What are the best episodes of Shelley?

The best rated episodes of Shelley are: Unkindest Cuts - S4E1 rated 8.0, You Have to Laugh - S3E7 rated 8.0, Dry Rot - S3E6 rated 8.0, Universal Trust - S3E5 rated 8.0, Foreign Affairs - S3E4 rated 8.0, Nor Iron Bars a Cage - S3E3 rated 8.0, Signing On - S3E2 rated 8.0

What are the worst episodes of Shelley?

The lowest rated episodes of Shelley are: Moving In - S1E1 rated 5.0, It Nearly Always Happens to Somebody Else - S6E2 rated 7.0, Brief Encounter - S6E6 rated 7.0, Fully Furnished - S2E5 rated 7.3, Elders and Betters - S1E5 rated 7.5, Hearth and Home - S2E4 rated 7.5, The Nelson Touch - S1E2 rated 8.0

Shelley Episode Rating Graph

Jul 1979 - Sep 1992

2.2

Click the chart for info!

Browse episode ratings trends for Shelley. Simply click on the interactive rating graph to explore the best and worst of Shelley's 74 episodes.

Best Episodes of Shelley

Unkindest Cuts
S4 Ep1
8.0
18th Feb 1982
In spite of cutbacks, full time employment att eh Foreign Office looms for Shelley.
You Have to Laugh
S3 Ep7
8.0
9th Feb 1981
The third season of 'Shelley' ends with the birth of his and Fran's daughter, whom they christen 'Emma' ( named after Hywel Bennett's real-life daughter ). Fran insists on her husband being present at the birth.
Dry Rot
S3 Ep6
8.0
2nd Feb 1981
Shelley is attempting to do all the rewiring in his and Fran's new home, while she, heavily pregnant, watches him. His monologue about his woodwork teacher - 'Mr.Smiley' - is cut short when Mrs.H. shows up, and starts complaining about the Moroccans who have moved into her boarding house. Then salesman Mr.Croft tries to persuade Shelley he has Dry Rot under the stairs...
Universal Trust
S3 Ep5
8.0
26th Jan 1981
Shelley is having a quiet cup of tea and reading a paper in Arthur's café, when a tramp ( Nicholas Le Prevost ) sits down and mutters: "What is life?". Rather than tell the guy, Derek Nayland, to sling his hook, Jim engages him in a heated discussion about life, the universe and everything.
Foreign Affairs
S3 Ep4
8.0
19th Jan 1981
Having blown his latest job interview through telling the truth ( that he hates work in all its forms ), Shelley decides to try lying his way into a top job at the Foreign Office. The panel are a sinister bunch, headed by Grace Lissier ( Gaye Brown ), a cross between 'Millicent Fritton' of St.Trinians and 'Rosa Klebb' of SMERSH.
Nor Iron Bars a Cage
S3 Ep3
8.0
12th Jan 1981
Shelley, once more with bags of time on his hands, is attempting to put up kitchen shelves, when he is interrupted by Paul 'Bunter' Englund ( Warren Clarke ), the best man at his recent wedding. Bunter is in a state of high anxiety. The police are after him.
Signing On
S3 Ep2
8.0
5th Jan 1981
The day of reckoning arrives and Shelley goes to his local DHSS office to sign on for the dole.

