Deryck Guyler

Noel Howlett

Joan Sanderson

John Esmonde

Bob Larbey

Fenn Street School football team wins its semi-final tie of the district cup and makes history by reaching the final for the first time. Miss Ewell has given one of the pupils detention unaware that he&apos;s the team&apos;s star player and...

Howard Ross

Cup Fever

A Cup of Woe for Des

Fenn Street&apos;s footballing fortunes have been unfailingly dismal - until now. Aided by the forward prowess of former Weaver Street pupil Des and the coaching of Mr Hurst they have reached the Final of the local Cup. The staff have joined in with the excitement with one exception - Miss Ewell who resents the squeezing-out of what she sees as more worthwhile activities such as her school orchestra. When Des insults her during an orchestra rehearsal she bans him from playing for the team, unaware that he is the star player and without him the school&apos;s chances are slim.

Another episode that doesn&apos;t show any great comedy invention but does offer some different themes through the focus on the football team and to a lesser degree the school orchestra. Although staff and pupils get kitted-out as either supporters or players no actual football footage is shown. This was probably a practical decision as it would have involved outside filming as well as the business of setting-up a game and match scenarios. However this is no great loss as attempts to recreate footballing action on-screen - even amateur football for comedy value - are often very unconvincing. The staff do talk about football (typically Potter is clueless) and the best moment of the episode comes when Price sets up what seems to be a sad tale of how he missed out on footballing success. He said only one thing held him back - he was never any good!

Although this is comedy it does raise some interesting issues about punishment and expediency. Ordinarily Miss Ewell&apos;s actions would have seemed uncontroversial but the staff take a more pragmatic (or cynical) view that this punishment is simply going to harm the team&apos;s chances and therefore look for a way to get it removed, commuted or delayed until after the Final. The decision makes her very unpopular but it is typical of her that she sticks to her guns and to principles even if those are not convenient for others.

This is the first episode to focus much on Des (Billy Hamon). The character so far has been portrayed as a purveyor of musical mayhem displaying no ability whatsoever - and unfortunately no comedic value either. He hasn&apos;t had much dialogue but does emerge more here and kept away from music we see a bit more depth and thoughtfulness to the character with an especially good interchange with Miss Ewell late on and a sting in the tail at the end.

The secondary plot concerns the school orchestra. Largely this amounts to the lack of interest and ability of the pupils and staff other than Miss Ewell. Inept efforts at music-making are a comic staple and had indeed previously featured in &quot;Please Sir!&quot;. Such comedy is pretty basic but does have its moments.

As a final point the Head and Miss Petting continue their warm relationship with her knitting a scarf for him with all the school team&apos;s names on it - only he has given her the cricket team&apos;s names by mistake! Continuity wasn&apos;t always strong in sitcoms (sometimes for practical reasons so episodes could be shown in any order) but here the theme of the previous episode about their budding relationship had been maintained and that is good to see.

Fenn Street's footballing fortunes have been unfailingly dismal - until now. Aided by the forward prowess of former Weaver Street pupil Des and the coaching of Mr Hurst they have reached the Final of the local Cup. The staff have joined in with the excitement with one exception - Miss Ewell who resents the squeezing-out of what she sees as more worthwhile activities such as her school orchestra. When Des insults her during an orchestra rehearsal she bans him from playing for the team, unaware that he is the star player and without him the school's chances are slim.

Another episode that doesn't show any great comedy invention but does offer some different themes through the focus on the football team and to a lesser degree the school orchestra. Although staff and pupils get kitted-out as either supporters or players no actual football footage is shown. This was probably a practical decision as it would have involved outside filming as well as the business of setting-up a game and match scenarios. However this is no great loss as attempts to recreate footballing action on-screen - even amateur football for comedy value - are often very unconvincing. The staff do talk about football (typically Potter is clueless) and the best moment of the episode comes when Price sets up what seems to be a sad tale of how he missed out on footballing success. He said only one thing held him back - he was never any good!

Although this is comedy it does raise some interesting issues about punishment and expediency. Ordinarily Miss Ewell's actions would have seemed uncontroversial but the staff take a more pragmatic (or cynical) view that this punishment is simply going to harm the team's chances and therefore look for a way to get it removed, commuted or delayed until after the Final. The decision makes her very unpopular but it is typical of her that she sticks to her guns and to principles even if those are not convenient for others.

This is the first episode to focus much on Des (Billy Hamon). The character so far has been portrayed as a purveyor of musical mayhem displaying no ability whatsoever - and unfortunately no comedic value either. He hasn't had much dialogue but does emerge more here and kept away from music we see a bit more depth and thoughtfulness to the character with an especially good interchange with Miss Ewell late on and a sting in the tail at the end.

The secondary plot concerns the school orchestra. Largely this amounts to the lack of interest and ability of the pupils and staff other than Miss Ewell. Inept efforts at music-making are a comic staple and had indeed previously featured in "Please Sir!". Such comedy is pretty basic but does have its moments.

As a final point the Head and Miss Petting continue their warm relationship with her knitting a scarf for him with all the school team's names on it - only he has given her the cricket team's names by mistake! Continuity wasn't always strong in sitcoms (sometimes for practical reasons so episodes could be shown in any order) but here the theme of the previous episode about their budding relationship had been maintained and that is good to see.

Fenn Street School football team wins its semi-final tie of the district cup and makes history by reaching the final for the first time. Miss Ewell has given one of the pupils detention unaware that he's the team's star player and will therefore miss the final. The headmaster orders her to reinstate him, but her stubborn streak refuses to comply. Will she relent for the sake of the school's reputation.

bappamtv

Cup Fever

🎭 Top Cast

🎬 Technical Specs

🎯 Categories

⭐ Featured Review

💡 Did You Know?

📖 Synopsis