The first in a series called Ray of Sunshine, dedicated to the comedy characters who contributed to the great British sitcom. The characters are listed in no particular order,just as I think of them..............but they all brightened our lives
Ray Of Sunshine # 1
THELMA FERRIS
Thelma Ferris was the wife of Bob Ferris in Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? She was a prim and proper girl who worked as a librarian and had known Bob since schooldays. She was bossy and overbearing , played badminton and was a member of the local ladies sewing circle. She provided the essential extra component as WHTTLL developed it's own place in British sit-com history. A follow on from the original classic The Likely Lads,which followed the chaotic lives of two North Eastern blokes, WHTTLL allowed the introduction of a threatening third character; a wedge between the lads. Thelma was a well brought up girl , her father George was a self made man , moving from brickie to owner of his own business. So social climbing came second nature to her. As Thelma Chambers she had been Bob's childhood sweetheart. The story begins with Terry Collier returning from the army to find his best mate Bob engaged to Thelma. Bob is a changed man and by episode 4 Terry is ready to move away again, much to the relief of Thelma,who knows of his bad influences on her future husband. Terry however doesn't go away and instead causes trouble for the couple in the build up to the big day. The relationship between Thelma and Terry was wonderfully portrayed. You knew she despised him, mainly on the grounds that he was a loser in life. However there was always a subtle undertone that he excited her in ways Bob perhaps never would. In episode 5 (I'll Never Forget Whatshername)the suspicion comes out that Terry may have had a fling with her in the past. She was also appalled by her experience on an outing to Blackpool when she finished up on the back seat of the bus with Terry. He gave her a two star rating! But maybe she enjoyed it all along - we will never know. Her influence on Bob however was unrelenting. He changes from a 'lad' to young executive with town house and posh dinner parties. In episode 9 (Storm In A Teachest) she makes Bob throw out all his childhood possessions or junk as she considers it.
The character Thelma Ferris was hugely grating for those viewers who were much more interested in the laddish story lines. Her voice , her ambition , her domination of Bob.I don't doubt that many (as Terry did) wished her gone but looking back her prescence created some tremendous opportunities which the writers crafted splendidly. Personally I rather liked her. Never too sure about the hair cut but the mini skirts were appreciated. I suspect she may have provided a role model for other women a decade or so later, in the upwardly mobile eighties. Thelma Ferris has a lot to answer for.
Thelma Ferris was played by Scottish born actress Brigit Forsyth, who later also appeared in The Glamour Girls, The Practice, Dark Season and Boon. The character was created by Dick Clement and Ian Le Frenais. Thelma's dad George was played by Bill Owen ( Compo - Last Of The Summer Wine). Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads ? ran for 27 episodes in 1973 and 1974.
Ray Of Sunshine #2 will be Arthur Rudge.
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