Alf is scrubbing the floor of the hall in the block of flats where he and Else both live. Why? He thinks he owns it. He then goes out into the garden to burn rubbish, but a neighbour with washing on the line threatens to set their dog on him.
Tired at having to do housework in addition to pushing Else around, Alf contacts the Social Services, and is sent a succession of home helps. Else insists on tidying the flat before they arrive to create a good impression of their cleanliness. Alf complains loudly about the standard of their cleaning and generally resents what he regards as an intrusive presence. All three walk out on him.
But then he meets his match - a new home help named Winston...
This, the third episode of 'In Sickness', introduced Arthur English as 'Arthur', Alf's drinking pal. Here the character is credited simply as 'the man in the pub'. Harry Fowler's milkman is not dissimilar to John Junkin's in 'Till Death Us Do Part', a cheeky chappie who doles out betting slips along with the gold top. Eamonn Walker also makes his debut as 'Winston', the home help who gets right up Alf's nose by being both black and gay. Objecting to him being named after the great Sir Winston Churchill, in the next episode Alf takes to calling him 'Marigold'. Winston responds by rechristening Alf 'bwana'.
One of the home helps is played by Tricia Kelly, who replaced Eileen Kennally in the role of neighbour 'Mrs.Johnson'.
Plenty for Alf to get steamed up here, including football hooligans ( 'we should brand them so we can see who they are!' ) and the welfare state, which he is happy to use even though he does not approve.
Funniest moment - following a pub discussion on how mince can turn a man gay, Alf goes home for dinner. Guess what Marigold has made for him?
Tired at having to do housework in addition to pushing Else around, Alf contacts the Social Services, and is sent a succession of home helps. Else insists on tidying the flat before they arrive to create a good impression of their cleanliness. Alf complains loudly about the standard of their cleaning and generally resents what he regards as an intrusive presence. All three walk out on him.
But then he meets his match - a new home help named Winston...
This, the third episode of 'In Sickness', introduced Arthur English as 'Arthur', Alf's drinking pal. Here the character is credited simply as 'the man in the pub'. Harry Fowler's milkman is not dissimilar to John Junkin's in 'Till Death Us Do Part', a cheeky chappie who doles out betting slips along with the gold top. Eamonn Walker also makes his debut as 'Winston', the home help who gets right up Alf's nose by being both black and gay. Objecting to him being named after the great Sir Winston Churchill, in the next episode Alf takes to calling him 'Marigold'. Winston responds by rechristening Alf 'bwana'.
One of the home helps is played by Tricia Kelly, who replaced Eileen Kennally in the role of neighbour 'Mrs.Johnson'.
Plenty for Alf to get steamed up here, including football hooligans ( 'we should brand them so we can see who they are!' ) and the welfare state, which he is happy to use even though he does not approve.
Funniest moment - following a pub discussion on how mince can turn a man gay, Alf goes home for dinner. Guess what Marigold has made for him?