A PERFECT GENTLEMAN

Rehearsals: 5^th – 8^th October 1975 at The Sulgrave Boys Club, 287 Goldhawk Road, London, W12

1:30pm – 5:30pm

Walk-Through: 9^th October 1975 at Yorkshire Television Centre, Leeds

Recorded: 10^th October 1975 at Yorkshire Television Centre, Studio 4, Leeds

Broadcast: Friday 7:30pm 5^th December 1975

CAST

Leonard Rossiter – Rigsby

Richard Beckinsale – Alan

Don Warrington – Philip

Henry McGee – Seymour

CREW

Creator/Writer – Eric Chappell

Producer/Director – Ronnie Baxter

Designer – Colin Pigott

Music – Dennis Wilson

Casting – James Ligatt

Floor Manager – Mike Purcell

Stage Manager – Olive Simpson

Production Asst – Celia Sherman Fisher

Lighting – Peter Hardman

Cameras – Mike Boyle

Sound – Chris Warner

Vision Mixer – Kay Harrington

Tech Supervisor – Gordon Quin

Wardrobe – Brenda Fox

Make-up – Viv Locklin

Prop Buyer – Fred Newell

Scenes – Eric de Quintano

Call Boy – Tim Dowd

Warm-up – Felix Bowness

Episode Review 

From a Re-run in 1981

It’s back to battle in bed-sitter land with a lowdown landlord and his luckless lodgers, in…RISING DAMP

Henry McGee plays Seymour, a new tenant in Rigsby’s humble abode. The class-conscious Rigsby is impressed by Seymour’s smooth, sophisticated, impeccably-mannered character and looks forwards to a fruitful association with him. Through his encounter with the seamy Seymour, however, Rigsby is one aspiring member of he gentry who could be well and truly landed.

Interesting to note:

• Production# 2774
• Gay Rose does not appear in this episode, no reason is given to her absence, probably at a modelling class or down the Blue Ram Public House!
• Fridays at 7.30pm, opposite repeats of The Wonderful World of Disney
• ‘A Perfect Gentleman’ – 7.05 million (15th)

Did you know?

• Eric had worked with Henry McGee on a play in the late 60s. He found Henry very charming and pleasant and offered to write a part just for him. He sent Henry the script and, in return, Henry sent him a cheque for 100 pounds! Eric was blown away by this gesture and offered to send it back to Henry but it was refused, all Henry wanted was an airing of the show. The show Eric had written his part in was ‘The Spanish Dancers’ in 1971 for HTV in Wales. To repay Henry, Eric went to Henry to play the role of Seymour.
• Henry and Leonard were friends, both politically involved and unionised.
• Seymour is seen with a copy of ‘Readers Digest’ in the second half of the episode.
• YTV staff canteen provided all the food seen in the end scene in Rigsby’s flat, even the curled sandwiches.
• Golf clubs were provided for Leonard to use.
• A ‘pop’ noise was fed in to simulate the gas kicking in on the cooker.
• The end credits were superimposed over the “RISING DAMP” caption slide.

Dressing Rooms:-

Leonard Rossiter #12

Richard Beckinsale #11

Don Warrington #8

Henry McGee #10