Homepage Television Heaven Logo
Citizen James

Citizen James

1960 - United Kingdom

When Tony Hancock decided to do away with the services of Sid James the BBC offered the actor a series of his own, written by Hancock's scriptwriters, Galton and Simpson. Within a few years, Hancock, his career in steady decline, took his own life -whilst Sid, the master of the dirty laugh, became the star of no less than 19 Carry On films and in the process walked into the hearts of an adoring British public. 

The character of Sidney Balmoral James in Citizen James was set in the same mould as the growling, fast-talking, quick thinking Cockney gambler of the Hancock series, aided on this occasion by his girlfriend, Liz (Liz Fraser) and sidekick, Bill (Bill Kerr -another former Hancock regular). Although the character had somewhat dubious morals, as the series progressed he became less of a layabout and more of a champion for the underdog, until finally, by the third and final series (scripted by Dick Hills and Sid Green) Sid had a fully developed social conscience with which he championed many a good cause. With this change of character Sydney Tafler as Sid's new assistant, Charlie Davenport, replaced both Kerr and Fraser.

Published on December 4th, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Garry Halliday

Teen adventure series similar to 'Biggles' about the owner/pilot of a commercial airline company who gets involved with all kinds of adventures. Garry Halliday was a huge hit for the BBC over 50 episodic broadcasts of which only one survives

Also starring Bill Kerr

Carry On Christmas

The Carry On team get together for a festive treat. Cor Blimey!

Also starring Sid James

Hancock's Half Hour

"Hancock was below the laughter filled surface (like many brilliantly gifted comedians), a darkly troubled, insecure soul."

Also tagged Galton And Simpson

David Croft and Dad's Army Cast

Writer and producer David Croft had the Midas touch when it came to comedy and the shows that he created and wrote with alternating creative partners Jimmy Perry and Jeremy Lloyd were comedy gold for the decades. But how did two of the most popular fare on the big screen?

Also starring Liz Fraser

Counter Attack

Three young rebels plan their own counter-attack when foreign troops occupy part of the British Isles-the Channel Islands-for the first time since 1066.

Also released in 1960

Taxi

Sid Stone is a London cab driver who often gets tangled up in the problems of others, usually through no fault of his own, in a rare straight role for Sid James. With only one episode surviving, we see how far this particular taxi will take us

Also starring Sid James

Billy Liar

Adapted from the highly successful novel/play/film by successful writing team Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall, this version of Billy Liar was updated by them to make it more relevant to the early 1970s.

Also tagged Britcom

Arthur's Treasured Volumes

It's title inspired by the initials of the television company that produced the series, Arthur's Treasured Volumes appears to be, if the sole surviving episode is an example, an underrated and unfairly forgotten TV gem.

Also released in 1960

After the Funeral

When Alun Owen's play 'After the Funeral' was read by Sydney Newman, head of drama for ABC Television, and William Kotcheff, the television director, they were so taken by his conception of Wales and the Welsh, they decided to see for themselves.

Also released in 1960