Such a wonderful breath of reality against the fantastic world of Patricia Routledge’s Hyacinth Bucket.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/07/28/article-2180326-00649BE200000258-342_468x570.jpg

Along with “Keeping Up Appearances.”

(from the Wiki article

Mrs. Betty Slocombe, head of the ladies’ department. She is known for her changing hair colour and conversations about her cat, which she always refers to as her “pussy”.

Mr. Wilberforce Claybourne Humphries, a camp man who lives with his mother.

Captain Stephen Peacock, the haughty floorwalker who purportedly fought in the North Africa Campaign of World War II but was actually in the Service Corps and never saw combat.

Miss Shirley Brahms, a young, attractive, working-class, cockney-speaking junior assistant to Mrs. Slocombe.

Mr. Ernest Grainger, a 40-year veteran of Grace Brothers who often falls asleep on the job.

Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold, the autocratic, obsequious (to Young Mr. Grace), yet bumbling and incompetent floor manager.

Mr. James “Dick” Lucas, the young, penniless, womanising junior salesman.

Young Mr. Grace, the very old, rich but stingy store owner, surrounded by attractive young women.

Old Mr. Grace, Young Mr. Grace’s older brother who eventually replaced him at the store, when Young Mr. Grace retired.

Mr. Beverly Harman and Mr. Mash, the maintenance men who installed mechanised display units in store and were often scolded by Captain Peacock for being on the floor during opening hours.

The main humorous base of the series was a merciless parody of the British class system. This permeated almost every interaction and was especially evident in the conversations between the maintenance men and the ostensibly higher-class store personnel. The episodes rarely left the store, and to parody the stereotype of the British class system, characters rarely addressed each other by their first names, even after work, opting for their formal titled names (“Mr”, “Mrs”, “Miss”, or even “Captain”). When they did address each other by their first names, it was almost either as an aside, or often for a comical effect (e.g., an underling addressing a superior).

I am getting rather selective as I age…apparently.

Good choice, Frank. I’m sure Hugh has been courted for the Doctor’s role, but other commitments might keep him away, as with Pearce Brosnan and his finally realized dream of becoming a Bond, which had to be delayed due to scheduling conflicts between Remington and Roger Moore.

Cheers, all.

I watched some of the Baker episodes and I liked him. Didn’t see that many, before dvr I couldn’t find time to watch any series.

I lost track of it after Baker and didn’t find it again until Chris Eccleston, I was not a big fan of CE and only became devoted when David Tennant took over. He is still my favorite but Matt Smith did a good job.

You and your granddaughter will enjoy catching up. No need to go back and watch the older ones unless you really get hooked. I just hope the older guy, who is taking over from Matt, can fill the shoes.

For some reason the new regeneration always seem to work well enough to keep the ball rolling.

BTW, The one actor that I would dearly love to see in the role is Hugh Laurie. House was my idea of the perfect Dr Who. Sadly I fear I will never get my wish. However, in the close knit almost repertory troupe of British actors it is not impossible.