Worst Episodes of Shelley

Moving In
S1 Ep1
5.0
12th Jul 1979
Shelley and his girlfriend Fran are looking for accomadation. After viewing unsuitable properties, they find a room at Mrs Hawkins' house.
It Nearly Always Happens to Somebody Else
S6 Ep2
7.0
8th Dec 1983
Shelley is angered by the casual attitude of the police when he reports his toaster stolen.
Brief Encounter
S6 Ep6
7.0
12th Jan 1984
Shelley's mother arranges for him to dine with Fran, who gave him the elbow weeks ago.
Fully Furnished
S2 Ep5
7.3
5th Jun 1980
Shelley wants to buy an old book in a junk shop but the dealer tries to make him think it is worth far more than it really is. After a protracted debate, the dealer agrees to let him have it for nothing.
Elders and Betters
S1 Ep5
7.5
Visiting a health shop, Shelley is appalled at the high prices of some of the items. The moment he and Fran have long dreaded has arrived. Travelling by train, they arrive at the country home/farm of Gordon Smith, Fran's rich Dad. He is a charmless snob who regards Shelley as a layabout even though he now has a job.
Hearth and Home
S2 Ep4
7.5
29th May 1980
Shelley and Fran are in their bed-sit as usual. She is engrossed in a dog-eared copy of George Orwell's 'Keep The Aspidistra Flying' while he - plainly lonely - tries to strike up a conversation with her. But her only responses are non-committal grunts.
The Nelson Touch
S1 Ep2
8.0
19th Jul 1979
Shelley is appalled to learn that his favourite pub is to undergo a refit, to be renamed 'The Victory' and the staff are to dress as Admiral Nelson. But that is the least of his problems. At the Unemployment Benefit Office, the Dole Inspector wants to know why, with his qualifications ( ten O Levels, 4 A Levels and a Phd ) he has hardly ever worked. "I don't like work.", says Shelley.

Shelley Episode Guide

Moving In
S1 Ep1
5.0
12th Jul 1979
Shelley and his girlfriend Fran are looking for accomadation. After viewing unsuitable properties, they find a room at Mrs Hawkins' house.
The Nelson Touch
S1 Ep2
8.0
19th Jul 1979
Shelley is appalled to learn that his favourite pub is to undergo a refit, to be renamed 'The Victory' and the staff are to dress as Admiral Nelson. But that is the least of his problems. At the Unemployment Benefit Office, the Dole Inspector wants to know why, with his qualifications ( ten O Levels, 4 A Levels and a Phd ) he has hardly ever worked. "I don't like work.", says Shelley.
Gainfully Employed
S1 Ep3
8.0
26th Jul 1979
When Shelley fails to come home one night after working behind the bar of 'The Victory', Mrs.Hawkins tells Fran not to worry. "Wherever he is, he won't be with a woman!".
The Distaff Side
S1 Ep4
8.0
2nd Aug 1979
Our hero has landed a cushy job writing copy for an advertising agency ( nice work if you can get it! ). He hates it but is looking forward to his first pay check. But when it arrives he is not happy - after tax deductions it is not much higher than the money he got on the Dole.
Elders and Betters
S1 Ep5
7.5
Visiting a health shop, Shelley is appalled at the high prices of some of the items. The moment he and Fran have long dreaded has arrived. Travelling by train, they arrive at the country home/farm of Gordon Smith, Fran's rich Dad. He is a charmless snob who regards Shelley as a layabout even though he now has a job.
May the Best Man Win
S1 Ep6
8.0
24th Apr 1980
Shelley is reunited with his oldest friend, Ned, whom he asks to be best man at his forthcoming wedding. Ned, unfortunately, is a 'Jack The Lad' type who loves to drink, smoke, and make love. Fran dislikes him intensely, and openly says so.
Nowt So Queer
S1 Ep7
8.0
1st May 1980
Shelley's attempts to prepare a dinner party meet with continual interruptions; first, a Jehovah's Witness rings the doorbell and refuses to go away, then an elderly neighbour called Mrs.Ratcliffe asks him to fix her shelf. Mrs.Ratcliffe is, unfortunately, senile, and thinks that all the women at that address - Mrs.H included - are on the game.

Shelley is a British sitcom made by Thames Television and originally broadcast on ITV from 12 July 1979 to 12 January 1984 and from 11 October 1988 to 1 September 1992. Starred Hywel Bennett as James Shelley, originally 28 years old and a sardonic, perpetually unemployed anti-establishment 'freelance layabout' with a doctoral degree. In the original run, Belinda Sinclair played Shelley's girlfriend Fran, and Josephine Tewson appeared regularly as his Landlady, Edna Hawkins. The series was created by Peter Tilbury who also wrote the first three series. The scripts for subsequent episodes were by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin, Colin Bostock-Smith, David Frith, Bernard McKenna and Barry Pilton. All 71 episodes were produced and directed by Anthony Parker.

The best rated episodes of Shelley are: