Series synopsis
Goodnight Sweetheart is a British sci-fi & fantasy comedy drama television series that premiered on BBC One on November 18, 1993. It ended on June 21, 1999. It was created by Laurence Marks, Maurice Gran. It stars Nicholas Lyndhurst, Victor McGuire, Christopher Ettridge and Dervla Kirwan.
Gary Sparrow is an ordinary bloke in 1990s Britain, married to the ambitious Yvonne and working as a TV repairman. Then his whole world changes when he stumbles upon a portal to WWII-era London and begins a dual life as an accidental time traveler.
Premise
Gary Sparrow is an ordinary bloke in 1990s Britain, married to the ambitious Yvonne and working as a TV repairman. Then his whole world changes when he stumbles upon a portal to WWII-era London and begins a dual life as an accidental time traveler.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Nicholas Lyndhurst as Gary Sparrow
- Victor McGuire as Ron Wheatcroft
- Christopher Ettridge as PC Reg Deadman
- Dervla Kirwan as Phoebe Sparrow
- Michelle Holmes as Yvonne Sparrow
- Elizabeth Carling as Phoebe Sparrow
- Emma Amos as Yvonne Sparrow
- David Ryall as Eric Elward
Guest cast
Episodes
This series spans 7 seasons with 65 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 7 | February 4, 2005 | September 2, 2016 |
| Season 1 | 6 | November 18, 1993 | December 23, 1993 |
| Season 2 | 10 | February 20, 1995 | May 1, 1995 |
| Season 3 | 11 | December 26, 1995 | March 4, 1996 |
| Season 4 | 11 | March 3, 1997 | May 20, 1997 |
| Season 5 | 10 | February 23, 1998 | April 27, 1998 |
| Season 6 | 10 | April 20, 1999 | June 21, 1999 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
An Interview With Laurence Marks And Maurice Gran Revelation Films presents an interview with the show's creators talking about how they met, the creation of Goodnight Sweetheart and other subjects. An extra on the Region 2 DVD of Series 1. |
February 4, 2005 |
| 2 |
An Interview With Christopher Ettridge Revelation Films presents an interview with Christopher Ettridge talking about Season 2 of Goodnight Sweetheart. An extra on the Region 2 DVD of Series 2. |
November 26, 2005 |
| 3 |
An Interview With Dervla Kirwan Revelation Films presents an interview with Dervla Kinwan talking about Goodnight Sweetheart. An extra on the Region 2 DVD of Series 3. |
January 23, 2006 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Rites of Passage Gary Sparrow is an unhappily married TV repairman, who one day unwittingly walks into a time warp. Totally disorientated, he thinks he's in a 1940s theme pub, until he falls in love with the landlord's daughter. |
November 18, 1993 |
| 2 |
Fools Rush In Gary, after refusing to buy a new suit for a job interview in 1993, buys one to take Phoebe to a dance in 1940. |
November 25, 1993 |
| 3 |
Is Your Journey Really Necessary? Gary returns to 1940 to try to protect Phoebe and Eric from an impending air raid, but nearly ends up in prison. |
December 2, 1993 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Don't Get Around Much Anymore Gary invests money in an electronics company back in 1941, but his investment and business plans quickly collapses, and ultimately backfires. |
February 20, 1995 |
| 2 |
I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good Yvonne has her heart set on moving house, while Gary feels more inclined to move between eras. Meanwhile, in 1941, a tall dark stranger seems to have entered Phoebe's life. |
February 27, 1995 |
| 3 |
Just One More Chance Gary is due to appear in court after a drinking spree in 1941. He looks destined to lose his licence, his job and could well lose his wife, but she has marriage guidance in mind. |
March 6, 1995 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea Gary's route to 1941 has been blocked by a row of shops built in 1995. How will he reach Phoebe in her wartime pub? |
December 26, 1995 |
| 2 |
It Ain't Necessarily So As New Year's Eve rapidly approaches, Gary seeks a way of celebrating the occasion with both his wife and girlfriend, in the contrasting timeframes of 1941 and 1995. |
January 1, 1996 |
| 3 |
One O'Clock Jump Gary tries to rectify matters when his shop's success makes Yvonne depressed at her lack of employment prospects. Plus, he discovers that PC Deadman is unaware that he has a child. |
January 8, 1996 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
You're Driving Me Crazy The pressure is definitely mounting for Gary now that both Yvonne and Phoebe are pregnant. Yvonne is trying to get him a job in her firm so that she can give up work after the birth. Meanwhile, in 1942 Gary is accused of being a fence. |
March 3, 1997 |
| 2 |
In the Mood Both Yvonne and Phoebe are pregnant and feeling unwell. Yet Yvonne and Gary agree to babysit Gary's nephew, Arthur, who goes missing during his visit and is suspected of having time travelled to 1942. So Gary might not be the only one that can access the time portal after all. |
March 10, 1997 |
| 3 |
Out of Town Yvonne is out of town so Gary hopes to spend some time with Phoebe, but Gary's father George turns up and stuns him when telling a story about discovering a time warp in his youth. |
March 17, 1997 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
A Room with a View Gary and his son Michael are blasted into present time by a 1944 air raid bomb. They are caught by Yvonne, who demands an explanation regarding the child's identity. |
February 23, 1998 |
| 2 |
London Pride In the present and wartime 1944, both Gary and Phoebe find themselves being refused entry into higher society circles. |
March 2, 1998 |
| 3 |
When Two Worlds Collide The detonation of an unexploded bomb in Duckett's Passage catapults Gary into the present, with Phoebe in tow. Consequently Phoebe and Yvonne meet for the first time. |
March 9, 1998 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Mine's a Double Whilst advancing through the time warp a severe storm in 1944 causes Gary to split into two opposing clones: a normal Gary and a bad version. Phoebe likes the former, while Yvonne prefers latter. |
April 20, 1999 |
| 2 |
All About Yvonne Gary and Yvonne have a bust up which ends with Gary having to move out and into Ron's place. During Gary's estrangement he becomes suspicious of Yvonne's interior designer. Meanwhile over in 1944, Phoebe suspects that Gary is having an affair with Yvonne, and Reg contracts impetigo. |
April 18, 1999 |
| 3 |
California Dreamin' Gary has to think fast when both of his wives decide they want to emigrate to California. In 1944 Reg retires from his job, but no one turns up at his leaving do. |
April 25, 1999 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | BBC One |
|---|---|
| First aired | November 18, 1993 |
| Last aired | June 21, 1999 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Sunday at 20:30:00 |