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Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width

From Alfawiki
Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width
Company typeTelevision series
IndustryTelevision entertainment
Founded1967
Headquarters
United Kingdom
ProductsTelevision sitcom episodes, film adaptation

Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width is a British television sitcom that debuted in 1967 as a standalone play within the Armchair Theatre anthology. It was subsequently expanded into a series of half-hour episodes, which aired until 1971. In total, 40 episodes were produced, along with a short special featured in ITV's All Star Comedy Carnival in 1969.

The show was initially created by ABC Weekend TV for the ITV network, with production responsibilities shifting to Thames Television beginning with the 1968 Christmas special.

Plot

The narrative revolves around two partners running a tailoring business: Manny Cohen (portrayed by John Bluthal), who is Jewish, and Patrick Kelly (played by Joe Lynch), an Irish Catholic. Living above their shop is Lewtas (Bernard Spear), a Jewish cloth merchant. Important recurring characters during the first three series include Rabbi Levy (Christopher Benjamin in the pilot, later replaced by Cyril Shaps) from the synagogue, and Father Ryan (Denis Carey in the pilot, succeeded by Eamon Kelly) from the local Catholic parish.

Several episodes use cultural and religious differences as sources of humor. For instance, one story involves Manny and Patrick bargaining over whose photographs should be displayed—Patrick has two portraits of the Pope, while Manny holds one of Moshe Dayan, leading to a comedic valuation of "two Popes to one Moshe." Another episode titled "The Not So Kosher Cantor" features Patrick attempting to sing Hebrew phonetically at the synagogue during a visit from the Chief Rabbi, who amusingly notices Patrick’s unfamiliarity when he genuflects and makes the sign of the cross at the conclusion of the service.

Cast

Prominent guest appearances include film actors such as Dennis Price portraying a Savile Row tailor and Rupert Davies as a Roman Catholic bishop. Other notable guests are Fred Emney, Harold Bennett, David Kossoff playing himself, Jack Smethurst, Frank Williams, Bill Pertwee, comedian Dick Bentley, Roy Marsden, Victor Maddern, Barbara Knox (credited as Barbara Mullaney), Roy Barraclough, George A. Cooper, Rita Webb, Michael Robbins, and Ellen Pollock who played Manny’s mother, Ruby.

Film adaptation

In 1973, Bluthal and Lynch reprised their television roles in a feature film adaptation, expanding the show's presence beyond its original medium.

DVD release

Network issued a four-disc DVD collection of the Thames Television series on 28 June 2010. Additionally, an episode from the ABC period titled Man Shall Not Live By Bread Alone, was included in Network’s ABC Nights In boxset released on 22 December 2020.

Episodes

The initial pilot and the first two seasons were created by ABC. The second season, which included six episodes, was broadcast soon after Thames Television began operations on 30 July 1968, with airings continuing through August and September. Out of the total 40 episodes produced, 11 are currently lost: this includes the pilot, five episodes from the first season, and five from the second season.

Series Two (1968)

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Christmas Special (1969)

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Series Four (1970)

{{Episode table |background=#6495ED |overall=5 |series=5 |title=46 |aux2=22 |aux2T=Archival Status |airdate=22 |episodes= {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 22 | EpisodeNumber2 = 1 | Title = Blood is Thinner than Water | Aux2 = Exists | OriginalAirDate = |} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 23 | EpisodeNumber2 = 2 | Title = Without Prejudice | Aux2 = Exists | OriginalAirDate = |} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 24 | EpisodeNumber2 = 3 | Title = "New Worlds for Old" | Aux2 = "Exists" | OriginalAirDate = |} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 25 | EpisodeNumber2 = 4 | Title = "What You've Never Had, You Never Miss" | Aux2 = "Exists" | OriginalAirDate = |} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 26 | EpisodeNumber2 = 5 | Title = "Miracles to Measure" | Aux2 = "Exists" | OriginalAirDate = |}


Series Five (1970–71)

Due to the ITV Colour Strike, episodes 1, 3, 4, and 7 of the fifth season were filmed in black-and-white.

Series Six (1971)

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See also

External links

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