Odd Man Out (1977) User Reviews (5)

How's your rock cock?

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 8 October 2015]

Produced by Gerald Thomas, the Carry on legend. This series for ITV tried to ride the wave of success Inman created in Are you being Served with Mr Humphries. Are you being Served in 1977 was in its fifth series and getting massive figures. Odd Man Out was a huge gamble, fairly tame by today's standards the tone and jokes were highly risky, possibly the reason for there being just one series.

Neville Sutcliffe inherits a rock factory, and so the fun begins.

Just the seven episodes, so not a huge deal of rock to get your teeth into, but they are pretty funny, enjoyable enough. A good cast, Inman, Josephine Tewson and Peter Butterworth. Some episodes are funnier then others, the first part I think is my favourite, it is very funny. The one with the Dinner dance and dates is also very funny.

Lots of references to his friend 'Bobby,' a character we never meet, but the gay references are frequent.

You can see the Carry on elements in the humour, it's pure slapstick, you'll definitely laugh a bit, or at least snigger. The opening credits suit the program very well, just what you'd expect, the theme tune is inoffensive but not catchy. The Goodnight scenes at the end of each episode were a nice touch. 7/10

''What are we going to do! What are we going to do!''

[Rabical-91 · 8/10 · 9 October 2018]

Like his 'Are You Being Served?' co star Mollie Sugden, John Inman got his own show in 1977. Whilst Sugden's show, 'Come Back Mrs. Noah', was scripted by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, Inman's vehicle 'Odd Man Out' was written by 'Love Thy Neighbour' and 'Nearest & Dearest' creator Vince Powell.

Inman played to the hilt Neville Sutcliffe, the owner of a fish and chip shop in Blackpool. After learning that his father, who owned a seaside rock factory, has died, Neville leaves his beloved shop in charge of his friend Bobby ( who was never seen ) and moves to Littlehampton to take half responsibility of the factory along with his snobbish sister Dorothy.

The foreman of the factory is Wilf, of whom Neville always asked ''how's your rock, cock?''. Other workers in the factory included Percy ( Jan Harding ), West Indian Clio ( Glenna Forster Jones ), big chested Marilyn ( Vivienne Johnson ) and charlady Ma ( Avril Angers ).

Inman had high hopes for the show, as did its writer Vince Powell, who clearly tried making it into another 'Nearest & Dearest', however viewer apathy ensured that 'Odd Man Out' closed for business after only seven episodes. A pity as it wasn't actually bad. Most of the time it was rather funny. I think one possible explanation for the show's failure is the broadening of Inman's sexuality. Mr. Humphries from 'Are You Being Served?' was only implied to have been gay whereas here it was glaringly obvious.

Josephine Tewson was wonderful as Neville's sister Dorothy. This woman has comedy in her blood. It is also easy to forget just how attractive a woman she once was in those days. 'Carry On' star Peter Butterworth also made a fine supporting character and foil for Neville and Dorothy. The rest of the cast also were impressive, particularly the stunning Vivienne Johnson, whose big boobs were even more impressive.

''Odd Man Out' is anything but a vintage classic but Inman and the rest of the cast made it watchable. Inman returned to the BBC to do a few more 'Are You Being Served?' before moving onto his next solo vehicle in 1981, Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney's 'Take A Letter Mr. Jones'.

Oo er , sounds a bit rude

[joshuacraigstrain · 7/10 · 17 November 2019]

Weird show . I like it , even though it's a bit weak in parts. The same double entendre implied gay jokes get tired after awhile . Hard act to follow coming from Are You Being Served ? , but hey it is what it is - Not the worst , but then again , not the greatest .

Hilarious!

[moosebaker-75035 · 10/10 · 31 January 2021]

Can we get a region one release of this series? Mill work, Shout, VEI? John Inman was a hilarious actor. Shades of are you being served, this show is a lot of laughs. Raking in my top 5 favorite British comedies. If you love Are you being served and Faulty Towers, I think you will really enjoy this series. The episodes thankfully can be viewed on YouTube.

Mr.Humphries-By-The-Sea

[ShadeGrenade · 6/10 · 24 July 2006]

"Sleazy and unfunny!"

"Excruciating!"

"Filth!".

These were a few of the comments made about 'Odd Man Out', an obscure Thames sitcom from 1977. Bearing in mind that it was written by one half of the team behind 'Love Thy Neighbour', starred one of the cast of 'Are You Being Served?', and produced by the director of the 'Carry On' movies - the late Gerald Thomas - it would have perhaps been unrealistic to expect Carla Lane.

John Inman's first starring role on television, he played 'Neville Sutcliffe', a Blackpool fish and chip shop owner who inherits ( along with prudish sister Dorothy ) half ownership of a seaside rock factory in Littlehampton. The staff includes 'Wilf' ( Peter Butterworth ), 'Ma' ( Avril Angers ), and big chested Marilyn ( Vivienne Johnson, 'Young Mr.Grace's nurse in 'Are You Being Served?' ). It was 'Nearest & Dearest' revisited. Even Neville's living room resembled Nellie Pledge's.

'Neville' was identical to Mr.Humphries ( right down to the mincing walk ) save in one important respect. In 'Are You Being Served?', Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft went to great lengths to keep the nature of Humphries' sexuality a secret. It was suggested but never overtly stated. Vince Powell showed no such restraint, hence viewers were treated to a string of increasingly crude anecdotes about Neville's best friend ( whom we never saw ) Bobby. In place of 'I'm free!' he said 'how's your rock, cock?'. His other catchphrase was: "what are we going to do, what are we going to do?".

Plots included Neville trying to swim the Channel, taking driving lessons, romancing a rich man's daughter, and going to France. The opening credits were - unsurprisingly - done in the form of seaside postcard pictures, accompanied by a bouncy theme by Max Harris, who also wrote the end title music for 'Porridge'.

'Odd Man Out' was a compendium of gay jokes, the like of which television had never before broadcast ( up to that point, any way ). In the era of Julian Clary and Graham Norton, it seems tame, but in 1977 public outrage ended the show after only one season. Inman returned to Grace Brothers, Josephine Tewson had a better sitcom lined up in 'Shelley', but sadly Peter Butterworth passed away shortly afterwards.