View Full Version : Ever Decreasing Circles
I've just received Network's release of Series 1 of the 1980's BBC sitcom 'Ever Decreasing Circles' (5 episodes -- Series 2 with 8 eps is out in May).
I may be sticking my neck out with this post because I don't think this programme is terribly well regarded in some quarters, but I've always liked it and I remember enjoying very much the BBC1 daytime repeats about 18 months or so ago (I think that's when it was).
Picture quality is fine, and the one extra is a nice 15 minute Richard Briers interview.
Anyway, I thought it was a well observed and amusing series and just the type of popular sitcom that there are really none of anymore on British tv (nowadays all the good ones are minority channel fare).
Richard Briers always said that his somewhat envious, officious character Martin could have been played by Tony Hancock and indeed it's not hard to see why.
Jimmyboy
27-02-2002, 18:39
I actually really like this for some reason.
Taking into account the BBC crap attention to dvd, how bad is the disc ?.
Are there any worthwhile extras on the disc ?.
Confucius
27-02-2002, 20:42
It ain't a Beeb release, not that I've had any probs with Beeb discs.
The five episodes + 15 min interview are given a dual layer disc. I didn't check out the bit rate but I couldn't see any probs. Mind you I was watching it on the bedroom 21", not the RPTV downstairs......
Yep this is one of those 'unfashionable traditional sitcoms' It appeared at a time when alternative fare was the rage and so was saddled with all the other stale traditional shows.
Quality scripts, quality actors. And a great tune!
I rate it above Butterflies which was another fine show.
Briers anal character provided a delicious contrast with the laid back smoothie of a neighbour. The barely concealed feelings between Brier's wife and the neighbour were also beautifully acted.
Top show. I think the repeats are still on - Granada plus? U've whetted my appetite!
Jimmyboy
02-03-2002, 03:03
Does anyone remember the episode where they put on a medival play with a 5 minute battle sequence. :D
Is that one on the dvd ?.
No Jimmyboy, that one is not on the disc -- it's from Series 3 I think. Fingers crossed all the episodes will be out by the end of the year.
I've watched the first 2 now and it's terrific stuff, and great quality picture too.
Baron S. Greenback
02-03-2002, 23:57
is there any website (like play) that sells these???
Play have got it for £11.99.
carryonline
05-03-2002, 15:23
Some potentially interesting trivia; Richard Briers played Tony Hancock (and did a stunning job) in the radio play "Hancock's Last Half Hour", the story of Hancock's suicide in an Australian hotel. It's available to download in MP3 from some of the binary newsgroups.
Have any more episodes been issued of this fine show?
:)
Confucius
03-11-2003, 23:07
No, not yet.
Have a look at a R2 supplier though...
Bapapapa
04-11-2003, 01:09
Penelope Wilton - :luv:
Fozzybear
04-11-2003, 07:55
Granada Plus (?) have been showing all of these in order recently. Not a huge fan, but I recorded off a load (first two series) to enjoy at my leisure. :D
morantic
04-11-2003, 08:30
Yes, Granada plus are showing it at the moment, but are pretty much at the end of the series 4 which I think marks the end of series. there was a comeback hour long special but I don't think they'll be showing that as they are already shoe-horning episodes into 25 minute slots (the ones they show are REALLY badly edited). And they have missed other specials i.e. the christmas specials. I believe the DVD of the second series has the fantastic christmas special from the second series and an interview with the cast on Pebble Mill.
As you can probably tell, I have a soft spot for this programme. I was a fan as a kid and have gone slightly overboard on the repeats on Granada. It's on it 2 minutes so I am rushing of to set the tape in a second. Although it's a "sit-com" at times it is quite moving, and really "layered", if you see what I mean, and Richard Briers is just terrific in it. The episode shown y'day on Granada had me in tears! It was the one where Martin thinks Ann is having an affair with Paul and slumps to his desk and starts crying. Other favourite episodes of mine are the ones where Martin is convinced that he slept with a prostitute and reveals this to Ann (this is another one I found quite moving in it's own way) and the best one I think where they go away for the weekend and Martin gets stuck in the loft. And yes, when I was a kid I had the hots for Penelope Wilton and yes, I still do know. I realise that people might lay into me for being a fan of what might be considered a lame show but come on? I'm sure we've all been affected at some time in our lifes by a totally random programme that you don't expect to enjoy.
HenryKrinkle
04-11-2003, 09:13
This was absolutely brilliant, and it has not diminished at all. Watching the repeats on sky illustrates how good the acting was compared to today's dross...Howard and Hilda are so funny!
