DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE:
EPISODE REVIEWS
BY MARIE BIRCH
So, at
long last, I have, finally managed, to set up, a Website,
which will, eventually, enable me, to review, every single Episode, that I can,
ever remember, watching, of every single, Doctor Series, that has, ever been
made! But it will basically be from information, that
I have gleaned over the years. For the time being, however, I am going, to
start off, with the very First Episode, of: Doctor in the House: Series I: Why
Do You Want To Be A Doctor?, and when, I can find, the
time, I will definitely, follow on, with all, of the other: Doctor in the House
Episodes. At a later date, I will definitely include the cast details and
transmission dates, for each episode, if that is at all possible, but the
review aspect of the Episodes, are more important, but for the moment, to get
the Website, kick started, so to speak, so here, is my Review of, the very
First Doctor Series Episode:
WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A DOCTOR?
BY JOHN CLEESE AND GRAHAM CHAPMAN
The very
First Episode, of: Doctor in the House: Series I: Why Do You Want To Be A
Doctor?, starts off, with a very young Naïve: Michael
Upton, being dropped off, in his Father’s Car, outside St Swithin’s
Hospital. The Actor who had played, Michael Upton’s Father, had been, the Late
Peter Bathhurst, who had appeared, in the Doctor Who
Season: The Axons, alongside the Late: Jon Pertwee,
and his Former Assistant: Jo Grant, played by Katy Manning, whom I have had,
the Pleasure of Meeting, at The
Birmingham NEC, near Marston Green, Birmingham, West Midlands, over the years. And, I had
discovered, that Katy, had also worked, with Barry, when they, had taken:
Doctor in the House, on Tour, to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), via an interview,
which he had conducted, during the nineteen seventies, and he had Referred, to
her, as: The Doctor Who Girl, at the time, and that, he had, also enjoyed,
working with her, at the time. And, I had also, mentioned, that to Katy, when I
had spoken to her, at The Birmingham NEC,
near Marston Green, Birmingham, West Midlands, and she had remembered,
working with Barry, very well, indeed, and she had, informed me, that she had
had, a great time working with him, at the time.
And one,
would have thought, that Upton, would never, have got away, from his Father’s
Car, when all had been said and done! And, Upton’s Father, had made a great big
Fuss, about how, he must Present himself, because he had been rather concerned,
about the Sideboards (Sideburns), on his face, which I believe, had been, a
brand new Trend, towards the end of the nineteen sixties! And, Upton’s Father,
had also, made a point, for Upton, to go in there, with confidence, and not
show them, that he was Nervous, and he had also made the point, that he must
tell them, that he had wanted, to become a Doctor, because it was a Science,
and doing some good, for your Fellow Man, etc! And poor Upton, had real
trouble, leaving the car, to get into, the Reception Area, of St Swithin’s Hospital, where the interviews, had been, taking
place.
But
somehow, one way or another, Upton had managed, to get away, from his Father
(who would, be seen again, in Later Doctor in the House/at Larger Series
Episodes), into the Reception Area, of St Swithin’s
Hospital, where the interviews, had been, taking place. And Upton,
had been rather nervous, and rather anxious, with the Board of St Swithin’s Hospital. And Upton had sat next to, a rather
Nervous looking man, who had been, Mike Grady, who is well-known, for starring
as Ken?, in Citizen Smith, and ?, in Last of The Summer Wine. *And Barry had
also, worked with Robert Lindsay, in the Adventures of a Taxi Driver, etc! Line 54.
And that
very first clip, etc, had Barry’s character: Michael meeting a panel of
Doctors, on the board, of St Swithin’s, etcetera!
And, that
very first clip, in question, had Barry’s character: Michael Upton, meeting a
panel of Doctors, who were, on the board, of St Swithin’s,
with regard, to him, wanting a place, at St Swithin’s!
