After Henry

After Henry is a British sitcom written by Simon Brett, and starring Prunella Scales and Joan Sanderson. Originating as a radio programme on BBC Radio 4 from 1985 to 1989, it was adapted for television by Thames Television. Sarah is the 42-year-old widow of GP Henry France. She lives in an often volatile family situation with her elderly mother Eleanor Prescott, and her daughter, 18-year-old Clare, with both of whom she shares a house. Following Henry's death, the family have to find a way to cope with each other as best they can. The BBC was initially hesitant to produce a series but after three successful runs on BBC Radio 4, it was commissioned for the small screen. The series was surprisingly popular, attracting over 14 million viewers. Four seasons were made, with the last transmitted after the death of Sanderson, who died on 24 May 1992.

Genre: Comedy,

Actor:

Creator: Simon Brett,

Country: United Kingdom,

Type: tv

Season: 4

Episode: N/A

Duration: 30 minutes

Release: 1988-01-04

Rating: 5.7

Season 1 - After Henry
1988-01-04
Sarah hears via her mother's geriatric gossip network that Clare is secretly meeting an older man and feels that she has to find out what's really going on.
1988-01-11
Sarah thinks she has finally found the perfect way to stop her mother from snooping in her part of the house. Unfortunately, she hasn't reckoned with Eleanor's devious behaviour.
1988-01-18
Eleanor is undecided about the terms of her will, and, of course, sees this as a wonderful opportunity to play her daughter against her granddaughter.
1988-01-25
A lapse of security forces Sarah to install a burglar alarm, but Eleanor, needless to say, has other ideas as to how their property should be protected.
1988-02-01
Sarah finds herself caught in the middle as both her daughter and her mother force her to listen to endless confidences about their love lives.
1988-02-08
A major celebration is approaching for Eleanor, and Sarah has secret plans for making the occasion memorable. But is it actually possible to keep anything secret from her mother?
1988-12-26
Sarah plans a traditional Christmas but finds that Russell isn't interested at all. And Eleanor has her own slightly outdated take on 'traditional'!

Season 2 - After Henry
1988-12-26
Sarah plans a traditional Christmas but finds that Russell isn't interested at all. And Eleanor has her own slightly outdated take on 'traditional'!
1989-01-17
Clare gets into an intellectual challenge with her new boyfriend whom she believes to be terribly brainy. Eleanor decides it's a contest she can't be left out of.
1989-01-24
When Sarah is invited out for lunch by a man, she has to make contingency plans to prevent her mother's 'Geriatric Mafia' finding out about it.
1989-01-31
It's quiz night and Clare and Eleanor are in opposing teams, while Sarah seems to be having problems with the accuracy of her memory.
1989-02-07
Sarah feels lousy, but in her family she's last on the list of casualties allowed to be treated if other people feel ill as well.
1989-02-07
Eleanor wants to have a family wedding because she has heard that Vera Polling is having one and that, of course, puts the pressure on Sarah and Clare.
1989-03-07
Sarah and Eleanor have fallen out and there seems little chance of a reconciliation. But Clare decides to use one of her old school games to alleviate the problem.
1989-03-14
Sarah is accused of scandal-mongering after inadvertently starting a rumour about the pension counter's sister.
1989-03-14
With Eleanor off to the Bridge Club dinner and dance with Vera Polling, Sarah decides to invite Dr. Sam Greenland over for a quiet dinner but things do not go according to plan.
1989-03-21
With Eleanor off to the Bridge Club dinner and dance with Vera Polling, Sarah decides to invite Dr Sam Greenland over for a quiet dinner. But the best laid plans...
1989-03-28
Sarah, Eleanor and Clare are enlisted by the local amateur dramatic society when it suddenly loses its leading players.
1989-04-04
Eleanor is left in charge of the bookshop when Russell and Sarah go off for a special lunch. She initiates an efficiency drive, which goes badly wrong.
1989-04-11
Eleanor is left in charge of the bookshop when Russell and Sarah go off for a special lunch. She initiates an efficiency drive, which goes badly wrong.
1989-12-25
Sarah makes plans to escape to Portugal for two weeks with her glamorous friend, Alison. But Eleanor brings all her emotional blackmailing skills to the fore to scupper the plans.

Season 3 - After Henry
1990-01-23
Christmas at home will never be the same without Henry, so Sarah, Eleanor and Clare decide to accept all the invitations they’re offered. Anything to get out of the house...
1990-01-30
Clare’s love life has been rocky in the past, but at last she has a boyfriend who seems perfect in every way. But is he too perfect for Sarah?
1990-02-06
Sarah knows her mother answers the phone for her, and also suspects Eleanor reads her mail. Russell decides to catch her out…
1990-02-13
For years, Eleanor has said that everyone would be happier if she moved into a home, and now, finally, she goes with Vera to investigate the delights of ‘The Sycamores’.
1990-02-20
Sarah asks some friends round for dinner, but finds that Clare is giving a party on the same day.
1990-02-27
Clare feels insulted when her new boyfriend pays more attention to fixing up her new car than to her.
1990-03-06
Sarah figures out how she can use her fund-raising activities for the local hospital as a way of securing a nice quiet evening with a nice quiet man.
1990-03-13
When a crime occurs at Russell's shop, Eleanor brings her experience of reading Agatha Christie novels to bear in solving the case.
1990-03-20
Eleanor intends to show off her social skills by giving a party, but Sarah is not on the guest list. Unfortunately, she involves Vera in the preparations.
1990-03-27
Sarah meets a smooth-talking gentleman who uses astrology as part of his chat-up routine but doesn't reckon with any of his predictions coming true.
1990-04-03
When Eleanor's sister Lilian visits, Eleanor's version of her past life is called into question.
1990-04-16
Sarah suddenly finds her uneventful life at a crossroads when she is offered a chance to change it completely. But can she take it...?

Season 4 - After Henry
1992-07-20
Eleanor's social life has lost its spark but Sarah is unable to find out why.
1992-07-27
Eleanor plays Lady Bountiful when Vera's young relatives come to visit.
1992-08-03
When Clare returns from Australia she refuses to talk about her experience out there. It is left to Eleanor to venture at the real reason for her silence.
1992-08-10
Clare's confidence is low after her split with Edward and so Sarah suggests she take an assertiveness course to rebuild her shattered morale.
1992-08-17
Clare tries to blot out the memory of her broken affair with Edward by taking up with someone totally unsuitable.
1992-08-24
Having sorted out the problem of Clare seeing a married man, Sarah now finds herself in an alarmingly similar situation. Of course Eleanor jumps to the wrong conclusion.