Don't Tell Father

Don't Tell Father is a British television sitcom written by Roy Clarke that was first broadcast on BBC1 from 26 April to 31 May 1992. The series starred Tony Britton, Susan Hampshire, Caroline Quentin, Richard Ashton and Philip Fox.

Premise

The series follows a self-regarding veteran actor, Vivian Bancroft, who dominates the lives of his fifth wife, Natasha, and four grown-up children: Kate, Garth, Spirit and Congreve. Vivian is particularly outraged by his eldest daughter, Kate's, engagement to Marvin Whipple, a driving instructor.

Cast

Main

Tony Britton as Vivian Bancroft
Susan Hampshire as Natasha Bancroft
Caroline Quentin as Kate Bancroft
Richard Ashton as Garth Bancroft
Philip Fox as Marvin Whipple

Recurring

Hilda Braid as Mrs Dawson
Liz Daniels as Alemka
Anna Dawson as Stella Whipple
Jack Smethurst as Ron Whipple
Jo-Anne Sale as Spirit Bancroft

Reception

Of the series, in his Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy, Mark Lewisohn wrote: "Tony Britton hammed it up for all he was worth as the awful Vivian, and Caroline Quentin proved particularly adept at delivering Roy Clarke's witty dialogue, but the piece as a whole lacked the magic ingredient which made so many of the writer's ideas long-running series."