Only When I Laugh

Only When I Laugh (1979-1982)

EndedScripted showComedy

Only When I Laugh is a British television sitcom made by Yorkshire Television for ITV. It aired between 29 October 1979 and 16 December 1982 and was set in the ward of an NHS hospital. The title is in response to the question, "Does it hurt?"

It starred James Bolam, Peter Bowles, and Christopher Strauli as patients Roy Figgis, Archie Glover, and Norman Binns. Mr. Gordon Thorpe, their consultant surgeon, was played by Richard Wilson; and Gupte, the staff nurse from Delhi, was played by Derrick Branche.

The show was one of many successes for writer Eric Chappell, and has been repeated on ITV3 since 2007.

Roy, Archie and Norman are long-term patients in a British hospital ward. Though they don't seem terribly ill, neither do they seem to be getting better and going home. So they pass their days side by side in the hospital ward, chatting and occasionally getting on one another's nerves.

Network
Scheduleevery Thursday (30 min)

Recent Episodes

EpisodeNameAirdate
S04E07The ReunionDec 16, 1982
S04E06When Did You Last See Your Father?Dec 9, 1982
S04E05EscapeDec 2, 1982
S04E04In Sickness and in HealthNov 25, 1982
S04E03All in the MindNov 18, 1982
View all episodesView all seasons

Frequently Asked Questions  Warning: Spoilers

When did Only When I Laugh premiere?

Only When I Laugh premiered on October 29, 1979.

Who created Only When I Laugh?

Only When I Laugh was created by Eric Chappell.

What was the genre of Only When I Laugh?

Only When I Laugh was a sitcom.

Who starred in Only When I Laugh?

Only When I Laugh starred James Bolam, Peter Bowles, and Christopher Strauli.

What was the premise of Only When I Laugh?

Only When I Laugh followed the lives of three hospital patients who shared a room.

What was the name of the hospital in Only When I Laugh?

The hospital in Only When I Laugh was called the Nightingale.

Who played the character of Roy Figgis in Only When I Laugh?

Peter Bowles played the character of Roy Figgis in Only When I Laugh.

Who played the character of Norman Binns in Only When I Laugh?

Christopher Strauli played the character of Norman Binns in Only When I Laugh.

Who played the character of Archie Glover in Only When I Laugh?

James Bolam played the character of Archie Glover in Only When I Laugh.

What was the name of the nurse in Only When I Laugh?

The nurse in Only When I Laugh was named Sister.

What was the relationship between Roy and Norman in Only When I Laugh?

Roy and Norman were best friends in Only When I Laugh.

Who directed Only When I Laugh?

Vernon Lawrence directed Only When I Laugh.

How many episodes were there in the first season of Only When I Laugh?

There were seven episodes in the first season of Only When I Laugh.

Where was Only When I Laugh filmed?

Only When I Laugh was filmed at The London Studios in London, England.

Cast

View all cast

Characters

View all characters

Recently Updated Shows

Recently updated shows that might be of your interest.
Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch
Running

Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch

There are some places on earth where the land just seems different, and Blind Frog Ranch in eastern Utah is one of those places. Locals say the land is cursed. That it's trying to hold on to something. From Aztec treasure to caverns of gold and silver to lost Mormon mines, legends surround Duane Ollinger's 160-acre ranch in Utah's Uintah Basin. But Duane isn't concerned with the lore. After discovering a system of seven underground caves that run through his property, he is singularly focused on finding what's hidden in them - no matter what the cost.

Twisted Metal
Running

Twisted Metal

Twisted Metal is about a motor-mouthed outsider offered a chance at a better life, but only if he can successfully deliver a mysterious package across a post-apocalyptic wasteland. With the help of a trigger-happy car thief, he faces savage marauders driving vehicles of destruction and other dangers of the open road, including a deranged clown who drives an all too familiar ice cream truck.

Mountain Men
Running

Mountain Men

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live your life off the grid? Have you wished you could shed the complications of modern society and live in the wilderness, using only the things nature has provided? Meet Eustace Conway, Tom Oar and Marty Meierotto of the new History series Mountain Men, three men who have devoted their lives to survival in its simplest form. But how simple is it really for the Mountain Men?

From the rugged Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to the seven-month-long winters on the Yaak River in Montana to the frigid northern range of Alaska, the country is full of some very unforgiving terrain. Watch as these men face off against mudslides, falling trees, ravaging weather and even hungry animals, to make sure they obtain the food and supplies they will need to make it through the brutal winter months ahead.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Running

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

In Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, 15 questions need to be answered by the contestants to win the 1 million dollar prize.

MasterChef
Running

MasterChef

Three celebrated food experts put the latest group of contestants through a series of challenging elimination rounds and turn one home cook into a culinary master.

GenreFood