Queenie's Castle - Series 3 - Complete [DVD] [1972]

I am currently discovering 'Queenie's Castle', a wonderful Yorkshire TV comedy series, filmed on location in Leeds, and starring the late, great Diana Dors as the show's matriarch.A big hit back in it's day, but things certainly looks a little dated now. Despite the fact it will never be considered as a true classic, does not deserve to be forgotten, I really enjoyed it. If you were to think of it as latterday 'Shameless', only more gentle, you wouldn't be far of the mark.I have purchased all three series now, but the third and final is the best, and if only it had ran for a fourth, because the standard was very good. With this season, originally broadcast in 1973, much more outdoor location was used, allowing the characters to do even more, and for the viewers to see them outside of their normal habitat - which is generally either their grim council house or the pub. The scripts are also more clever, the first episode 'The Prowler' is a hidden comedy gem. On the down side, Bryan Mosley (Alf Roberts in 'Coronation Street') does not resume his role as the pub landlord, instead another actor was called in, and the character was reduced to a bit player.Dream team sitcom writers Keith Waterhouse and Willis Wall had penned all the earlier scripts, but on series three, established comedy writers like John Junkin took over, and breathed new life into the show.Like the other two series, Diana Dors was very good as Queenie Shepherd, the brassy mother to three layabout sons who live with her and her brother-in-law Jack (played by Tony Caunter) in their flat. The sons are workshy and the ultimate problem family. They are a particular source of concern to the local resident's association head and arch enemy of Queenie - the local busybody Mrs. Petty (played by Lynne Perrie). It is only Queenie that can control her boys, and she will always take their side no matter what they (and so often do) get up to on the streets.These final six episodes were very good indeed, they are dated, but if you can look past that a lot of what Queenie's boys got up to is a bit tame by today's TV standards - I think you'll really enjoy it.

A trip down memory lane

arrived promptly picture quality a definite improvement on series one but definetly for die hard diana dors fans but was a touch of nostalgia

I recall watching this Series at the time it originally aired and have not seen it in the forty years since. (gosh - doesn't it make one feel old...!) I loved Diana Dors - even as a child, and I guess that's why I watched this back then, and had to have it now, but unfortunately, unlike many old comedies from the same period they are also releasing; I don't think this has aged particularly well, and so some people may be a little disappointed.Some episodes definitely seem to 'struggle' a bit, and so this may be for Dors fans only. It does not help either that not only have they not been re-mastered, but several episodes are in black and white. This was due to the notorious colour Strike back then which went on to disrupt many other hit TV Series, including 'Upstairs, Downstairs', 'Nearest And Dearest' and so many others.