Michele Dotrice as Betty and Michael Crawford as Frank Spencer © BBC
Writer: Raymond Allen
Starring: Michael Crawford and Michele Dotrice
Production Company: BBC
Kent Locations Used: Herne Bay
Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em (1973) is a BBC sitcom following the accident-prone Frank Spencer (Michael Crawford) and his ill-fated attempts to hold down a job and look after his family.
There were three series and four Christmas Specials which ran between 1973 and 1978. The show was created and written by Raymond Allen and starred Michael Crawford (The Knack …and How to Get It, Hello, Dolly!) as Frank Spencer and Michele Dotrice (Vanity Fair, Not Now, Comrade) as his long-suffering wife, Betty.
Herne Bay was used as a location for two episodes of the programme’s first series. The High Street and William Street featured in the very first episode, The Job Interview, where Frank arrives at a shop for a job interview.
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- Herne Bay High Street Screenshot © BBC
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- Herne Bay Railway Station Screenshot © BBC
The Railway Station and the Carlton Hotel feature in the episode four Have a Break, Take a Husband for scenes on Frank and Betty’s ill-fated second honeymoon.
Herne Bay is located on the Kent coast and boasts a delightful beach with a bandstand and seafront gardens as well as many shops and eateries, amusement arcades and a windmill. Other productions which have filmed in Herne Bay include Boomers (2014), Little Britain Series One (2003) and Only Fools and Horses, the Jolly Boys’ Outing (1989).
Series 1 of Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em (1973) was originally broadcast between Thursday 15th February – Thursday 29th March 1973, and is now available to purchase on DVD.
For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.