...I caught the very last episode the other week and found it quite moving...ahem...in a manly kinda way of course :cry: :p
...anywhere got these reasonably cheap?
Confucius
04-11-2003, 10:00
Ever Decreasing was something of a watershed in sitcoms, being one of the last that was funny, contained pathos, was well acted & written, and thankfully without children in it.
Series 3 is out later this month on R2 -- I hope (it's already been postponed at least twice).
It has a cast interview on Wogan listed as an extra. Looking forward to it.
morantic
04-11-2003, 17:04
Incidently, I also have a bit of a thing for Fresh Fields at the moment (also shown daily on Granada plus). Not in the same league as E.D.C., and also a bit worrying. Oh well...
So have both series 1 and 2 been released?
:)
The German
04-11-2003, 19:18
I enjoyed this and 'Sorry'.......can't think why. Richard Briers also starred in 'If you see God tell him' a brilliant show IMO.
Originally posted by Confucius
Ever Decreasing was something of a watershed in sitcoms, being one of the last that was funny, contained pathos, was well acted & written, and thankfully without children in it.
Ah yes those were the days. When the Beeb actually made funny sitcoms...
Confucius
04-11-2003, 21:37
... which is more than ITV ever did...
Originally posted by Confucius
... which is more than ITV ever did...
Balls. What about Man About The House?
morantic
04-11-2003, 22:32
And Keep it in the Family. That was ITV and a great show. And Robins Nest. Heck, I even liked Full House. But then I was 14. And ITV made Rising Damp remember. Ahem, and also Stringers Day. But no, for every "Me and My Girl" ITV had some decent sit-coms.
seventy3
04-11-2003, 23:50
Always liked 'Please Sir!' and while I'll agree that it has dated poorly, 'On The Buses' was usually worth watching.
Incidentally, think it was ITV, what was that comedy with Hywell Bennett, mid to late 70s?
morantic
04-11-2003, 23:51
That was Shelley, again, a good programme, on ITV. Had really nice whistle-ley theme tune, in fact I am whistling it now, was on Monday nights if I remember rightly.
Confucius
05-11-2003, 09:01
Originally posted by agnetha
Balls. What about Man About The House?
What indeed. Utter tosh.
Same goes for all the others mentioned, including Rising Damp.
The Series 3 release date of Ever Decreasing Circles seems to have been pushed back, albeit only by 2 weeks. It's now out on December 1st.
I'm not holding my breath though: this is the third or fourth delay. I can't remember the original date but it was back in the Spring. Series 2 came out in May '02.
Series 3 is here, or rather in a few days: it's due out on Monday 19th and is listed as being in stock at Play.com now.
After multiple delays Network seem hopefully to have come through -- the fourth and final series is due on 23rd February (as is a box set of all 4), and look at the terrific specs:
1989 Wogan Interview with Peter Egan, Penelope Wilton, Geraldine Newman and Stanley Lebor
Digitally Restored
'Did You See' Report about the Final Episode and its Place in Sitcom
Bonus Disc Featuring The 80 Minute Special 'New Horizons' Which Closed the Series in 1989I remember that Did You See...? item, it visited one of the recording evenings and was excellent.
Finally to have the entire run!
PLay have both series 1 and 2 for 7 quid!
:)
Originally posted by stefmcd
PLay have both series 1 and 2 for 7 quid!
:)
:thumbs:
gone for this! (I used to really like this show too. I'll see how well it has stood the test of time, before I go with 3 + 4)
:)
Confucius
15-01-2004, 10:46
A complete box set will also be available on February 23rd.
Not much use to those of us who've bought the first 2 though!
Curiously Amazon list series 3 as being due for release on June 7th ('04), and series 4 on February 23rd as per Play & Popcorn.
It looks like the release date has slipped a bit. A lot of sites are now showing the boxset as not being available until 15th March.
morantic
02-02-2004, 19:26
Series three though is definitely out (as I have it and it's brilliant) - last I looked Play still have series 4 for a mid February release.
Greatest.comedy.ever.
Originally posted by Peachey
It looks like the release date has slipped a bit. A lot of sites are now showing the boxset as not being available until 15th March.Selfish though it may sound, so long as Series 4 itself doesn't also slip I'm not too unhappy!
Does buying the four series separately amount to much more than the boxset? Given the delays these releases have had so far, I'll just think myself lucky to have them all in whatever form.
Originally posted by Dene
Does buying the four series separately amount to much more than the boxset?
Dene, it's not the money - and as you suggest, the difference is minimal anyway. It was to be a birthday present for my wife (23rd February - aaagh!) and the boxset just seemed the neater option.
