Rising Damp Quiz & Fact Book

Mark McCaighey

Description

Rigsby is back in this original, interesting and fun book which celebrates one of the most popular British sitcoms of all time - Rising Damp. The goings on at Rigsby's place have been addictive viewing ever since the front door of his dilapidated boarding house opened in 1974. During the seventies, 18 million viewers would enjoy following the ups but mainly the downs of the principal characters. Rupert Rigsby, the seedy landlord played to perfection by Leonard Rossiter, Alan Moore (Richard Beckinsale) the naive medical student, Miss Jones (Frances de la Tour), spinster and the unwanted recipient of Rigsby's affections and the confident Philip Smith (Don Warrington) the son of an African tribal chief, or so he claimed. In this book there are 300 thought provoking questions covering all 28 episodes from the four series and the movie. Along with the quizzes you'll find fascinating behind the scenes information about the writer, the stars and those who visited or stayed, albeit briefly as tenants in Rigsby's bleak house. Featuring an exclusive Foreword by the creator and writer of the series Eric Chappell, this is the ultimate book on one of Britain's most popular sitcoms ever and its iconic character Rigsby - the heaven sent landlord from hell.

Informations

• Publié par: Andrews UK
• Date de parution: 19 mai 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781785385179
• Langue: English

Extrait

Title Page
The Rising Damp Quiz & Fact Book
Mark McCaighey



Publisher Information
Published in 2016 by
AG Books
www.agbooks.co.uk
an imprint of
Andrews UK Limited
www.andrewsuk.com
The right of Mark McCaighey to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1998
Copyright © 2016 Mark McCaighey
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Any person who does so may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
This book is written with the kind permission of the show’s creator and writer Eric Chappell.
Cover photo Cover photo of Leonard Rossiter as Rupert Rigsby courtesy of ITV/REX/Shutterstock
Cover design by Mark McCaighey



Foreword
by Eric Chappell
What can I say? I never thought I’d be the subject of a quiz. The last time I took a test was to discover my IQ. I failed miserably. It was then that I decided to become a writer, that way I avoided any further tests and could go to work without a tie.
Still, I’m assured the quiz will be light hearted and fun and getting a low mark won’t stop you getting a job.
So, all best wishes.
August 2014.



Introduction
Welcome to The Rising Damp Quiz and Fact Book , a celebration of one of the most popular British sitcoms of all time. A show that is as sharp, fresh and funny today as it was when originally transmitted on ITV between 1974 and 1978 when it pulled in audiences of over 18 million. In 1980, Rising Damp spread onto the big screen and as a result won five awards.
In this book you’ll find 300 questions covering all twenty-eight episodes from the four series and the movie. Each episode has ten questions and within those are two multiple choice ones and a true or false statement. The movie, being longer in duration of course has twenty questions with four multiple choice ones and two true or false statements.
Along with each series and the movie there is behind the scenes information about the show’s writer Eric Chappell, the stars of the sitcom and those who visited or stayed, albeit briefly as tenants in Rigsby’s dilapidated boarding house.
Last, but by no way least a big thank you to Eric Chappell for the book’s Foreword and for creating Rising Damp and the iconic comedy character of Rupert Rigsby - the heaven sent landlord from hell.



