The Rag Trade

[grumpy01]

Just watching an old episode of this,I remember a number of the characters but didn't remember Olive.Assume the people who wrote On the Buses remembered the character and wrote her in as an integral role.

[Cloverjo]

I vaguely remember this show. I was very young when it was being broadcast.
I assume the actress was just playing a part, not written in because of any previous roles.

[grumpy01]

Have actually looked this up.The programme they're showing was one from ITV who brought it back in the 70's after it was on BBC early 60's.So  in actual fact Olive appeared in On the Buses first before reprising the character Olive in The Rag Trade.

[barry1010]

On the Buses and The Rag Trade were written by the same people. Reg Barney was in both, too

[barry1010]

Varney, not Barney

[barry1010]

This thread has reminded me of a fabulous series about sitcoms I watched years ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comedy_Connections?wprov=sfla1

[Arksided]

Just looked at you link Barry I used to watch that... But I'd forgotten that the Red Dwarf episode is a bonus feature on Series eight DVD... just looked and yep. 👍

[andy-hughes]

Reg Varney, the unfunniest man on television, until Michael MacIntyre arrived.

[Cloverjo]

No, Andy-Hughes, you must have missed Jim Davidson. 
 

Good to see you back anyway, A-H

[andy-hughes]

Thanks Cloverjo, I am happy to stand corrected!

[ToraToraTora]

The rag trade was a sort of spin off but as a parallel situation. Olive is the same character as on the buses but we see her from her employment rather than from her work shy husband as in OTB.

[barry1010]

Reg Varney played a different character

[ToraToraTora]

....surely that was Reg Barney😁sorry couldn't resist!

Yes he was another character because Stan was still a bus driver. I mean in the time setting of this show, I realise TRT was later. Olive was the same character because we are now seeing it from the side of her employment where as in OTB she went out to work because her lazy husband, Arthur wouldn't, but that was never focused on.

[JinnyJoan]

the lady who played Olive was in Eastenders but can't remember the part she played, however some time ago she died in her own house - I think from smoke inhalation.  Think it was a cigarette.

[barry1010]

Anna Karen