This article is about the British sitcom. For the American national grocery store chain owned by Whole Foods, see Whole Foods Market. For the 1933
play, see Fresh Fields (play).
Fresh Fields is a British sitcom starring Julia McKenzie and Anton Rodgers. A ratings success at the time, it was written by John Chapman and produced by Thames Television for ITV, running for four series between 7 March 1984 and 23 October 1986. The series has had reruns in recent years on Drama and currently, Fresh Fields is airing on That's TV in the UK (December 2023)
Premise and series history
Hester and William Fields (McKenzie and Rodgers) are a devoted middle-aged, middle-class couple living an idyllic suburban lifestyle in Barnes, London. William works as an accountant while Hester is a housewife who works part-time in local restaurant Lucy's Kitchen. The title's meaning, and crux of the show, is that Hester combats empty-nest syndrome by livening up her life with new interests and hobbies, to the exasperation of her hard-working husband who just wants a quiet life.[1] The show's opening credits, featuring silhouettes of the characters, reflect this: Hester rides an exercise bike and plays a drumkit while William relaxes in a rocking chair.
The family home has an attached granny flat in which Hester's mother Nancy (Fanny Rowe) lives following her divorce from Hester's roguish father Guy (Ballard Berkeley); he often tries to win her back. (The pair finally remarry in the last episode.) Hester and William have two children of their own: the never-seen Tom who lives in New Zealand; and Emma, who is usually only heard (voice of Debby Cummings) telephoning her parents at inconvenient times. Emma's husband Peter (Philip Bird) appears occasionally; Emma and Peter later present the Fields with their first grandchild Guy, named after his great-grandfather.
The Fields's neighbour Sonia Barrett (played by Ann Beach) pops round in every episode to borrow items; these appearances would irritate William to comical effect. Sonia had the show's only catchphrase: "It's only Sonia!" which she carols as she raps at the Fields's back door and then lets herself in. Sonia's husband John (John Arthur) appears occasionally, as does William's secretary Miss Marigold Denham (Daphne Oxenford).
Fresh Fields ended in 1986 but three years later the series resumed as French Fields, which saw William and Hester relocating to France after William accepted a job there. There were three series of 19 episodes made between 5 September 1989 and 8 October 1991, all written by John T. Chapman and Ian Davidson. Philip Bird appears as Peter in several episodes, with Emma finally seen on-screen, now played by Sally Baxter. Ann Beach makes a guest appearance as Sonia in the final episode.
Filming locations
The show's main filming location was the Fields's salubrious Victorian detached home, which is actually situated in Teddington on the A313, Hampton Road, a short drive from what was Thames TV's main studio complex, where the indoor scenes were shot.
Hester spices things up with a foray into haute cuisine, starting a job as a part-time chef at a local restaurant. But she is missing one vital ingredient for her debut, and only William can save the day.
2
2
"Middle-Age Dread"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
14 March 1984 (1984-03-14)
Suddenly feeling her years, Hester is determined to prove she is not too old to start a new career, but her confidence is shaken after she is turned down for a job at a trendy boutique for being too old. She applies for the job instore again, wearing a wig, sunglasses & different outfit. Her attempt to appear young is successful; she is not recognised and is hired. However, she decides not to take the job.
3
3
"Hook, Line and Sink Her"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
21 March 1984 (1984-03-21)
William plans to get away from it all with a day's fishing. But there is a catch: his wife and mother-in-law want to come along. The addition of yet another person to the party threatens to change the whole trip entirely.
4
4
"The Naked Truth"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
28 March 1984 (1984-03-28)
Keen to impress a prospective client visiting from the Middle East, William enlists Hester's help to ensure the trip goes off without a hitch. The Fields soon discover that the man has an unusual understanding of mixing business with pleasure.
5
5
"Des Det Res"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
4 April 1984 (1984-04-04)
With property taxes due, William comes up with a drastic solution: He decides it is time to sell their house and move to a smaller place. Hester has other ideas and enlists two co-conspirators to help execute her plan.
6
6
"Something in the Oven"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
11 April 1984 (1984-04-11)
Hester is unnerved when she learns that a food critic will be at the restaurant during her shift. And then her unmarried daughter Emma informs her that she is pregnant.
Series 2 (1984)
No. overall
No. in series
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
7
1
"A Night to Remember"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
5 September 1984 (1984-09-05)
William organizes a special getaway to mark their 24th wedding anniversary. He surprises Hester by taking her back to the hotel where he first proposed — but an even bigger surprise awaits them.
8
2
"A Brief Encounter"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
12 September 1984 (1984-09-12)
Hackles arise when William notices that Hester's fencing instructor, a known Casanova, is much too attentive. Hester sees no cause for alarm; only when she lowers her guard does she realise William might have a point.
9
3
"Alright on the Night"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
19 September 1984 (1984-09-19)
Hester is roped into organising the church bazaar and concert while William plans to escape it on a fishing trip. But when a performer calls in sick, Hester finds an unexpected role for William.
