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The Best Episodes of Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?

Every episode of Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?!

Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? is a British sitcom which was broadcast between 9 January 1973 and 9 April 1974 on BBC1. It was the colour sequel to the mid-1960s hit The Likely Lads. It was created and written, as was its predecessor, by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. There were 26 television episodes over two series; and a subsequent 45-minute Christmas special was aired on 24 December 1974. The cast were reunited in 1975 for a BBC radio adaptation of series 1, transmitted on Radio 4 from July to October that year. In 1976, a feature film spin-off was made. Around the time of its release, however, Rodney Bewes and James Bolam fell out over a misunderstanding involving the press and have not spoken since. This long-suspected situation was finally confirmed by Bewes while promoting his autobiography in 2005. Unlike Bewes, Bolam is consistently reluctant to talk about the show, and has vetoed any attempt to revive his character.

Genre:Comedy
Network:BBC One

Top Episode Ratings Summary

The best episode of "Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?" is "No Hiding Place", rated 9/10 from 101 user votes. It was directed by James Gilbert and written by Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais. "No Hiding Place" aired on 2/20/1973 and is rated 0.0 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Conduct Unbecoming".

  • No Hiding Place
    9.0/10 101 votes

    #1 - No Hiding Place

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 2/20/1973

    Bob and Terry are desperate not to know the result of the England v Bulgaria football match, but with eight hours to go will they succeed in their mission?

    Director: James Gilbert

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • Conduct Unbecoming
    9.0/10 69 votes

    #2 - Conduct Unbecoming

    Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 4/1/1974

    When faced with a fight, Terry has a golden rule: 'Do unto others as they would do unto you - but do it first'.

    Director: Bernard Thompson

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • The Great Race
    8.9/10 68 votes

    #3 - The Great Race

    Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 2/11/1974

    Bob and Terry argue about fitness over a pint and challenge each other to a cross-country cycle race to see who's the fittest.

    Director: Bernard Thompson

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • Affairs and Relations
    8.7/10 61 votes

    #4 - Affairs and Relations

    Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 3/4/1974

    Bob takes time off from marriage to join Terry on a quiet weekend's fishing. He's racked by guilt, but he's not the guilty party.

    Director: Bernard Thompson

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?
    8.6/10 67 votes

    #5 - Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 2/27/1973

    Bob thinks Terry needs new friends, but inviting him to Alan and Brenda's trendy dinner party might not be such a great idea.

    Director: James Gilbert

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • End of An Era
    8.6/10 58 votes

    #6 - End of An Era

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 4/3/1973

    The day of the wedding dawns and the women are racing around getting ready for the big event. Meanwhile, Terry has his hands full looking after a nervous Bob.

    Director: James Gilbert

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • One For the Road
    8.6/10 50 votes

    #7 - One For the Road

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 2/4/1974

    According to Bob and Shakespeare, 'wine is a gentle stimulant and good companion' and so is Terry on the night Bob gets breathalyzed.

    Director: Bernard Thompson

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • Christmas Special
    8.6/10 88 votes

    #8 - Christmas Special

    Season 2 Episode 14 - Aired 12/24/1974

    Bob and Thelma are determined to enjoy the Christmas festivities to the full. Terry passes his driving test and drives Bob and Thelma to a Christmas party as their minicab driver, and waits for them outside. Inevitably, Terry creates a problem or two for Bob which starts the season off on quite the wrong foot.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Someday We'll Laugh About All This
    8.4/10 52 votes

    #9 - Someday We'll Laugh About All This

    Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 2/18/1974

    Terry suggests he look after the house when Bob and Thelma go away to Scotland for the weekend. Bob is reluctant at first, but agrees to hand over the keys when Terry promises to do some much-needed DIY. But Terry has an ulterior motive for making such a generous offer.

    Director: Bernard Thompson

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • In Harms Way
    8.4/10 49 votes

    #10 - In Harms Way

    Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 2/25/1974

    Bob is in so much pain from the injury caused by Terry's shoddy DIY that he goes to the hospital. Terry is working there as a porter, a fact he tries to hide from his friend, even going so far as to don a disguise. But his attempts to help Bob only cause him more harm.

