No Sex Please, We’re British

This production became the longest running comedy in British theatre history on 16th July 1977, when it hit 2,548 performances – beating the previous record holder, THERE’S A GIRL IN MY SOUP, which closed after 2,547. (‘Record-Breaking Sex’, The Stage 7th July 1977, page 28.) Ten years later, the final performance total had risen to 6,761.

The characters of Miss Little and Mr Atkins were dropped after the initial tour dates.

Dennis Ramsden created the role of Mr Needham in April 1971, playing it for two years and then returning to it in January 1980. Ramsden’s initial successor as Mr Needham, Arthur Howard, was himself succeeded by Leo Franklyn, then resumed the role after Franklyn died on 17th September 1975. Hugh Lloyd also had two spells in this role. Other recurring actors included Ian Masters, Helen Christie, Peter Graves, Moyra Fraser, Giles Cole and Neil France.

Cast & Crew

Cast

Barbara
Brian Runnicles
delivery man
Eleanor Hunter
Frances Hunter
Leslie Bromhead
Miss Little
Mr Atkins
Mr Needham
Peter Hunter
Superintendent Paul
Susan
Peter Hunter (replacement 1)
  (started November 1971)
Susan (replacement 1)
  (started 1st November 1971)
Frances Hunter (replacement 1)
  (started 1972)
Peter Hunter (replacement)
  (started 1972)
Brian Runnicles (replacement 1)
  (started June 1972)
Frances Hunter (replacement 2)
  (started June 1972)
delivery man (replacement)
  (started 1973)
Frances Hunter (temporary replacement)
  (1973)
Mr Needham (replacement)
  (started 1973)
Susan (replacement)
  (started 1973)
Eleanor Hunter (replacement 1)
  (started 9th April 1973)
Brian Runnicles (temporary replacement)
  (28th May – 16th June 1973)
Brian Runnicles (replacement 2)
  (started September 1973)
Frances Hunter (replacement 3)
  (started September 1973)
Eleanor Hunter (replacement 2)
  (started December 1973)
Frances Hunter (replacement 4)
  (started 1974)
Peter Hunter (replacement)
  (started 1974)
Susan (replacement 2)
  (started 1974)
Mr Needham (replacement)
  (started 1975)
Brian Runnicles (replacement 3)
  (started January 1975)
Eleanor Hunter (replacement 3)
  (started January 1975)
Frances Hunter (replacement 5)
  (started January 1975)
Susan (replacement)
  (started January 1975)
delivery man (replacement)
  (started January 1976)
Barbara (replacement)
  (started 12th January 1976)
Brian Runnicles (replacement 4)
  (started 12th January 1976)
delivery man (replacement)
  (started 12th January 1976)
Frances Hunter (replacement 6)
  (started 12th January 1976)
Leslie Bromhead (replacement 1)
  (started 12th January 1976)
Peter Hunter (replacement)
  (started 12th January 1976)
Susan (replacement)
  (started 12th January 1976)
(replacement)
  (started 10th January 1977)
(replacement)
  (started 10th January 1977)
(replacement)
  (started 10th January 1977)
(replacement)
  (started 10th January 1977)
Brian Runnicles (replacement 5)
  (started 10th January 1977)
Eleanor Hunter (replacement 4)
  (started 10th January 1977)
Frances Hunter (replacement 7)
  (started 10th January 1977)
Leslie Bromhead (replacement)
  (started 10th January 1977)
Peter Hunter (replacement)
  (started 10th January 1977)
(replacement)
  (started 16th January 1978)
(replacement)
  (started 16th January 1978)
Barbara (replacement)
  (started 16th January 1978)
Eleanor Hunter (replacement 5)
  (started 16th January 1978)
Mr Needham (replacement)
  (started 16th January 1978)
Superintendent Paul (replacement)
  (started 16th January 1978)
Susan (replacement)
  (started 16th January 1978)
Barbara (replacement)
  (started 15th January 1979)
Brian Runnicles (replacement)
  (started 15th January 1979)
delivery man (replacement)
  (started 15th January 1979)