10
4
"In the Spring"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
26 September 1984 (1984-09-26)
A scandalous neighbourhood affair gets Hester's creative juices flowing and she begins a new writing project. Meanwhile, her father takes an entirely different kind of inspiration from the situation.
11
5
"Business Contacts"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
3 October 1984 (1984-10-03)
Ever-helpful Hester volunteers to run William's office when his secretary calls in sick, and she must get creative when an important new client arrives to an appointment and William is nowhere to be found.
12
6
"Get Me to the Church"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
10 October 1984 (1984-10-10)
Emma finally sets a date for her wedding. The church is booked, the groom's jet-setting parents fly in, and the wedding party assembles for the grand occasion. But nobody can make an entrance quite like Hester.
Series 3 (1985)
No. overall
No. in series
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
13
1
"Do It Yourself"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
4 September 1985 (1985-09-04)
Planning to redecorate, Hester calls in an expert - who literally falls down on the job.
14
2
"A Waiting Game"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
11 September 1985 (1985-09-11)
Attempting to cater a large party, Hester is reduced to persuading William to stand in as butler - which gets complicated when some of his clients turn up as guests.
15
3
"Moveable Feasts"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
18 September 1985 (1985-09-18)
Hester attempts to deliver "meals-on-wheels" while babysitting her newborn grandson.
16
4
"Tipping the Scales"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
25 September 1985 (1985-09-25)
According to Hester, slimming is easy: just give up food and drink. After a starvation diet, William is ready to give up Hester.
17
5
"Crossed Lines"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
2 October 1985 (1985-10-02)
Up for election to a local committee, Hester meets her rival - an attractive blonde - head-on at a wine-tasting party.
18
6
"Alarums And Excursions"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
9 October 1985 (1985-10-09)
Sonia reads Hester's fortune, which predicts both travel and a secret admirer.
Christmas special (1985)
No.
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
19
"A Dickens of a Christmas"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
25 December 1985 (1985-12-25)
Hester cooks up more than she bargained for when she spices up William's dinner.[2]
Series 4 (1986)
No. overall
No. in series
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
20
1
"A Nose for Trouble"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
4 September 1986 (1986-09-04)
William's snoring keeps Hester awake night after night.
21
2
"The Old Folks at Home"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
11 September 1986 (1986-09-11)
Upset that a Victorian mansion is to be torn down and replaced by "a block of flats," Hester starts a campaign to persuade local councillor Mr. Gardner to convert the premises into a seniors' residence. When he doubts the need for such a facility, Hester invites him home, having persuaded Nancy, her sister Winnie, and Guy to pretend senility. The appalled Gardner not only approves the home but telephones to notify William and Hester that he has arranged for their dotty dependents to move in immediately.
22
3
"One Damned Ming After Another"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
18 September 1986 (1986-09-18)
The Fields hope to get their Chinese vase onto a locally filmed episode of Antiques Roadshow. Returning home, they surprise a burglar — enabling Hester to use her newly-acquired martial arts skills.
William and Hester's son-in-law Peter invites them to a dinner dance.
25
6
"Caught in the Act"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
9 October 1986 (1986-10-09)
William insists on mending a leaky kitchen tap himself, necessitating an expensive visit from the plumber. Meanwhile, Hester gets a call from Peter's parents, the Richardsons, who are coming from Dorset to London for the day and invite themselves to dinner and to stay overnight. Driven mad by overbearing Margaret and epically boring Henry, and dismayed when their guests decide to stay another night, the Fields invent a dinner engagement at a Bournemouth hotel, but actually bundle themselves and Nancy next door to Sonia's for the night. Then Margaret and Henry turn up to chat with Sonia, and the Fields flee to Nancy's granny flat — where they are mistaken for burglars. They fib that Nancy has come down with flu; next morning Margaret cheerfully announces that Henry has caught it from Nancy and needs to stay in bed for several days.
26
7
"Brighton or Bust"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
16 October 1986 (1986-10-16)
Hester signs up for a charity bicycle race.
27
8
"Happy Returns"
Peter Frazer-Jones
John T. Chapman
23 October 1986 (1986-10-23)
After a sojourn in Italy, the Fields return home to celebrate Hester's 45th birthday. Despite William's back going out, and some complications arising from misunderstandings, they settle on dinner out to celebrate — whereupon Hester is summoned to deal with an emergency at Lucy's Kitchen. This turns out to be a ruse: the restaurant is packed with friends for a surprise party. Then comes the biggest surprise: Guy and Nancy announce that they were remarried that morning!
Home releases
All four series of Fresh Fields have been released on DVD, A 7-disc set (containing both the series and the sequel, French Fields) was released in 2011.
An Australian release of both series (Fresh Fields and French Fields) has the original pilot episode of the series as an extra, along with a variety special.
