Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

Meet Frank Spencer, an eager young man trying to find his way in the world. He's enthusiastic, well-meaning... and disaster-prone.

Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973-1978) is a British sitcom created by Raymond Allen for BBC One. Michael Crawford stars as Frank Spencer, an eager, well-meaning young man whose good intentions keep ending in catastrophe, and Michele Dotrice plays Betty Spencer, his long-suffering wife who must keep their domestic life from collapsing around them. Across three seasons and nineteen half-hour episodes, the engine of the show is simple and physical: each episode builds a small domestic ambition, whether a household task, an outing, or a plan to make ends meet, and then lets Frank's clumsiness turn it into a chain of escalating mishaps. The humour leans on slapstick timing, exaggerated pratfalls and the warm, exasperated affection between the couple. Set in an ordinary 1970s Britain of modest homes and everyday errands, the series has a cosy, breezy register with a sincere heart beneath the chaos. Viewers who enjoy the physical comedy of Mr. Bean, or the domestic charm of The Good Life and Terry and June, will find the same comfort in its gentle, wholesome farce.

Audiences regard the early seasons as a warm, very funny showcase for Michael Crawford's accident-prone Frank Spencer, with the third season judged weaker.

• Mr. Beanslapstick physical comedy built on a well-meaning accident-prone man, British sitcom
• The Good Lifedomestic sitcom about a married couple's everyday chaos, British television tradition
• Terry and Junecosy British sitcom with a bumbling protagonist and a long-suffering spouse

Created by

Raymond Allen

Release Date

1973-02-15

Episode runtime

30 min

Rating

7.6 / 10 (52)

What is Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em about?

An eager, well-meaning but disaster-prone young man and his long-suffering wife stumble through married life in this 1970s British sitcom.

What is Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.

Is Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em.

What did critics think of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em?

Audiences regard the early seasons as a warm, very funny showcase for Michael Crawford's accident-prone Frank Spencer, with the third season judged weaker.

Which shows are like Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em?

Shows with a similar feel include Mr. Bean, The Good Life, and Terry and June.

How long is Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em?

Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em: 3 seasons, 19 episodes.

Is Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em still running?

No, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em has ended.