The Worker (TV series)


The Worker is a British sitcom that aired on ITV from 1965 to 1978. Co-written by and starring comedian Charlie Drake, the programme revolved around a man who has been dismissed from nearly 1,000 jobs.

Cast

Charlie, although willing to work, has been dismissed from the 980 jobs that the local Labour Exchange have found him over the previous 20 years. Mr Whittaker, and later Mr Pugh, is the clerk at the exchange who tries to find Charlie a suitable job.

Episodes

The first two series of The Worker, a total of thirteen 35 minute episodes, aired in 1965 on Saturdays at 8.25pm. The next two series - by now in colour - broadcast from 1969 to 1970, with the first airing on Mondays at 9.30pm and the second on Thursdays at 9.00pm. This time the twelve episodes were 30 minutes long. A short special as part of All-Star Comedy Carnival was shown on Christmas Day 1970. The final ten episodes - all of about 15 minutes duration - aired in 1978. The first eight were shown as part of Bruce Forsyth's Big Night, the ninth as a stand-alone programme and the final episode as part of Bruce Forsyth's Christmas Eve.
Due to the archival policies of the time, not all of the programme exists in the archives. The 1970 Christmas short is missing and is presumed wiped. All but the first episode of the third series and the entire fourth series exist only in black-and-white, despite having been broadcast originally in colour.

Series One

Series Two

The closing logo for Series Two reads: "An ATV Production by arrangement with Bernard Delfont".
#Episode TitleOriginal Broadcast DatePlot
1"A Host of Golden Casual Labourers"2 October 1965Charlie is forced to wear a variety of humiliating promotional costumes, culminating with "The Daffodil Man". Not even a Wordsworth-inspired competition can endear him to the public.
2"Eight and Thrupence"9 October 1965When Charlie is desperate for a loan his interview at a bank seems to provide the perfect opportunity, but all of the employees seem more interested in pursuing their various hobbies.
3"Little Tom"16 October 1965Charlie's interview at a family firm causes him to become the intended victim in a bizarre murder plot. Worse still, there's no sugar in his tea.
4"A Punting We Will Go"23 October 1965Charlie's addiction to betting on horse races is not helped by his getting a cleaning job at a betting shop. Later he joins Gamblers Anonymous and tries to help a man who is depressed at never being able to lose.
5"Through a Glass Darkly"30 October 1965Inspired by "Doctor Frood", Charlie tries a spot of regression therapy, first to his infancy and then to his disastrous military service in World War II.
6"The Man Who Moved His Head"6 November 1965Charlie is angry that an actor playing a corpse on television moved his head. Mr. Pugh thinks Charlie is developing an unhealthy obsession with TV. This seems to be borne out by Charlie's next company, where all of the departments remind him of TV shows.
7"I Just Don't Want to Get Involved"13 November 1965Charlie thinks that getting involved leads to trouble, but he soon discovers that not getting involved can make things worse.

Series Three

Series Four

Christmas Special

Series Five

DVD release

The 25 episodes from the first four series of The Worker were released on DVD on 28 May 2007. The colour episodes were presented in their surviving black and white versions with ITC Entertainment logos. The only surviving colour episode from the original series is included as an extra. This DVD also included three of the 1978 episodes, claimed to be the only ones that survive, with introductions and endpieces by Bruce Forsyth.