
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em is a BBC television sitcom, created and written by Raymond Allen and starring Michael Crawford and Michele Dotrice. It was first broadcast in 1973 and ran for three series, ending in 1978. The series follows the accident-prone Frank Spencer and his tolerant wife, Betty, through Frank's various attempts to hold down a job, which frequently end in disaster. The sitcom was filmed in and around the town of Bedford in Bedfordshire. It was noted for its stuntwork, performed by Michael Crawford himself, as well as featuring various well-remembered catchphrases, that have become part of popular culture. In a 2004 poll to find Britain's Best Sitcom, Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em came 22nd.
Series Overview
Rating
- imDb Rating: 7.5 (2,818 Votes)
- Metascore: N/A
Plot
Accident-prone Frank Spencer fails to navigate the simplest tasks of daily life, while also trying to look after his wife and baby.
Details
- Rated: N/A
- Released: 15 Feb 1973
- Runtime: 30 min
- Genre: Comedy
- Director: N/A
- Writer: N/A
- Actors: Michael Crawford, Michele Dotrice
- Language: English
- Country: UK
- Awards: 5 nominations.
- Total Seasons: 3
Previous Episode
Learning To Fly
Episode 3x7; Dec 25, 1978
Frank's grandfather offers to pay for flying lessons.
Previous Episodes

3x7: Learning To Fly

3x6: Australia House

3x5: King of the Road

3x4: Men as Women

3x3: Scottish Dancing

3x2: Wendy House

3x1: Moving House

2x6: The Baby Arrives

2x5: Fathers' Clinic
Cast

Michele Dotrice as Betty Spencer

Michael Crawford as Frank Spencer
Skip to:
Season 1
Episode No. | No. Overall | Title | Airdate | Runtime | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | The Job Interview | 1973-02-15 | 30 | Frank Spencer - married to Betty - is enthusiastic, well-meaning ... and accident-prone. Looking for a job, he attempts to become a wholesale ironmongery salesman. |
2 | 2 | George's House | 1973-02-22 | 30 | Frank spends the weekend with his brother-in-law - an electronics expert - and wrecks one of his household gadgets. |
3 | 3 | Love Thy Neighbour | 1973-03-01 | 30 | Frank has difficulty phoning the doctor. |
4 | 4 | Have A Break, Take A Husband | 1973-03-08 | 30 | Frank and Betty are off to the seaside for a second honeymoon - Frank got On the wrong train for the first. Things seem better - until they reach the hotel.... |
5 | 5 | The Hospital Visit | 1973-03-15 | 30 | Betty's in hospital, and Frank's visits cause havoc in the wards. |
6 | 6 | The Psychiatrist | 1973-03-22 | 30 | Frank, having come to the conclusion that he is a failure, goes to see a psychiatrist... |
7 | 7 | The Employment Exchange | 1973-03-29 | 30 | The new manager at the labour exchange refuses to believe that Frank is unemployable... |
Season 2
Episode No. | No. Overall | Title | Airdate | Runtime | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8 | Cliffhanger | 1973-11-22 | 30 | Disaster-prone Frank Spencer manages to find himself a job as salesman for farm products and with the job goes a car. But, as Frank can't drive, with the car must go his wife Betty. And when they go for a picnic on a seaside cliff-top... |
2 | 9 | The RAF Reunion | 1973-11-29 | 30 | Frank attends his RAF reunion and the hidden story of his short but eventful spell in the service unfolds in flashback - of how the massed forces of the RAF were mobilised to get him out! |
3 | 10 | The Public Relations Course | 1973-12-06 | 30 | Frank goes into public relations -and relations deteriorate... |
4 | 11 | Frank and Marvin | 1973-12-13 | 30 | Frank finds himself headed for fatherhood and stardom. But, in the second role, he is fired before he is hired. |
5 | 12 | Fathers' Clinic | 1973-12-20 | 30 | Frank discovers the responsibilities of fatherhood. |
6 | 13 | The Baby Arrives | 1973-12-27 | 30 | Frank awaits the arrival of the baby. |
Season 3
Episode No. | No. Overall | Title | Airdate | Runtime | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 14 | Moving House | 1978-11-11 | 35 | Frank and Betty consider moving to Australia. |
2 | 15 | Wendy House | 1978-11-18 | 35 | Frank tries to build Jessica a doll house. |
3 | 16 | Scottish Dancing | 1978-11-25 | 35 | Frank goes Scottish country dancing. |
4 | 17 | Men as Women | 1978-12-02 | 35 | Frank's grandfather wants the family to move to Australia. |
5 | 18 | King of the Road | 1978-12-09 | 35 | Frank has a new job as a motorbike dispatch rider. |
6 | 19 | Australia House | 1978-12-16 | 35 | Frank takes elocution lessons and visits an emigration officer. |
7 | 20 | Learning To Fly | 1978-12-25 | 45 | Frank's grandfather offers to pay for flying lessons. |
Series Cast
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Michele Dotrice | as Betty Spencer | ![]() |
![]() |
Michael Crawford | as Frank Spencer | ![]() |