Rising Damp

A memorable Scott Joplin-style piano arrangement introduced each episode of Eric Chappell's sitcom, widely regarded ITV's best. Leonard Rossiter played skinflint landlord Rigsby, Frances de la Tour his spinsterly love interest Miss Jones, and Richard Beckinsale and Don Warrington student tenants who exploited his prejudices and inhibitions for laughs. A spin-off film was released in 1980. Based on Chappell's original stage play "The Banana Box", it starred Christopher Strauli in place of the recently deceased Beckinsale.