About Face

About Face

1989 - United Kingdom

A series of 12 unconnected half-hour sitcoms, all written by different writers, created as a starring vehicle for Maureen Lipman who had previously had a huge hit with Agony, but for the past two years had been starring in a series of hit TV commercials for British Telecom as Beattie (a play on BT and suggested by Lipman herself who thought the name more apt than Dora, as created by Richard Phillips, an advertising copywriter who devised the campaign). There were two series of About Face, 1989 and 1991 and the first appeared less than two weeks before Victoria Wood launched a similar series on BBC1. During the run Lipman played a South London telephonist, a Cypriot immigrant, an overworked doctor and Margaret Thatcher. The last show in the series was written by her husband, Jack Rosenthal

Guest stars included Michael Gambon, Phyllidia Law, John Wells, Keith Barron, Libby Morris, Stephanie Cole, Martin Clunes and Bernard Hill. 

Published on November 26th, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

George and Mildred

Domestic sitcom about a work-shy husband and his sex-starved, upwardly aspiring but ultimately frustrated wife.

Also tagged British Sitcom

A J Wentworth

The final starring vehicle for the masterful comedic talents of the incomparable, Arthur Lowe.

Also tagged British Sitcom

My Son Rueben

A middle-aged man, still living at home with his mother, is completely under her thumb.

Also tagged British Sitcom

Children's Ward

Award-winning teenage drama set in the children's ward of a bustling metropolitan hospital. The show expertly portrays the ups and downs of life in an environment filled with illness and uncertainty

Also released in 1989

Maid Marian and Her Merry Men

In 1989, Tony Robinson brought us the true story of a famous legend. Robin was a cowardly and incompetent ex-tailor from Kensington and Marian, an idealistic freedom fighter, was the brains behind the Merry Men. Anything else is pure fiction...

Also released in 1989

Marriage Lines

Marital ups and downs of a newly-wed couple starring Richard Briers and Prunella Scales

Also tagged British Sitcom

Mr. Aitch

Harry Aitch wants status more than money. If status means he's got to have money then he'll go out and get the money. Any way that's practically legal. But he spends most of the time conning himself...

Also tagged British Sitcom

The Army Game

Hugely successful series from Granada TV that started in 1957 as a fortnightly live sitcom, which was moved to a weekly spot when it became so popular. The series followed the misfortunes of a mixed bag of army conscripts.

Also tagged British Sitcom

A Bit of a Do

Set in a small Yorkshire town where everybody knows everybody else's business, 'A Bit Of A Do' gave another British comedy writer the chance to poke fun at one of the country's favourite preoccupations - class distinction.

Also released in 1989