Martin Bryce (Richard Briers) lives in a quiet suburban close with his wife Anne (Penelope Wilton). He does his best to "organise" the leisure time of all of the other inhabitants of the close, running umpteen societies and doing "good works". He's is quite happy with his lot until Paul Ryman (Peter Egan) moves in next door.
Paul is a successful businessman, running his own hairdressing salon. Without even trying, he brings out Martin's inate inferiority complex.
Other regular characters are Howard Hughes (Stanley Lebor) and his wife Hilda (Geraldine Newman), a rather boring couple who tend to wear identical sweaters.
Series: 4
Episodes: 27
Transmitted: 1984-1989
Channel: BBC1
BBC Television