My Wife’s Lodger

A band plays on the quayside as a ship brings troops home to England after the War.

A train from the port brings weary demobbed soldiers home. Platform 2 at Ealing Broadway station on The Broadway, Ealing W5.

Looking across the station towards platform 2 to include a remaining canopy, Antony Blair found that a few changes have taken place.

The train pulls away after Willie Higginbotham alights. Facing east on platform 2 at Ealing Broadway station.

Having been away for six years, Willie surveys the gloom of his home town.

Life continues normally at the home of Maggie Higginbotham, her daughter Eunice, son Norman, Willie's Mother-in-Law and . . . . . Roger the Lodger. Pembroke Place off Earls Court Road in London W8.

Rebuilt as one can see but the same shadow is still cast each year. SJ

In a street near his house, Willie watches a parade as the town welcomes a hero back from the war. Surely a stock shot, as standing in for a London street is Coinagehall Street in Helston, Cornwall with The Angel Hotel to the left. The crowds appear to have turned out for Flora Day.

Richard Winchester found that the Angel Hotel is still open for guests.

Willie Higginbotham (Dominic Roche) watches the crowd for a moment before turning to walk the last few paces to his front door. This is Pembroke Place in W8 and in the background stands the Princess Victoria public house on Earls Court Road.

The Princess Victoria lives on. SJ

Opening the door, Willie enters the house. Pembroke Place in Kensington. The terrace and the buildings in the left background have since been rebuilt.

A lot of changes. SJ

That evening Eunice Higginbotham goes jitterbugging at the Palais while her mother and Roger spend the evening at the cinema. Dave W has clearly continued to 'trip the light fantastic' today with his dance halls and identifies this as the 'Hammersmith Palais' that was at 242 Shepherds Bush Road, London W6. (RL)

The Palais de danse closed in 2007 and, despite its historical importance, was demolished in 2012 in favour of a taller building for a gym and student residence. A wider shot to show that the Duke of Hammersmith pub next door survives. SJ

Looking for a job, Willie approaches The White Horse pub. The White Horse public house on Shere Lane in Shere, Surrey.

With the pub sign featuring a different white horse. SJ

Back at home, a Policeman (Martin Wyldeck) comes looking for Willie. Pembroke Place in Kensington W8.

Everything has changed apart from the dark green painted house on the left. SJ

Having left the pub when overhears Roger planning a tobacco heist with his pal Joe inside, Willie gets up after hiding under the lodger's car. Shere features in many productions including ‘The Ruling Class’, ‘Dick Barton Special Agent’, 'Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason', 'During One Night', 'Bachelor of Hearts', 'Reunion at Fairborough', 'Calamity the Cow', 'The Late Edwina Black', 'On the Fiddle', 'Trouble with Eve', 'The Earth Dies Screaming' and 'Monster of Terror'.

A grander front entrance. SJ

Roger and his Joe drive away from the pub. Looking from Shere Lane along Church Lane in Shere.

John Harwood had to sacrifice the tree trunk to show the buildings. (SJ)

Grabbing a bike, Willie cycles after Roger. The bridge carrying Shere Lane over the River Tillingbourne.

John H. again on a lovely spring day. (SJ)

After crashing into a bridge parapet, Willie tries to thumb a lift before Tex and Eunice approach in a Jeep. The bridge on Shere Lane in Shere.

Quite a few alterations here. SJ

Driven by Tex, Willie pursues Roger and Joe. Facing south west on the A3 Portsmouth Road at the junction with Burnt Common Lane, then the B2215, at Burntcommon near Send in Surrey.

The Jeep draws up outside Joe's café. The Three Frogs Café on what is now the B2215 Portsmouth Road at the junction with Burnt Common Lane near Send. The café has since been replaced by a business unit, however, it also appears in 'Dry Rot' and 'The Counterfeit Plan'.

Escaping from Willie, Roger the Lodger (Leslie Dwyer) is taken home in the back of a tobacco truck where he climbs out to collect his belongings. Pembroke Place off Earls Court Road in Kensington W8.

Slightly off angle to show the right side (in shadow) which has survived. SJ