And therefore, I had soon worked it out, that I had been watching, a clip, of
the very First episode of Doctor in the House: Why Do You Want To Be A Doctor? And, up until then, I had never even, seen
an episode of Doctor in the House/at Large, even though, I had seen, one or two
episodes of Doctor On The Go, at the time, but that had been about it! And, I
had just not, been able, to see, a full Episode, of Doctor at Large, until
1980! But I will go into, a bit more detail, where that
is concerned! And, so the Panel of Doctors, who had been, on the Board, of St Swithin’s, had also included, non other, than Geoffrey
Loftus (Ernest Clark)! And, he had really given, Michael Upton, a very hard
time, indeed! Loftus had asked Upton, what his interests (i.e:
Leisure Activities), had been, at the time, etcetera! And Upton,
had kindly informed, Loftus, that he was interested, in Current Affairs.
Unfortunately however, Upton, could not answer Loftus’
question about who, the Vice President of the United States of America, had
been, at the time! So for those of you, who are interested, the Vice President
of the United States of America had been: Spiro Agnew, from this brand new
emerging country, as Loftus, has so tactfully put it, to him! Loftus has also
asked, Upton, whether he liked reading, which he did, and he had also asked
him, just exactly what, he was reading, at that point in time! And Upton, had kindly informed: Loftus, that he was reading: the
Private Eye Book of Boobs, which Loftus, had really felt, was really quite
informative, albeit, in a rather sarcastic manner! And, Loftus, had also, gone
on, to ask, Upton, about what other hobbies, he had got! And Upton, had
informed, Loftus, that he was interested, in Rugby,
and dancing, and acting. And Upton, had also gone on,
to inform, Loftus, that his Brother: Terry, is a ballet dancer, with the Royal
Ballet! And Upton, also had to reassure, Loftus, that
his Brother: Terry, was married! But that said, however, Upton’s Brother: Terry, had actually appeared, in the Doctor in the House:
Series I: Episode: Keep It Clean! And Upton’s Brother: Terry, had come, to help
Upton, and his Fellow Medical Students out, because Upton, had been, appointed,
as the Producer, by the Dean, of the Medical School. And, as it had turned out,
Upton’s Brother: Terry, had got, a friend, who was known, as Butch! You do not
get, to see, Butch, in the Doctor in the House: Series I: Episode: Keep It
Clean!, but Upton, does speak to him, on the
telephone, just before he speaks, to his Brother: Terry. Loftus had also asked,
Upton, if he was Religious, and Upton, had informed him, that he was: Church of
England. C of E! What else! And Loftus, had eventually got, to the root, of
just exactly, why Upton, had wanted, to be a Doctor, because he could see
through, what Upton’s Father, had suggested, that he say, to the Panel of
Doctors, on the Board, of St Swithin’s, which had
been - “Medicine, has always fascinated me, as a Science”. And Upton, had also
gone on, to inform Loftus, that he had worked, as a Redcoat, at Butlins (I think, that there may, have been, a tribute, to
Cliff Richard, there! Marie Birch) And quite naturally, Loftus, had kindly
informed Upton, that St Swithin’s, was a Hospital,
and not, a Holiday Camp! But that said, however, Upton, had gone on, to inform
Loftus, that he liked, working with people, and that, he had wanted, to do
good, for his Fellow Man. But Loftus, had not, been buying that, especially as
he could see, that Upton, had not, been very convincing, with regard, to his
reasons, for wanting, to become, a Doctor, in the first place! And Loftus, had
come right out with it- “Upton, your Father is a Doctor, and you have never
thought, about been everything else, have you?!” Put like that, Upton, knew that, he could no longer deny the fact, in
question. Fortunately however, Loftus had insisted, that they would, all look
forward, to seeing him, in September. And, that had been, the end of that
particular scene, of the very first Episode of Doctor in the House: Why Do You
Want To Be A Doctor?, had come to a close, where the
Former: Quiz Show: Those Wonderful TV Times, had been concerned!
PAGE LAST UPDATED:
31ST DECEMBER 2017
MORE UPDATES COMING SOON!