"Yuppy Love"

8^th January 1989

After introducing a long-term partner for Del in "Dates", this episode sees a continuing shift in the structure of the series, and the further expanding of the regular cast. Rodney meets Cassandra Parry (surname not given here), as played by Gwyneth Strong, who would go on to appear in every subsequent episode (and give some pretty dodgy performances) but who also become a successful television actress beyond the show in "Real Women" and dozens of others.

Del is flogging raincoats (dry clean only! - genius) – and of course Rodney is wearing one (Cassandra wears a similar one – has Del sold her one too?)

This episode sees Rodney sow the seeds of a career outside of the family business for the first time, as he is studying for a Computer Diploma at the Adult Education Centre (he seems to have failed it several times previously). Del is considering buying the flat, with the intention of selling it on later for a profit (of course!).

Del has been living in the flat in Nelson Mandela House for "27 years" – an interestingly precise period of time. According to the "The Yellow Peril", Del was born in 1945 (five years after actor David Jason) and is therefore 45 in this episode, and Rodney was born in 1958 [Joannie’s gravestone reads 1964 and Rodney is frequently stated to have been five or six when she died]. The family therefore would apparently have moved into the flat in 1962, when Del was 17 and Rodney was 4. However, this episode flatly contradicts this, by stating that Rodney was born after the family moved there.

In addition, Joannie Trotter had an affair with "Freddie the Frog" between 1959 and 1963 ["The Frog’s Legacy"] which also contradicts Rodney’s birth date as implied by "The Yellow Peril". If we adopt the new version of events, then Rodney was born in either 1962 or 1963, and has therefore lost four years of age and was 19 in "Big Brother" and not 23 as claimed.

Fifteen or sixteen years ago (1973, Rodney was about ten) Del sent Rodney to sell gas storage heaters to the (all electric!) "Mount Batton Estate" while he entertained a Texan girl with a "double barreled name". Cassandra lives in Black Heath.

Del’s new "yuppy look" debuts: red braces and filofax held aloft! Trigger’s blue suit (why is he in the yuppy bar anyway? It seems like he’s wondered in to give Del someone to share a scene with). The Disco where Rodney dances with Cassandra is very, very eighties.

"All we’ve got out of life has come from my intelligence and foresight."

"Well I’m glad someone’s owned up!"

And not many others.

Del’s odd joke about the "Beaujolais Nouveau… ‘79" that everyone seems to find hilarious (I don’t get it at all).

When Cassandra is asked about the Riverside Club in the car, she replies that she’s not heard of it. But in the next breath, she says she’s heard it has a terrible reputation!

William Thomas, playing the barman who serves Del just before his infamous pratfall, was the first actor to appear in both "new" and "old" Doctor Who, playing Mr Cleaver in "Boom Town" (2005) and an undertaker in "Remembrance of the Daleks" (1988).

Cassandra returns Rodney’s coat. After mistakenly thinking she is "making the first move" he realises it’s because Del has written his name inside it! You die with him.

Del’s "fall through the bar" is much discussed on TV nostalgia shows, where they usually slow it down and spoil the magic. In truth, it’s justly well remembered and still able to bring a smile to the face.

"Always write Rodney’s name in his clothes, so no-one will nick ‘em!"

Not a hilarious episode, but one which is more concerned with establishing new precedents – Del’s yuppy transformation, Rodney’s computer expertise, the introduction of Cassandra, and the longer episode running time leading to more room for amusing set pieces and character development. Albert is rather sidelined here, and there are fewer witty lines than usual, but this is all about reworking the character of Rodney (including his age!) and as such it entertains throughout.