Francie and Josie

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Francie and Josie
Also known asThe Adventures of Francie and Josie
Created by Rikki Fulton and Jack Milroy
StarringRikki Fulton
Jack Milroy
Clement Ashby
Glen Michael
Ethel Scott
Country of originScotland
No. of episodes32
Production
Running time25 minutes
Original release
Network Scottish Television
Release26 October 1962 (1962-10-26) 
15 August 1965 (1965-08-15)

Francie and Josie were a double act performed by Scottish comedians Jack Milroy as Francie and Rikki Fulton (of Scotch and Wry ) as Josie, from 1958 until the 1990s.

Contents

History

The Francie and Josie act first appeared on The Five Past Eight Show at the Alhambra Theatre Glasgow during the 1958 season, and was a brainwave of Stanley Baxter, Stan Mars and Rikki Fulton. Over the season, the idea grew and they refined the concept. [1] There would often be a solo sketch from Francie and Josie separately, and then one with the two together at the end.

In 1962, Scottish Television gave them their own show, The Adventures of Francie and Josie, which also starred Clement Ashby, Glen Michael, and Ethel Scott (the first wife of Rikki Fulton). The show became a hit, being broadcast by Anglia, Border Television, Grampian Television, Tyne Tees and UTV, resulting in the pair appearing at the opening of many British Relay TV rental shops. Their first shop opening, in Airdrie, caused such mayhem that crowds smashed the store's windows. [1] [2]

In 1965, the last television series was produced, with the pair returning to The Five Past Eight Show the following year. Both Milroy and Fulton were given their own show on Scottish Television. The double act toured around Scotland, and also inspired a pantomime. In 1970, the pair successfully toured Northern Ireland.

In 1970, they released an LP, Francie & Josie, on Pye's Golden Guinea label, recorded at the Ashfield Club in Glasgow and produced by Cyril Stapleton. It featured a number of Fulton's compositions. [3]

Episodes

Over its course, 32 episodes were made between 1962 and 1965. There was no series made in 1964, due to a technicians' strike.

Series 1: 1962

The first series consisted of reworkings of the original stage scripts. [4]

Series 2: 1963

Series 3: 1965

No episodes of The Adventures of Francie and Josie are known to have survived. Much of Scottish Television's early output was wiped and recorded over, a common practice in the television industry at the time. [5]

Characters

Revivals

After the success of the television series, the duo returned to the stage. Fulton suggested that he take over as scriptwriter as Stan Mars was moving on to America. The latter agreed, and gave Fulton licence to write the scripts. [4]

Two revival shows were recorded at the King's Theatre, Glasgow, reuniting Fulton and Milroy: Francie and Josie (1989), which was broadcast on BBC Scotland, [6] and The Farewell Performance (1996), which was direct-to-video.

In 2015, a show called Francie & Josie: The Return toured Scotland, starring Liam Dolan as Francie and Johnny Mac as Josie (credited as playing Milroy and Fulton, respectively). [7]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Fulton, Rikki (1999). Is It that time already?. p. 284. ISBN   9781902927022.
  2. "The Adventures Of Francie And Josie - ITV Sitcom". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  3. "Francie And Josie - Francie And Josie". Discogs. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  4. 1 2 Marshall, Muriel (July 2008). "Stagedoor". Scottish Music Hall Society. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  5. Ferguson, Brian (17 October 2013). "Francie and Josie among BFI lost Scots TV episodes". The Scotsman. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  6. "BBC Online - BBC Scotland 75 years - Programmes". 2 December 1998. Archived from the original on 2 December 1998. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  7. Maclean, Pauline (17 February 2015). "Stage Show Tribute to Francie and Josie comedy act". BBC. Retrieved 20 April 2016.