In Sickness and in Health is a BBC television sitcom that ran between 1 September 1985 and 3 April 1992. It is a sequel to the successful Till Death Us Do Part, which ran between 1966 and 1975, and Till Death..., which ran for one series of six episodes in 1981. The series includes 47 episodes, and, unlike its predecessor, all the episodes have survived and are available on DVD.
The show's theme tune was performed by Chas and Dave and two versions of the lyrics were used – the original version in Series 1 and then revised from Series 2 onward to reflect the Else Garnett character's death. The lyrics were changed again for the episodes set in Australia during the fourth series.
Cast Warren Mitchell as Alfred 'Alf' Garnett Dandy Nichols as Else Garnett (Series 1) Carmel McSharry as Camille Hollingbery Una Stubbs as Rita Rawlins (Series 1–2) Arthur English as Arthur (Series 1–5) Eamonn Walker as Winston ('Marigold') (Series 1–3) Ken Campbell as Fred Johnson Eileen Kennally as Mrs Johnson (Series 1–3) Gareth Forwood as The Doctor (Series 3) Tricia Kelly as Mrs Johnson (Series 4–5) Yvonne D'Alpra as Mrs Johnson (Series 6) Harry Fowler as Harry the milkman Arnold Diamond as Mr Rabinsky (Series 1–4)
Patricia Hayes as Min Reed (Series 2–6) Irene Handl as Gwenneth (Series 2–3) Renu Setna as Mr Kittel (Series 2–3) Fanny Carby as The Barmaid (Series 3–5) Vas Blackwood as Pele (Series 4) Hugh Lloyd as Harry Carey (Series 4–6) Pat Coombs as Mrs Carey (Series 4–6) James Ellis as Michael (Series 6)
Episode guide Series 1 (1985) This comedy series debuted in 1985 and took the former Till Death Us Do Part characters Alf Garnett (Warren Mitchell) and his wife Else (Dandy Nichols) from their Wapping house to a lower-class one-level flat in West Ham. Else now uses a wheelchair due to Nichols' real-life ill health.
The council sends a black, gay man named Winston (Eamonn Walker), to do the housework and help care for Else. Despite Alf's dual prejudices against Winston, eventually the two become used to one another, and Winston takes Alf to watch his beloved West Ham United. Nevertheless, Alf gives Winston the nickname "Marigold".
Alf and Else's daughter Rita (Una Stubbs) now lives with her husband Mike in his home town of Liverpool and often visits her parents, although Mike does not appear (as Tony Booth had no interest in reprising the role). Usually, Alf is seen drinking with his friend Arthur (Arthur English) in the local pub.
Although his beloved Conservative Party has returned to power, Alf is not happy with Margaret Thatcher being Prime Minister because, according to him, "a woman's place is in the home". He is also unhappy about Else needing to use a wheelchair and the fact he has to push her around everywhere and that, after a lifetime of hard work and paying contributions to the Welfare State, he has to fight the social security system for a decent living allowance.
Across the road lives Fred Johnson (Ken Campbell), a man stubborn like Alf, with whom he rarely gets along. When angry, Johnson bumps his head on the wall. His wife (first played by Eileen Kennally, from Series 1 to 3, then by Tricia Kelly in Series 4 and 5, and Yvonne D'Alpra in Series 6) has anxiety. Much of the comedy surrounding the Johnsons is based on Mrs. Johnson's sympathy towards Alf, often letting him walk all over them and much to the anger of Mr. Johnson. Episode First broadcast Description1 1 September 1985 The Garnetts are back in London. Else is severely arthritic and can barely walk and Alf extols the joys of the wheelchair he has got her, that is until he has to push her around in it. However Alf does find that the chair does come in handy for getting him on the front row at football matches of his beloved West Ham United although his response to a home win reveals that he is using it fraudulently.2 8 September 1985 Alf complaining about his failing eyesight he takes his wife out in her wheelchair and buys her an ice cream cornet whilst avoiding giving money to the local vicar. However his poor sight proves his undoing when he accidentally goes into a ladies' toilet and is arrested as a sex pest.3 15 September 1985 Having scrubbed the hall floor and disapproved of Else's using the milkman to place her bets, Alf feels that they are entitled to a home help but manages to antagonise three women home helps in succession. Returning from the pub he finds that the 4th home help is Winston, an extremely flamboyant gay black man who will clearly take no nonsense from him.4 29 September 1985 Alf tries the patience of his neighbours Fred Johnson by using their phone to make a very long-winded long-distance call to his daughter Rita. After expounding upon funerals in the pub Alf repays Fred by buying him so many drinks he falls over but Alf's homeward progress pushing Else in her wheelchair also ends in drunken calamity.5 6 October 1985 Alf's daughter Rita comes to visit and no sooner is she home Alf argues with her about her mother Else. Alf criticises Margaret Thatcher, claiming that no woman should be prime minister so Else and Rita gang up against him with Winston, who brings an equally camp friend home to throw a party for Rita. Alf is given extremely strong drink so which causes Alf to pass out while the others continue to party.6 13 October 1985 Alf is tired of pushing Else around in her chair and he feels she should have an electric scooter instead but they cost £2500 and the lady at the Social Security office tells Alf that as long as he is around to push his wife, Else cannot have one. Using an idea from some kids with a go-kart Alf adds a lawn mower engine to Else's chair, which goes out of control foiling a bank robbery and landing him in hospital. Alf is declared a hero but following Winston's view that the robbers' accomplices may be out to get him Alf ultimately decides it is best to remain anonymous.
