First broadcast: 1974
Stars: Leonard Rossiter, Don Warrington, Richard Beckinsale, Frances de la Tour
Writer: Eric Chappell
The lowdown: Leonard Rossiter starred in this legendary Seventies comedy as the sneering, conniving landlord Rigsby in a seedy boarding house. His main mission in life is to chase female boarder Miss Jones (Frances de la Tour) in between endlessly battling with his two male tenants, effete medical student Alan (RIchard Beckinsale) and Philip (Don Warrington), scion of an African chief.
Memorable moments: The one-liners uttered by Rigsby, including when Alan defended his hairstyle by saying Jesus had long hair to which Rigsby retorts: “Yes, but I bet he never had a hairdryer.”
Trivia: Rising Damp was originally a stage show called Banana Box.
The cast remained constant throughout the series. Gay Rose, a nude model, appeared briefly as a lodger when Frances de la Tour took a break from the show.
The format of Rising Damp was sold to the US. A pilot show was made but American TV bosses thought it appalling and it never aired.
