Keep It in the Family

production:

This series was remade in the U.S. for the ABC television network in 1980 as Too Close for Comfort.

1st Series Winter 1980

1. "Downs and Ups"
   gs: Neil McCarthy [ Sidney ], Cass Allen [ Violet ], Rowland Davies [ Artist ], Christine Shaw [ Rachel ], Christina Nagy [ Miss Whiplash ], Andrew King [ Toni ], Raymond Skipp [ Policeman ], Giles Watling [ Young man ], Keith James [ Neville ]

   After the elderly sitting tenant dies, the Rushes need to rent out their ground floor apartment.

   b: 7 Jan 80

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2. "One of Those Days"
   

   As the girls move in downstairs, Dudley starts reminiscing and goes through a mid-life crisis.

   b: 14 Jan 80

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3. "All Through the Night"
   gs: Pat Coombs [ Miss Petty ], Anna Dawson [ Woman Juror ], Clifford Mollison [ Mr. Justice Pettigrew ], Burt Kwouk [ Juror ], Norman Atkyns [ Clerk of the Court ]

   Dudley stays up all night to finish the comic strip which causes him to sleep through jury service the next morning.

   b: 21 Jan 80

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4. "The Non-Mechanical Man"
   gs: Mike Grady [ Sid Foster ], Derek Francis [ Bank Manager ], Madoline Thomas [ Woman in Line at the Bank ], Christina Nagy [ Angela Jones ]

   The washing machine is broken and Dudley thinks Susan's new boyfriend can fix it. Dudley is overdrawn at the bank.

   b: 28 Jan 80

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5. "Some Enchanted Evening"
   gs: Roy Kinnear [ Royston Higson ], Steve Plytas [ Restaurant Manager ]

   Dudley and Muriel plan a romantic dinner out.

   b: 4 Feb 80

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6. "A Friend in Need"
   gs: Julian Holloway [ Dick Mitchell ], Sue Bond [ Mimi ], Rosanne Wickes [ Barbara ], Steve Fideli [ Alphonse ]

   Dudley's old friend Dick pays a visit.

   b: 11 Feb 80

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   2nd Series Fall 1980

7. "Phoney Business"
   gs: Barbara Flynn [ Marlene ], Anthony Sharp [ Mr. Barker ]

   A computer error gives the Rushes £75,000. Susan looks for a new job.

   b: 1 Sep 80

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8. "Home is Where the Heat Is"
   gs: John Carlin [ Theatre Manager ], Rosie Collins [ Box office girl ], Anthony Dawes [ Man in theatre ], Fiona Curzon [ Woman in theatre ], John J. Carney [ Policeman ]

   Susan considers getting a tattoo. Jacqui's purse is stolen.

   b: 8 Sep 80

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9. "Games People Play"
   gs: Patrick Murray [ Blackie Taylor ], Basil Otoin [ James ]

   Dudley has trouble dealing with the girls' boyfriends.

   b: 15 Sep 80

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10. "And Not a Drop to Drink"
    gs: Norman Mitchell [ Burt ], Damaris Hayman [ Telephone Operator ], Jeremy Gittins [ Dave ]

    After a night of drinking, Susan enlists in the army.

    b: 22 Sep 80

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11. "Smoke Without Fire"
    gs: George Layton [ Freddie ], Patricia Brake [ Ann ]

    Susan's married friends spend the night and Dudley misunderstands.

    b: 29 Sep 80

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12. "Takeaway Sunday"
    gs: Garfield Morgan [ Police Sergeant ], Burt Kwouk [ Restaurant Manager ], Geoffrey Davion [ Police Constable ], Pearl-Ann Turner [ Lydia Kettle ], Chua Kah Joo [ Waiter ]

    After their barbecue gets rained out, the Rushes try Chinese takeaway.

    b: 6 Oct 80

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13. "The Mouthtrap"
    gs: David Banks [ Leslie Gay ]

    Susan gets invited to an all-night party. Dudley suspects that Jacqui's boyfriend is gay.

    b: 13 Oct 80

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    3rd Series 1981

14. "Splitting Headaches"
    gs: Henrietta Baynes [ Marlene ], John Clegg [ Vicar ], Karl Howman [ Arnold ], Ron Meadows [ Clive ]

    Susan moves in with her boyfriend.

    b: 1 Sep 81 w: Brian Cooke

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15. "The Judas Goat"
    gs: Christina Artemis [ Virginia Dryford ], Jill Meers [ Edna Finch ]

    Muriel throws a party so she can play matchmaker for Duncan.

    b: 8 Sep 81 w: Brian Cooke

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16. "A Game of No Chance"
    gs: Anthony Dawes [ Vicar ], Paul Russell [ Boy Scout ]

    The Rushes agree to help at the Girls Guides' summer fete.

    b: 15 Sep 81 w: David Barry

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17. "Matter over Mind"
    gs: William Lucas [ Michael ], Anthony Woodruff [ Arthur Wilson ], Alex Bregonzi [ Waiter ], Pat Carlile [ Female clerk ], Nikki Critcher [ Blonde ]

