The Good Life (1975)

Name: The Good Life
Rating: 7.8

Rating: 7.8

Synopsis

Tom and Barbara Good escape the rat race and pursue a self-sufficient lifestyle in Surbiton, much to the concern, frustration and sometimes envy of their neighbours Margo and Jerry Leadbetter. Entitled ‘Good Neighbors’ when shown in the USA.

First Air Date: 1975-04-04

Last Air Date: 1977-05-22

Number of Seasons: 4

Number of Episodes: 28

Created By: John Esmonde, Bob Larbey

Networks: BBC One

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Richard Briers as Tom Good
Felicity Kendal as Barbara Good
Paul Eddington as Jerry Leadbetter
Penelope Keith as Margo Leadbetter
Reginald Marsh as Sir Andrew
Tony Selby as Sam
Moyra Fraser as Felicity
Charmian May as Mrs. Weaver
Timothy Bateson as Arthur Bailey
Bruce Bould as Guy

Seasons

Select a Season

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None (1975)

No overview available for this season.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: Plough Your Own Furrow (1975-04-04)

After he has celebrated his 40th birthday Tom decides that he is unhappy with his life style so he packs his job in, farms his large garden and becomes self sufficient.
Ep. 2: Say Little Hen ... (1975-04-11)

The Goods install the first chickens in their chicken coop, but they prove slow to lay their first eggs. Incensed by the condescension of the Leadbetters when they are invited to dinner together with Tom's former boss & his wife, the Goods decide to sacrifice one of the chickens to make a show of their not being as poor as the Leadbetters think.
Ep. 3: The Weaker Sex? (1975-04-18)

Tom buys an old-fashioned range for their kitchen from a passing rag-and-bone man, but Barbara becomes irate when she ends up doing most of the hard work to get it ready for use, while he tries to make a system for scaring the birds off their crops.
Ep. 4: Pig's Lib (1975-04-25)

The Goods continue their bartering with local suppliers, but Barbara has a misunderstanding while negotiating with the window-cleaner. They then add a pair of pigs in a sty to their back garden, at which Margo is so appalled she brings in the chairman of the local residents' association to persuade them out of it, but is unsuccessful. However, when one escapes into the Leadbetter's garden, she can only be mollified by getting rid of it.
Ep. 5: The Thing in the Cellar (1975-05-02)

Tom puts the finishing touches to their own electricity generator in the cellar, which runs on their animals' waste. He then goes fishing with Jerry, and decides to store the surplus in the freezer, until the generator plays up...
Ep. 6: The Pagan Rite (1975-05-09)

In order to pay for a treat for Barbara, Tom takes a short contract from his old firm, and tries to keep it a secret from her - but his plan is foiled when he fails to account for Margo's nosiness.
Ep. 7: Backs to the Wall (1975-05-16)

While starting the harvest, Tom injures his back digging,and since Margo and Jerry are on holiday Barbara is left to look after the farm all on her own. A storm then adds to their problems by turning their garden into a mud bath.