The second series of 'The Other One' has not been released on D.V.D. and possibly never will be, due to poor sales of the first. That is a great shame, for although it doesn't quite rival the first in terms of laughs, it nevertheless manages to wrap up the concept most effectively.
A new producer - Roger Race, who'd worked on 'Sykes' - took over from John Howard Davies. The opening episode of Season 2 begins where the last one left off, with Ralph and Brian speeding off to a new future together as sales reps. Ralph gives his friend a masterclass in selling, deploying catchphrases such as 'Wallop!' and 'You lucky people!' ( the latter coined originally by Tommy Trinder ). When Brian goes into Mrs.Swift's ( Beryl Cooke ) sweet shop to try it out on her, the results are disastrous. She thinks he is trying to rob her. Ralph takes Brian to a country hotel to meet company director 'Chas' ( Johnny Shannon ), and Brian watches in disbelief as the pair lark about like schoolboys. Realising he lacks the aggression necessary for the job, he decides to slip away quietly and catch a train back to London...
This is a disappointing opener. Its main flaw being it doesn't give Ralph much of an opportunity to be odious, and only when he is odious is the show really funny. It could be an episode of any sitcom. Brian's timid persona grates after a few minutes. This is mainly the fault of the writers rather than the actor playing him.
Some familiar faces in the cast - Beryl Cooke was dotty 'Aunt Lucy' in the Terry Scott/June Whitfield show 'Happy Ever After', Johnny Shannon played 'Wacky' the bookie in the I.T.V. comedy drama 'Beryl's Lot', and John F.Landry - 'Chas' the barman - appeared in 'The Hanged Man' and its spin-off 'Turtle's Progress' for Yorkshire Television. The late Roland MacLeod - the 'booking office clerk' - was in many episodes of 'The Goodies'.
Funniest moment - Brian smugly announcing he has landed his first order. A huge delivery lorry pulls up outside Mrs.Swift's sweet shop. The driver gets out and hands over...a brand new goldfish bowl! A furious Ralph addresses Brian: "You great pudding!".
A new producer - Roger Race, who'd worked on 'Sykes' - took over from John Howard Davies. The opening episode of Season 2 begins where the last one left off, with Ralph and Brian speeding off to a new future together as sales reps. Ralph gives his friend a masterclass in selling, deploying catchphrases such as 'Wallop!' and 'You lucky people!' ( the latter coined originally by Tommy Trinder ). When Brian goes into Mrs.Swift's ( Beryl Cooke ) sweet shop to try it out on her, the results are disastrous. She thinks he is trying to rob her. Ralph takes Brian to a country hotel to meet company director 'Chas' ( Johnny Shannon ), and Brian watches in disbelief as the pair lark about like schoolboys. Realising he lacks the aggression necessary for the job, he decides to slip away quietly and catch a train back to London...
This is a disappointing opener. Its main flaw being it doesn't give Ralph much of an opportunity to be odious, and only when he is odious is the show really funny. It could be an episode of any sitcom. Brian's timid persona grates after a few minutes. This is mainly the fault of the writers rather than the actor playing him.
Some familiar faces in the cast - Beryl Cooke was dotty 'Aunt Lucy' in the Terry Scott/June Whitfield show 'Happy Ever After', Johnny Shannon played 'Wacky' the bookie in the I.T.V. comedy drama 'Beryl's Lot', and John F.Landry - 'Chas' the barman - appeared in 'The Hanged Man' and its spin-off 'Turtle's Progress' for Yorkshire Television. The late Roland MacLeod - the 'booking office clerk' - was in many episodes of 'The Goodies'.
Funniest moment - Brian smugly announcing he has landed his first order. A huge delivery lorry pulls up outside Mrs.Swift's sweet shop. The driver gets out and hands over...a brand new goldfish bowl! A furious Ralph addresses Brian: "You great pudding!".