Show cover for The Rag Trade

The Best Episodes of The Rag Trade

Every episode of The Rag Trade ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Rag Trade!

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.

Genre:Comedy
Network:BBC One

Top Episode Ratings Summary

The best episode of "The Rag Trade" is "Series 2, Episode 4", rated 8.2/10 from 7 user votes. It was directed by Dennis Main Wilson and written by N/A. "Series 2, Episode 4" aired on 4/27/1962 and is rated 0.2 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Series 2, Episode 6".

  • Series 2, Episode 4
    8.2/10 7 votes

    #1 - Series 2, Episode 4

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 4/27/1962

    No description available

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Series 2, Episode 6
    8.0/10 8 votes

    #2 - Series 2, Episode 6

    Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 5/11/1962

    No description available

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • The French Fashions
    7.9/10 10 votes

    #3 - The French Fashions

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/27/1961

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

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Series 2, Episode 11
    7.6/10 7 votes

    #4 - Series 2, Episode 11

    Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 6/15/1962

    No description available

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Series 2, Episode 7
    7.4/10 7 votes

    #5 - Series 2, Episode 7

    Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 5/18/1962

    No description available

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Series 2, Episode 10
    7.4/10 7 votes

    #6 - Series 2, Episode 10

    Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 6/8/1962

    No description available

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Series 2, Episode 13
    7.4/10 7 votes

    #7 - Series 2, Episode 13

    Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 6/29/1962

    No description available

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Christmas Box
    7.2/10 9 votes

    #8 - Christmas Box

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/8/1961

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

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Series 2, Episode 2
    7.2/10 10 votes

    #9 - Series 2, Episode 2

    Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 4/13/1962

    No description available

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Getting Married
    7.1/10 8 votes

    #10 - Getting Married

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/13/1961

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

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Series 2, Episode 3
    7.1/10 9 votes

    #11 - Series 2, Episode 3

    Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 4/20/1962

    No description available

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • The Baby
    7.0/10 10 votes

    #12 - The Baby

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/6/1961

    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.

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Early Start
    6.9/10 9 votes

    #13 - Early Start

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/20/1961

    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.

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • The Sample
    6.8/10 10 votes

    #14 - The Sample

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 11/3/1961

    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.

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Series 2, Episode 12
    6.8/10 7 votes

    #15 - Series 2, Episode 12

    Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 6/22/1962

    No description available

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Unhappy Customer
    6.6/10 8 votes

    #16 - Unhappy Customer

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/10/1961

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

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Series 2, Episode 1
    6.3/10 10 votes

    #17 - Series 2, Episode 1

    Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 4/6/1962

    No description available

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Doctor's Orders
    5.7/10 7 votes

    #18 - Doctor's Orders

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/24/1961

    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.

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Series 1, Episode 7
    NaN/10 0 votes

    #19 - Series 1, Episode 7

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/17/1961

    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.

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • The Italian Designer
    NaN/10 0 votes

    #20 - The Italian Designer

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 12/1/1961

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

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Series 2, Episode 5
    NaN/10 0 votes

    #21 - Series 2, Episode 5

    Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 5/4/1962

    No description available

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Series 2, Episode 8
    NaN/10 0 votes

    #22 - Series 2, Episode 8

    Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 5/25/1962

    No description available

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Series 2, Episode 9
    NaN/10 0 votes

    #23 - Series 2, Episode 9

    Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 6/1/1962

    No description available

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Series 3, Episode 1
    NaN/10 0 votes

    #24 - Series 3, Episode 1

    Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 1/5/1963

    No description available

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A

  • Series 3, Episode 2
    NaN/10 0 votes

    #25 - Series 3, Episode 2

    Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 1/12/1963

    No description available

    Director: Dennis Main Wilson

    Writer: N/A