Please Sir! (1968)
The classic British sitcom where one optimistic teacher takes on the school's most unruly class — and refuses to give up on them.
Please Sir! - Series Information
- Original Title: Please Sir!
- First Air Year: 1968
- Last Air Year: 1972
- Created by: Bob Larbey, John Esmonde
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Comedy
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (30 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 4
- Number of Episodes: 55
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Networks: London Weekend Television
Please Sir! - Plot
A hapless but caring teacher tries to control his class of unruly kids. The teacher sees much good and potential in his pupils, much to the dismay of his fellow teachers who have lost hope in these kids.
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Please Sir! - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Bob Larbey
- John Esmonde
Main Cast
- Richard Davies
- Erik Chitty
- Joan Sanderson
- Deryck Guyler
- Noel Howlett
- Peter Cleall
- Liz Gebhardt
- John Alderton
- Peter Denyer
- David Barry
Writers
- Bob Larbey
- John Esmonde
- Andy Baker
- Tony Bilbow
- Geoff Rowley
Please Sir! - FAQs
Who plays the teacher in Please Sir!?
John Alderton plays Bernard Hedges, the idealistic young teacher at the heart of the series. Alderton's warm, bumbling portrayal made the character instantly lovable, and his chemistry with the rowdy pupils of 5C became the comedic engine that drove the show's enduring popularity.
What is Please Sir! about?
Please Sir! follows Bernard Hedges, a naive but big-hearted teacher assigned to the most troublesome class in his school. While his cynical colleagues have written the kids off entirely, Hedges refuses to give up on them — leading to warm, chaotic, and often hilarious results in every episode.
Where can you stream Please Sir! online?
Please Sir! is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Prime Video with Ads. Free viewing options include The Roku Channel, Tubi TV, Plex, and Plex Channel. Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads also carries the series, giving you plenty of ways to enjoy this classic British sitcom.
Who created Please Sir! and wrote the series?
Please Sir! was created by Bob Larbey and John Esmonde, the prolific British writing duo also responsible for The Good Life. They wrote the bulk of the series, with additional episodes contributed by Andy Baker, Tony Bilbow, and Geoff Rowley across its four-season run.
How many seasons and episodes does Please Sir! have?
Please Sir! ran for four seasons between 1968 and 1972, totalling 55 episodes. The series grew steadily, from 7 episodes in Series 1 to 21 in Series 4, reflecting its rising popularity with British audiences throughout its run on London Weekend Television.
Was Please Sir! a popular show in the UK?
Please Sir! was a genuine hit with British audiences during its original run, drawing strong ratings on London Weekend Television. Its popularity even spawned a 1971 theatrical film of the same name. The show's affectionate humour and relatable school setting gave it a warm place in British comedy history.
Did Please Sir! inspire any spin-offs or related shows?
Yes — the success of Please Sir! led to a spin-off series called The Fenn Street Gang (1971–1973), which followed several of the original pupil characters after they left school. A feature film adaptation was also released in 1971, further expanding the world created by Bob Larbey and John Esmonde.
What are some shows similar to Please Sir!?
If you enjoy Please Sir!, you might also like Bad Education, Big School, or Head of the Class — all comedies built around eccentric teachers and unruly students. For broader British comedy with a similar warmth, Not Going Out and Green Wing are well worth exploring.
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