Homepage Television Heaven Logo
The Hen House

The Hen House

1964 - United Kingdom

The Hen House was a one-off 30 minute sitcom broadcast as part of the Comedy Playhouse series on 10 January 1964. With CP's original writers Alan Simpson and Ray Galton busy creating comedy legend with Steptoe and Son (the first episode of the second series debuted the same week as this Comedy Playhouse offering), it was up to others to pen the one-off sitcoms in the hope that their own offering might lead to a full series. This particular one, written by George Evans and Derek Collyer, didn't-even though it starred Beryl Reid, Barbara Windsor and Dermot Kelly. 

The Hen House is a girls' hostel, Khartoum House, where the chances of a quiet bit of courting are as scarce as snowflakes in August. Only on one evening a week are the residents allowed to invite their boyfriends into the lounge-and only then for nice quiet pencil-and-paper games. As for lingering goodnights on the doorstep, they're out of the question. In the eyes of Mrs Teresa Fanwyn (Reid), hostel warden, a single kiss can lead to a postivie porchful of orgy: 'Once men and women get together, they orge...' The only way of fooling the watchful Teresa, it seems, is to install a TV set in the lounge. Then, with the lights turned low, the boyfriend evenings could become more interesting all round. Not that the girls have in mind cosy sessions with such programmes as Panorama. The set would be used-to quote Cynthia (Windsor)-'as a back row of the pictures.' But Teresa Fanwyn is anti-television; and it is the efforts of the girls and the janitor-handyman-dogsbody, Edwin (Kelly), the pursuade her to change her mind that provide the farcical flavour of The Hen House.

Published on December 21st, 2018. Based on original Radio Times article.

Read Next...

Educating Archie

As strange as it may seem now, Archie Andrews was a ventriloquists dummy that first hit the big time on Radio!

Also starring Beryl Reid

Dermot Kelly

A familiar face on TV and Films in the 1960s and 1970s, Dermot Kelly was a versatile and charismatic actor who brought laughter and joy to many audiences with his comic roles

Also starring Dermot Kelly

I'm Alan Partridge

An inept broadcaster whose inflated sense of celebrity drives him to treachery and shameless self-promotion.

Also tagged British Comedy

Sparrows Can't Sing

When Cockney sailor Charlie returns home after two years away, he discovers that his wife Maggie has moved on—and in with another man. This bittersweet drama, full of colourful and unforgettable characters made a star out of Barbara Windsor

Also starring Barbara Windsor

Beryl Reid

She began her career as a comedienne but her legacy endures as a gifted and much loved character actress who left an indelible mark on stage, screen, and radio. Television Heaven remembers the star whose career spanned music hall and Broadway

Also starring Beryl Reid

Gilligan's Island

Although never a huge hit in the UK, Gilligan's Island was a massive success in its native USA, and has stood the test of time by becoming almost an icon of 1960's American sitcom.

Also released in 1964

Johnny Quest

Cartoon series for kids inspired by James Bond.

Also released in 1964

Misleading Cases

Roy Dotrice played the part of the doddering but astute eternal litigant Albert Haddock, who would enter the courtroom to debate a variety of moral issues with pleas that referred back to forgotten or outdated laws.

Also tagged British Comedy

Carry On Henry

"This film is based on a recently discovered manuscript by one William Cobbler, which reveals that Henry VIII did in fact have two more wives. Although it was first thought that Cromwell originated the story, it is now known to be definitely all Cobbler's...from beginning to end!"

Also starring Barbara Windsor