Brothers In Law

Brothers In Law

1962 - United Kingdom

Adapted from Henry Cecil’s celebrated 1955 novel, Brothers In Law made a confident and charming transition to BBC television in 1962. Already familiar to audiences via a radio version (with Donald Sinden) and a well-received 1957 film starring Ian Carmichael and Terry-Thomas, the story of bumbling young barrister Roger Thursby was well placed for a small-screen incarnation—and it didn’t disappoint.

The television series marked the first major starring role for a then 27-year-old Richard Briers, whose performance as the green but earnest pupil barrister set the tone for a career defined by affable, intelligent comedy. Briers was spotted as a rising star by comedy great Frank Muir, who, together with long-time collaborator Denis Norden, was responsible for adapting the novel for television. With the legal authenticity of Henry Cecil—still sitting as a County Court judge at the time—and his urbane wit enriching the scripts with additional material, the result was a sitcom that stood out for its intellectual polish and deft humour.

Brothers In Law

Set in the genteel but baffling world of London chambers, Thursby’s misadventures in law were wryly observed and endearingly chaotic. Richard Waring played the dry-witted Henry Balgrove, Thursby's mentor, while June Barry offered a note of romantic stability as Thursby’s girlfriend Sally Mannering. John Glyn-Jones added further comic gravitas to the ensemble. The legal setting, rather than serving as dry backdrop, was a source of constant bemusement and comedic misunderstanding—clearly the product of Cecil’s first-hand experience of the bar and bench.

The show’s final episode introduced the character of Mr Justice Duncannon, a wry Scottish judge with a taste for whisky and women, played by Andrew Cruickshank. This paved the way for the spin-off series Mr Justice Duncannon (1963), where Cruickshank, on hiatus from Dr. Finlay's Casebook, brought a wonderfully sardonic depth to a role that danced between comic severity and warm indulgence.

Brothers In Law

Notably, Brothers In Law was also the television debut of Yootha Joyce, later to become a stalwart of British comedy. Richard Waring, who balanced acting with writing duties on the series, would go on to create Marriage Lines for Briers the following year, and later become a key figure in British television comedy with series like The World of Wooster, Not In Front of the Children and Rings on Their Fingers.

Though the television run of Brothers In Law was relatively brief, the format proved durable. In 1970, Waring revived the series for BBC Radio 4, with Briers and Glyn-Jones reprising their roles for an impressive 39-episode run—further testament to the appeal of Cecil’s clever blend of farce, satire and social observation.

Brothers In Law stands as a finely-crafted slice of early 1960s British sitcom. Sharp, literate and genuinely funny, it also marked the beginning of Richard Briers’ rise as one of the most beloved actors in British comedy, and showcased the seamless interplay between law and laughter that Henry Cecil had so uniquely mastered.

Review – Laurence Marcus

Published on June 19th, 2025. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Marriage Lines

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

Also starring Richard Briers

Weavers Green

Britain's first rural twice-weekly soap opera centred around village life in East Anglia, seen through the experiences of local a vet. All Creatures Great and Small meets Emmerdale.

Also starring John Glyn Jones

Ten British Shows - The Best of British

We asked two writers to choose 5 ‘must see’ British television shows - here are the ten that deserve a place in Television Heaven...

Also starring Richard Briers

It's A Living

Long-time comedy double-act Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warris star in a sitcom about a couple running a small general store.

Also released in 1962

The Laughter Makers

In the golden age of British comedy, when radio waves crackled with wit and television screens flickered with laughter, there existed a cadre of unsung heroes. These were the wordsmiths, the invisible architects behind the guffaws and punchlines that echoed across living rooms and theatres

Also tagged 1960S Comedy

Send in the Girls

Short-lived female-led series following the adventures of a group of ‘girls for hire’ as promoters for live sporting events or sales promotions, to add a bit of glamour to proceedings

Also starring June Barry

Dr. Fiunlay's Casebook

Based on a series of stories 'The Adventures of a Black Bag' by Dumbartonshire born novelist A. J. Cronin, Doctor Finlay's Casebook proved to be an instant hit with viewers in spite of stiff competition from US exports Dr Kildare and Ben Casey.

Also released in 1962