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 (pictured). 

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...

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

The Five Foot Nine Show

A one-off comedy show that reunited two of the regulars from That Was The Week That Was.

Also released in 1964

Firecrackers

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.

Also released in 1964

Cluff

Any no-gooder underestimating the tweed-suited detective would do so at their own cost because Cluff's slow methodology belied a skilfully perceptive insight into human nature and behaviour, particularly in the criminal mind.

Also released in 1964

The Flashing Blade

Originally made in France in 1967 as Le Chevalier Tempete the series of four epic 75-minute episodes were edited into 12 22-minute episodes for its dubbed UK broadcast in 1969 and shown as part of BBC's children's programming.

Also released in 1964

Flipper

The show that was dubbed an "aquatic Lassie" - Flipper comes to the rescue in a series of nautical adventures.

Also released in 1964

Bewitched

A witch marries a 'mortal' in 1960s America - and her family do not approve!

Also released in 1964

Gideon's Way

1960s detective series about a policeman with an enormous capacity for work and a strong self-discipline.

Also released in 1964