    Jacqui dates a man older than her father. Duncan asks Dudley to cosign a loan.

    b: 22 Sep 81 w: David Barry d: Michael Mills

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18. "A Matter of Principle"
    gs: Robbie Coltrane [ Mr. Conway ], John J. Carney [ Policeman ], Ridgewell Hawkes [ Non-speaking policeman (uncredited) ]

    Susan buys a used car. Dudley is suddenly unemployed.

    b: 29 Sep 81 w: Alex Shearer

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19. "The Inferior Decorator"
    gs: Clive Gehle [ Andrew ], Philip Martin Brown [ Mr. Wilkins ], Richard Cottan [ Sidney ], Roger Avon [ Fire Chief ], Steve Whyment [ Fireman ], Peter Finn [ Fireman ], Tony Prior [ Fireman ]

    Dudley contemplates redecorating the bedroom, while Jacqui receives a proposal of marriage.

    b: 6 Oct 81 w: Brian Cooke d: Mark Stuart

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    4th Series 1982

20. "In the Camera Club"
    gs: John Carlin [ Ed Barber ], William Lindsay [ Rodney ]

    The Rush's house is burgled, and Duncan's camera is taken.

    b: 19 Oct 82 w: Dave Freeman & Greg Freeman

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21. "The Longest Night"
    gs: Anna Dawson [ Mrs. Morgan ], Leo Dolan [ Fred ], David Neville [ Percy ]

    Duncan invites Dudley and Muriel for dinner.

    b: 26 Oct 82 w: Dave Freeman & Greg Freeman

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22. "Job References"
    gs: Olivier Pierre [ Mr. Foster ]

    Muriel goes to work leaving a helpless Dudley at home.

    b: 2 Nov 82 w: Peter Learmouth

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23. "A Snap Decision"
    

    A photo of Susan at a topless beach upsets Dudley.

    b: 9 Nov 82 w: Peter Learmouth

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24. "Piano Blues"
    gs: Anita Graham [ Wilma ], Larry Martyn [ Delivery Man ], Norman Mitchell [ Delivery Man ], David Neville [ Hugo ], David 'Kid' Jensen [ Disc Jockey ]

    Jacqui and Susan form a punk band.

    b: 16 Nov 82 w: Dave Freeman & Greg Freeman

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25. "Alien Friends"
    gs: David Healy [ Harry Millington ], Pat Starr [ Millicent Millington ], Ben Stevens [ Vincent ]

    An American newspaper wants to buy Dudley's comic strip. Dudley tries to get a photo of a UFO.

    b: 23 Nov 82 w: David Barry

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    5th Series 1983

26. "Too Many Cooks"
    gs: John Carlin [ Stanley Barlow ], Toni Palmer [ Madge Carew ], John Rutland [ Arthur Carew ], Eileen Mayers [ Elsie Bates ], Anna Bergman [ Ingrid ]

    While Muriel visits her mother in Australia, the girls suffer under Dudley's rule.

    b: 7 Sep 83

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27. "Troubles Aloft"
    gs: David Neville [ Hugo ], Johnny Shannon [ Mr. Ryder ]

    When the overseas royalties for Dudley's cartoons come in, he decides to use the money converting his loft into an artists' studio.

    b: 14 Sep 83

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28. "A Moving Affair"
    gs: Sheila Steafel [ Aunt Kate ], David Stoll [ Police Sergeant ], Bruce Payne [ Police Constable ]

    Dudley is commissioned to paint some book illustrations and persuades his daughters to pose for him. Meanwhile, Duncan is moving into a new flat and enlists the help of the Rush's. Dudley tricks him into making a detour to Brighton, where all Duncan's furniture is stolen.

    b: 28 Sep 83

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29. "Room for One on Top"
    gs: Christopher Bradshaw [ Delivery Man ]

    Duncan cannot move into his flat until his furniture has been replaced, so Jacqui and Susan persuade their father to let him lodge in the loft studio for a while. Dudley orders some North African wine, but receives more than he bargained for.

    b: 5 Oct 83

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30. "That Old Black Magic"
    gs: Stefan Gryff [ Mr. Veluva ], Sue Nicholls [ Mrs. Francisco ], Royce Mills [ Barry ]

    Duncan grows tired of Dudley's untidiness and telephones the job centre in search of a housekeeper. Dudley develops an interest in the occult and casts a spell on Duncan's ailing rubber plant, with astounding results.

    b: 12 Oct 83

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31. "A Touch of the Orient"
    gs: David Neville [ Hugo ], John Carlin [ Stanley Barlow ], John Moreno [ Mr. Pueblo ], Carol Gurney [ Marion ], Alan Ford [ Van Driver ], Trevor Brown [ Trevor ]

    Jacqui and Susan are given parts in a production of The Mikado for which Dudley is painting the scenery. Duncan is casting a rival production of Oklahoma! and goes in search of a leading lady.

    b: 19 Oct 83