Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt
Updated: 12/16/2025, 9:06:49 PM Wikipedia source
Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt, known as Selwyn in its final series, is a British television sitcom that was first broadcast on ITV from 1974 to 1978. Initially created by Roy Clarke from a concept by Bill Maynard, most of the series was written by Alan Plater. Set in the fictional Yorkshire town of Scarsdale, it starred Maynard as Selwyn Froggitt, a hapless but good-natured council labourer, handyman and working men's club secretary. The programme, produced by Yorkshire Television, was a major ratings success, with Froggitt's catchphrase "magic!" becoming widely known in the United Kingdom, and making Bill Maynard a nationwide household name. It ran for four series, the last of which carried the title Selwyn and featured only Maynard reprising his role in the new location of a holiday camp.
Infobox
Created by
Roy Clarke (Pilot)Alan Plater (Series)from a concept by Bill Maynard
Directed by
Derrick Goodwin (Pilot)Ronnie Baxter (Series)
Starring
mw- Bill Maynard Megs Jenkins Robert Keegan Rosemary Martin Lynda Baron Richard Davies Bill Dean Harold Goodwin Ray Mort
Theme music composer
Bill Dean
Country of origin
United Kingdom
Original language
English
No. of series
4
No. of episodes
29
Producers
Derrick Goodwin (Pilot)Ronnie Baxter (Series)
Running time
30 minutes
Production company
Yorkshire Television
Network
ITV
Release
30 September 1974 (1974-09-30) –17 October 1978 (1978-10-17)
Tables
First released
First released
Series
First released
Episodes
Last released
Pilot
Pilot
Series
Pilot
Episodes
1
Episodes
30 September 1974 (1974-09-30)
1
1
Series
1
Episodes
6
Episodes
7 January 1976 (1976-01-07)
Originally released
11 February 1976 (1976-02-11)
2
2
Series
2
Episodes
7
Episodes
21 February 1977 (1977-02-21)
Originally released
4 April 1977 (1977-04-04)
3
3
Series
3
Episodes
8
Episodes
8 November 1977 (1977-11-08)
Originally released
27 December 1977 (1977-12-27)
4
4
Series
4
Episodes
7
Episodes
5 September 1978 (1978-09-05)
Originally released
17 October 1978 (1978-10-17)
| Series | Episodes | Originally released | ||
| First released | Last released | |||
| Pilot | 1 | 30 September 1974 (1974-09-30) | ||
| 1 | 6 | 7 January 1976 (1976-01-07) | 11 February 1976 (1976-02-11) | |
| 2 | 7 | 21 February 1977 (1977-02-21) | 4 April 1977 (1977-04-04) | |
| 3 | 8 | 8 November 1977 (1977-11-08) | 27 December 1977 (1977-12-27) | |
| 4 | 7 | 5 September 1978 (1978-09-05) | 17 October 1978 (1978-10-17) | |
· Episodes › Pilot (1974)
0
0
No.
0
Title
"Oh No- It's Selwyn Froggit"
Written by
Roy Clarke
Original release date
30 September 1974 (1974-09-30)
| No. | Title | Written by | Original release date |
| 0 | "Oh No- It's Selwyn Froggit" | Roy Clarke | 30 September 1974 (1974-09-30) |
· Episodes › Series 1 (1976)
1
1
No.
1
Title
"Three Fifths of the World Loves a Lover"
Written by
Alan Plater
Original release date
7 January 1976 (1976-01-07)
2
2
No.
2
Title
"We Are the Masters Now"
Written by
Alan Plater
Original release date
14 January 1976 (1976-01-14)
3
3
No.
3
Title
"There Are Several Businesses Like Show Business"
Written by
Alan Plater
Original release date
21 January 1976 (1976-01-21)
4
4
No.
4
Title
"The Grand Outing"
Written by
Alan Plater
Original release date
28 January 1976 (1976-01-28)
5
5
No.
5
Title
"The Master Builder"
Written by
Alan Plater
Original release date
4 February 1976 (1976-02-04)
6
6
No.
