Watch That's My Boy

That's My Boy is a British sitcom that aired between 1981 and 1986 on ITV. The show starred Mollie Sugden and Christopher Blake in the lead roles of Mrs. Sarah Crabtree and her son, Simon. The series chronicles the day-to-day adventures of the unconventional mother-son duo and their neighbors who reside in a terrace house in a suburban area of London.

The show begins with Simon Crabtree, a lazy slacker, who can't seem to hold down a steady job. He is content with living off his mother, who dotes on him and doesn't seem to mind supporting him. The show focuses on the idiosyncratic mother-son relationship, showcasing Sarah's attempts to reign in her son and push him towards a responsible life. However, despite her best intentions, Simon continues to slack off, much to his mother's chagrin.

At the start of the series, Sarah Crabtree is a 60-year-old widow who works as a cleaner in a hospital. She becomes worried about her son's future and the fact that he shows no signs of wanting to strike out on his own. She is always on the lookout for ways to motivate Simon to take up a steady job.

Simon, on the other hand, is a man-child who spends most of his days lazing around the house, watching television and reading comics. He doesn't feel the need to work and takes his mother's patience for granted. Despite his lackadaisical attitude, he has no shortage of girlfriends who are attracted to his boyish charm.

Over the course of the series, Sarah and Simon get involved in various escapades, from entering a dog show to participating in a darts competition. Along with their hilarious hijinks, the show also explores the lives of other characters on the street, such as the nosy neighbor (played by Damaris Hayman) who is always interfering in their lives, and the local pub owner (played by Nigel Lambert), who befriends Simon and ends up hiring him as a part-time bartender.

Despite the humorous nature of the show, it does delve into some serious issues such as Simon's struggles with his lack of purpose in life and Sarah's attempts to assert her independence as a woman over the age of 60. Additionally, the show explores some societal issues of the time, such as unemployment and youth unemployment, which were prevalent during the '80s in the UK.

The show's popularity was due in part to the sparkling performances of Mollie Sugden and Christopher Blake, who played their characters to perfection. Sugden's portrayal of the overbearing and loving mother came across as genuine and relatable, while Blake's portrayal of the hapless Simon was endearing and humorous.

Furthermore, the show's creator, Pam Valentine, was responsible for a number of successful British sitcoms, including Waiting for God and The Upper Hand. The writing in That's My Boy was sharp, witty, and incisive and kept the viewers hooked throughout the series.

In conclusion, That's My Boy was an entertaining and hilarious sitcom that showcased the love between a mother and her son while exploring some of the societal issues of the time. Sugden and Blake's performances were a highlight of the show, and the writing was sharp and witty. It holds up remarkably well even today and is a must-watch for fans of British comedy.

That's My Boy is a series that ran for 5 seasons (36 episodes) between and on FilmRise