The Good Life

1975 - 1977

Plough Your Own Furrow

Episode 1

After he has celebrated his 40th birthday Tom decides that he is unhappy with his life style so he packs his job in, farms his large garden and becomes self sufficient.

Say Little Hen ...

11th April 1975

Episode 2

The Goods install the first chickens in their chicken coop, but they prove slow to lay their first eggs. Incensed by the condescension of the Leadbetters when they are invited to dinner together with Tom's former boss & his wife, the Goods decide to sacrifice one of the chickens to make a show of their not being as poor as the Leadbetters think.

The Weaker Sex?

18th April 1975

Episode 3

Tom buys an old-fashioned range for their kitchen from a passing rag-and-bone man, but Barbara becomes irate when she ends up doing most of the hard work to get it ready for use, while he tries to make a system for scaring the birds off their crops.

Pig's Lib

25th April 1975

Episode 4

The Goods continue their bartering with local suppliers, but Barbara has a misunderstanding while negotiating with the window-cleaner. They then add a pair of pigs in a sty to their back garden, at which Margo is so appalled she brings in the chairman of the local residents' association to persuade them out of it, but is unsuccessful. However, when one escapes into the Leadbetter's garden, she can only be mollified by getting rid of it.

The Thing in the Cellar

Episode 5

Tom puts the finishing touches to their own electricity generator in the cellar, which runs on their animals' waste. He then goes fishing with Jerry, and decides to store the surplus in the freezer, until the generator plays up...

The Pagan Rite

Episode 6

In order to pay for a treat for Barbara, Tom takes a short contract from his old firm, and tries to keep it a secret from her - but his plan is foiled when he fails to account for Margo's nosiness.

Backs to the Wall

Episode 7

While starting the harvest, Tom injures his back digging,and since Margo and Jerry are on holiday Barbara is left to look after the farm all on her own. A storm then adds to their problems by turning their garden into a mud bath.

Top Cast

Richard Briers•Felicity Kendal•Paul Eddington

Writer

Bob Larbey

Tom and Barbara Good escape the rat race and pursue a self-sufficient lifestyle in Surbiton, much to the concern, frustration and sometimes envy of their neighbours Margo and Jerry Leadbetter. Entitled ‘Good Neighbors’ when shown in the USA.

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Full Cast

Richard Briers Image

Richard Briers

Tom Good

Felicity Kendal Image

Felicity Kendal

Barbara Good

Paul Eddington Image

Paul Eddington

Jerry Leadbetter

Penelope Keith Image

Penelope Keith

Margo Leadbetter

Full Crew

John Howard Davies Image

John Howard Davies

Producer

Bob Larbey Image

Bob Larbey

Writer

John Esmonde

Writer

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