Butterflies (TV series)

Butterflies is a British sitcom written by Carla Lane that aired in the 9 pm timeslot on BBC2 from 10 November 1978 to 19 October 1983, with each series repeated on BBC1 a few months after the original transmissions.

The subject, the day-to-day life of the comfortable middle-class Parkinson family, is treated in a bittersweet style. There are traditional comedy themes (such as Ria's terrible cooking, and various family squabbles) as well as other more serious themes such as Ria's unconsummated relationship with the outwardly-successful Leonard. Ria is still in love with her husband, Ben, and has raised two teenage sons, yet finds herself unhappy and dissatisfied with her life and in need of something more. Throughout the series, Ria searches for that "something more", and finds some solace in her unconventional friendship with Leonard. In a 2002 interview, Carla Lane explained, "I wanted to write a comedy about a woman seriously contemplating adultery." It is a bittersweet twist on two partners, once very much in love, whose marriage is actually breaking down, but this is not recognised by the husband who is totally engrossed in his work and profession.

Ria starts a romance with another man, which is initially seen by the viewer as a virtual image (almost like a thought bubble in a cartoon) as she walks through the park. He later turns out to be real. The Adagio is used as a "filler" for the lack of script.

Continuity

The Parkinsons' address is confirmed as 11 Jade Road in the season 3 episode "Gimme Shelter". However, this had changed to 27 Jade Road by the season 4 episode "Cleaning Windows".

Filming locations

thumb|Bournside Road, Cheltenham

Butterflies is set in the prosperous town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. (Ben refers to this in the final episode, "Loose Ends." Although the Parkinsons live in Jade Road, this is a fictitious address, actually filmed at 30 Bournside Road.) Many of the exterior scenes were filmed in Cheltenham, including the High Street, Montpellier and Hatherley Park. Exterior shots for the Parkinson house were filmed at 30 Bournside Road in Up Hatherley, Cheltenham. Some external shots were filmed outside Cheltenham and surrounds; the railway station in "An attractive visitor" was Moreton-in-Marsh.

Episodes

The series comprises twenty-eight episodes.

Series 1 (1978)

Series 2 (1979)

Series 3 (1980)

{|class=wikitable

!Series !!Year !!Episodes

|3 ||1980 ||

"An Empty Cage": Adam starts work as a lorry driver
"Ruby's Crisis": Ruby fights an urge to shoplift
"Pregnancy": Russell finds out his girlfriend Jeannie is pregnant, and tells his family
"Problems, Problems": The Parkinsons all have problems
"Happy Birthday, Ria": Ria takes a day trip to London
"Gimme Shelter": A friend of Ria's visits, but their conversation goes badly
"Parting": Leonard is going to New York and invites Ria to his flat before he goes

Series 4 (1983)

{|class=wikitable

!Series !!Year !!Episodes

|4 ||1983 ||

"Back from New York": Ria receives a letter from Leonard, then loses it
"Amanda": An ex of Ben's visits
"Pot": Ria and Ben return from their trip to Paris
"Cleaning Windows": Russell and Adam become window cleaners
"Calling": Jeannie tells Russell that she wants to be a single mother
"Breaking Up": Ria decides to end her friendship with Leonard
"Loose Ends": Leonard still wants an affair with Ria, but she decides against it

Christmas sketch (1982)

An eight-and-a-half-minute sketch aired as part of a Christmas special called The Funny Side of Christmas on BBC1 on 27 December 1982. The family are happy for a seasonal excuse to avoid eating Ria's food. She reveals to Adam privately that Leonard has gone to New York, but he is instead outside in his car, until Thomas reminds him that his former wife is waiting for him at home. Leonard calls Ria on the home phone and Russell answers. Asking for Ria, Leonard is told that Ria is kissing Ben under the mistletoe. When Ria gets to the phone, Leonard hears her voice and hangs up without speaking.

Special for Children in Need (2000)

In November 2000, the cast (except for Michael Ripper who had recently died) reunited for a 13-minute episode in aid of Children in Need. The premise is Ria's 60th birthday and the lack of change to her situation. Her son Adam is married and has a primary-school-aged daughter named Sophie. Russell however, has no interest in settling down.

American series pilot (1979)

An American remake was piloted but never commissioned. NBC broadcast the pilot in August 1979, with little change to the original scripting. It starred Jennifer Warren as Ria Parkinson and John McMartin as her husband, Ben Parkinson. Film actor Jim Hutton was featured as Leonard Dean in this version.

It was Hutton's final acting job. He died suddenly from liver cancer at the age of 45 in June 1979, several weeks before the pilot aired. The pilot aired alongside three other sitcom pilots under the umbrella title "Battle of the Sexes".

DVD release

All episodes of Butterflies are available on DVD in the UK, distributed by Acorn Media UK. Only the first two series are available in the US.