Genres
Networks
The Rag Trade
Overview
The Rag Trade is a British television sitcom broadcast by the BBC between 1961 and 1963 and by LWT between 1977 and 1978. The scripts were by Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney, who later wrote Wild, Wild Women, Meet the Wife and On the Buses. Wild, Wild Women was a period variation of The Rag Trade. The action centred on a small clothing workshop, Fenner Fashions in London. Although run by Harold Fenner and Reg the foreman, the female workers are led by militant shop steward Paddy Fleming, ever ready to strike, with the catchphrase "Everybody out!" Other cast members included Sheila Hancock, Esma Reese Cannon, Wanda Ventham and Barbara Windsor. The Rag Trade was revived by ITV company LWT in 1977, with Jones and Karlin reprising their roles. The 1977 version ran for two series, most of the scripts being based on the BBC episodes from the 1960s, and featured Anna Karen and future EastEnders star Gillian Taylforth as factory workers. The theme tune for the LWT series was written and performed by Lynsey De Paul.
Key Crew
Producer: Dennis Main Wilson
Top Cast
Seasons
Season 1 (1961)
No overview available.
10 episodes
Episodes
Episode 1: The Baby
1961-10-06When Fenner finds one of the girls has brought her baby to work, the resultant fracas between management and staff threatens production of a line of polka dot gowns.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 2: Getting Married
1961-10-13Paddy promises Carole the girls will be able to make her a wedding dress with material left over from an order for Arcadia Gowns.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 3: Early Start
1961-10-20Fenner installs a time clock to help gain a contract with chain store Parks & Spicer and the resultant docking of wages leaves the girls with no money to bet on a sure thing at the races.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 4: The French Fashions
1961-10-27Fenner arranges for Carole to model a pair of slacks at the Ritz Plaza to help secure an American order.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 5: The Sample
1961-11-03Paddy allows Carole to wear a sample dress to lunch with her sailor boyfriend and a resultant mishap jeopardizes a 3:30 viewing by a prospective buyer.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 6: Unhappy Customer
1961-11-10Fenner is determined to enforce a ban on eating in the workroom when an angry customer returns items of food in his garments.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 7: Series 1, Episode 7
1961-11-17Fenner Fashions has been awarded a contract to supply Wren uniforms to the Admiralty by inadvertently tendering bankruptingly low prices so the girls have to show their workmanship is shoddy to save the situation.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 8: Doctor's Orders
1961-11-24Fenner is laid low with a heavy cold at the very moment he has to produce a gown which is to be worn on television by an international singing star and lead to numerous orders.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 9: The Italian Designer
1961-12-01The arrival of Roberto, an Italian beachwear designer, causes strained relations among the girls in the workroom.
Runtime: 30 minEpisode 10: Christmas Box
1961-12-08To make a bit of pocket money for the Festive season, Paddy and the girls produce 300 golliwog dolls, unbeknownst to Fenner.
Runtime: 30 minSeason 2 (1962)
No overview available.
13 episodes
Episodes
Episode 1: Series 2, Episode 1
1962-04-06Episode 2: Series 2, Episode 2
1962-04-13Episode 3: Series 2, Episode 3
1962-04-20Episode 4: Series 2, Episode 4
1962-04-27Episode 5: Series 2, Episode 5
1962-05-04Episode 6: Series 2, Episode 6
1962-05-11Episode 7: Series 2, Episode 7
1962-05-18Episode 8: Series 2, Episode 8
1962-05-25Episode 9: Series 2, Episode 9
1962-06-01Episode 10: Series 2, Episode 10
1962-06-08Episode 11: Series 2, Episode 11
1962-06-15Episode 12: Series 2, Episode 12
1962-06-22Episode 13: Series 2, Episode 13
1962-06-29Season 3 (1963)
No overview available.
13 episodes
Episodes
Episode 1: Series 3, Episode 1
1963-01-05Episode 2: Series 3, Episode 2
1963-01-12Episode 3: Series 3, Episode 3
1963-01-19Episode 4: Series 3, Episode 4
1963-01-26Episode 5: Series 3, Episode 5
1963-02-02Episode 6: Series 3, Episode 6
1963-02-09Episode 7: Series 3, Episode 7
1963-02-16Episode 8: Series 3, Episode 8
1963-02-23Episode 9: Series 3, Episode 9
1963-03-02Episode 10: Series 3, Episode 10
1963-03-09Episode 11: Series 3, Episode 11
1963-03-16Episode 12: Series 3, Episode 12
1963-03-23Episode 13: Series 3, Episode 13
1963-03-30Season 4 (1977)
No overview available.
15 episodes
Episodes
Episode 1: Stay In Strike
1977-09-11Episode 2: The Sample
1977-09-18Episode 3: Fixing the Rate
1977-09-25Episode 4: The Lunch Problem
1977-10-02Episode 5: The Export Order
1977-10-09Episode 6: The Italian Line
1977-10-16Episode 7: Olive's Baby
1977-10-23Episode 8: The Wedding Dress
1977-10-30Episode 9: The Sideline
1977-11-06Episode 10: The Guv'nor's Wife
1977-11-13Episode 11: The New Girl
1977-11-20Episode 12: The Bet
1977-11-27Episode 13: The Accident
1977-12-11Episode 14: The New Brother
1977-12-18Episode 15: Christmas Rush
Season 5 ()
No overview available.
7 episodes
