The Fosters

30min

Comedy

The Fosters is a British sitcom created and written by Jon Watkins and Eric Monte. It showcases the early work of Lenny Henry as the budding artist son of easygoing family man Samuel Foster (Norman Beaton). The series follows the day-to-day trials of Samuel, his lively wife Pearl (both immigrants from Guyana) and their three children on a South London housing estate.

Episodes

Cast

Sex and the Black Community

1. Sex and the Black Community

30min

9th Apr 1976

Sonny goes out to get a bottle of mouthwash ahead of his latest big date, Pearl's unhappy about Shirley's involvement with a 21-year-old, and Samuel comes under fire when he changes his mind about an obscene book.

My Son the Lover

2. My Son the Lover

30min

16th Apr 1976

Pearl refuses to think about what life will be like when the nest is empty, Shirley ridicules the idea that a popular girl could be interested in Sonny, and talk of popping the question suggests that things are pretty serious.

God's Business Is Good Business

3. God's Business Is Good Business

30min

23rd Apr 1976

Shirley gets a shock when she sees a Black face on the broken television, Samuel recognises the preacher as someone he knew in Guyana, and Pearl's far from pleased when the swindler offers her husband a job.

The Check Up

4. The Check Up

30min

30th Apr 1976

Shirley ends up with the wrong hours when she gets a job at a chip shop, Benjamin finds that his father's irritability might be due to hypertension, and Pearl knows that being laid off from work will make him even worse.

Black Jesus

5. Black Jesus

30min

7th May 1976

Sonny decides to enter a new art competition at the West Indian Centre, Pearl's unhappy when her special picture of Jesus changes colour, and an old drunk gets all the credit when the family have a run of good luck.

The Man I Most Admire

6. The Man I Most Admire

30min

14th May 1976

Benjamin tries to pick a man to write about for an English composition, Shirley insists that women are just as worthy of admiration as men, and Samuel returns home miserable after he chickens out of a job interview.

Situations Vacant

7. Situations Vacant

30min

21st May 1976

Pearl's told that an older woman has been given the job that she wanted, Samuel's left fuming when sexual discrimination laws get in his way, and the kids have to cook for themselves when their mum goes out to work.

Sonny Gets a Patron

8. Sonny Gets a Patron

30min

28th May 1976

Pearl and Shirley get sick of finding art equipment left around the house, Samuel discovers that his son's patron is a scammer, and Benjamin's not the only one to miss Sonny when he decides to move out.

Buy Now, Pay Later

9. Buy Now, Pay Later

30min

4th Jun 1976

Vilma has to take messages when Samuel forgets to pay the phone bill, a blind encyclopaedia salesman is shown pity when he comes knocking, and a closer look at the contract suggests that signing it was a mistake.

The Windfall

10. The Windfall

30min

11th Jun 1976

Returning home from work, Samuel finds a paper bag full of money in a dustbin.

Over the Hill

11. Over the Hill

30min

18th Jun 1976

Samuel is chosen for a government re-training scheme.

The Matchmaker

12. The Matchmaker

30min

25th Jun 1976

Pearl turns matchmaker when she decides it’s high time for Vilma to remarry.

Benjamin's Rebellion

13. Benjamin's Rebellion

30min

2nd Jul 1976

Rebellious Benjamin is sent home from school for being insolent.

New Year with the Fosters

14. New Year with the Fosters

30min

1st Jan 1977

The Fosters invite a poor neighbour to Samuel Foster supper, but what is her meat loaf made with?

First air date

9th Apr 1976

Last air date

9th Jul 1977

Status

Ended

Type

Scripted

Original language

en

Networks