6
Title
"Ladies' Desire"
Written by
Alan Plater
Original release date
11 February 1976 (1976-02-11)
| No. | Title | Written by | Original release date |
| 1 | "Three Fifths of the World Loves a Lover" | Alan Plater | 7 January 1976 (1976-01-07) |
| 2 | "We Are the Masters Now" | Alan Plater | 14 January 1976 (1976-01-14) |
| 3 | "There Are Several Businesses Like Show Business" | Alan Plater | 21 January 1976 (1976-01-21) |
| 4 | "The Grand Outing" | Alan Plater | 28 January 1976 (1976-01-28) |
| 5 | "The Master Builder" | Alan Plater | 4 February 1976 (1976-02-04) |
| 6 | "Ladies' Desire" | Alan Plater | 11 February 1976 (1976-02-11) |
· Episodes › Series 2 (1977)
1
1
No.
1
Title
"Daze of Hope"
Written by
Alan Plater
Original release date
21 February 1977 (1977-02-21)
2
2
No.
2
Title
"The Game of the Name"
Written by
Alan Plater
Original release date
28 February 1977 (1977-02-28)
3
3
No.
3
Title
"Raffles"
Written by
Alan Plater
Original release date
7 March 1977 (1977-03-07)
4
4
No.
4
Title
"Selwyn Rides Again"
Written by
Alan Plater
Original release date
14 March 1977 (1977-03-14)
5
5
No.
5
Title
"Alphabetic Orders"
Written by
Alan Plater
Original release date
21 March 1977 (1977-03-21)
6
6
No.
6
Title
"The Protection Racket"
Written by
Alan Plater
Original release date
28 March 1977 (1977-03-28)
7
7
No.
7
Title
"Just Cause and Impediment"
Written by
Alan Plater
Original release date
4 April 1977 (1977-04-04)
| No. | Title | Written by | Original release date |
| 1 | "Daze of Hope" | Alan Plater | 21 February 1977 (1977-02-21) |
| 2 | "The Game of the Name" | Alan Plater | 28 February 1977 (1977-02-28) |
| 3 | "Raffles" | Alan Plater | 7 March 1977 (1977-03-07) |
| 4 | "Selwyn Rides Again" | Alan Plater | 14 March 1977 (1977-03-14) |
| 5 | "Alphabetic Orders" | Alan Plater | 21 March 1977 (1977-03-21) |
| 6 | "The Protection Racket" | Alan Plater | 28 March 1977 (1977-03-28) |
| 7 | "Just Cause and Impediment" | Alan Plater | 4 April 1977 (1977-04-04) |
· Episodes › Series 3 (1977)
1
1
No.
1
Title
"Be It Ever So Humble, There's No Place"
Written by
Alan Plater
Original release date
8 November 1977 (1977-11-08)
2
2
No.
2
Title
"Gala Performance"
Written by
Mike Craig, Lawrie Kinsley and Ron McDonnell
Original release date
15 November 1977 (1977-11-15)
3
3
No.
3
Title
"Boom Boom"
Written by
Bernie Sharp
Original release date
22 November 1977 (1977-11-22)
4
4
No.
4
Title
"The Occupational Hazard"
Written by
Mike Craig, Lawrie Kinsley and Ron McDonnell
Original release date
29 November 1977 (1977-11-29)
5
5
No.
5
Title
"Sling Along with Selwyn"
Written by
Bernie Sharp
Original release date
6 December 1977 (1977-12-06)
6
6
No.
6
Title
"A Little Learning"
Written by
H. V. Kershaw
Original release date
13 December 1977 (1977-12-13)
7
7
No.
7
Title
"Around the Houses"
Written by
Alan Plater
Original release date
20 December 1977 (1977-12-20)
8
8
No.
