Robin's Nest
Robin's Nest is a British sitcom made by Thames Television, which aired on the ITV network for six series from 11 January 1977 to 31 March 1981. It saw Richard O'Sullivan reprise the role of Robin Tripp, one of the lead characters in the sitcom Man About the House, which had ended on 7 April 1976, and co-starred Tessa Wyatt as Robin's girlfriend – and later wife – Vicky, and Tony Britton as her father. As well as playing a couple in Robin's Nest, Richard O'Sullivan and Tessa Wyatt were a couple in real life at the time having one son, Jamie O'Sullivan.
In the Series 5 episode "Never Look A Gift Horse", in the final scene Robin climbs onto the rocking horse and says "Well Bess, which way now?" This is a reference to the TV series Dick Turpin in which Richard O'Sullivan was also starring as the title character at the time.
Format
In the first episode Robin and Vicky, who share a flat over a Chinese take-away, discover that the tenants have disappeared owing rent to the landlord, Vicky's father James Nichols. It is the practical Vicky who comes up with the perfect solution: Robin should take over the take-away and convert it into a bistro. Robin cannot afford to go it alone so he has to go cap-in-hand to Vicky's father, to ask him to be his business partner. Although James disapproves of Robin, he knows a sensible business deal when it is offered to him – despite his failings, Robin is a brilliant chef – and he agrees. Tension and misunderstandings arise due to their mismatched relationship.Creators and writers Brian Cooke and Johnnie Mortimer had to gain special permission from the Independent Broadcasting Authority, then the regulatory body for commercial television in Britain, to be able to portray an unmarried couple living together; special concern arose at scenes in which Robin and Vicky were seen in an obvious state of undress in bed. In 1978, Robin and Vicky married and two years later had a set of twins, who they eventually name Lucy and James Alexander Tripp. At the end of the last episode, Vicky tells Robin that she's pregnant again.
Other characters
Other characters included:- The one-armed Irish kitchen hand Albert Riddle, who always broke more crockery than he cleaned, and who once asked Robin's culinary advice; unable to cook egg on toast, he asked Robin "How do you stop the egg dribbling into the bottom of the toaster, Mr Tripp?".
- Vicky's mother Marion would occasionally appear, played first by Honor Blackman, later by Barbara Murray.
- Gertrude, Albert's girlfriend, played by ex-Crossroads actress Peggy Aitchison.
Theme music score
Star of the show Richard O'Sullivan wrote the theme music for the programme, which was arranged and performed by The Shadows's Brian Bennett.Foreign adaptations
The show was remade in the United States as Three's a Crowd, a sequel to Three's Company – originally based on Man About the House – but was unsuccessful.In 2004, a Polish version was screened, named Dziupla Cezara.
Episodes
Season 1
Season 2
Season 3
Season 4
Special
Season 5
Christmas Special
Season 6
DVD releases
All six series of Robin's Nest have been released on DVD in the UK.All six series have also been released on DVD in Australia. Series One and Two on 2 April 2009. After a lengthy delay Series Three was released on 3 October 2012, Series Four on 6 March 2013 and Series Five and Six on 4 September 2013. For the first time in Australia, Region 4, The Complete Series Boxset will be released on September 16, 2020.
In 2019 a 19-disc box set was released by Network/Fremantle containing every episode of Robin's Nest, George & Mildred and Man About The House.
| DVD | UK Release date |
| The Complete Series 1 | 24 September 2007 |
| The Complete Series 2 | 19 November 2007 |
| The Complete Series 3 | 26 May 2008 |
| The Complete Series 4 | 21 July 2008 |
| The Complete Series 5 | 1 September 2008 |
| The Complete Series 6 | 3 November 2008 |
| The Complete Series 1–6 boxset | 3 November 2008 |