Time Out For Peggy – Nostalgia Central

1 9 5 8 – 1 9 5 9 (UK)
24 x 30 minute episodes

Lively, scatter-brained blonde Peggy Spencer (Billie Whitelaw) inherited a run-down boarding house in this Sunday teatime ITV comedy series, but had no money to run it.

Debuting on Sunday 30 March 1958, episodes dealt with the peculiar behaviour of Peggy’s various lodgers, or with Peggy’s attempts to earn money to make a go of the business she’d been lumbered with.

Peggy’s pal Norma (who ran a marriage agency) was played by Diana King.

Amongst her tenants were Mr Kirby (Christopher Steele), an amateur inventor who delighted in detonations and used Peggy’s cellar as his workroom, the ever-complaining Mrs Johnson (Grace Arnold), and the sleep-walking Mr Brothers (played by Anthony Howard in the first series and Bethell Horton in the second series).

There were also laughs to be had when Peggy had to make repairs to the property herself, since she couldn’t afford tradesmen. The wallpaper was faded, the paintwork blistered, and the furniture was falling apart. The rumbling hot water system rattled the living room chandelier.

Guest appearances came from Kenneth Williams, Irene Handl, Lois McLean, Desmond Walter-Ellis, and Harry Brunning.

The series was produced at the ABC’s Northern studios in Manchester. Most of the scripts were written by American Budd Grossman.

Peggy Spencer
Billie Whitelaw
Norma Burke
Diana King
Mr Kirby
Christopher Steele
Mrs Johnson
Grace Arnold
Mr Brothers
Anthony Howard (1)
Bethell Horton (2)