Bowler (1973)★ 6.5/10

GB · 30 min · July 29, 1973 · 1 seasons

• Comedy

Directed by: Mike Mansfield, Philip Casson, Derrick Goodwin

Written by: John Esmonde, Bob Larbey

Bowler was a Fenn Street Gang spin-off which, although written after both Please Sir! and The Fenn Street Gang, chronicled the earlier adventures of former pupil Craven's shady boss, Stanley Bowler - the Del Boy of his generation. George Baker (The Ruth Rendell Mysteries) stars as the East End villain with social aspirations, while the series was once again penned by veteran sitcom writers John Esmonde and Bob Larbey. Soap legends Wendy Richard and Johnny Briggs are among the guest stars appearing in this wryly humorous look at one man's attempts to breach the barriers of the English class system. Stanley Bowler has a finger in every profitable pie, and his money can buy everything but the thing he wants most: class. His unstoppable ambition to move in higher social circles sees him embarking on a series of ill-fated schemes - including opening his very own gentlemen's club, conspicuously embracing high culture, and even trying to set himself up as a laird. Sadly, while Bowler stumbles from one faux pas to another, the doors of Society remain very firmly closed.