In Sickness and in Health
This final follow-up to 'Till Death Us Do Part' follows an aged Alf Garnett, now dealing with his wife Else's declining health and mobility, as well as the challenges of navigating the social security system and other everyday situations.
Seasons
1. Episode 1
Air Date: 1985-09-01
Alf and Else Garnett are back in London. Else is severely arthritic and can barely walk and Alf extols the joys of the wheelchair has got her — until he has to push her around in it. With so many cars parked on the pavement, he uses the middle of the road, incurring a motorist's wrath. It gets him access to sports matches — at least until he spoils it for himself.
2. Episode 2
Air Date: 1985-09-08
Having complained about his failing eye sight – and just about everything else – Alf takes Else out in her wheelchair and buys her a cornet whilst avoiding giving money to the vicar. However, his poor sight proves his undoing when he accidentally goes into a ladies' toilet and is arrested as a sex pest.
3. Episode 3
Air Date: 1985-09-15
Having scrubbed the hall and disapproved of Else's using the milkman to place bets, Alf feels that they're entitled to home help, but manages to antagonise three women in succession. Returning from the pub, he finds that the latest is Winston, an extremely flamboyant gay Black man who will clearly take no nonsense.
4. Episode 4
Air Date: 1985-09-29
Alf tests the patience of good-natured Fred Johnson and his wife from next door by using their phone to make a very long-winded long distance call to Rita. After expounding upon funerals in the pub, Alf repays Fred by buying him so many drinks he falls over. Meanwhile, Alf's homeward progress pushing Else in her wheelchair ends in drunken calamity.
5. Episode 5
Air Date: 1985-10-06
Rita comes to visit and no sooner is she through the door than Alf argues with her about Else. After Alf criticises Margaret Thatcher, claiming that no woman should be PM, Else and Rita gang up against him with Winston, who brings an equally camp friend home to throw a party for Rita.
6. Episode 6
Air Date: 1985-10-13
Tired of pushing Else around in her chair, Alf looks into an electric scooter but they cost £2,500 and Social Security informs Alf that, as long as he's able to push, Else is ineligible. Taking an idea from some go-karting kids, Alf adds jet propulsion to the chair, which goes out of control, foiling a bank robbery and landing him in hospital. He's declared a hero but, following Winston's view that the robbers' accomplices may be out to get him, decides to remain anonymous.
1. Episode 1
Air Date: 1986-09-04
Alf returns from the funeral of Else, his long-suffering wife. Having lost her disability allowance of E30 and half the pension, life ahead is not too rosy.
2. Episode 2
Air Date: 1986-09-11
When Rita and Winston come in at night making a noise, Camille decides to start locking the flats' door at 10:30. But can Alf make it back from the pub in time?
3. Episode 3
Air Date: 1986-09-18
Camille's obsession with locking doors takes on new dimensions when she even locks Alf into his own flat but then he needs to go to toilet. Meanwhile, the shopkeeper wants to call in Elsa's debts, and the milkman has some news about her gambling.
4. Episode 4
Air Date: 1986-09-25
Fed up with everybody having a Sunday roast except him, Alf makes his first trip to market. But he's forgotten he can't cook.
5. Episode 5
Air Date: 1986-10-02
Rita buys Alf a secondhand jacket, and when he notices it's covered in medals, he uses the stolen valor to try to gain all sorts of favours under false pretences. He also receives a visit from canvassing politicians.
6. Episode 6
Air Date: 1986-10-09
Alf's old neighbour Min turns up uninvited with her senile sister.
1. Episode 1
Air Date: 1987-10-22
Alf's joy at Rita's pending divorce is short lived when he learns she is to live with the new doctor.
2. Episode 2
Air Date: 1987-10-29
The arrival of Alf's AIDS leaflets spurs him and Arthur into action to aid Mary Whitehouse.
3. Episode 3
Air Date: 1987-11-05
When Alf is given a cordless telephone, it turns out to be more of hindrance than help.
4. Episode 4
Air Date: 1987-11-12
Gwenneth and Min come to visit Alf, and hold a seancé to communicate with some long departed friends.
5. Episode 5
Air Date: 1987-11-19
Alf has a fight at a tea dance and meets up again with his adversary outside his house.
6. Episode 6
Air Date: 1987-11-26
On a boiling hot summer day, Alf goes to Social Security to complain that he should've had more money in last winter's heating allowance to no avail. Back home, he joins his friends watching cricket on television and falls asleep, loudly dreaming that he has been knighted for his services to the game.
1. Episode 1
Air Date: 1989-09-07
Alf has had his hip operation and Winston has moved out, replaced by his straight cousin Pele. However, some things never change, such as Alf's continuing feud with Camille, particularly as she hogs his TV.
2. Episode 2
Air Date: 1989-09-14
Encouraged by Arthur, Alf continues to pursue Camille, even getting down on one knee to propose though she wants time to think. After a night at the pub, a surprise engagement party is thrown for the still undecided couple, but when Camille learns that, as husband and wife, they could buy the house for a fifth of its worth, she's quick to accept.
