The Rag Trade

The Rag Trade (1961-1978)

EndedScripted showComedy

The Rag Trade was a British television sitcom broadcast by the BBC between 1961 and 1963 and by LWT between 1977 and 1978.

The action centred on a small clothing workshop (the title refers to the textile industry), Fenner's Fashions in London. Although run by Harold Fenner (Peter Jones) and Reg Turner the foreman and pattern cutter (Reg Varney), the female workers are led by militant shop steward Paddy Fleming (Miriam Karlin), ever ready to strike, with the catchphrase "Everybody out!" Other cast members included Sheila Hancock (as Carole Taylor), Esma Cannon (as Lily Swann), Wanda Ventham (as Shirley) in series 2 and Barbara Windsor (as Gloria) in series 1 and (as Judy) in series 3 replacing Sheila Hancock.

The Rag Trade was revived by ITV company LWT in 1977, with Jones and Karlin reprising their roles. The 1977 version ran for two series, most of the scripts being based on the BBC episodes from the 1960s, and featured Anna Karen (reprising her role as Olive from On the Buses) and future EastEnders star Gillian Taylforth as factory workers.

Network
Scheduleevery Friday (30 min)

Last Episode

Fenner's Folly
Season 5Episode 730 min

Fenner's Folly

The possibility of a large order prompts Fenner to think about his future.

Oct 20, 1978

Recent Episodes

EpisodeNameAirdate
S05E07Fenner's FollyOct 20, 1978
S05E06Self DefenceOct 13, 1978
S05E05Come Back PaddyOct 6, 1978
S05E04A Bad PatchSep 29, 1978
S05E03StressSep 22, 1978
View all episodesView all seasons

Frequently Asked Questions  Warning: Spoilers

When did 'The Rag Trade' premiere?

'The Rag Trade' premiered on September 29, 1961.

Who created 'The Rag Trade'?

'The Rag Trade' was created by Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney.

What was the premise of 'The Rag Trade'?

'The Rag Trade' centered around the lives of the female workers at the Fenner Fashions Ltd. garment factory.

Who played the lead character of Paddy Fleming in 'The Rag Trade'?

Miriam Karlin played the lead character of Paddy Fleming in 'The Rag Trade'.

What was the inspiration behind 'The Rag Trade'?

'The Rag Trade' was inspired by the writers' experiences working in a garment factory.

What was the longest running character in 'The Rag Trade'?

The character of Carole was the longest running character in 'The Rag Trade', played by Esma Cannon.

What was the show's theme song called?

The show's theme song was called 'The Rag Trade'.

What was the name of the factory in 'The Rag Trade'?

The Fenner Fashions Ltd. garment factory was the main setting of 'The Rag Trade'.

What was the most popular episode of 'The Rag Trade'?

There is no definitive most popular episode of 'The Rag Trade'.

How did 'The Rag Trade' represent women's role in society at that time?

'The Rag Trade' reflected and challenged the traditional gender roles at the time and highlighted the struggles of working-class women.

How many episodes were there in the first season of 'The Rag Trade'?

The first season of 'The Rag Trade' had 13 episodes.

What was the format of the show?

'The Rag Trade' was a sitcom with each episode running for 30 minutes.

Cast

Gillian Taylforth

Gillian Taylforth

plays Lyn
Sheila Hancock

Sheila Hancock

plays Carole Taylor
Deddie Davies

Deddie Davies

plays Mabel
Wanda Ventham

Wanda Ventham

plays Shirley
Anna Karen

Anna Karen

plays Olive Rudge
Barbara Windsor

Barbara Windsor

plays Gloria, Judy
Diane Langton

Diane Langton

plays Kathy
Lucita Lijertwood

Lucita Lijertwood

plays Jojo
View all cast

Characters

Lyn

Lyn

played by Gillian Taylforth
Carole Taylor

Carole Taylor

played by Sheila Hancock
Mabel

Mabel

played by Deddie Davies
Shirley

Shirley

played by Wanda Ventham
Olive Rudge

Olive Rudge

played by Anna Karen
Gloria

Gloria

played by Barbara Windsor
Judy

Judy

played by Barbara Windsor
Kathy

Kathy

played by Diane Langton
View all characters

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