ATV Borehamwood

 

Sid James and Peggy Mount in a scene from the sitcom, George and the Dragon.

 

 

Sid James (credited as Sidney James) and Peggy Mount played George and the Dragon respectively in this brilliant sitcom from the pens of Vince Powell and Harry Driver. Four series totalling twenty-six black & white episodes lasting thirty minutes each were taped by ATV in Studio D at the ATV Centre, Borehamwood, between 1966 and 1968.

 

James played George Russell a chauffeur/handman with a keen eye for the ladies in the series, while Mount played a widow named Gabrielle Dragon, a cook and housekeeper, in the series. Also appearing in the series were John Le Mesurier and Keith Marsh who played Colonel Maynard and gardener Ralph respectively. Yootha Joyce, set to really find fame in the Thames TV sitcom Man About the House in 1973, also made a memorable appearance in the one and only Christmas special of this series as one of Sid's many girlfriends.

 

Sid James, of course, went on to appear in further Carry On films and also found success on stage in face and on television with the sitcom, Bless this House. James also appeared in the first series of Carry On Laughing, which was broadcast by ATV in 1975. Peggy Mount, who had appeared in the ATV sitcom, The Larkins, scored another sitcom success appearing with Pat Coombs in Yorkshire TV's, You're Only Young Twice. John Le Mesurier then went on to even greater success after the series finished playing Sergeant Wilson in the classic Perry & Croft sitcom, Dad's Army. Keith Marsh, incidentally, later appeared in another Powell & Driver sitcom, Love Thy Neighbour.

 

It is a great pity that further episodes were not made of George and the Dragon and that they are no-longer repeated on television. Fortunately, however, all twenty-six episodes of the series can now be purchased in a DVD box set. Please click here to buy.

 

 

George Russell - Sidney James

Gabrielle Dragon - Peggy Mount

Colonel Maynard - John Le Mesurier

Ralph - Keith Marsh

 

 

Script Writers - Vince Powell & Harry Driver

Producers - Alan Tarrant (series 1 - 3), Jack Williams (series 4)

Director - Shaun O'Riordan