3. Episode 3
Air Date: 1989-09-21
Alf and Camille are now engaged to be married and Alf has already started to enjoy her cooking. They treat Arthur, who thinks he's won the pools, to a celebration dinner. Naturally, Alf has to remind Arthur who his best friend is, as best friends share everything.
4. Episode 4
Air Date: 1989-09-28
Alf and Camille are preparing for a trip to Australia to meet her rich brother, in the hope that he'll lend them money to buy their house cheap off the council once married. Alf, ever the romantic, persuades Arthur, as best man, to accompany them so he can have someone to talk to (Camille doesn't count). It could also have something to do with the fact that Alf is terrified of making the trip.
5. Episode 5
Air Date: 1989-10-05
On the flight to Australia, Arthur, Alf and Camille are nervous passengers though Alf's argument with a steward who forbids him to smoke breaks the monotony. Upon arrival, Alf argues with a man who turns out to be Mrs H's brother Ricky but, back at his house, the two bond over their shared racism.
6. Episode 6
Air Date: 1989-10-12
Alf, Camille and Arthur have a day sightseeing, starting in a cafe where Alf defends Hitler. After Alf has rowed with a lazy lifeguard over a non-existent drowning victim, the trio take a boat trip and Alf soon discovers that he and his bride-to-be hold a variety of differing views. As far as Alf is concerned, one thing is for sure though: Australians are descended from convicts and they are still not to be trusted.
7. Episode 7
Air Date: 1989-10-19
The Australian journey comes to an end as Alf, Camille and Arthur realise that Ricky is not all that they thought.
1. Power Cut
Air Date: 1990-09-01
As a result of a power cut, Alf and Camille repair to the candlelit pub where Alf sounds off about Margaret Thatcher, despite her being a Conservative. This sets off an argument with Arthur and Mr. Johnson about a number of things – including death, the undertaker at the next table unsettling Alf.
2. Suicide
Air Date: 1990-09-08
They may be halfway up the aisle but Alf and his bride-to-be are still arguing, especially when she wants to throw out his furniture as being tat. A fake overdose attempt cuts no ice so Alf is off to the pub to talk about suicide, death and Heaven – though Fred Johnson, as an atheist, is having none of it.
3. X-Rays
Air Date: 1990-09-15
Complaining that Alf is a shabby dresser, Camille also wants him to take out life insurance in case he goes first. At the pub, a discussion on health does anything but allay Mr. Carey's fears about getting a hip replacement in view of Alf's hospital horror stories.
4. Window Cleaning
Air Date: 1990-09-22
Alf decides to earn some money by window cleaning for Mrs. Carey. Despite failing to get any wages, he gets lots of free groceries after catching the milkman in a compromising position.
5. Dogs
Air Date: 1990-09-29
Alf tries his hand with man's best friend, much to Fred Johnson's delight, but who's taking who for a walk?
6. Jury
Air Date: 1990-10-06
Initially delighted when summoned for jury service, Alf becomes increasingly paranoid that he is being stalked.
7. Courtroom
Air Date: 1990-10-13
As jury service draws closer, Alf is worried about the possibility of revenge from the criminal fraternity.
8. Bus
Air Date: 1990-10-20
Alf forgets his pass and is unable to get on the bus. The following day, he arranges a day trip for a group of OAP's who, armed with their passes, commandeer a bus.
9. Storm
Air Date: 1990-10-27
Camille is forcing Alf to try and save money for their wedding. That includes no smoking and no drinking.
10. Wedding
Air Date: 1990-11-03
As Alf's wedding to Camille approaches, the preparations unfold: gift giving, Alf's stag night, and finally the big event itself.
1. Alarm
Air Date: 1992-02-21
A year after being left at the altar, Alf is still living – and bickering – with Camille, particularly over her leeching friend Michael. Alf's patience hits a new low when a car alarm outside the house goes off, so he decides to teach the driver a lesson.
2. Wheelchair
Air Date: 1992-02-28
Alf decides to become one of Mrs. Thatcher's entrepreneurs. He enlists Michael's support in a car parking scheme on match day and starts a paper round.
3. Lesbian
Air Date: 1992-03-06
After holding forth on moral issues, Alf goes to the pub where the big news is that Mr. Johnson's wife has left him for her lesbian lover. To make matters worse, she intends to move her into the marital home. Alf, of course, blames the French for introducing permissiveness into the country and ends up threatened by Mrs. Johnson for his pains.
4. Bad Leg
Air Date: 1992-03-13
Alf is worried about Camille's bad leg, not out of any tender feelings, rather that her leg prevents her cooking and cleaning for him.
5. Wardrobe
Air Date: 1992-03-20
Camille forces Alf to move her wardrobe, but he discovers a compartment containing a briefcase full of banknotes.
6. Money
Air Date: 1992-03-27
Now wealthy, Alf sees life in a new way. The bank manager is curious as to how Alf acquired his money. Alf enters a private hospital to spend his money before he dies.
7. Snooker
Air Date: 1992-04-03
Alf enjoys his newfound wealth and indulges in some of his hobbies: eating, drinking and looking after himself! In between, he tries to resist Min's amorous advances and foil the suspicious bank manager.
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Rating
7.8/10
Release Date
1985-09-01
Episodes
42 (6 seasons)
Status
Ended
Cast
Production Companies
BBC