I also thought that the boxset may contain digitally restored versions of all of the series, whereas I think this may have only been done for the last of the individual series disks. Not sure on this last point though, but that's how it reads on the specs listed by Play.
Originally posted by Peachey
Dene, it's not the money - and as you suggest, the difference is minimal anyway. It was to be a birthday present for my wife (23rd February - aaagh!) and the boxset just seemed the neater option.
I also thought that the boxset may contain digitally restored versions of all of the series, whereas I think this may have only been done for the last of the individual series disks. Not sure on this last point though, but that's how it reads on the specs listed by Play. Fair enough, in that case of course the boxset would've been nice, sorry it doesn't work out.
I also think the digital restoration only applies to the final set. It doesn't seem likely that they'll go back to Series 1 to 3 -- especially as there is really nothing wrong with them. Picture quality across the releases is very good indeed, I can't wait to see S4 to see what the difference will be!
Network have done a great job on Ever Decreasing Circles I think. We could so easily have got zero extras or mediocre picture or no release at all in fact.
So has S4 been released without restoration and is now reissued with in the box set?
:)
Confucius
04-02-2004, 20:18
It hasn't been released yet.
The box set of all 4 series is due on the day of release of series 4.
I would also pay little heed to Play's specifications list, I'm sure that the quality of all 4 series will be on a par.
After being pushed back a few weeks, Series 4 is now 'processing' meaning that the 15 March release date has thankfully held!
This now completes the run, I'm pleased to say. The box set is scheduled for mid-April.
Many thanks to Network. I'm very glad to have the entire run of one of my favourite sitcoms on disc, and an above average release too.
stuartfanning
11-03-2004, 19:05
Will the complete box set, coming in April, include the specials?
I've got to say that I've enjoyed the first 3 series tremendously!!
Hadn't seen them since they were first broadcast (when I used to watch them with my parents, as a kid) so wasn't really sure what I was letting myself in for. The writing and performances are terrific! This has got to be one of the funniest British comedies of all time.
Thoroughly recommended!! (and can't wait for the final series!)
:thumbs:
droach75
11-03-2004, 19:40
"hells bells"
or how he used say "Paul" with such a tone said so much,,The series has had me laughing a lot of late as i have bought and watched the first 2 series.
top show, quality writing
morantic
11-03-2004, 19:42
I should think the boxset will include all the specials - i guess it is the regular releases in a boxset.
And also - :clap: I can't tell you how made up I am that all 4 series are now out!!!! Best news ever!! BEST SITCOM EVER!!!!
Finally finished watching the fourth series. The episode with Martin liberating footpaths and the one where he thinks that Ann and Paul are having an affair were absolutely brilliant.
What is the "New Horizon's Extended Special" though?? - I put on the first few minutes and it looks like an 80 minute episode.
What was "New Horizon's" - and is it any good?
Cheers
Jon
Originally posted by Jon B
Finally finished watching the fourth series. The episode with Martin liberating footpaths and the one where he thinks that Ann and Paul are having an affair were absolutely brilliant.
What is the "New Horizon's Extended Special" though?? - I put on the first few minutes and it looks like an 80 minute episode.
What was "New Horizon's" - and is it any good?Hi Jon, glad to hear you like the show!
The fourth and final series was shown in late 1987. Christmas 1989 then saw an 80m edition designed to bring the programme to a conclusion. At the time I didn't like it as much -- possibly because EDC was always concerned with 'trivial' matters, I'm not sure if it worked so well being stretched out like the numerous incident-packed Only Fools and Horses.... specials. Also, without spoiling anything, at the very end it strayed into sentimentality a little too much IMO.
Having said all that, I watched it again the other week and it is the usual good fun on the whole -- and has quite a clever and unexpected wrap-up given the set-up of the series.
Excellent programme. If it had been made a decade later, I reckon it would've ran for more than 4 series (even though it's probably better this way). Back then there was more chance that whatever came along to replace long-running hits would be just as successful. Now there's no way that's the case. Rising Damp is another that would've been stretched out further if it had been made in a later era.
Thanks for the info Dene.
I was a bit disappointed with the final episode tbh. Although I've seen them all of the episodes before (back when they originally aired) the final one left things really open.
Do you know why they didn't make another series? - From watching the last episode of series 4, I don't think they knew that was it. (unlike these days, when you know months in advance that it's the last Sex and the City/ Friends/ Buffy whatever)
I'll give the 'New Horizon's' a watch tonight, but like you, never really liked the longer Only Fools and Horses specials. Didn't think much of the EDC 'Xmas Special' either
Cheers!