The House of the Rising Damp
The goings on in Rigsby’s run-down boarding house became addictive viewing as we witnessed the ups, but mainly the downs of the four main protagonists. On the ground floor lived landlord Rupert Rigsby (Leonard Rossiter) with his mangy moggy Vienna. Upstairs sharing a cramp attic room was long-haired naïve medical student Alan Moore (Richard Beckinsale) and confident Philip Smith (Don Warrington) the son of an African tribal chief, or so he claimed, who was studying town and country planning.
On the first floor though was the object of Rigsby’s desires, Ruth Jones (Frances de la Tour), who worked at the same local university that Alan and Philip attended. She was a lonely spinster who lacked self-confidence and had bouts of depression, but to Rigsby she was a pent up dam of sexual frustration and he wanted to be there when it burst. Understandably, he never took too kindly to the fact that Miss Jones preferred Philip to him, not that Philip ever wished to return her admiration.
On paper the character of Rigsby was about as appealing as a rotten banana as he was bigoted, racist, obnoxious, interfering and miserly to name but a few. In the hands of the skilled and talented Leonard Rossiter though, he became likeable and at times pitiful. Leonard once described him as someone who ‘makes Alf Garnett look like a tolerant chairman of the Race Relation Board’ .
Rising Damp was the brainchild of Eric Chappell and developed from his 1971 stage play The Banana Box . Eric had always enjoyed storytelling and writing from a young age, but it was during the summer of 1969, aged 36 that he struck upon the idea for what was to become Rising Damp .
He was working at the time as an auditor for the electricity board and had just finished a job in Leamington Spa when he stopped off at a café. Whilst there he picked up a copy of the local paper and read a story about a black man who had conned a hotel into believing he was an African Prince. As a result he had stayed as a guest for a year and received a great deal of attention and respect. Eric thought that this was a wonderful story and something he could develop into a comedy. But instead of setting his play in a hotel he brought it down to the level of a seedy boarding house with a cast of five.
The play premiered at the Phoenix Theatre, Leicester on May 25 th 1971 and ran until June 12 th with Wilfrid Brambell in the lead as the grubby landlord, a character that wasn’t that far removed from his Albert Steptoe persona. On March 12 th 1973 it was back on stage, this time at East Grinstead, Oxford and Newcastle with Leonard Rossiter and Don Warrington now in their respective roles. When the play reached London for its final two venues Frances de la Tour joined the company and it was also then that the play’s television potential was recognised by some Yorkshire Television executives in the audience.
On September 2 nd 1974 Rising Damp opened its door for the first time to a TV audience. The rest as they say is television history for this exceptional sitcom which caught the public’s imagination.
Between them the writer Eric Chappell and Leonard Rossiter created in Rigsby the only ITV sitcom character to rank alongside such BBC comedy immortals as the Steptoes, Captain Mainwaring, Frank Spencer, Basil Fawlty and Del Trotter.
My-y-y God! What an achievement.



The Questions
The New Tenant
Pilot episode
Original ITV Transmission Monday 2 nd September 1974 at 8.00pm
Rigsby has a room to rent and Miss Jones fancies just the person for it. An aristocratic, mature student by the name of Philip Smith. Rigsby likes the sound of him and improves the room for his arrival. When Philip arrives he finds that there is room for improvement - starting with the landlord. How much weekly rent does Rigsby say he would charge Alan for the vacant room? What reason does Rigsby give to why the vacant room looks small? True or false? Years earlier Rigsby’s father died on the bed in the vacant room. Which historical figure does Rigsby compare Alan to because of his long hair? Christ Rasputin Samson What does Rigsby say he would do if Alan ever became a doctor? Which item has Philip hung on the wall of his room? Ruth works in which department at the college? Which two of Charles Dickens’ stories does Alan make reference to in his first conversation with Philip? Bleak House and A Christmas Carol Bleak House and Great Expectations Bleak House and Hard Times Along with the skeleton from Alan’s room, which other item does Rigsby place in Philip’s bed in order to scare him into leaving? What does Miss Jones do when she has a headache?
Black Magic
Series 1, episode 1
Original ITV Transmission Friday 13 th December 1974 at 8.30pm
Rigsby suspects that new lodger Philip is playing a trick when he tells him that he has magic powers. Furthermore, he claims to be a god who has inherited supernatural abilities. A demonstration is given which quickly results in Miss Jones arriving at Philip’s room in her nightdress clutching a bottle of wine - just like that! Leaving Rigsby spellbound. What does Rigsby suggest Alan does to express his personality? Get a haircut Get tattooed Have his ear pierced As the son of an African Chief, how many wives is Philip alleged to have? Why couldn’t Philip come to Miss Jones’ room the previous night? Where does Alan usually go on a Friday? What reason does Philip give as to why he can’t divulge his real surname? While performing his so called ‘miracle’, Philip taps on the floor three times using what? True or false? Philip says that the two things he likes best about England are post boxes and swimming pools. Which movie does Alan suggest he and Philip go to see? On which night three years earlier had Ruth’s father passed away? Christmas Eve Guy Fawkes Halloween What are the real contents of the jar that Alan scares Rigsby into believing are micro-organisms?
A Night Out
Series 1, episode 2
Original ITV Transmission Friday 20 th December 1974 at 8.30pm
It’s Miss Jones’ birthday and no one has remembered...except Rigsby. Determined to make a meal of it, he reminds Alan and Philip and the three take her out for a ripping time. What is Philip’s criticism about Rigsby’s suit? Who was the previous owner of the suit? What name is Spooner known by in the world of wrestling? Which drinking establishment has Rigsby been banned from for poking a stripper with a stick of celery? The Blue Ram The British Legion The Grange Which item of clothing from Spooner’s wardrobe does Alan borrow for the evening? Whilst in Miss Jones’ room, what does Rigsby mistake for a spider and stamps on? True or false? Rigsby thinks the restaurant wine tastes like metal polish. At the restaurant, which type of dance does Rigsby invite Miss Jones to join him in? In his attempt to retrieve hi