One of my all-time favourite comedy shows is “Steptoe and Son” and this morning on Gold TV, I had a bit of a love-in even though I have seen the show countless times. I was only 14-years-old when this episode was first aired in 1974 on the BBC so god knows how many times I have watched it since. The Seven Steptoeai is a particular favourite and I was happy to get to watch it again with this episode about a local gangsters starting up a protection racket.
For those who don’t know of the Steptoe’s they are a father (Albert) and son (Harold) team in the rag and bone business and have a love and hate relationship but really they do love each other.
Local gangster Frankie Barrow fresh out of prison that morning pays a visit to the Steptoe’s to offer them “insurance” (i.e. protection) with two heavies in tow. After a demonstration of the need of “insurance”, they soon sign on the dotted line at £15 a week with Albert pointing out they only pay £15 year for their real insurance.
Worried by the exorbitant costs and fear of retribution if payments were not kept up Harold hatches a scheme to raise the “Oil Drum Lane Vigilantes” based on a famous martial arts film called “The Seven Samurai” with his own heavies from the scrubs (a local prison). On refection, he knows it is a pipe dream and will have to pay up but Albert indicates he can rustle up enough “muscle” to face Frankie and his boys.
Albert and his pensioners sidekicks while away their time at the local cinema watching “kung fu” films so when he sent Frankie’s collector away empty handed Harold is deeply concerned for they safety. Enter Frankie and his boys tooled up with assortment of weapons and entering stage left Albert and his old foggies as they square up to do battle.
It’s a forgone conclusion the outcome but fair to say the insurance company are sent packing. Thanks to YouTube the episode is below ... enjoy
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