Goodnight Sweetheart

Goodnight Sweetheart was a British sitcom that was broadcast between 1993 and 1999 starring Nicholas Lyndhurst, in which Lyndhurst's character Gary Sparrow comes across a time portal in the East End of London which allows him (only him, no-one else can use it) to travel between the modern day and World War 2. The time in both periods progresses at a steady rate so during the six series of the programme the whole of the war is seen out. The show is essentially a science fiction nostalgia vehicle. The series was created by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran.

Plot

During the course of the series' six programmes the plot changes quite a lot. Originally Gary's life in the late 20th century is a difficult one, struggling for money, not making quite enough in his job as a television repair man to comfortably support himself and his wife Yvonne who is studying an Open University psychology course which Gary believes will get her nowhere. The couple are finding themselves unable to have a child despite all attempts.

During a call out to a part of the East End that Gary is not familiar with, he unknowingly walks through the portal to 1940s London. He does not realise what has happened to him and thinks he is simply in a theme pub; however, after an air raid, he realises the truth. The rest of the first series involves Gary largely playing around with wartime London with the aid of his best friend Ron (the only modern person he tells) and trying to start a cross-time affair with barmaid Phoebe Bamford.

Gary plays well known songs on the piano (for example Beatles songs) that his 1940s audience would never have heard. In one episode George Formby wants to cover one of his songs, When I'm 64 (although he wants to change "bottle of wine" to "bottle of stout").

At the end of the first series Gary decides not to return to the 1940s again. But then when the second series begins Gary's friend Ron Wheatcroft persuades him to go back in time to invest some money so that they will be rich in the 1990s. This scheme fails but while there, Gary accidently meets Phoebe and rekindles their relationship.

Later, Gary discovers another way to use his time travelling ability to make money: taking ordinary objects from the 1940s and selling them in the 1990s for a huge profit. In the third series he opens a shop (called Blitz and Pieces) to sell his World War II memorabilia, though buying this shop was mainly a cover for the fact that the row of shops had been built on the Time portal, which was located in the back yard of the shop.

At the end of the third series, both the women in Gary's life reveal that they are pregnant. However Yvonne later has a miscarriage, while Phoebe gives birth to a boy they call Michael. Gary and Phoebe later get married.

At the end of the final series, Gary prevents an assassination attempt on Clement Attlee in the 1940s, which leads to the time portal closing, trapping him in the past forever.

Cast

Gary's best mate Ron Wheatcroft was played by Victor McGuire. Christopher Ettridge played stupid 1940s policeman Reg Deadman and in several episodes a modern policeman who is the great grandson of Reg. Irish actress Dervla Kirwan portrayed 1940s barmaid Phoebe Bamford in series 1-3, but was later replaced by Elizabeth Carling for series 4-6. Gary's wife Yvonne Sparrow was played by Michelle Holmes during series 1-3; she was also replaced for series 4-6, by Emma Amos.

External links

• Template:Imdb title
• Goodnight Sweetheart fansite (http://www.goodnightsweetheart.co.uk/)
• British Sitcom Guide (http://www.sitcom.co.uk/goodnight_sweetheart/)
• BBC Comedy Guide (http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/g/goodnightsweethe_7772870.shtml)
• Phill.co.uk Comedy Guide (http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/gns/)