8
Title
"On the Feast of Selwyn"
Written by
Mike Craig, Lawrie Kinsley and Ron McDonnell
Original release date
27 December 1977 (1977-12-27)
| No. | Title | Written by | Original release date |
| 1 | "Be It Ever So Humble, There's No Place" | Alan Plater | 8 November 1977 (1977-11-08) |
| 2 | "Gala Performance" | Mike Craig, Lawrie Kinsley and Ron McDonnell | 15 November 1977 (1977-11-15) |
| 3 | "Boom Boom" | Bernie Sharp | 22 November 1977 (1977-11-22) |
| 4 | "The Occupational Hazard" | Mike Craig, Lawrie Kinsley and Ron McDonnell | 29 November 1977 (1977-11-29) |
| 5 | "Sling Along with Selwyn" | Bernie Sharp | 6 December 1977 (1977-12-06) |
| 6 | "A Little Learning" | H. V. Kershaw | 13 December 1977 (1977-12-13) |
| 7 | "Around the Houses" | Alan Plater | 20 December 1977 (1977-12-20) |
| 8 | "On the Feast of Selwyn" | Mike Craig, Lawrie Kinsley and Ron McDonnell | 27 December 1977 (1977-12-27) |
· Episodes › Series 4 (1978)
1
1
No.
1
Title
"The Road to Paradise Valley"
Written by
Lawrie Kinsley and Ron McDonnell
Original release date
5 September 1978 (1978-09-05)
2
2
No.
2
Title
"Wish You Were Here"
Written by
Lawrie Kinsley and Ron McDonnell
Original release date
12 September 1978 (1978-09-12)
3
3
No.
3
Title
"Better Never Than Late"
Written by
Richard Knight
Original release date
19 September 1978 (1978-09-19)
4
4
No.
4
Title
"Take a Tip from Selwyn"
Written by
Lawrie Kinsley and Ron McDonnell
Original release date
26 September 1978 (1978-09-26)
5
5
No.
5
Title
"I've Gotta Jockey"
Written by
Richard Knight
Original release date
3 October 1978 (1978-10-03)
6
6
No.
6
Title
"Don't Make Waves"
Written by
Jon Glover and Jeremy Nicholas
Original release date
10 October 1978 (1978-10-10)
7
7
No.
7
Title
"A Man for One Season"
Written by
Lawrie Kinsley and Ron McDonnell
Original release date
17 October 1978 (1978-10-17)
| No. | Title | Written by | Original release date |
| 1 | "The Road to Paradise Valley" | Lawrie Kinsley and Ron McDonnell | 5 September 1978 (1978-09-05) |
| 2 | "Wish You Were Here" | Lawrie Kinsley and Ron McDonnell | 12 September 1978 (1978-09-12) |
| 3 | "Better Never Than Late" | Richard Knight | 19 September 1978 (1978-09-19) |
| 4 | "Take a Tip from Selwyn" | Lawrie Kinsley and Ron McDonnell | 26 September 1978 (1978-09-26) |
| 5 | "I've Gotta Jockey" | Richard Knight | 3 October 1978 (1978-10-03) |
| 6 | "Don't Make Waves" | Jon Glover and Jeremy Nicholas | 10 October 1978 (1978-10-10) |
| 7 | "A Man for One Season" | Lawrie Kinsley and Ron McDonnell | 17 October 1978 (1978-10-17) |
References
- Northern Lifehttp://northernlifemagazine.co.uk/bill-maynard/
- British Classic Comedyhttps://www.britishclassiccomedy.co.uk/selwyn
- British Comedy Guidehttps://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/oh_no_selwyn_froggitt/shop/1235/oh_no_its_selwyn_froggitt_the_complete_first_series_dvd/
- British Comedy Guidehttps://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/oh_no_selwyn_froggitt/shop/1409/oh_no_its_selwyn_froggitt_the_complete_second_series_dvd/
- British Comedy Guidehttps://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/oh_no_selwyn_froggitt/shop/1656/oh_no_its_selwyn_froggitt_the_complete_third_series_dvd/
- British Comedy Guidehttps://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/selwyn/shop/1915/the_complete_series_dvd/
- Leicestershire Livehttps://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/named-after-wine-gums-fortune-1403499
- Leicestershire Livehttps://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/bill-maynard-own-words-1403138
- Bill Maynardhttp://billmaynard.bothofus.co.uk/
- Leicester Mercuryhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-mercury-bills-still-at-the-to/173166849/
- Applehttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/john-hannam-meets-bill-maynard-archive-edition/id1404939895?i=1000414830695
- Evening Posthttps://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post-oh-yes-bills-back-again/173167065/
- Derby Evening Telegraphhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-telegraph-oh-yes-its-bob-in-lu/173167115/
- Stand Up... And Be Countedhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1160797.Stand_Up_And_Be_Counted
- Birmingham Evening Mailhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-evening-mail-selwyns-no-idio/173167208/
- Youtubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85OZXwbFApM&t=1119s
- Leicester Mercuryhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-mercury-in-mint-condition/173167308/
- Evening Posthttps://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post-htv-west/173167256/
- Evening Posthttps://www.newspapers.com/image/806946390/?terms=%22selwyn%20froggitt%22&match=1
- Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/alan-plater-i-used-to-be-cool-551568.html
- Evening Posthttps://www.newspapers.com/article/reading-evening-post-tele-gossip-by-albe/173167745/
- Derby Evening Telegraphhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-telegraph-megs-stays-mum/173167714/
- British Comedy Guidehttps://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/oh_no_selwyn_froggitt/
- Birmingham Evening Mailhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-evening-mail-latest-top-tv-ra/173167646/
- Rugeley Timeshttps://www.newspapers.com/image/805997178/?terms=%22selwyn%20froggitt%22&match=1
- The Hinckley Timeshttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-hinckley-times-the-selwyn-sign/173167623/
- Grimsby Evening Telegraphhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/grimsby-evening-telegraph-top-marx-for-r/173183538/
- Leicester Mercuryhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-mercury/173183601/
- Liverpool Echohttps://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-echo-barker-goes-straight/173183671/
- Liverpool Daily Posthttps://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-post-merseyside-ed-bionic-bill/173183123/
- Liverpool Echohttps://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-echo-the-new-role-that-fits-th/173183194/
- Scunthorpe Evening Telegraphhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/scunthorpe-evening-telegraph-oh-no-he-g/173183301/
- The Sunday Peoplehttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-people-oh-no-its-not-simp/173183383/
- 45Cathttps://www.45cat.com/record/dd109
- Daily Mirrorhttps://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19770601/168/0024
- Daily Mailhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/hull-daily-mail-its-magic-says-selwyn/173187838/
- The Sunday Peoplehttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-people-look-out-selwyn-at-l/173187924/
- Leicester Mercuryhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-mercury-selwyn-to-stay-away-fr/173186872/
- Sandwell Evening Mailhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/black-country-evening-mail-bills-boss-i/173186926/
- Leicester Mercuryhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-mercury-tv-radio-guide/173186998/
- Western Daily Presshttps://www.newspapers.com/article/western-daily-press-oh-no-is-this-real/173187104/
- Western Daily Presshttps://www.newspapers.com/article/western-daily-press-oh-yes-selwyn-is-ju/173187162/
- Birmingham Evening Mailhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-evening-mail-not-much-fun-fro/173187334/
- Birmingham Evening Mailhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-evening-mail-pick-of-tonight/173187412/
- Bristol Evening Posthttps://www.newspapers.com/article/reading-evening-post-selwyn-is-blasted-o/173187455/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/sep/30/broadcasting.uknews
- The Guinness Book of Classic British TV
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/stage/2010/jun/25/alan-plater-obituary?fbclid=IwAR374kQx73wqEh0opQqhozbgaSyKoUUB9dFVH3L6vR96whDnxHWmRMlszws
- Victoria Wood: The Biographyhttps://books.google.com/books?id=Og3vlpeSddQC
- Lincolnshire Echohttps://www.newspapers.com/article/lincolnshire-echo-ytv/173187529/
- The Herts and Essex Observerhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herts-and-essex-observer-uk-gold/173187586/
- The Expresshttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-express-virtual-safaris-and-brand-ne/173187766/
- Huddersfield Daily Examinerhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/huddersfield-daily-examiner-magic-our-m/173187698/
- British Comedy Guidehttps://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/oh_no_selwyn_froggitt/shop/2034/the_complete_selwyn_froggitt_all_four_complete_series_dvd/