Christmas Special (1985) First broadcast Description26 December 1985 Rita has come over for a visit, but intends on travelling back to Liverpool for Christmas. In an effort to get to stay and help look after Else, he feigns a leg injury when he falls off a ladder. At the old folk's Christmas lunch at the Church, Alf continues this pretence. However, later on, his enthusiastic participation during the after dinner dancing, reveals his sprained leg was merely just a ruse.
Series 2 (1986) The first series ended on 13 October 1985 and was very popular in the ratings. On Boxing Day a Christmas special was aired, which was also successful. On 6 February 1986 Dandy Nichols died, aged 78.
When Dandy Nichols died, the decision was taken to continue the series, as the ratings and audience appreciation had been excellent. By the first episode of series two, her character has died of natural causes. Left alone after all the other mourners have gone home, Alf, the belligerent old curmudgeon who always treated his wife appallingly, gently touches the handle of her (now empty) wheelchair and sobs "Silly old moo!". However, Alf quickly discovers his state pension has been cut (along with entitlement to other social security benefits) as a result of Else's death. The lyrics of the theme tune (performed by Chas and Dave) were changed to reflect this: Now my 'ol darlin, they've laid her down to rest And now I'm missing 'er with all me heart But they don't give a monkeys down the DHSS And they've cornered half me pension for a start So it won't be very long until I'm by her side Cos I'll probably starve to death that's what I'll do For richer or for poorer – (Alf interjects: "Bloody poorer that's a fact!") That's 'cos in sickness and in health I said "I do" In sickness and in health I said "I do" In series two, Carmel McSharry became a permanent member of the cast playing Mrs Hollingbery, a gossipy, Catholic pensioner who lives in the flat upstairs. She did make an appearance in the first series but this was very low-key, and she had not been named as Mrs Hollingbery either yet. Alf and Mrs Hollingbery don't get on at first but later become close. The roles of the Johnsons increased, and several recurring characters were added including Mr Rabinsky (a tightfisted Jew), Mr Kittel (Renu Setna) a Muslim shopkeeper, Winston's cousin, and the milkman. Alf's crazy former neighbour Min Reed (Patricia Hayes) also returns for one episode, along with her sister Gwenneth (Irene Handl). Episode First broadcast Description1 4 September 1986 Else has died and following her funeral, Alf, Rita and the rest of the congregation convene back at the flat for the wake. Alf is morose when his finds out that his pension has been cut in half following his wife's death, along with the £30 a week disability allowance. 2 11 September 1986. Rita and Winston cause a commotion late one night, when they have difficulty trying to get in, following a night out. They manage to frighten Mrs Hollingberry, who responds by locking the front door of the flat at 10:30pm each night. Later, Alf gets into a row and she threatens to lock him out if returns late from the pub.3 18 September 1986 Mrs Hollingberry's obsession with security picks up a pace, when she locks Alf inside his own flat, but then he desperately needs to go to the toilet. Meanwhile, their shopkeeper Mr Kittel, informs Alf that Else owed him a series of debts before she died, and Alf is irritated when he finds out from the Milkman about her last bet.4 25 September 1986 It's Sunday and Alf is annoyed that everyone else is having Sunday lunch without him. So he decides to go to the Supermarket for the first time, and later he attempts to cook his own lunch, even-though he cannot cook.5 2 October 1986 Rita buys Alf a second-hand jacket which he soon notices is covered in medals seeing an opportunity he uses it to try to gain all sorts of special favours. Alf is also visited by canvassing politicians.6 9 October 1986 Alf unexpectedly gets a visit from his former neighbour Min, who has come over with her sister Gwenneth who turns out to be senile and hard of hearing. Mrs Hollingberry gets annoyed by Min's presence and a quarrel erupts between them.
Christmas Special (1986) First broadcast Description23 December 1986 Alf loses his job as a department stall Santa, when he gets into a heated argument with a pushy mother (Alison Steadman) who demands an extensive list of presents from him for Christmas. Later when he delivers some groceries from Mr Kittel, he bumps into her again, and she robs him off all his items. Later on Rita announces that she won in a competition a trip to Spain, Alf tries to make Rita feel sorry for him by complaining that he will be alone at Christmas.
Series 3 (1987) During the third series, Rita divorces Mike and moves back to London to marry a doctor (although Una Stubbs did not appear in the show after series two). Eamonn Walker also left at the end of series three. Three characters from the 1970s Till Death Us Do Part also made a comeback - Mrs. Carey and her henpecked husband Wally (Pat Coombs and Hugh Lloyd, although Wally was now named Harry). Min also returns for an appearance, along with her sister Gwenneth who makes her second and final appearance in the series, as Handl died later that year.