go against daughter, but usually grandmother and granddaughter gang up on the long-suffering Sarah, whose one haven is Bygone Books, the remarkably unsuccessful second-hand bookshop where she works for Russell, who dispenses in turn sympathy and wisdom. Most of the time, Russell sees the women's relationships second-hand through Sarah, although he isn't opposed to taking the occasional more active role when necessary. In turn, Sarah can see some of Russell's difficulties of living with a gay partner in a small 1980s Home Counties town while at the same time seeing Russell's relationship as the one perfect marriage she knows. Production The adaptation for television allowed more to be seen of some of the more minor characters in the radio series, with appearances by some who had appeared only by reputation on the radio. These included Eleanor's best friend and rival Vera Polling, and Valerie Brown on the pension counter's sister Mary. In the television adaptation, Sarah also gained an on-off partner in Sam Greenland. Many of the exterior locations for the television series were shot in the village of Thames Ditton in Surrey and Twickenham. Episodes Source: DVD releases All four series including a 6-disc set of the complete series have been released on DVD in the UK (Region 2). Stage version Encouraged by the success of the transfer from radio to television, in 1991 Simon Brett began writing a stage play version, with intention of both Scales and Sanderson continuing to play their roles, and the option of different actresses to portray Clare. The production was planned as a three hander comedy-of-errors across the generation gaps, but the idea was dropped following the death of Sanderson in 1992, with Brett feeling that the part could not be replicated by anyone else. Other versions A Dutch version of the series, Zonder Ernst (translating as "without Ernst"), was made by NCRV. References Mark Lewisohn, "Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy", BBC Worldwide Ltd, 2003 External links 1988 British television series debuts 1992 British television series endings 1980s British sitcoms 1990s British sitcoms 1980s British LGBT-related television series 1990s British LGBT-related television series English-language television shows ITV sitcoms Television series by Fremantle (company) Television shows set in Surrey Television shows produced by Thames Television Television shows shot at Teddington Studios Television series about widowhood Gay-related television shows Television series based on radio series