Original title
The Other 'Arf
Released
5/30/1980
Origin country
GB
Genre
Comedy
Status
Ended
Number of seasons
4
Number of episodes
27
The Other 'Arf is a British television ITV sitcom series broadcast from 1980 to 1984. It stars John Standing as upper class Conservative politician Charles Latimer, MP, who begins a relationship with working class cockney Lorraine Watts. The series was produced by ATV, and was screened by ITV.
When MP Charles Latimer notices fellow diner Lorraine Watts enduring the lecherous advances of her companion, his gallant instincts are aroused, and the would-be Lothario is swiftly repulsed witha plate of profiteroles. A grateful Lorraine returns to Charles' flat with him; they learn each other's names in the cold light of morning. And that's when Charles' fiancee, Sybilla, unexpectedly appears...
With Charles temporarily out of favour with Sybilla he's free to pursure Lorraine, who is whirled into new worlds - including the Covent Garden opera and the House Of Commons. Lorraine's father makes no secret of his disapproval, and a close shave with his prospective father-in-law coupled with the activities of a gossip columnist land Charles back into hot water.
Charles is certain he will eventually have to marry Sybilla. He's equally certain he's in love with Lorraine. He faces a dilemma: although Lorraine has persuaded him to take her on holiday to Spain, Sybilla reminds him that he's also to go up to Scotland for the Glorious Twelfth. He hedges with the instinctive evasiveness of the experienced politician.
When Lorraine sees Charles affectionately greeting a young brunette, she jumps to obvious conclusions. Since Lorraine now refuses to speak to him, Charles persuades her Swedish flatmate Astrid to have lunch with him and tell him what's going on.Sybilla enters the same restaurant and things get complicated...
Charles' upper-crust connections prove useful when a stately home is needed for filming of Lorraine's new TV commercial. Lord Cunnigham, otherwise known as Smidger, is happy to oblige and the TV crew moves in. Smidger and his aristocratic friend Henry seem to be living proof that Lorraine's father was right after all, the classes just can't mix.
Britain is a class conscious society. Lorraine's father, a staunch Socialist, thinks Lorraine's long term boyfriend Brian is far more suitable match for his daughter. When the two men get together they find they have more in common than expected.
Noted Italian photographer Serafino wants to take Lorraine on a modelling tour of Europe which would keep her away from Charles for two months. She leaves the decison to charles in the hope that he wouldn't bear being without her. Charles is not the sort of man to make decisions.
Charles' plan to whisk Lorraine away for a surprise Christmas holiday in the Caribbean misfires in more ways than one. Lorraine is unhappy at the prospect of leaving her father George alone, and George is equally alarmed by the thought of spending the Yuletide with his detested Auntie Vi. Worse is to come when the couple arrive at the airport...
The departue of Lorraine's flatemate prompts her to move to another area. Hamsptead is ideal: close enough to town, but far enough from Charles' Belgravia flat to prove she is not at his beck and call. Charles is uitably upset, especially when he learns that Lorraine's old friend Jeremy, a hunky Australian model, also occupies a flat in the same block.
Lorraine's cousin, Sharon, thinks she may be pregnant, and arranges for the test results to be phoned through to her at Lorraine's number. Unfortunately for Lorraine, a Family Planning leaflet left by the phone is found by Charles, who inevitably leaps to the wrong conclusion.
Lorraine is upset by the discovery that Charles is seeing Sybilla again. She makes up her mind and gives him an ultimatum; either he breaks off his engagement with Sybilla, or they come to the parting of the ways. Reaching a decision is always problematic for Charles, but this time it seems the matter is out of his hands entirely...
Lorraine asks Charles to help an old lady named Nora, who looked after her as a child and is now facing eviction. Charles thinks he has more than enough experience to handle this. Not so easy to handle is a request from Lorraine's father; seven tickets to the Cup Final.
Charles and Lorraine are asked to help with a fete to raise funds in aid of a church restoration. Their ideas include an all-star football match and bingo with valuable prixes. George and Lorraine's ex-boyfriend Brian can can assist with the valuable prizes, but as the day of the fete dawns, famous footballers are in rather short supply.
A Fancy dress ball will bring out the idiotic in most men, and Charles and Freddy are no exceptions; Charles makes an unlikely Charles II, and Freddy is no better as Robin Hood. Lorraine is in a bubbly mood dressed as a flapper and determined to enjoy the ball, despite a confession from Charles concerning the previous night's activities.
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