Blamire

If Blamire had stayed longer, I think the series would have ended after series 3, or possibly series 4. I think it would have become one of the "forgotten" sitcoms. I mean, can you imagine Blamire doing the things Foggy did in series 3. Mending Stuart's Leg, Isometrics or playing golf. The episodes would have been very different, or had completely different plots, if Blamire was still there.
 
imitation700mb said:
If Blamire had stayed longer, I think the series would have ended after series 3, or possibly series 4. I think it would have become one of the "forgotten" sitcoms. I mean, can you imagine Blamire doing the things Foggy did in series 3. Mending Stuart's Leg, Isometrics or playing golf. The episodes would have been very different, or had completely different plots, if Blamire was still there.
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Don't forget, series 3 was originally written for Blamire and the script was adjusted for Foggy. Foggy was not the type to want to volunteer to go for a morning swim, unlike Blamire who had the boys go out camping and rowing a canoe down the river!
 
It'd have gone for a fair longer I suspect with a slightly rejigged back to originally intended series 3. Thereafter he'd have gradually mellowed a bit as the series opened up more and the northern grime got replaced with rolling hills and heather. However the increased cast we got over the years would be less likely as his interactions with the ladies, Howard etc would have been far less cordial on the surface than his his sucessors. That said, after having one or two our Cyril was just as rambunctious as the rest of them :D
 
There were plenty of episodes in the late 70s and early 80s that would have worked for Blamire.
We know Series Three was written with Blamire in mind.
In Series Four, Who Made a Bit of a Splash in Wales, we have Foggy pursuing a welsh widow - and this would have suited Blamire much more.
We go as far as Series Seven - The Frozen Turkey Man. This would have worked for Blamire.
In fact, most episodes would have suited Blamire, but the show was ALWAYS going to develop differently.
Look at the Series Two episode Ballad for Wind Instruments and Canoe with Blamire. As early as this, the show was showing signs of physical comedy being a major factor.
We will never know exactly how long the show would have lasted without Michael Bates.
But Brian Wilde clearly did such a good job doing the sad job of replacing Michael Bates that the show was going to last a long time.
 
Brian Wilde was waiting in the wings. Michael kept his seat warm.
I am of course joking.
Michael was brilliant but I definitely think his character would have ran out of steam.
Foggy was adventurous, moral, brave (he always stood his ground), organised, bossy but not tyrannical (sometimes we all need someone who persists in getting stuff done).
 
This is a bit controversial , Mikey do you think Seymour was a bit one dimensional a one trick pony as the authoritative headmaster and played that part in every episode he appeared because,dare I say it, Compo , Clegg and many of the cast are one trick but thankfully its the correct trick and why it lasted so long , history is littered with shows where the main characters play the same role for years its just the timing of when the series is cut or they leave that's why Fawlty Towers is such a great series because they knew it was the right to end the series, look no further than Stephen Lewis who played Butler through his whole career , in the end its down to the writer to develop the facets of the character.
 
captain clutterbuck said:
This is a bit controversial , Mikey do you think Seymour was a bit one dimensional a one trick pony as the authoritative headmaster and played that part in every episode he appeared because,dare I say it, Compo , Clegg and many of the cast are one trick but thankfully its the correct trick and why it lasted so long , history is littered with shows where the main characters play the same role for years its just the timing of when the series is cut or they leave that's why Fawlty Towers is such a great series because they knew it was the right to end the series, look no further than Stephen Lewis who played Butler through his whole career , in the end its down to the writer to develop the facets of the character.
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Can't argue with that. How dare you have a reasoned intelligent position.
Stand in the corner and don't speak until you're spoken to.
:29: :29: :29:

I thought Seymour was brilliant. I absolutely loved his character.
 
captain clutterbuck said:
This is a bit controversial , Mikey do you think Seymour was a bit one dimensional a one trick pony as the authoritative headmaster and played that part in every episode he appeared because,dare I say it, Compo , Clegg and many of the cast are one trick but thankfully its the correct trick and why it lasted so long , history is littered with shows where the main characters play the same role for years its just the timing of when the series is cut or they leave that's why Fawlty Towers is such a great series because they knew it was the right to end the series, look no further than Stephen Lewis who played Butler through his whole career , in the end its down to the writer to develop the facets of the character.
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It is unpopular but I agree, Seymour is one of my least favourite characters and I did find him very one dimensional. Ducks for cover ..
 
For me Seymour was pretty much the definitive third man.

On the authoritive side he had all the bad traits built up of his time as head of the Utterthwaite academy. The glimpses we get here are of an instution as much falling apart physically as Seymour was mentally trying to keep order and being utterly out of his depth.

His rough stereotypically teacher edges are swiftly dispenspensed with and he becomes so amiable in my opinion he is only second to Truly in this field. He was never going to be a sucessful leader as he never had the staying power but he makes up for that in overwhelming compassion and a very true portrayal of someone who needed to be needed. He also has the rare distinction of being nearly as barmy sober as when inebriated.

There is a begrudged acceptance of Compo initially as being in his unpaid employment but he later enjoys not being the only barmpot in the room. Mischief is there too but with a warmth that sets aside any forced pomposity and need to keep the likes of Edie on side. He tries repeatedly to be a success but ultimately knows he is a failure and wants one day for just one of his schemes or inventions to work.

All this and a twinkle in the eye knowing he as an actor brought the cast together off screen so well despite it extending far beyond it's original boundries in number really cemented the show as must watch tv for me.
 
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