<P> The Parkinsons have two sons , both of driving age ( at least 17 years of age under UK law in 1978 ) and unemployed ( in 1978 the UK was heading towards recession under Prime Minister , James Callaghan , with youth unemployment on the increase ) . Their youngest son , Adam , is played by Nicholas Lyndhurst and their older son , Russell , by Andrew Hall . Throughout all four series , there is a continuing sub-plot running in tandem with the main storyline , tracking the difficulties faced by young adolescent men coming of age in the UK during a period when there were few employment opportunities and the threat of nuclear war . Both of the Parkinson sons ' characters are seen making fun of their father 's traditional post-war reserved British attitude , whilst also undergoing their own issues such as unemployment , girlfriend troubles , cannabis use against the wishes of their horrified father and teenage pregnancy , when Russell fathers a child with his on - off girlfriend . Bruce Montague plays Ria 's friend Leonard , a successful businessman , aged 44 whose wife has recently left him and is , like Ria Parkinson , approaching his own mid-life crisis . The show also featured two recurring minor characters : Leonard 's chauffeur and confidant Thomas ( Michael Ripper ) and the Parkinsons ' cleaner , Ruby ( Joyce Windsor ) , who often lends Ria an ear . </P>
<P> The Parkinsons have two sons , both of driving age ( at least 17 years of age under UK law in 1978 ) and unemployed ( in 1978 the UK was heading towards recession under Prime Minister , James Callaghan , with youth unemployment on the increase ) . Their youngest son , Adam , is played by Nicholas Lyndhurst and their older son , Russell , by Andrew Hall . Throughout all four series , there is a continuing sub-plot running in tandem with the main storyline , tracking the difficulties faced by young adolescent men coming of age in the UK during a period when there were few employment opportunities and the threat of nuclear war . Both of the Parkinson sons ' characters are seen making fun of their father 's traditional post-war reserved British attitude , whilst also undergoing their own issues such as unemployment , girlfriend troubles , cannabis use against the wishes of their horrified father and teenage pregnancy , when Russell fathers a child with his on - off girlfriend . Bruce Montague plays Ria 's friend Leonard , a successful businessman , aged 44 whose wife has recently left him and is , like Ria Parkinson , approaching his own mid-life crisis . The show also featured two recurring minor characters : Leonard 's chauffeur and confidant Thomas ( Michael Ripper ) and the Parkinsons ' cleaner , Ruby ( Joyce Windsor ) , who often lends Ria an ear . </P>
who played wendy craig 's sons in butterflies
who played wendy craig 's sons in butterflies
youngest son , Adam , is played by Nicholas Lyndhurst older son , Russell , by Andrew Hall
youngest son , Adam , is played by Nicholas Lyndhurst older son , Russell , by Andrew Hall