had been driven head on into a bridge on the A2 there is a suspicion that it was a suicide.
Episode 53
Lesley's Aunt Rose and cousin Denise are in London and pay her a visit, but Rose's racist overtones upset Lesley's friend Meryl. Brian Kettle and landlady Kathy listen to Meryl's complaints about how she is treated because of her colour and help cheer her up. Lesley and Denise discuss Denise's forthcoming marriage. Kathy has trouble with window repairs carried out by a cowboy builder.
Episode 54
Lesley breaks the ice between her cousin,Aunt and her friend Meryl as they go out together to shop for Denise's wedding.Denise admits to Lesley the wedding may not be the happy affair her family will have her believe, she doesn't want to go through with it but feels she must to keep her family happy.
Episode 55
A new tenant nurse Mary Owen arrives and has to ask Mrs Beale for her keys. Meanwhile, Carol's hairdressing business seems to be starting well, but Ian isn't happy at the prospect of string of customers passing through their room all day, especially if the landlady finds out. Jim has a visit from his wife Nina and its bad news - their daughter Helen's husband Adam has died abroad. Mrs Beale takes a phone call from one of Carol's clients and immediately becomes suspicious. Jim opens up to nurse Mary about his alcoholism, and being a nurse, suggests she could help.
Episode 56
Jim and his wife Nina prepare for their son-in-law's funeral. His alcoholism has always been kept a secret from daughter Helen and Nina wonders whether she should stop being lied to. New resident Mary Owen has nurse Barbara Hunt for a roommate. Jim brings Helen back to his room for a family heart to heart, and she wants to know why her dad and stepmother are not living together, so he finally admits that he has a drink problem. Mrs Beale gets a hairdo from Carol and pays her.........10 PENCE.
Episode 57
Mrs Beale is all dressed up with her new hair do and is anxiously waiting for her date Mr Stafford, a taxi driver, to turn up. Mrs Singer was supposed to show a girl the Passmore's room but no-one turned up, however Mrs Beale hinted that she may be able to provide a potential tenant. Jim's work colleague Eileen Curtis pays him a visit to check that he is OK, unfortunately for Jim she produces a half bottle of brandy. Will he manage to resist? Lesley is learning French as she's saving up to go to Brittany after her cousin's wedding. Brian and landlord Mr Singer have a beer and a chat about life. When Mrs Beale and Mr Stafford return to her room she's a changed woman.
Episode 58
Mrs Beale answers the telephone and it's the girl who should have arrived the night before, but has arranged to call that day. She lies to the girl and says the room is gone, and also lies to Mrs Singer saying the girl has found somewhere else, all this to get her new man friend the Passmore's old room. Jim is back on the bottle and has a dreadful hangover when colleague Eileen Curtis visits to see why he hasn't turned up for work - and he's rapidly falling to pieces. Mrs Beale's man Sam Stafford settles into his new room.
Episode 59
Ian and Shirley have a night out because Carol has a late booking to deal with. The following day Carol suspects that Ian has been getting at Shirley trying to get her to dissolve their budding home hairdressing business. Jim's son Chris pays him a visit and tells him his friend Ross is going abroad. He'd like to go with him but doesn't have the money. Jim seems to be back on the right path and wants to help his son financially, but his refusal to accept causes an argument. Ian and Shirley appear to be carrying on behind Carol's back. Sam meets Barbara and tells her of his anxiety over the forthcoming medical that will decide whether he is allowed to continue as a taxi driver.
Episode 60
Ian's oil rig friend Tony is in London and pays the Wests a visit. He tells Carol that there is still a job available in Aberdeen and there's even a cottage available in nearby Stonehaven. Carol seems to be keen after all and thinks that heading north for a new life might be a good idea. Jim has to admit to landlady Mrs Singer that he's lost his job and can't pay the rent. Shirley decides to end her hairdressing partnership with Carol. When Shirley calls back for another visit Carol falls out with her when she finds out about her affair with Ian. She is also angry with Ian and throws him out. What will happen to their future life after this?
Episode 61
Following Ian's infidelity the Wests have split up and Ian seems to have gone for good, but he returns to try and patch things up. Landlady Cathy Singer has told Carol that she must stop using her room for her hairdressing business. Jim's daughter Helen tries to persuade him to move in with her and help run her antiques business but he is reluctant thinking he would just be in the way. Carol eventually decides to go back to live with her parents and Jim leaves for a new life and a fresh start.