The Liver Birds

The Liver Birds, often dubbed the female counterpart to The Likely Lads, originated from a 1969 Comedy Playhouse episode. The series initially starred the excellent, though somewhat underappreciated, Polly James as the irrepressibly spirited Beryl Hennessey, and Pauline Collins as Dawn, a prim, proper and rather prissy character. The two shared a cramped bedsit in Huskisson Street, situated in Liverpool 8 – an area more widely recognised today as Toxteth.

However, the on-screen chemistry between the two actresses proved to be less than ideal. After just three episodes, the BBC made the decision to remove the programme from its schedule, citing the lack of rapport between the co-stars. The series returned in 1971, this time without Collins. In her place came the character of Sandra Hutchinson, a naive, socially ambitious young woman played by Nerys Hughes. Sandra’s storylines were notably enriched later on by the arrival of her snobbish, middle-class mother, brilliantly portrayed by the incomparable Mollie Sugden.

Although Carla Lane is now the name most readily associated with The Liver Birds, it is important to note that the series was not her solo creation. It was originally co-written alongside Myra Taylor and Lew Schwarz. Lane did not become the sole writer until the fourth series, by which time Monty Python alumnus Eric Idle had joined as script editor.

As the series progressed, so too did the lives of its central characters. Beryl and Sandra began to drift apart in terms of both lifestyle and ambition. Sandra embarked on a steady relationship with Paul – played by John Nettles, who would later achieve fame in Bergerac. Meanwhile, in 1974 – coincidentally on the day of Princess Anne’s wedding – Beryl married her fiancé Robert, portrayed by Jonathan Lynn (who would later co-create the acclaimed political satire Yes, Minister), before departing the series.

Beryl's replacement was the forthright and flamboyant Carol Boswell, played by Elizabeth Estensen. Carol’s vivid clothing and striking red hair made her an instant standout. Alongside Carol came a fresh ensemble of characters, including her melancholic, philosophical brother Lucien (Michael Angelis), who had a penchant for rabbits, and their gin-loving mother – a character who would go on to inspire the similarly named Nellie Boswell in Lane’s later hit, Bread.

The series’ upbeat and optimistic theme song, performed by popular Liverpool group The Scaffold (featuring Mike McGear, brother of Paul McCartney), captured the spirit of youthful aspiration. By this stage, The Liver Birds had moved beyond youthful hijinks and was firmly entrenched in the adult world.

The series finally concluded in 1978. Sandra married her boss, Derek, and became pregnant, while Carol remained in the flat as their lodger. Nearly two decades later, in 1996, audiences were reunited with Beryl and Sandra in a short-lived revival. However, the updated version served mostly as a nostalgic nod to the past, underscoring the bittersweet truth that the essence of youthful camaraderie is difficult to recapture.

While genuinely funny and often poignant, The Liver Birds was undeniably a product of its time. Its portrayal of Liverpool was, as with many contemporary series, not always true to life. Yet, to Lane’s credit, she perfectly captured the distinctive, rapid-fire, and often dark wit for which Liverpudlians are justly renowned.