Keep It in the Family (1971 TV series)

Keep It in the Family was a British sitcom that aired on ITV from 1971 to 1973 and again from 1980 to 1983. Starring Brian Rawlinson as Dudley Rush, a conservative and opinionated cartoonist, and Sheila White as his long-suffering wife, Muriel, the series revolved around the everyday lives and comedic conflicts of the Rush family.

The central premise of the show involved the Rushes sharing their home with Dudley's parents, Walter (played by Jack Smethurst) and Amy (played by Liz Fraser in the first series and then Joan Sims in the subsequent series). Walter, a retired railway worker, frequently clashed with Dudley due to their differing personalities and political views. Amy often attempted to mediate the disputes between her husband and son.

Other regular characters included their daughter, Jacqui, and her eventual husband, Duncan. The humor was largely derived from generational clashes, misunderstandings, and the frustrations of living in a multigenerational household.

The series was created by Brian Cooke and Johnnie Mortimer, who also wrote episodes of other popular sitcoms, such as Man About the House. Keep It in the Family was a ratings success during its run and is remembered as a classic example of 1970s British sitcoms. The show's theme tune was composed by Tony Hatch.