Barford (Jack Allen) and next door neighbour Carrie Howard (Faye Jackson) whose previous dog Beth had recently died and her desire for another dog causing Jim's condition shortly after he moved in. By the time the show ended, Liza Goddard was the only original cast member to feature through all nine series. The programme featured several well-known actors over the years. Leslie Grantham appeared in some episodes as Mr Garrett, a ruthless dog warden from the local dog pound. Stephen Fry appeared in one episode, as a cartoonist whose work is disrupted by Grandad and Rex. Others included Ruth Madoc, Anita Dobson, Penelope Keith, Leslie Phillips, John Ringham, Bill Pertwee, Julian Fellowes and Andrew Sachs. Four dogs starred across the nine series. Pippin starred as Eric the dog in the first series. She also starred in Children's BBC programme Come Outside and a number of educational schools films. She was owned and trained by Ann Head and was the offspring of one of the dogs who played Benji. Tich was the second dog to play Eric starring in Series 2 to 5. Punch, a small white dog, played Rex the Dog. Tinka appeared as Jim the dog in the final series. Series 1 to 4 were filmed around the suburb of Moseley in Birmingham. For the later series, production moved to Nottingham and much location filming took place in and around West Bridgford, a suburb just south of Nottingham, Keyworth (a large village, 7 miles south of Nottingham) and various other Nottinghamshire towns. The change in location is explained by having Eric's family move to get a bigger house with his mother expecting twins. The school used during filming is Wilford Meadows Comprehensive located in Wilford. The school has since been demolished and a new school (The Nottingham Emmanuel School) was built on the land. The show was broadcast in Australia at 6:50am on weekdays on 7TWO from April 2010. In New Zealand the series first aired on Channel 2 in February 1990. Series guide With Edward Fidoe Series 1: 4 episodes - 18 February 1989 – 11 March 1989 Series 2: 7 episodes - 23 November 1989 – 11 January 1990 Series 3: 8 episodes - 20 February 1991 – 17 April 1991 Series 4: 7 episodes - 10 January 1992 – 21 February 1992 with Adam Roper Series 5: 6 episodes - 7 October 1992 – 11 November