Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6172 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-08-17
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 150 minutes

Synopsis
This 80s sit-com follows the adventures of Fred Moffatt (Bill Maynard, OH NO, IT IS SELWYN FROGGIT!), a fierce and stubborn small entrepreneur, as he faces everyday life’s struggles against the taxman, recession and not too cooperative employees. Features the first series of the show.

Customer Reviews

A timely release for this largely forgotten sitcom
The Gaffer, Fred Moffatt, has a name that sounds as if he may be similar in character to Bill Maynard's more well-known Selwyn Froggitt, but he is a completely different comic creation, being a resourceful and intelligent man. Made in the early 80s when the recession was biting hard, this show creates clever comedy out of those tough times, all presented with a good deal of truth without being overtly political. It follows that much of the comedy has now become very relevant again.

Fred owns a small engineering firm that is struggling to survive when faced with militant workers, tax demands, non-paying debtors, eager creditors and of course disreputable bank managers. Fred has to keep the business going in a world in which he appears to be the only one who cares. Every week he faces a new challenge, which he always manages to rise to, often with clever solutions to all the impossible demands for money.

Unlike the slapstick of Froggitt the comedy is wordy and thoughtful, and Fred is a fairly original creation, being witty and quick-witted, but also being battered down by his situation. Admittedly the militant union plot lines feels dated, although Russell Hunter plays a good role, but the rest stands up well because of the clever and subtle story-lines. This is one of the best and most believable work-based comedies.

Great
It is a pleasure to watch this actor work,shame they can't make TV show like this and many others from the era these days