The Grove Family
Encyclopedia
The Grove Family is a British television
soap opera
, generally regarded as the first of its kind broadcast in the UK, made and transmitted by BBC Television
from 1954 to 1957. The series revolved around the life of the family of the title, who were named after the BBC's Lime Grove Studios
, where the programme was made.
The programme was written by Roland
and Michael Pertwee
, the father and elder brother respectively of actor Jon Pertwee
. As was commonplace in British television at the time, the series was broadcast live, and very few episodes survive in the archives, with only three out of the original 148 episodes still existing. One of the few surviving shows was transmitted on BBC Four
in 2004. A film
version produced in 1955 by the Butchers company, written by the Pertwees and starring the television cast, exists as an example of the series. The film was titled It's a Great Day
.
In 1991, during a special day of programming transmitted on the BBC Two
network to commemorate the closing of Lime Grove, a new edition of the programme was shown, a modern production of one of the original scripts with the roles filled by popular television soap opera
actors of the day including Leslie Grantham
.
Peter Bryant
, who starred as Jack Grove, went on to become a script editor and producer on the BBC science fiction
series Doctor Who. Christopher Beeny
who appears as a teenager in this show went on to bigger fame in the 1970s series Upstairs, Downstairs
, and actress Ruth Dunning
(Gladys Grove), went on to win a BAFTA award for her work on Armchair Theatre
.
In 1954, The Grove Family had drawn in almost a quarter of British people with a television
. The huge success of the programme spread to the Queen Mother, who said "So English, so real!"
British television
Public television broadcasting started in the United Kingdom in 1936, and now has a collection of free and subscription services over a variety of distribution media, through which there are over 480 channelsTaking the base Sky EPG TV Channels. A breakdown is impossible due to a) the number of...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
, generally regarded as the first of its kind broadcast in the UK, made and transmitted by BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
from 1954 to 1957. The series revolved around the life of the family of the title, who were named after the BBC's Lime Grove Studios
Lime Grove Studios
Lime Grove Studios was a film studio complex built by the Gaumont Film Company in 1915 situated in a street named Lime Grove, inShepherd's Bush, west London, north of Hammersmith and described by Gaumont as "the finest studio in Great Britain and the first building ever put up in this country...
, where the programme was made.
The programme was written by Roland
Roland Pertwee
Roland Pertwee was an English playwright, film and television screenwriter, director and actor. He was the father of both Doctor Who star Jon Pertwee and fellow playwright and screenwriter Michael Pertwee...
and Michael Pertwee
Michael Pertwee
Michael Pertwee was a British playwright and screenwriter. Among his credits were episodes of The Saint, Danger Man, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, B-And-B, Ladies Who Do, and many other films and TV series....
, the father and elder brother respectively of actor Jon Pertwee
Jon Pertwee
John Devon Roland Pertwee , was an English actor. Pertwee is best known for his role in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, in which he played the third incarnation of the Doctor from 1970 to 1974, and as the title character in the series Worzel Gummidge...
. As was commonplace in British television at the time, the series was broadcast live, and very few episodes survive in the archives, with only three out of the original 148 episodes still existing. One of the few surviving shows was transmitted on BBC Four
BBC Four
BBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....
in 2004. A film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
version produced in 1955 by the Butchers company, written by the Pertwees and starring the television cast, exists as an example of the series. The film was titled It's a Great Day
It's a Great Day
It's a Great Day is a 1955 British comedy film directed by John Warrington. A spin-off of the popular soap The Grove Family, the film stars Ruth Dunning as Gladys Grove, Edward Evans as Bob Grove, and Sid James as Harry Mason. A builder has problems with his local council in getting supplies vital...
.
In 1991, during a special day of programming transmitted on the BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
network to commemorate the closing of Lime Grove, a new edition of the programme was shown, a modern production of one of the original scripts with the roles filled by popular television soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
actors of the day including Leslie Grantham
Leslie Grantham
Leslie Michael Grantham is an English actor best known for his role as "Dirty" Den Watts in the soap opera EastEnders. He is also a convicted murderer, having served 10 years for the killing of a German taxi driver, and he generated significant press coverage as the result of an online sex scandal...
.
Peter Bryant
Peter Bryant
Peter Bryant was the fourth producer of the BBC science fiction programme Doctor Who. He was born in London....
, who starred as Jack Grove, went on to become a script editor and producer on the BBC science fiction
Science fiction on television
Science fiction first appeared on a television program during the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Special effects and other production techniques allow creators to present a living visual image of an imaginary world not limited by the constraints of reality; this makes television an excellent medium...
series Doctor Who. Christopher Beeny
Christopher Beeny
Born in London, Beeny began his career at the age of six when he danced for the ' Ballet Rambert. He spent several years at the ' Arts Educational School before later progressing to 'RADA.His first screen role was in the 1952 film The Long Memory...
who appears as a teenager in this show went on to bigger fame in the 1970s series Upstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs is a British drama television series originally produced by London Weekend Television and revived by the BBC. It ran on ITV in 68 episodes divided into five series from 1971 to 1975, and a sixth series shown on the BBC on three consecutive nights, 26–28 December 2010.Set in a...
, and actress Ruth Dunning
Ruth Dunning
Ruth Dunning was a Welsh actress of stage, television, and film. She first came to prominence in the role of Gladys Grove in BBC Television's The Grove Family , also portraying that character in the 1955 film It's a Great Day...
(Gladys Grove), went on to win a BAFTA award for her work on Armchair Theatre
Armchair Theatre
Armchair Theatre is a British television drama anthology series, which ran on the ITV network from 1956 to 1974. It was originally produced by Associated British Corporation, and later by Thames Television after 1968....
.
In 1954, The Grove Family had drawn in almost a quarter of British people with a television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
. The huge success of the programme spread to the Queen Mother, who said "So English, so real!"
Principal cast
- Edward EvansEdward Evans (actor)Edward Evans was a British film and television actor.During World War II, he served with the British Army in Italy and North Africa, reaching the rank of captain....
as Bob Grove - Ruth DunningRuth DunningRuth Dunning was a Welsh actress of stage, television, and film. She first came to prominence in the role of Gladys Grove in BBC Television's The Grove Family , also portraying that character in the 1955 film It's a Great Day...
as Gladys Grove - Peter BryantPeter BryantPeter Bryant was the fourth producer of the BBC science fiction programme Doctor Who. He was born in London....
as Jack Grove - Christopher BeenyChristopher BeenyBorn in London, Beeny began his career at the age of six when he danced for the ' Ballet Rambert. He spent several years at the ' Arts Educational School before later progressing to 'RADA.His first screen role was in the 1952 film The Long Memory...
as Lennie Grove - Nancy Roberts as Gran
- Margaret Downs as Daphne Grove
- Sheila Sweet as Pat Grove