The Rag Trade

The Rag Trade

1961 5 Seasons 58 Episodes ⭐ 6.3 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.

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.

Seasons & Episodes

EP 1

The Baby

When Fenner finds one of the girls has brought her baby to work, the resultant fracas between management and staff threa

EP 2

Getting Married

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

EP 3

Early Start

Fenner installs a time clock to help gain a contract with chain store Parks & Spicer and the resultant docking of wages

EP 4

The French Fashions

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

EP 5

The Sample

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

EP 6

Unhappy Customer

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

EP 7

Series 1, Episode 7

(Lost Episode) Fenner Fashions has been awarded a contract to supply Wren uniforms to the Admiralty by inadvertently ten

EP 8

Doctor's Orders

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

EP 9

The Italian Designer

(Lost Episode) The arrival of Roberto, an Italian beachwear designer, causes strained relations among the girls in the w

EP 10

Christmas Box

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

EP 1

The Thief

Paddy has installed a fruit machine in the rest room. The factory electricity supply is cut off for non-payment of the b

EP 2

Lily's Dog

Lily's puppy Dinky is feeling poorly so she brings him into the factory.

EP 3

Locked In

A lady factory inspector arrives to discover Reg, dressed in drag, in the ladies' rest room.

EP 4

Painting Fenner's Flat

Fenner gives Reg the keys to his flat so that he can paint the walls. Paddy holds her birthday party there. Fenner retur

EP 5

Series 2, Episode 5

(Lost Episode) Carole and Paddy take the day off, but find themselves in hot water when Mr. Fenner returns unexpectedly.

EP 6

The Client

Fenner makes a time and motion study of the girls, but loses money on the deal. His potential buyer for the dresses is a

EP 7

Stay-In Strike

A stuck-up new secretary takes Carole's job of modelling causing Paddy to take industrial action.

EP 8

The Fish and Chip Shop

(Lost Episode) Paddy and Reg take over the running of a fish and chip shop.

EP 9

Safety Precaution

Paddy calls frequent stoppages for fire drills. Reg has to impersonate a French designer and romance a female buyer.

EP 10

Stainproofer

Chaos results at Fenner's Fashions when bleach is exchanged for stain proofing.

EP 11

Doctor

The factory's girls are attracted to a young doctor. This causes them to fall behind with their work. Paddy tries to rec

EP 12

Barber's Shop

Paddy adds laundry service to Fenner's Fashions to earn some extra money.

EP 13

The Bank Manager

Fenner tries to persuade his bank manager that Fenner's Fashions is a good investment. He cannot sell a batch of baby do

EP 1

The Australian

(Lost Episode) Fenner and Paddy try to find Reg a woman

EP 2

Triplets

(Lost Episode)

EP 3

Series 3, Episode 3

(Lost Episode) Fenners hires Reg's mother as his new assistant

EP 4

Series 3, Episode 4

(Lost Episode)

EP 5

Baby Dolls

(Lost Episode) Fenner becomes obsessed with horse racing

EP 6

Mistaken Tax

(Lost Episode) Reg's lies over his tax forms come back to haunt him

EP 7

After The Ball

(Lost Episode) Fenner has to pretend Judy is his daughter when they go to represent Fenners Fashion at a ball

EP 8

The Budgie

(Lost Episode)

EP 9

Series 3, Episode 9

(Lost Episode)

EP 10

The Italian Girl

(Lost Episode) Judy accuses Reg of having an affair

EP 11

Babysitters Unlimited

(Lost Episode) Fenner finds himself in debt with only the girls to help him

EP 12

National Productivity Year

(Lost Episode) Paddy's job is on the line when another strike attempt sadly backfires

EP 13

The Engagement Ring

(Lost Episode) Reg and Judy's engagement party is ruined when the engagement ring is stolen

EP 1

Stay In Strike

Fenner entertains a German client who's keen to see the workforce. Unfortunately, it's before nine o'clock and the worke

EP 2

The Sample

The girls have produced an exclusive Italian sample dress for a potential buyer. Unfortunately, when the buyer arrives t

EP 3

Fixing the Rate

Fenner has a problem - a rising wage bill and falling production. To improve the situation, he sets up a time and motion

EP 4

The Lunch Problem

The local diner has put its prices up, leaving the girls out of pocket. They are outraged when Fenner refuses to give th

EP 5

The Export Order

Fenner is ecstatic to land an order from the US. Knowing the American market is demanding, he insists on perfection. Unf

EP 6

The Italian Line

Mr. Fenner brings in an Italian designer to help with the smooth running of the factory. Paddy is instantly opposed, unt

EP 7

Olive's Baby

After a row with her old man, Olive has no choice but to bring her baby into work. Terrified that Fenner will disapprove

EP 8

The Wedding Dress

Kathy announces that she's marrying Big Jim who works on an oil rig. To save her expense, the girls agree to make her a

EP 9

The Sideline

Fenner has picked up an order for a line of fur coats. When Olive makes a panda toy with some of the waste, Paddy spots

EP 10

The Guvnor's Wife

When Kathy and Paddy tape down the button which switches the intercom on, Mrs. Fenner hears some home truths from her hu

EP 11

The New Girl

Mr. Fenner realises that during his absence, production plummets. To counter this, he hires stuck-up June to supervise.

EP 12

The Bet

Fenner gets the chance to supply a large chain with Fenner Fashions, however, the girls are distracted when they place a

EP 13

The Accident

When Kathy falls off a chair in the restroom while trying on a dress, Paddy tries to get her compensation by rigging up

EP 14

The New Brother

Skilled seamstress Shana Ahmed is employed to complete the hand embroidery on a new line. Her husband objects to her wor

EP 15

Christmas Rush

Production always slows down as Christmas nears and one dress gets destroyed as the clock reaches 5pm. Will anyone stay

EP 1

The Annual Ball

The girls are busy getting an order ready for Glamour Gowns, but once again their work is interrupted by Mrs Fenner, who

EP 2

The Leather Line

Fenner has an order, a design and the stock for a range of leather garments, unfortunately Paddy and the girls feel that

EP 3

Stress

The Banks start to close in on Fenner Fashions, and he's forced to economise or go under. Fearing for his health, and th

EP 4

A Bad Patch

Things go from bad to worse for Fenner, not a single order comes through, to keep busy, the girls offer to decorate the

EP 5

Come Back Paddy

Fenner is close to landing a large order, but he's up against Roger Jackson's rival factory. Chances of the order seem s

EP 6

Self Defence

The girls are terrified by the number of attacks in the area, and threaten industrial action, unless Fenner pays for the

EP 7

Fenner's Folly

Fenner's in a flap over a sample cocktail dress, and even agrees to an extortionate rate from Paddy, the reason, Miss Bu

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