Eleanor Hunter (replacement 6)
  (started 15th January 1979)
Frances Hunter (replacement)
  (started 15th January 1979)
Peter Hunter (replacement)
  (started 15th January 1979)
Susan (replacement)
  (started 15th January 1979)
(replacement)
  (started 1980)
Barbara (replacement)
  (started 14th January 1980)
Leslie Bromhead (replacement)
  (started 14th January 1980)
Mr Needham (replacement)
  (started 14th January 1980)
Susan (replacement)
  (started 14th January 1980)
(replacement)
  (started June 1980)
Mr Needham (replacement)
  (started 16th November 1981)
Barbara (replacement)
  (started January 1982)
Brian Runnicles (replacement)
  (started January 1982)
delivery man (replacement)
  (started January 1982)
Eleanor Hunter (replacement)
  (started January 1982)
Frances Hunter (replacement)
  (started January 1982)
Leslie Bromhead (replacement)
  (started January 1982)
Mr Needham (replacement)
  (started January 1982)
Peter Hunter (replacement)
  (started January 1982)
Superintendent Paul (replacement)
  (started January 1982)
Susan (replacement)
  (started January 1982)
delivery man (replacement)
  (started 1983)
Eleanor Hunter (replacement)
  (started 1983)
Frances Hunter (replacement)
  (started 1983)
Leslie Bromhead (replacement)
  (started 1983)
Mr Needham (replacement)
  (started 1983)
Peter Hunter (replacement)
  (started 1983)
Superintendent Paul (replacement)
  (started 1983)
Barbara (replacement)
  (started 23rd January 1984)
Brian Runnicles (replacement)
  (started 23rd January 1984)
delivery man (replacement)
  (started 23rd January 1984)
Eleanor Hunter (replacement)
  (started 23rd January 1984)
Frances Hunter (replacement)
  (started 23rd January 1984)
Leslie Bromhead (replacement)
  (started 23rd January 1984)
Peter Hunter (replacement)
  (started 23rd January 1984)
Susan (replacement)
  (started 23rd January 1984)
(replacement)
  (started 21st January 1985)
(replacement)
  (started 21st January 1985)
(replacement)
  (started 21st January 1985)
Leslie Bromhead (replacement)
  (started 21st January 1985)
Barbara (replacement)
  (started 20th January 1986)
Brian Runnicles (replacement)
  (started 20th January 1986)
delivery man (replacement)
  (started 20th January 1986)
Eleanor Hunter (replacement)
  (started 20th January 1986)
Frances Hunter (replacement)
  (started 20th January 1986)
Leslie Bromhead (replacement)
  (started 20th January 1986)
Mr Needham (replacement)
  (started 20th January 1986)
Peter Hunter (replacement)
  (started 20th January 1986)
Superintendent Paul (replacement)
  (started 20th January 1986)
Susan (replacement)
  (started 20th January 1986)
(replacement)
  (started 1987)
(replacement)
  (started 1987)
Barbara (replacement)
  (started 1987)
Brian Runnicles (replacement)
  (started 1987)
Frances Hunter (replacement)
  (started 1987)
Leslie Bromhead (replacement)
  (started 1987)
Peter Hunter (replacement)
  (started 1987)
Susan (replacement)
  (started 1987)

Crew

Designer
Director
Lighting
Miss Evelyn Laye’s costumes by (original)
Press Representative (original)
Production and Stage Manager (original)
Wardrobe Mistress (original)
Assistant Stage Manager (original)
Assistant to Hutchinson Scott (original)
Deputy Stage Manager (original)
Ladies’ costumes designed by (original)
Personal Assistant to Mr Gale (original)
Production Carpenter (original)
Scenery built and painted by

Photographs

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Photo credits

  • No Sex Please We're British Programme, Public domain due to age
  • Helen Christie, Public domain due to age
  • Peter Graves, Public domain due to age
  • No Sex Please We're British Inside Cover, Public domain due to age

Observations

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