Mike Upton applies for a top job at another hospital, but flubs it when he mistakes the deep-voiced female interviewer - Dr.Bryce-Derry ( Billy John ) - for a man. Back at St. Swithins, he goes after the position of house surgeon on the Dean's firm. His conceited rival Bingham ( Richard O'Sullivan ) lands it instead, thanks to sheer brown nosing. Upton has to be content with the more lowly position of E.N.T. ( ears, nose and throat ) registrar. His first day is a nightmare - dashing from cubicle to cubicle, almost sticking scalpels up noses, and having to consult medical books every few minutes. Then, horror of horrors, Mr.Brisket ( John Sharp ) - a vicar whose very singing induces pain - shows up. Upton sees a chance to get his own back on Bingham...
A lively start to 'At Large', marking the return of Graham Chapman to writing duties. The doctors spread their wings in this series, but this opener still has them confined to St. Swithins. It feels strange to be seeing the show in black and white when 'In The House' was in colour. The creepy 'Lawrence Marwood Bingham' makes his debut, and became one of the show's most popular characters. From the dialogue it seems he was around in 'In The House' - we just never saw him.
In an interesting innovation, the opening titles are split in two - the first half shows Upton packing his medical bag ( and almost cutting his finger on a scalpel ), the second lists the episode title and guest star - but this was dropped when colour returned. Alan Tew's theme was given a more strident arrangement, used on every subsequent series, excepting 'At Sea/Down Under/At The Top'.
Clive Morton stands in for Ralph Michael as 'The Dean'. Michael Burrell is very good in his few scenes as bespectacled E.N.T. registrar 'Dr.Arnold'. 'Nurse Willett' is mentioned for the very first time.
Funniest moment - Upton's patient spitting over Sister Fowles.
A lively start to 'At Large', marking the return of Graham Chapman to writing duties. The doctors spread their wings in this series, but this opener still has them confined to St. Swithins. It feels strange to be seeing the show in black and white when 'In The House' was in colour. The creepy 'Lawrence Marwood Bingham' makes his debut, and became one of the show's most popular characters. From the dialogue it seems he was around in 'In The House' - we just never saw him.
In an interesting innovation, the opening titles are split in two - the first half shows Upton packing his medical bag ( and almost cutting his finger on a scalpel ), the second lists the episode title and guest star - but this was dropped when colour returned. Alan Tew's theme was given a more strident arrangement, used on every subsequent series, excepting 'At Sea/Down Under/At The Top'.
Clive Morton stands in for Ralph Michael as 'The Dean'. Michael Burrell is very good in his few scenes as bespectacled E.N.T. registrar 'Dr.Arnold'. 'Nurse Willett' is mentioned for the very first time.
Funniest moment - Upton's patient spitting over Sister Fowles.
