11 September 1977 (1977-09-11) – 20 October 1978 (1978-10-20)
The Rag Trade is a British television sitcom broadcast by the BBC between 1961 and 1963 and by ITV between 1977 and 1978.[1] Although a comedy, it shed light on gender, politics and the "class war" on the factory floor.[2][3]
The action centred on a fictional small clothing workshop (the title is a reference to the textile industry), Fenner's Fashions in London.[1] Although run by Harold Fenner (Peter Jones) and the foreman and pattern cutter Reg Turner (Reg Varney), the female workers are led by militant shop steward Paddy Fleming (Miriam Karlin), ever ready to strike, with the catchphrase "Everybody out!" Other cast members included Sheila Hancock (as Carole Taylor), Esma Cannon (as Lily Swann), Wanda Ventham (as Shirley) in series 2 and Barbara Windsor (as Gloria, during series 1, who later returned as Judy in series 3) replacing Sheila Hancock.[1][6]
In 1975, a colour pilot was made; with only Peter Jones reprising his role, this colour pilot featured a young Tony Robinson (replacing Reg Varney), Gaye Brown (briefly replacing Karlin), Jumoke Debayo, Diane Langton, Annabel Leventon, Jamila Massey, Mollie Maureen (replacing Esma Cannon) and Trixie Scales.[1]
The theme tune for this colour pilot was performed by Alex Welsh and his Band, however, this was never transmitted, as the BBC rejected the colour revival of the series.
Two years later, the series was revived by ITV company LWT, with Jones and Karlin reprising their roles.[7] The 1977–78 version ran for two series, most of the scripts being based on the BBC episodes from the 1960s, and featured Anna Karen (reprising her role as Olive from On the Buses) and future EastEnders star Gillian Taylforth as factory workers.[8]
The theme tune for the LWT series was written and performed by Lynsey de Paul (credited as Joan Brown) and released as a track on an album of TV themes that also featured another de Paul-penned theme "Hi Summer".[9]
In 1990, the series was remade as the series Fredrikssons Fabrikk by NRK in Norway, it ran for three seasons (1990–93, 17 half hours and one 45min special) and a feature film version Fredrikssons Fabrikk – The Movie in 1994 with a script credited to Chesney and Wolfe, and Norwegian series writer Andreas Markusson.[1][10]
On original transmission many episodes of the original BBC TV series of The Rag Trade were not given titles, so some are from production notes and repeat screenings.
When Fenner refuses the girls a raise, they decide to start running a laundry cleaning service from inside Fenner's Fashions, their source of dirty laundry coming from a barber shop owner.
Guest Stars: George Roderick, Barbara Keogh and Jean Conroy
"The Bank Manager"
29 June 1962
A bank manager threaten to close Fenners Fashion
Guest Stars: Ronnie Barker, Hugh Paddick and Jean Conroy
Christmas Night with the Stars
25 December 1962 – featured a short sketch. (Has been lost)
A new arrangement in the workroom sparks off confrontation between Fenner and Paddy
"The Sample"
18 September
Kathy steals a new dressing gown to impress her new boyfriend
"Fixing The Rate"
25 September
Fenner becomes obsessed with Time and Money, giving Paddy an idea of money making
"The Lunch Problem"
2 October
When Fenner refuses to open a canteen, the girls decide to run their own canteen
"The Export Order"
9 October
Fenner's Fashion is falling fast and Fenner is determined to make some changes
"The Italian Line"
16 October
A handsome Italian threatens to drive everyone out of Fenner's Fashion
"Olive's Baby"
23 October
The staff go on strike in a bid to help Olive look after her baby son
"The Wedding Dress"
30 October
Fenner discovers the work force are making their own clothes
"The Sideline"
6 November
Paddy gets attacked by a dishonest man and struggles to hold the workforce together
"The Guv'nor's Wife"
13 November
Mrs Fenner's dreams of meeting Margaret Thatcher land Fenner's Fashion in trouble
"The New Girl"
20 November
Fenner's new assistant takes a shine to the girls
"The Bet"
27 November
The workforce decide to make their own money on horse racing
"The Accident"
4 December
Fenner's Fashion faces closure when an inspector is injured whilst touring the factory
"The New Brother"
11 December
A diligent new Indian employee finds himself a victim of the girls' jokes
Christmas special (1977)
Title
Airdate
Description
Notes
"Christmas Rush"
24 December
The workforce are forced to work during the Christmas Holidays. Mrs Fenner returns to Fenner's Fashion
Series 5 (1978)
Title
Airdate
Description
Notes
"The Annual Ball"
8 September
The creation of a dress for Mrs Fenner causes chaos at Fenner's Fashion
"The Leather Line"
15 September
Another argument between Paddy and Fenner could cost Fenner's Fashion their best customers
"Stress"
22 September
Fenner's attempt to secure a loan results in a heath scare
"A Bad Patch"
29 September
Fenner has lost all his customers. The Girls think of a way of making money
"Come Back Paddy"
6 October
Paddy leaves Fenner's Fashion for another firm
"Self-Defence"
13 October
Paddy attempts of a defence program have disastrous consequences
"Fenner's Folly"
20 October
The possibility of a large order prompts Fenner to think about his future
Missing episodes
Because of the BBC's wiping policy of that era, of the 36 episodes made only 21 episodes of the original BBC Television version (1961–62) still exist in the BBC archives.[8]
The first series of the original BBC TV version of the show is almost complete, whilst the second series remains incomplete, as two episodes remain missing. Only one of the 13 episodes of the third (and final) BBC TV series (1963) currently exists – "Baby Dolls", which was confirmed to have been unearthed by Philip Morris of the Television International Enterprises Archive and returned to the BBC in 2018.[15]
Music
"The Rag Trade" was the theme song to the 1977 revival of The Rag Trade,[16][17][18] The song was written by Lynsey de Paul, but the vocals are credited to Joan Brown singing "It's the rag trade" over a quirky tune, sounding remarkably like de Paul. Indeed, some sources credit the vocal performance of the song to de Paul.[19][20] The recording was arranged by John Bell and the conductor was Denis King. It was released on an album of TV themes on the DJM Records subsidiary label Weekend Records.[21] The DVD set featuring all 22 episodes of the LWT episodes, with the theme music at the beginning and ending of every episode, was released by Network. The original version of "The Rag Trade" can be heard on de Paul's official website.[22]
DVD release
The 8 (out of the 10) existing episodes of the first series (broadcast in 1961) were released on DVD (DD Home Entertainment) in March 2006, followed by the 11 existing episodes of the second series (broadcast in 1962), released on DVD 7 months later in October 2006.[23]
A 4-disc set consisting all the remaining episodes from the first two series of the show was later released (through Simply Media DVD) on 23 October 2017.[24]
All the episodes of both colour series 4 and 5 of the (1977–78) LWT version of the series, including the 1977 Christmas special, have been released on DVD by Network.[25]
^The Rag Trade: ‘Everybody Out!’ Gender, Politics and Class on the Factory Floor by Mary Irwin, pp66-79, British TV Comedies, doi:10.1057/9781137552952_5
^British TV Comedies: Cultural Concepts, Contexts and Controversies, edited by Juergen Kamm and Birgit Neumann, 2016, ISBN9781137552945
