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The Rag Trade

30min

Comedy

The Rag Trade is a British television sitcom broadcast by the BBC between 1961 and 1963 and by LWT between 1977 and 1978. The scripts were by Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney, who later wrote Wild, Wild Women, Meet the Wife and On the Buses. Wild, Wild Women was a period variation of The Rag Trade. The action centred on a small clothing workshop, Fenner Fashions in London. Although run by Harold Fenner and Reg the foreman, the female workers are led by militant shop steward Paddy Fleming, ever ready to strike, with the catchphrase "Everybody out!" Other cast members included Sheila Hancock, Esma Reese Cannon, Wanda Ventham and Barbara Windsor. The Rag Trade was revived by ITV company LWT in 1977, with Jones and Karlin reprising their roles. The 1977 version ran for two series, most of the scripts being based on the BBC episodes from the 1960s, and featured Anna Karen and future EastEnders star Gillian Taylforth as factory workers. The theme tune for the LWT series was written and performed by Lynsey De Paul.

Episodes

Cast

Season 1

The Baby

1. The Baby

30min

6th Oct 1961

When Fenner finds one of the girls has brought her baby to work, the resultant fracas between management and staff threatens production of a line of polka dot gowns.

Getting Married

2. Getting Married

30min

13th Oct 1961

Paddy promises Carole the girls will be able to make her a wedding dress with material left over from an order for Arcadia Gowns.

Early Start

3. Early Start

30min

20th Oct 1961

Fenner installs a time clock to help gain a contract with chain store Parks & Spicer and the resultant docking of wages leaves the girls with no money to bet on a sure thing at the races.

The French Fashions

4. The French Fashions

30min

27th Oct 1961

Fenner arranges for Carole to model a pair of slacks at the Ritz Plaza to help secure an American order.

The Sample

5. The Sample

30min

3rd Nov 1961

Paddy allows Carole to wear a sample dress to lunch with her sailor boyfriend and a resultant mishap jeopardizes a 3:30 viewing by a prospective buyer.

Unhappy Customer

6. Unhappy Customer

30min

10th Nov 1961

Fenner is determined to enforce a ban on eating in the workroom when an angry customer returns items of food in his garments.

Series 1, Episode 7

7. Series 1, Episode 7

30min

17th Nov 1961

Fenner Fashions has been awarded a contract to supply Wren uniforms to the Admiralty by inadvertently tendering bankruptingly low prices so the girls have to show their workmanship is shoddy to save the situation.

Doctor's Orders

8. Doctor's Orders

30min

24th Nov 1961

Fenner is laid low with a heavy cold at the very moment he has to produce a gown which is to be worn on television by an international singing star and lead to numerous orders.

The Italian Designer

9. The Italian Designer

30min

1st Dec 1961

The arrival of Roberto, an Italian beachwear designer, causes strained relations among the girls in the workroom.

Christmas Box

10. Christmas Box

30min

8th Dec 1961

To make a bit of pocket money for the Festive season, Paddy and the girls produce 300 golliwog dolls, unbeknownst to Fenner.

First air date

6th Oct 1961

Last air date

18th Dec 1977

Status

Returning Series

Type

Scripted

Original language

en

Networks