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The Good Life

1975 Ended 30m episodes

7.7/10 46 votes

Comedy

Tom and Barbara Good escape the rat race and pursue a self-sufficient lifestyle in Surbiton, much to the concern, frustration and sometimes envy of their neighbours Margo and Jerry Leadbetter. Entitled ‘Good Neighbors’ when shown in the USA.

Created by:: John Esmonde, Bob Larbey
Cast:: Richard Briers, Felicity Kendal, Paul Eddington, Penelope Keith
Language:: English
Country:: United Kingdom
Network:: BBC One

Episode guide

Seasons

5 available

Season 1

Episodes

Episode 1 selected

E01

Episode 1

Plough Your Own Furrow

1975-04-04 · 30m

After he has celebrated his 40th birthday Tom decides that he is unhappy with his life style so he packs his job in, farms his large garden and becomes self sufficient.

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E02

Episode 2

Say Little Hen ...

1975-04-11 · 30m

The Goods install the first chickens in their chicken coop, but they prove slow to lay their first eggs. Incensed by the condescension of the Leadbetters when they are invited to dinner together with Tom's former boss & his wife, the Goods decide to sacrifice one of the chickens to make a show of their not being as poor as the Leadbetters think.

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E03

Episode 3

The Weaker Sex?

1975-04-18 · 30m

Tom buys an old-fashioned range for their kitchen from a passing rag-and-bone man, but Barbara becomes irate when she ends up doing most of the hard work to get it ready for use, while he tries to make a system for scaring the birds off their crops.

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E04

Episode 4

★ 10.0

Pig's Lib

1975-04-25 · 30m

The Goods continue their bartering with local suppliers, but Barbara has a misunderstanding while negotiating with the window-cleaner. They then add a pair of pigs in a sty to their back garden, at which Margo is so appalled she brings in the chairman of the local residents' association to persuade them out of it, but is unsuccessful. However, when one escapes into the Leadbetter's garden, she can only be mollified by getting rid of it.

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E05

Episode 5

The Thing in the Cellar

1975-05-02 · 30m

Tom puts the finishing touches to their own electricity generator in the cellar, which runs on their animals' waste. He then goes fishing with Jerry, and decides to store the surplus in the freezer, until the generator plays up...

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E06

Episode 6

The Pagan Rite

1975-05-09 · 30m

In order to pay for a treat for Barbara, Tom takes a short contract from his old firm, and tries to keep it a secret from her - but his plan is foiled when he fails to account for Margo's nosiness.

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E07

Episode 7

★ 10.0

Backs to the Wall

1975-05-16 · 30m

While starting the harvest, Tom injures his back digging,and since Margo and Jerry are on holiday Barbara is left to look after the farm all on her own. A storm then adds to their problems by turning their garden into a mud bath.

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