Only When I Laugh is a British television sitcom made by Yorkshire Television for ITV. It aired between 29 October 1979 and 16 December 1982 and was set in the ward of an NHS hospital. The title is in response to the question, "Does it hurt?"It starred James Bolam, Peter Bowles, and Christopher Strauli as patients Roy Figgis, Archie Glover, and Norman Binns. Mr. Gordon Thorpe, their consultant surgeon, was played by Richard Wilson; and Gupte, the staff nurse from Delhi, was played by Derrick Branche.The show was one of many successes for writer Eric Chappell, and has been repeated on ITV3 since 2007.Roy, Archie and Norman are long-term patients in a British hospital ward. Though they don't seem terribly ill, neither do they seem to be getting better and going home. So they pass their days side by side in the hospital ward, chatting and occasionally getting on one another's nerves.
Norman arrives at the ward and is given the bed next to the window. A game of musical beds ensues as Figgis and Archie want it too...
Norman's due for his appendix operation and is rather upset about it. He turns to Figgis for comfort in his hour of need...
Figgis overhears Doctor Thorpe telling Gupte that his dog may not live much longer. Unfortunately, Figgis didn't hear the 'dog' bit and thinks it's about him...
Archie's lothario-like tendencies are coming back to haunt him when he's convinced he's being stalked by a Greek madman for besmirching his fiancée...
The trio can stand the daily menu no longer and go on hunger strike. What they hadn't bargained for, however, was how hungry they would get...
Archie is craving female company and is heartened to see an attractive new nurse. So is Norman...
Tired of sitting in bed all day, Figgis disguises himself as a doctor and goes for a walk. Unfortunately, he's mistaken for a real doctor...
The trio get into a lather when a glamorous film star arrives on the ward.
A rich patient becomes popular when the other patients learn he's about to make his Will...
Despite being warned on a frequent basis, the patients are undeterred by the risks of smoking.
Much to the despair of the others, Figgis becomes preoccupied with signs & portents.
When a TV crew arrives to make a programme about the hospital, the patients fight for stardom.
The new young female doctor on the ward gets a mixed reception...
An MP concerned with the spiralling costs of the NHS is admitted for treatment, but refuses to sign a petition to save the hospital.
Agony Aunt Clare Butterfield receives a letter from Worried of Ward 3, but her reply only confuses things...
Illness strikes Archie Glover, and Dr Thorpe insists he have a blood transfusion, but knowing who the donor is makes the invalid feel even more poorly.
A female patient falls for Dr Thorpe's bedside matter, and caught in a compromising position, he turns to the men's ward occupants for help : but will they come to the aid of a friend in need?
Figgis dabbles in amateur psychiatry and deduces that Norman is suffering from sexual repression.
Norman's fiancee visits to discuss the wedding arrangements - but her suggestions force him to take matters into his own hands.
Complete episode guide for Only When I Laugh with detailed information about every season and episode including air dates, summaries, ratings, and streaming availability in United States.
This episode guide is organized by seasons, making it easy to track your viewing progress or find specific episodes. Use the episode information to plan your binge-watching sessions or catch up on missed episodes.
It's visiting day and Norman's mother has another dreary girl lined up for him, much to the others' amusement!
Figgis admits he's not been christened but sees the light when he meets a vicar.
The "regulars" plan a party, but unexpected guests turn up...
Norman witnesses an accident involving Dr. Thorpe. But will he testify to what he saw?
When Norman keeps a diary about life on the ward, everyone is anxious to get their hands on it.
Fed up with hospital radio, the patients try to do better themselves.
The regulars are terrified by the admission of a convict onto their ward.
An inebriated man collapses in reception, and Figgis is employed to find out more about the mysterious visitor.
The boys are discharged from hospital, and promptly arrange a reunion under more enjoyable circumstances.