    Director: Bernard Thompson

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • Strangers On A Train
    8.3/10 82 votes

    #11 - Strangers On A Train

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 1/9/1973

    Five years have passed. Bob has travelled to London to buy a wedding present and Terry has returned from Cyprus after a spell in the army. By chance, they meet on the last train home and the events of the past few years flood out.

    Director: James Gilbert

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • I'll Never Forget Whatshername
    8.3/10 61 votes

    #12 - I'll Never Forget Whatshername

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 2/6/1973

    Terry tries to track down some of his old flames, but probing into the past produces embarrassing results.

    Director: James Gilbert

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • Storm In a Tea Chest
    8.3/10 64 votes

    #13 - Storm In a Tea Chest

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 3/6/1973

    Terry helps Bob move his most treasured possessions from his old house to the new one, but Thelma refuses to have his junk in their home.

    Director: James Gilbert

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • The Shape of Things to Come
    8.3/10 54 votes

    #14 - The Shape of Things to Come

    Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 4/9/1974

    The death of disreputable old Uncle Jacob is received by the Collier family with a mixture of regret and relief. The funeral gives Bob an insight into his future.

    Director: Bernard Thompson

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • Home is the Hero
    8.2/10 68 votes

    #15 - Home is the Hero

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 1/16/1973

    Thelma isn't happy that Terry and Bob have rekindled their friendship and she's worried that Terry will cause Bob to have second thoughts about their wedding. Terry starts to feel homesick for the army as his family don't exactly welcome him back with open arms.

    Director: James Gilbert

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • Cold Feet
    8.2/10 60 votes

    #16 - Cold Feet

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 1/23/1973

    Bob is deeply involved in preparations for his forthcoming wedding to Thelma, completing a period of courtship that started in form 4B at Park Junior School. But Terry's return has caused Bob to have doubts, especially when Terry teases him that his fate was sealed long before their 11-Plus.

    Director: James Gilbert

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • The Old Magic
    8.2/10 62 votes

    #17 - The Old Magic

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 3/13/1973

    Terry is disappointed that Bob has asked someone else to be his best man at the wedding, but eventually agrees to go out for a meal with his friend before he gets hitched. After a few drinks at the restaurant, they start to chat up a couple of pretty girls who are also eating there.

    Director: James Gilbert

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • Boys Night In
    8.2/10 56 votes

    #18 - Boys Night In

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 3/27/1973

    Terry is horrified when Bob refuses to go on a stag night and insists on a quiet night in instead. But pre-wedding nerves mean Bob's plan to celebrate his nuptials sober goes awry.

    Director: James Gilbert

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • Birthday Boy
    8.1/10 62 votes

    #19 - Birthday Boy

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 2/13/1973

    Terry feels depressed when everyone, even his mother, forgets his birthday. To make up for it, Bob throws a surprise party, but preparations for the bash don't go according to plan.

    Director: James Gilbert

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • Moving On
    8.0/10 66 votes

    #20 - Moving On

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 1/30/1973

    Appalled by the changes in Newcastle, Terry considers leaving to get a job in Berwick. Meanwhile, his friend's wanderlust sets Bob thinking.

    Director: James Gilbert

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • Count Down
    8.0/10 56 votes

    #21 - Count Down

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 3/20/1973

    Mrs Chambers has grandiose plans for Thelma's wedding to Bob that leaves the men feeling overwhelmed, so they decide to rebel.

    Director: James Gilbert

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • Heart to Heart
    8.0/10 53 votes

    #22 - Heart to Heart

    Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 1/21/1974

    Bob comes back from his honeymoon to find that Terry is off his beer and is going out with Thelma's sister Susan. Is Terry in love?

    Director: Bernard Thompson

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • The Expert
    8.0/10 51 votes

    #23 - The Expert

    Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 3/11/1974

    Thelma has gone back to her mother, leaving Bob to bemoan his fate.

    Director: Bernard Thompson

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • Absent Friends
    7.9/10 54 votes

    #24 - Absent Friends

    Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 1/14/1974

    Bob forgets to tell Thelma that he gave Terry a key to their home while on honeymoon.

    Director: Dick Clement

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais

  • The Go-Between
    7.9/10 50 votes

    #25 - The Go-Between

    Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 3/25/1974

    Bob becomes more and more depressed by Thelma's absence and Terry's housekeeping. Finally, Terry can take no more and leaves him as well.

    Director: Bernard Thompson

    Writer: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais