The following is a list of episodes for the British sitcom The Good Life that aired from 4 April 1975 to 10 June 1978, and starred Richard Briers (Tom Good), Felicity Kendal (Barbara Good), Penelope Keith (Margo Leadbetter) and Paul Eddington (Jerry Leadbetter). There were four series, each of seven episodes, and two specials. All thirty episodes are 30 minutes long.
Since the deaths of Paul Eddington, Richard Briers and Penelope Keith on 4 November 1995, 17 February 2013 and 29 June 2026 respectively, Felicity Kendal is the only surviving cast member.
Series overview
Regular episodes (1975–77)
Series 1 (1975)
Series 2 (1975–76)
Series 3 (1976)
Series 4 (1977)
Specials (1977–78)
Christmas Special (1977) Overall Title First broadcast Overview Original viewing figure It's Christmas Eve, and in the Goods' house Tom and Barbara are making home-made decorations and crackers in readiness for Christmas Day; while at the Leadbetters', after a standoff with a delivery driver (David Battley), Margo has sent back her whole order because the Christmas tree was six and a quarter inches too short. But when the shop does not deliver her order the following day, she and Jerry are left with no decorations, food or drink. So Tom and Barbara invite them round for a self-sufficiency Christmas of homemade paper hats and improvised party games.21 million
Royal Command Performance (1978) Title First broadcast Overview Original viewing figureJerry is having a medical so he can take out yet another pension policy, as he and Margo are determined to enjoy their retirement. This makes Tom realise that he has no pension plans at all, so goes to his bank manager Mr Downs (George Cole) to propose that he get a pension from the bank and in return they get his house when he and Barbara are dead. This idea is now called equity release, however on Tom's figures Mr Downs calls it "fantasy". Jerry, frightened by the results of his medical, buys a load of exercise equipment and takes up jogging; so Tom challenges him to a race to prove who is fitter. The two wives cheer on their husbands, but they decide to get into a taxi. The women find out after the taxi driver comes to return Jerry's wallet which he had left inside the taxi. Tom and Jerry run away, again.14.4 million
References Richard Webber, A Celebration of The Good Life, Orion Books, 2000
External links