The essential episodes of Steptoe and Son
Watch these 15 in order and you've got Steptoe and Son — each pick states its reason.
- 01
The very first episode of what was to become an all time classic comedy series. In this episode that introduces the characters Harold is very unhappy working as a rag and bone man, and wants to leave for a better job. Albert, his father, seeing his workforce about to leave, conspires to get him to stay.
- 02
Harold is going out every night, so Albert suspects that he must being seeing a girl. Determined to put a stop to the romance, he gets Harold to invite the girl back to the house for dinner. Meanwhile, Albert puts the clocks forward so when she fails to show up at the right time, Harold thinks she has stood him up.
- 03
Harold is offered a piano, providing he moves it himself. He gets Albert to help, only to find out that it is on the top floor of a block of flats.
- 04
Harold tries to teach Albert about the economics of running a business. He then ends up buying 400 sets of false teeth hoping to make a killing. When they don't sell, he takes their last £10.00 and tries again, this time bringing home 400 World War 2 gas masks.
- 05
Harold decides to get out of the rag and bone trade and get a diploma in TV repair, only for Albert to prove that he knows more about it than him.
- 06
Albert's habit of having a bath in the front room is ruining his son's love life. Harold has had enough and decides to build a proper bathroom but Albert is not happy.
- 07
Albert decides to get married again, but despite the qualities of his future stepmother, Harold does everything to put a stop to it.
- 08
Harold has arranged a poker game with a few friends. Albert is morally outraged by the idea of gambling. However, he sees Harold is being cheated by his 'friends' and decides to help.
- 09
Harold buys a job lot of coffins and plans to store them in the house, only for Albert to object and threaten to sleep in the stable with the horse until they have been moved.
- 10
A con man, Welsh Hughie, played by guest star Leonard Rossiter, tries to sell the Steptoes some cheap lead.
- 11
Every Friday night, Harold has promised to take Albert out to the cinema, but it's always to a film that Harold wants to see, consequently Albert is bored to death and decides to wreak the whole evening.
- 12
For years Albert has been buying premium bonds, hoping for a winner, while Harold is sceptical that he will ever win. Imagine Harold's surprise when finally one of the bonds comes up and Albert's in the money.
- 13
In an attempt to bring in some money Albert decides to advertise for a lodger. Harold threatens to leave as soon as the lodger shows up.
- 14
Harold invites the local Labour Party organizer to a meeting, hoping they will adopt him as their candidate for the next election. Albert, who supports the Tories, plans to thwart his ambitions.
- 15
Seance in a Wet Rag and Bone Yard
Albert invites a spiritualist to give a reading so he can contact his dead wife, but Harold is sceptical over the whole thing...
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