1970s sitcom Bless This House has just been added to ITV’s streaming service ITVX Premium, as well as Britbox.
Bless This House first aired in 1971, running for 65 episodes over 6 series, and ending in 1976. It starred Sid James as Sid Abbot and Diana Coupland as his wife Jean. The show followed the Abbots, including their two teenage children, Mike (Robin Stewart) and Sally (Sally Geeson). The series saw Sid and Jean coping as new societal norms and expectations challenged their traditional family values, as well as ups and downs in relationships with their neighbours and the usual marital turbulence observed in similar sitcoms of the era.
Bless This House was created by Vince Powell and Harry Driver, but was also written by others, including Carla Lane and Dave Freeman.
64 episodes of the 65 made are available to stream on ITVX Premium and Britbox. The first 7 episodes are in black and white, as they were produced during the colour strike of 1970-71. Bless This House shares this in common with other classic sitcoms which either began or continued their production run during the strike, such as On the Buses.
Bless This House the series joins its spin-off movie version from 1972, which also stars Sid James and Diana Coupland, this time with Mike played by Robin Askwith, and is also available to stream on ITVX Premium.
