Too much of everything

the audience applauded

Such a frustrating disappointment

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

A number of years ago, I used to hold a very negative view of this show. Re-watching it again over the past few weeks, I have to say I still maintain some of my original thoughts on the show but I must admit that some of the episodes are quite amusing. 'Fresh Fields' is all about married couple Hester and William Fields - he a laid back slippers and newspaper type ( who works as an accountant ) who is happy with his lot and her an over-enthusiastic housewife who jumps from one hobby to the next ( in a bid to fight against her empty nest syndrome as her daughter Emma, who is never seen but heard frequently on the telephone, has left home ).Living next door to them is Sonia ( the late Ann Beach ), who barges into the Fields' home at the worst possible moments to borrow something, always announcing her presence with ''It's only Sonia!''. Also living at the bottom of the garden in a granny flat is Hester's mother Nancy ( Fanny Rowe ) who is divorced from Hester's lecherous father Guy ( played wonderfully by the late Ballard Berkeley, best remembered as the senile Major Gowen from 'Fawlty Towers' ).'Fresh Fields' was written by John Chapman, who earlier worked on the BBC's 'Happy Ever After' ( which starred Terry Scott and June Whitfield ). It is not dissimilar to the earlier show, with Julia McKenzie's Hester inheriting some of Terry Scott's traits, such as trying out new things, often with disastrous results, though not as funny as Terry Scott's portrayal. Anton Rodgers and Julia McKenzie both made for likable leads, though it was Ann Beach who stole the show as the scrounging Sonia. Also good were Fanny Rowe and Ballard Berkeley as the warring Nancy and Guy.'Fresh Fields' ended in 1986 after four series, though was back three years later, this time titled 'French Fields' when the Fields' upped sticks and moved to France, though Guy and Nancy did not appear as both Rowe and Berkeley died in 1988, though Sonia made a guest appearance in the final episode. Of all the cast, only Julia McKenzie survives. Anton Rodgers died in 2007 aged 74 while Ann Beach died last month aged 78.

I must admit I was not an admirer of 'Fresh Fields' when it first aired on I.T.V. in the mid-Eighties. In fact my nickname for the show then was 'Stale Meadows'! The main problem for me was that it went out at a time when alternative comedy shows such as 'The Young Ones' and 'Saturday Live' were considered the in-things to watch for young people ( which I was then ). Now that I'm middle-aged myself, I can watch and laugh and not feel guilty for doing so. I still dislike the theme tune and opening credits though. The show was about a happily married couple: accountant 'William Fields' ( the late Anton Rodgers ) and 'Hester' ( Julia McKenzie ). He is a pleasant, easy-going chap while she is facing a mid-life crisis and taking up one new hobby after one another, often with disastrous results. When she went to a gym in one episode, for instance, she was so worn out by the experience she had to be helped out of the building by friends. Other episodes had her taking part in a stage musical, cookery contests, art classes, and so on. Rodgers had an undeniable flair for comedy ( he stood in for Peter Sellers in the film 'Rotten To The Core' in 1965 ) that was put to good use here, while McKenzie had experience of sitcoms with 'Maggie & Her' and 'That Beryl Marsden'. The pair gelled perfectly in 'Fresh Fields'. The show bore a strong resemblance to the B.B.C.'s 'Happy Ever After ( later adapted into 'Terry & June' ) which starred Terry Scott and June Whitfield and was partly written by John Chapman, the creator of 'French Fields'. The main difference was that here the woman was the over-enthusiastic one. Supporting characters included 'Nancy Penrose' ( Fanny Rowe ) who lived in a granny flat close to her daughter, her estranged husband 'Guy' ( the wonderful Ballard Berkeley ), and the Fields' dippy neighbour 'Sonia' ( the lovely Ann Beach ), who had a habit of barging into their kitchen at inopportune moments. The Fields' daughter was 'Emma' ( Debby Cumming ), whom never appeared on screen and was heard only talking to her mother on the phone. Plots usually revolved around Hester's latest hobby or William's problems at work. It was cosy, middle-of-the-road stuff, and that led to it being savaged in some quarters, most notably from critic Nina 'Queen Of The Box' Myskow, who said it was 'so middle-of-the-road as to be a load of old bollards!'. Nevertheless, it notched up four seasons from 1984 - 86 and earned Anton Rodgers a T.V. Times Award ( which they do not give out any more ) for 'Funniest Man On Television'! In 1989, the Fields moved to France and the show continued ( minus Guy and Nancy - Rowe and Berkeley both died in 1988 - and Sonia ) under the title 'French Fields'.

I just want to say that I agree with the previous viewers where I clicked "yes" to what they said. We never seem to get good old BBC comedies on Aussie TV anymore and there's a large audience of 70 and 80 year old who love them. Anyway at least more and more are appearing on DVD - hope I can live long enough to see them all. From the 1960s to the 1980s was the best for British comedy as far as I'm concerned. Loved Anton in May to December - it was a very touching show. First saw Julia McKenzie in Blott on the Landscape and have watched her in everything that's come our way. Cheers from "downunder" Jessie in Sydney, Australia

Anton Rodgers is better known to me for his role on the other British comedy, "May to December." On this show, he plays alongside the amazing Julia McKenzie, a well known British musical actress. The pairing of them as a couple with an empty nest syndrome. Rodgers plays William, the beloved husband to Hester played very well by Julia McKenzie. The other cast members include Hester's mother who lives just across the driveway and her friend Sonia played by Ann Beach. Anyway, I only caught glimpses of this show the first time around but NJN has brought Fresh Fields which is also the name of a supermarket chain and a legal firm on Fleet Street in London, England. With the kids grown and gone, Hester is left to fend for herself and keeps busy by jogging, joining the local community center and pottery classes, and cooking French food. Anyway, I recommend Fresh Fields because it is a well done show for mature audiences who love British comedy. Somebody compared Julia to Lucille Ball and I couldn't agree more. She has a wonderful singing voice as well and a good comedic voice too.