Now and Then is a British World War II sitcom written by John Esmonde and Bob Larbey that aired on ITV in the early to mid 1980s. It ran for two series: the first series of seven episodes ran from 24 July to 4 September 1983, and the second and final series of six episodes ran from 8 July to 12 August 1984. The show was produced by LWT for the ITV network.

Plot An unusual Esmonde and Larbey sitcom, with drama roots, the premise of Now And Then was the planned sale of a South London house where a middle-aged husband and father of two, Peter Elston (Bernard Holley), had spent his entire life. The potential move awoke in him a scrapbook of memories, so part of each episode was spent in the past - during the Second World War, when Peter was seven/eight years old - and part in the present, where Peter's rebellious son Alan (Marc Gilbey) reminded him of how he used to be.

It was the war years - as seen through the eyes of a small boy (John Alford) - that shone through the mist, however. As Peter saw it, his father, Norman (Sam Kelly), was a great sage; Mum (Jill Kerman) was a heroine; Grandad (Arthur Lovegrove) (who had died by the second series) and Gran (Liz Smith) doted upon him; psychic Aunt Sadie (June Brown) and Uncle Gordon (Barry Stanton), who owned a surgical appliances shop, caused plenty of merriment; elder sister Sonia (Cindy O'Callaghan) married a GI named Nelson (Alan Polonsky) and fell pregnant; another sister, Mary (Tracy Hyde), joined the ATS and went about with a boyfriend named Randall (Ray Burdis); and brother Ted (Martin Gower) was away in the forces. For young Peter, wartime meant exciting uncertainty, blackouts, the Anderson Shelter, food shortages and a doodlebug bomb interrupting one of his piano lessons.

Cast Bernard Holley as Older Peter Elston Jill Kerman as Jill Elston Marc Gilbey as Alan Elston Polly Bell as Amanda Elston John Alford as Young Peter Elston Sam Kelly as Norman Elston Marcia Warren as Bet Elston Liz Smith as Gran Arthur Lovegrove as Grandad (Series 1) Tracy Hyde as Mary Elston Cindy O'Callaghan as Sonia Elston Ray Burdis as Randall June Brown as Aunt Sadie Barry Stanton as Uncle Gordon Carol Harrison as Rene Manderville (Series 2) John White as Mr Pluckrose (Series 2) Alan Polonsky as Nelson (Series 2)

Crew John Esmonde and Bob Larbey as Writers Derrick Goodwin as Director (Series 1–2) Derrick Goodwin as Producer (Series 1) Humphrey Barclay as Producer (Series 2)

Episodes Series overview

A total of thirteen episodes were produced over two series.

Series 1 (1983) Episodes aired on ITV on Sundays at 21:15.

Series 2 (1984) Episodes aired on ITV on Sundays at 21:30.

Reception This comedy drama from London Weekend Television looked at the lives of an ordinary English family over two generations. The main character, Peter Elston (Bernard Holley), was a 48-year-old man preparing to sell up and move from his South London home to the countryside in England.

References

External links

Now and Then at British Comedy Guide