Firecrackers

Firecrackers

1964 - United Kingdom

1960s comedy that was heavily influenced by the classic Will Hay comedy Where's That Fire? that had been shot twenty-five years earlier at the same Elstree studio. 

The setting was the remote English village of Cropper's End (population: 70) and concerned the misadventures of its local fire service who had to work with vintage fire-fighting equipment, assuming that they arrived to the scene of the fire on time on their 60-year old engine, Bessie. 

Firecrackers TV series
The fire crew on Bessie.

Most of the time there was very little fire fighting to do (except on the one occasion when the fire station caught alight) and they contented themselves by passing time at the local Cropper's Arms. Alfred Marks starred as Fire Chief Charlie and British comedy stalwarts Cardew Robinson, Joe Baker and Sydney Bromley (who bore a striking resemblance to Moore Marriott in the original Hay movie) aided and abetted alongside Ronnie Brody, Clive Elliott, John Arnatt, Norman Chappell and Colin Douglas. The writers included Fred Robinson (who had cut his scripwriting teeth on The Larkins) and producer Alan Tarrant went on to work, it seems, on just about every ITV sitcom on the 1960s. The series was popular enough to have two runs from August to October 1964 and January to February 1965, going out at peak time on Saturday nights.

Published on December 11th, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

kathy kirby

Music, dance and comedy sketches starring Kathy Kirby from Ilford, Essex.

Also released in 1964

Johnny Quest

Cartoon series for kids inspired by James Bond.

Also released in 1964

Impromptu

Improvised comedy sketch show

Also released in 1964

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

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 Britcom

Curry and Chips

Poorly received sitcom by Johnny Speight who attempted (and many would say failed) to highlight the stupidity of racism.

Also tagged Britcom

Albert and Victoria

Alfred Marks starring comedy vehicle produced by Yorkshire Television and set, as the title suggests, in the late 19th century when Queen Victoria and her consort Prince Albert were the figureheads on the British throne.

Also starring Alfred Marks

Citizen James

Sid James in his first TV series after Hancock. Written by Galton and Simpson.

Also tagged Britcom