"Stage Fright"

13th January 1991

Eric at the Starlight Rooms needs an act to entertain gangster Eugene McCarthy's Mum on her 82nd birthday (or he gets nailed to a door!). But what kind of wally is he going to lay this responsibility onto? Cue, "Raquel and Tony - the new Carpenters"!

Raquel seems to be putting her career on hold ("for fifteen years") now she is expecting. She has also written to her parents. Her "ex" is again mentioned, and she says she hasn't seen him for 7 years (her solicitor is trying to track him down for a divorce). Initially Del claims Raquel used to be a "nightclub singer" but later we learn this to be an exaggeration - she played one club, and lost her nerve. There are continuity references to The Great Raymondo ("The Jolly Boy's Outing") and Double Cream (mentioned once in a line of dialogue in "Dates"!)

Mike worked as a cocktail waiter when his wife announced she was expecting - but he'd been on a cruise ship for the last three months [in 1973, when they separated]. Marlene was pregnant for 8 months before giving birth (as Rodney says, "they say it's quicker by tube"!)

Tony Angelino (it's a stage name; we never learn what he's called really) is a Tom Jones-apeing singer who can't pronounce his r's. He works as a dustman with Trigger on the council (one line of dialogue suggests Trigger is his superior) [the "singing dustman turned pop star" might be seen as an uncanny prediction of last years X-Factor winner Andy Abrahams... or, in fact, Steve Coogan's Tony Ferrino creation. An influence?]. He gigs at the 'Down By The Riverside' Club (previously mentioned in "Yuppy Love").

Del fell out with Eric five or six years ago [an unseen adventure] over £500. It's later suggested Eric bears a grudge and has "tucked him up" with finding the singer [but the scene with Eric and Del is not played to imply this at all!]. Del is in court for fly pitching (i.e. unlicensed trading) and receives a £65 fine. Albert has a bus pass.

Del has temporarily re-branded his business "The Trotter International Star Agency"! The family business has never registered with Companies House (quelle surprise!) so consequently Rodney officially didn't have a job between the ages of 16 and 26. Rodney has been given a "golden handshake" by Alan's Printing Firm but has blown it all socially. There is this seasons traditional reference to his conviction for possession of cannabis.

The Jesse Jackson Memorial Hall is mentioned.

Surprisingly at this point in the show's history, there is a new member of staff at the Nag's Head - Crystal. We learn no more about her here, other than her name.

"Last time I saw you, you was struggling... driving around in some shitty little three-wheeled van!"

"You showed us that poster of when you appeared on the same bill as Otis Reading at the Talk of the Town, London"

"It was Laurie London at the Talk of the Town, Reading!"

Philip Pope (Tony Angelino) was part of the Radio Active/KYTV team in the eighties and nineties, which also included Angus Deyton and future Head of Comedy at the BBC Geoffrey Perkins (and "And The Unlucky Winner Is..." actor Michael Fenton-Stevens). Pope also composes music for radio and TV, and is responsible for the theme tunes to "Through the Keyhole" and "My Hero", amongst others.

Eugene McCarthy is "A local villain. The SAS pays him protection money!". He owns the Starlight Rooms after forcing Eric to sell to him, and is fond of nailing people to doors.

Towser (who, astonishingly, would seem to be someone mentioned back in Series 3 in "Healthy Competition") is mentioned - he has a line in "quality reject three piece suites"!

Del mentions there are 300 packets of crisps in the Trotter's garage

Raquel mentions that they noticed Tony's "problem" in rehearsals - so why didn't they change the set list? The ending of the episode involves the revelation that Eugene's Mum found the show hilarious, and loved it... yet earlier on we witnessed the stony silence after the first song. Surely she didn't change her mind that drastically based on subsequent numbers?

How does Del know Mike's missus as he claims? It's been stated previously that they broke up in 1973, yet Del's first meeting with Mike happened on screen, ten years later [he's speaking figuratively; he knows OF her].

Philip Pope asked the "Only Fools" producers if Tony could become a semi-regular character on the series. They explained that they viewed him as a "one off".

The pinnacle of the episode is the performance of "Cwying" by Tony and Raquel. All the better for being seen in full, the genius is in Tony's sudden Elvis-style arrival on stage and the first, dramatic, belting out of the song's chorus!

"Stick with me son, I'll make you wich!"

This is a lost and forgotten episode, and it really doesn't deserve to be. It's certainly one I have fond memories of, and in particular the scene where Tony takes off his stacked boots, wig, fake tan and 'trouser sausage' to stroll out unnoticed past the women that were previously screaming for him. Tessa Peake-Jones is especially fine here, and by comparison Gwyneth Strong's Cassandra character isn't missed by her absence. Philip Pope is wonderful as Tony, and comes over as quite a tragic figure, and this is also notable for being one of those rare episodes when the Trotters finish on top, Eugene's Mum transpiring to love her birthday performance! All in all, a bit of a gem.