Mrs Thursday comes to DVD

Mrs ThursdayDespite actress Kathleen Harrison being born in Lancashire’s Blackburn she became best loved for a number of cockney characters. Now for the first time since original transmission her ATV series Mrs Thursday is to be released on DVD. The story sees Harrison’s East End charlady inherit a fortune, a Rolls Royce, a butler… oh and the small matter of a property empire.

First broadcast on ITV in March 1966 the comedy drama ran for three series and nearly 40 episodes. Starring in the lead role as title character Mrs Thursday film actress Kathleen Harrison had become by the sixties one of Britain’s best-loved character actresses.

Born in February 1892 RADA trained actress Harrison had appeared in endless movies; however it is likely that she’ll be best remembered for her recurring leading role in several films about the Huggett family and as Mrs Dilber the charwoman to meanie Scrooge, appearing opposite Alastair Sim, in the 1951 film A Christmas Carol.

Devised by Ted Willis, the creator of BBC police drama Dixon of Dock Green, and featuring scripts by the celebrated dramatist Jack Rosenthal Mrs Thursday became a ratings hit for ITV.

The story follows a cheerful charlady Alice Thursday who has worked tirelessly for tycoon George Dunrich right up until the day he died. Now, in the first episode of series one, she learns that she’s inherited control of her late employer’s multi-million pound corporation – along with his Mayfair mansion, butler and his posh car.

Impressed by Alice’s strong character and sound common sense, George always knew she could be trusted to manage his money wisely. Now, with the suave, principled Richard Hunter acting as her business adviser and confidant, the former Mrs Mopp must learn how to be rich – and the first of many challenges she faces is explaining the situation to George Dunrich’s three ex-wives…

Mrs Thursday, the complete series on, is on sale at NetworkDVD.