Fresh Fields

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Genre	Sitcom
Written by	John Chapman
Directed by	Peter Frazer-Jones
Starring	Julia McKenzie; Anton Rodgers; Ann Beach; Fanny Rowe; Ballard Berkeley; Debby Cumming; Daphne Oxenford; Philip Bird; John Arthur
Template:Pluralize from text of origin	United Kingdom
Original languageTemplate:Pluralize from text	English
No. of series	4
No. of episodes	27
Production
ProducerTemplate:Pluralize from text	Peter Frazer-Jones
Running time	30 minutes ; (including commercials)
Production Template:Pluralize from text	Thames Television
Original release
Network	ITV
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Related
	French Fields
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Fresh Fields is a British sitcom starring Julia McKenzie and Anton Rodgers. A ratings success at the time, it was written by John Chapman and produced by Thames Television for ITV, running for four series between 7 March 1984 and 23 October 1986. The series has had repeats in recent years on Drama and currently, Fresh Fields is airing on That's TV in the UK (December 2023)

Premise and series history

Hester and William Fields (McKenzie and Rodgers) are a devoted middle-aged, middle-class couple living an idyllic suburban lifestyle in Barnes, London. William works as an accountant while Hester is a housewife who works part-time in local restaurant Lucy's Kitchen. The title's meaning, and crux of the show, is that Hester combats empty-nest syndrome by livening up her life with new interests and hobbies, to the exasperation of her hard-working husband who just wants a quiet life.^[1] The show's opening credits, featuring silhouettes of the characters, reflect this: Hester rides an exercise bike and plays a drumkit while William relaxes in a rocking chair.

The family home has an attached granny flat in which Hester's mother Nancy (Fanny Rowe) lives following her divorce from Hester's roguish father Guy (Ballard Berkeley); he often tries to win her back. (The pair finally remarry in the last episode.) Hester and William have two children of their own: the never-seen Tom who lives in New Zealand; and Emma, who is usually only heard (voice of Debby Cummings) telephoning her parents at inconvenient times. Emma's husband Peter (Philip Bird) appears occasionally; Emma and Peter later present the Fields with their first grandchild Guy, named after his great-grandfather.

The Fields's neighbour Sonia Barrett (played by Ann Beach) pops round in every episode to borrow items; these appearances would irritate William to comical effect. Sonia had the show's only catchphrase: "It's only Sonia!" which she carols as she raps at the Fields's back door and then lets herself in. Sonia's husband John (John Arthur) appears occasionally, as does William's secretary Miss Marigold Denham (Daphne Oxenford).

Fresh Fields ended in 1986 but three years later the series resumed as French Fields, which saw William and Hester relocating to France after William accepted a job there. There were three series of 19 episodes made between 5 September 1989 and 8 October 1991, all written by John T. Chapman and Ian Davidson. Philip Bird appears as Peter in several episodes, with Emma finally seen on-screen, now played by Sally Baxter. Ann Beach makes a guest appearance as Sonia in the final episode.

Filming locations

The show's main filming location was the Fields's salubrious Victorian detached home, which is actually situated in Teddington on the A313, Hampton Road, a short drive from what was Thames TV's main studio complex, where the indoor scenes were shot.

Cast and characters

Name of character	Portrayed by	Duration
Hester Fields	Julia McKenzie	Series 1–4, all episodes (27)
William Fields	Anton Rodgers	Series 1–4, all episodes (27)
Sonia Barrett	Ann Beach	Series 1–4, 26 episodes
Nancy Penrose	Fanny Rowe	Series 1–4, 26 episodes
Emma Fields	Debby Cumming	Series 1–4, 13 episodes (voice only)
Guy Penrose	Ballard Berkeley	Series 1–4, 10 episodes
Miss Denham	Daphne Oxenford	Series 1–4, 6 episodes
John Barrett	John Arthur	Series 3–4, 5 episodes
Peter Richardson	Philip Bird	Series 1, 2 and 4, 5 episodes
Ms Turner	Charlotte Barker	Series 2 and 3, 3 episodes
Henry Richardson	Eric Dodson	Series 2 and 4, 2 episodes
Margaret Richardson	Margaret Courtenay	Series 2 and 4, 2 episodes
Mrs Fielder	Zulema Dene	Series 3 and 4, 2 episodes
Miss Henshaw	Geraldine Gardner	Series 2 and 4, 2 episodes