Image: Terry finds June's bedtime reading more interesting than his own in a still from 1979.
Terry Scott and June Whitfield appeared as Terry and June Medford on 24 October 1979, in the first episode of Terry and June.
They had previously appeared together as Terry and June Penfold in Happy Ever After but, when co-creator John Chapman ended the series, the 大象传媒 moved the characters to Purley, gave them a new surname, and renamed the sitcom Terry and June. With the addition of a jaunty signature tune - 'Bell Hop' by John Shakespeare - the programme became the quintessential suburban sitcom.
The chemistry between Whitfield and Scott ensured the success of the series, even though very little ever happened. In the first episode, written by John Kane, Terry and June measure up their new home prior to moving in. They meet the neighbours and Terry ends up in hospital after a bump on the head.
Although Terry and June was criticised by some later comedians as being dated and too suburban, it remained very popular. Scott went on to create the voice of Penfold in Dangermouse, before dying in 1994. June Whitfield continued to appear in many shows including Last of the Summer Wine and Absolutely Fabulous - in which she parodied her Terry and June persona. She died in 2018.
October anniversaries
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Winston Churchill's first wartime broadcast
1 October 1939 -
Songs of Praise
1 October 1961 -
Live and Kicking
2 October 1993 -
Points of View
2 October 1961 -
The Trials of Life
3 October 1990 -
Pick of the Pops
4 October 1955 -
Monty Python's Flying Circus
5 October 1969 -
Poldark
5 October 1975 -
You and Yours
6 October 1970 -
Woman's Hour
7 October 1946 -
DIY SOS
7 October 1999 -
Later... with Jools Holland
8 October 1992 -
In Touch
8 October 1961 -
Make Yourself At Home - Programmes for Immigrants
10 October 1965 -
Grandstand
11 October 1958 -
Around the World in 80 Days
11 October 1989 -
On The Move
12 October 1975 -
First edition of Any Questions
12 October 1948 -
First edition of Omnibus
13 October 1967 -
Bombing of Broadcasting House
15 October 1940 -
Play For Today
15 October 1970 -
First televised Party Election Broadcast
15 October 1951 -
Birds of a Feather
16 October 1989 -
Blue Peter first broadcast
16 October 1958 -
The Magic Roundabout
18 October 1965 -
The formation of the 大象传媒
18 October 1922 -
大象传媒 Symphony Orchestra first broadcast
22 October 1930 -
Captain Pugwash
22 October 1957 -
Terry and June
24 October 1979 -
Launch of daytime television
27 October 1986 -
The Wednesday Play first broadcast
28 October 1964 -
First edition of Today
28 October 1957 -
Maida Vale opens
30 October 1934