Vince Powell came up with the idea for this L.W.T. sitcom after his au pair innocently asked him one day if he had received any 'French letters' for her. She was of course referring to mail, but to an English comedy scriptwriter the double meaning was unmistakable.
'Mind Your Language' was set in an adult education centre where foreign students struggle to master the complexities of the English language. They include a sexy French girl, a Spaniard fond of saying 'Por favore?' a lot, a Mao-quoting Chinese woman, a hot-blooded Italian, a surly German woman, a fast-talking Greek, a head-waggling Indian lady, and a Chinaman who gets to his feet and takes a bow whenever asked a question. Later additions were a Swedish sex-bomb and a confused Hungarian.
Presiding over this microcosm of international relations was well-meaning but naive English teacher Jeremy Brown, played by the late Barry Evans. The show provided a welcome return for the popular actor, who had been off British television screens since 'Doctor At Large' in 1971.
Also around were Mary Whitehouse lookalike Zara Nutley as the fearsome principal 'Miss Courtney', Tommy Godfrey ( 'Arthur' in Powell's 'Love Thy Neighbour' ) as 'Sid' the caretaker, and Iris Sadler as tea lady 'Gladys'.
'Mind Your Language' is often cited as an example of 'racist' '70's British comedy. I personally think it is no more offensive than those American movies that depict the British either as plummy-voiced toffs or chirpy Cockney sparrows. The main source of ridicule in this show is the English language itself.
Yes, the students were stereotypes, but British comedy has always been full of them - check out 'Fawlty Towers' for yet more 'funny foreigners'. Manuel could easily have been one of Jeremy Brown's students. Besides, the English characters were also stereotypes. The students themselves came across as altogether likable. This was never intended to be serious social commentary.
My main bugbear is that the characters never developed from one episode to the next; it would have been nice to have seen say, the students gradually mastering English, coming to understand each other's customs, maybe even getting married ( Danielle and Giovanni would have made a nice couple ).
Michael Grade axed the show despite its popularity, yet in 1986 it returned as an independent production, courtesy of one of its stars - Albert Moses. If he - an Asian actor - did not find the show offensive, why on Earth should anyone else?
Superbly parodied by L.W.T.'s 'End Of Part One' as 'Mind Your Foreigners'.
'Mind Your Language' was set in an adult education centre where foreign students struggle to master the complexities of the English language. They include a sexy French girl, a Spaniard fond of saying 'Por favore?' a lot, a Mao-quoting Chinese woman, a hot-blooded Italian, a surly German woman, a fast-talking Greek, a head-waggling Indian lady, and a Chinaman who gets to his feet and takes a bow whenever asked a question. Later additions were a Swedish sex-bomb and a confused Hungarian.
Presiding over this microcosm of international relations was well-meaning but naive English teacher Jeremy Brown, played by the late Barry Evans. The show provided a welcome return for the popular actor, who had been off British television screens since 'Doctor At Large' in 1971.
Also around were Mary Whitehouse lookalike Zara Nutley as the fearsome principal 'Miss Courtney', Tommy Godfrey ( 'Arthur' in Powell's 'Love Thy Neighbour' ) as 'Sid' the caretaker, and Iris Sadler as tea lady 'Gladys'.
'Mind Your Language' is often cited as an example of 'racist' '70's British comedy. I personally think it is no more offensive than those American movies that depict the British either as plummy-voiced toffs or chirpy Cockney sparrows. The main source of ridicule in this show is the English language itself.
Yes, the students were stereotypes, but British comedy has always been full of them - check out 'Fawlty Towers' for yet more 'funny foreigners'. Manuel could easily have been one of Jeremy Brown's students. Besides, the English characters were also stereotypes. The students themselves came across as altogether likable. This was never intended to be serious social commentary.
My main bugbear is that the characters never developed from one episode to the next; it would have been nice to have seen say, the students gradually mastering English, coming to understand each other's customs, maybe even getting married ( Danielle and Giovanni would have made a nice couple ).
Michael Grade axed the show despite its popularity, yet in 1986 it returned as an independent production, courtesy of one of its stars - Albert Moses. If he - an Asian actor - did not find the show offensive, why on Earth should anyone else?
Superbly parodied by L.W.T.'s 'End Of Part One' as 'Mind Your Foreigners'.