"Just Good Friends" (1983) TV series 1983-1986

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

22 September 1983 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | Ex Girlfriend | Friend | Jealousy | Love Hate

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Paul Nicholas	...	Vince Pinner (22 episodes, 1983-1986)
Jan Francis	...	Penny Warrender (22 episodes, 1983-1986)
Sylvia Kay	...	Daphne Warrender (21 episodes, 1983-1986)
John Ringham	...	Norman Warrender (20 episodes, 1983-1986)
Shaun Curry	...	Les Pinner (14 episodes, 1983-1986)
Ann Lynn	...	Rita Pinner (13 episodes, 1984-1986)

Runtime:

30 min (22 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The title song was written by John Sullivan and sung by Paul Nicholas.

Quotes:

Penny Warrender: What have you been doing with yourself today, hmm?
Vince Pinner: Well, I've been window shopping. Looking for new bedding, that sort of thing.
Daphne Warrender: [sarcastically] Pity the army surplus store has closed down.
Vince Pinner: Yes. I imagine you must miss it terribly, Daphne.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Wright Stuff: (#10.67)" (2009)

Just Good Friends

It seems amazing that it is roughly 23 years since this sit-com was broadcast on BBC, but to me it is one of the most endearing and enjoyable comedies that the BBC ever produced.

The chemistry between the two main characters, Penny and Vince, is quite addictive, and it is helped by the fact that the two actors who took the parts, Jan Francis and Paul Nicholas, were both extremely good-looking in their own right, and apparently off-screen shared a similar sense of humour. The supporting cast, {in particular Sylvia Kay as Daphne, Pennys mother} helped this comedy to become a true classic, almost ageless in quality.

John Sullivan has often received so many plaudits for the great 'Only Fools And Horses' and rightly so, but to me personally, Just Good Friends had everything that you could want in entertainment, a great cast, good story lines, great one-liners, plenty of laughter, sadness, and hope. I just hope that todays generation will get a glimpse of it sometime, and become as addicted as I did.