:)
morantic
04-04-2004, 07:29
Yeah, the final episode of series 4 is a bit naff, but "New Horizons" I think is really good, it has some fantastic moments in it, some pretty strange stuff (when Martin sips his drink at Paul's house for one) and also some nice funny bits (Martin and Howard on the cricket pitch cracked me up).
Series 4 though, the episode "Jumping to Conclusions", where Martin thinks Paul and Ann are getting it on - best episode ever, of any series ever! I think this is just superb and like a little film in itself, and it is SO moving, when Martin is in the study with Ann and starts crying - the first time I saw it I was totally blown away and cried myself!
How this programme didn't get a look in in the UK BEST SITCOM programme.... I guess it's because it doesn't get repeated as much. BTW, for one of the most awful, toe curlingly bad extras ever, check out the Wogan clip on the New Horizons DVD...
Watched it last night, and thought it was great!! - it really worked for me, particularly the longer running time which allowed a slower pace.
Thought that the baby subplot was unexpected and touching!!
I'd definately go with EDC as the best British sit-com of all time!
:thumbs:
Originally posted by morantic
BTW, for one of the most awful, toe curlingly bad extras ever, check out the Wogan clip on the New Horizons DVD... Oh, indeed it's bad...
The reason they didn't make a fifth run is due to the writers, according to Richard Briers -- they felt that it was best to leave it there. They had only done 4 series of The Good Life also.
I'm sure the Beeb would've welcomed further series -- IIRC, the fourth was a massive ratings hit, with audiences of 13 or 14 million. I was certainly expecting another one at the time.
morantic
04-04-2004, 19:16
In a way, in probably was best to leave it be, and I am so glad they decided to finish with a proper "this is the last show" vibe. and the last series is probably the best, maybe only series 2 has better episodes.
I don't remember watching this too much as a kid, but caught the repeats on Granada Plus, totally blown away by how great it was, i really think it is the greatest comedy show of all time. Heck, I'm even working on a website at the moment! Watch this space for www.everdecreasingcircles.com. COMING SOON!
Grandmaster
04-04-2004, 19:32
Not a bad word said against the series in a long thread lasting months, no years. Testament to this show's sheer quality :thumbs:
droach75
14-04-2004, 18:55
i don't know if Shaun of the Dead is anybodys cup of tea, but i went to see it last night and was surprised to see that Simon Pegg's mum was none other than Penelope Wilton. She is very good and the film is excellant
Mr Flibble
05-08-2004, 14:48
Ended up being off work for 3 weeks, and must have watched this show every morning on Granada Plus, I'm going to have to look at getting the box set now, even though the wife will kill herself laughing at me, and I'll be ostracised from the community, not one of the more popular comedies nowadays I think, but fantastic in my opinion, and from reading this thread, the opinion of other people too :)
Moving to Television & DVD Forum
Penelope Wilton is going to be in the new Dr Who series
morantic
05-08-2004, 21:42
Is she really?!?? that is great news. I whole heartedly recommend the boxset of EDC to anyone - you get the Christmas Special which granada does not show which has some brilliant stuff in it and a FANTASTIC funny gag near the end which cracks me up everytime, and you also get the 90 minute final episode which is brilliant. plus you get some cool extras and some really stupid ones too. Also, remember the ones on Granada Plus are edited versions, so on the DVD's you get an extra 5 minutes or so per episode which in some cases really change things (like in "half an office" for example). So yeah, I have said it before - BEST SITCOM EVER!!!!
cliff homewood
05-08-2004, 22:44
EDC is not sad to like in anyway, anyone of the right age (30s) should remember it as a telly classic. It was always very funny, paul was cool, and some of the stories like Martin laying in front of a van or something to stop it moving.
And Howard and Hilda are a legendary comedy creation! The ultimate norms.
Mr Flibble
06-08-2004, 08:56
whilst I'd agree with the above statements, the threat of divorce from Mrs Flibble if I were to buy this, has somewhat put me off :(
morantic
06-08-2004, 17:50
My wife was a bit "what are you watching that crud for" when I started getting into it when Granada first showed it, but when she sat down and watched it with me she really got into it as well. It is so much more than a "run of the mill" sitcom, in that it is very sensitive and almost quite deep at times, some of the scenes with Martin I find quite moving at times in a funny sort of way. But hey, no programme is worth getting d.i.v.o.r.c.e'd over.
My wife was a bit "what are you watching that crud for" when I started getting into it when Granada first showed it
It's nice when people are open minded :doh:
BTW howard was in Superman 4
morantic
05-12-2004, 17:06
Incidently, there is a really interesting article about EDC at this website - www.offthetelly.co.uk
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