Shelley

Shelley

1979 10 Seasons 69 Episodes ⭐ 7.7 Comedy

James Shelley, an educated, sardonic, permanently unemployed "professional freelance layabout," has many battles with authority, the tax-man, his landlady, and his girlfriend Fran.

James Shelley, an educated, sardonic, permanently unemployed "professional freelance layabout," has many battles with authority, the tax-man, his landlady, and his girlfriend Fran.

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Seasons & Episodes

EP 1

Moving In

Shelley and his girlfriend Fran are looking for accomadation. After viewing unsuitable properties, they find a room at

EP 2

The Nelson Touch

Shelley isn't impressed when his local pub is destined for a kitsch makeover. He gets yet more grief at the Labour Excha

EP 3

Gainfully Employed

Following a drunken evening stint as Nelson at the Victory pub, Shelley wakes up in the morning next to a strange woman.

EP 4

The Distaff Side

Shelley has finally completed his week doing a 'proper' job at an advertising agency, but is a bit shocked when he sees

EP 5

Elders and Betters

Visiting a health shop, Shelley is appalled at the high prices of some of the items. The moment he and Fran have long d

EP 6

May the Best Man Win

Shelley is reunited with his oldest friend, Ned, whom he asks to be best man at his forthcoming wedding. Ned, unfortuna

EP 7

Nowt So Queer

Shelley's attempts to prepare a dinner party meet with continual interruptions. A Jehovah's Witness is at the door and

EP 1

Owner Occupiers

Shelley, now in work, looks for somewhere to live with wife-to-be Fran and their impending child. A visit to the local

EP 2

Expletive Deleted

Shelley has to come up with a sales campaign for a new range of Instant Paella. The stuff proves hard to market as it i

EP 3

Tea and Sympathy

Shelley is working on an ad campaign for striped pyjamas when a crisis interrupts his train of thought. A fellow lodger

EP 4

Hearth and Home

Shelley and Fran are in their bed-sit as usual. She is engrossed in a dog-eared copy of George Orwell's 'Keep The Aspid

EP 5

Fully Furnished

Shelley wants to buy an old book in a junk shop but the dealer tries to make him think it is worth far more than it real

EP 6

Dearly Beloved

Mrs.H and Shelley's mother spend the night at Fran's Dad's palatial house in Shropshire. Isobel's liberal attitude to l

EP 1

Of Mice and Men

Shelley and Fran are spending the night in their new house, which is undergoing renovation. Fran hears something scuttli

EP 2

Signing On

Shelley is dragged back to reality as he endures a painful visit to the labour exchange to sign back on. He's prepared

EP 3

Nor Iron Bars a Cage

Shelley's efforts at DIY at the new house are starting to take shape, he's managed to put up a shelf in the kitchen at l

EP 4

Foreign Affairs

Shelley is still gainfully unemployed and his honest approach at interviews isn't exactly improving his job prospects.

EP 5

Universal Trust

With Fran busy at her ante-natal class, Shelley seeks solace in a cafe. His peace is short-lived though, when he seems

EP 6

Dry Rot

Shelley is busy rewiring the kitchen and installing spotlights though he seems to be getting into a bit of a tangle. Wor

EP 7

You Have to Laugh

The day has finally arrived, and Fran is about to give birth. Things move fast and Shelley needs to rush to the hospital

EP 1

Unkindest Cuts

After a long period of inactivity, Shelley is psyching himself up for signing off at long last at the job centre with hi

EP 2

A Drop of the Pink Stuff

Baby Emma won't stop crying, and Shelley and Fran are at their wits' ends. Mrs H soon comes calling, and suggests they s

EP 3

No News is Good

Mrs H comes over to babysit Emma, allowing Shelley and Fran a rare night out together at the cinema. The film doesn't qu

EP 4

Credit Where Credit's Due

The utility billls are piling up in the Shelley household but, with his ongoing unemployed status still unresolved, the

EP 5

Mortal Coils

Shelley has a bit of a rude awakening in the morning - he's somehow pulled his back during the night. After a visit to

EP 6

Slaughterhouse Sling

Shelley & Fran are still struggling to pay the bills and their misery is compounded further when Shelley's former Uni fr

EP 1

On the Road to Damascus

After Fran finally snaps and turns Shelley out on his ear, he turns to his best man Paul for help. Fortunately, Paul is

EP 2

Brave New World

With the prospect of meaningful employment looking even more unlikely than ever, Shelley is left with no option other th

EP 3

Shelley Versus Shelley

Shelley is dismayed when Fran starts divorce proceedings against him meaning they both have to hire lawyers. But can hi

EP 4

Noises Off

Shelley is all alone in his eighth-floor flat on a Sunday afternoon feeling bored and going a bit stir crazy. He thinks

EP 5

Tubes Help You Breed Less Easily

Shelley's tube train gets stuck in a tunnel, and doesn't appear to be moving anytime soon. With terminal boredom ensuin

EP 6

When the Chip Hits the Fan

Shelley is still reluctantly looking for work so returns to the Easy Job Agency. He's in luck, there's a vacancy for a

EP 1

Dry Dreams

Shelley gets a surprise invite to his mum Isobel's place for lunch and not only that, Fran is invited too. Will Isobel'

EP 2

It Nearly Always Happens to Somebody Else

Shelley comes home from a rare hard day's work to find his apartment has been burgled. Despite the ever-presence of Des

EP 3

Of Cabbages and Kings

Taking refuge in the local library, whom should Shelley run into but his old temping-job mucker Malcolm. The two intell

EP 4

The Party

Shelley's peace is disturbed by noise from a neighboring apartment, it appears there's a party going on. Desmond comes

EP 5

Owed to the Electrician

Shelley's back in 'advertising', although it appears he may have to work his way back up. But that's the least of his p

EP 6

Brief Encounter

Desmond's rather attractive young niece Anne-Marie comes to visit and Shelley takes rather a shine to her. Could love b

EP 1

The Return of Shelley

After nearly five years away teaching in the Middle-East, Shelley flies back into the UK. He's shocked to find a new wo

EP 2

In God We Trust

Shelley is settling back into life in the UK and turns up for his first day for a new role at the local gym. After runn

EP 3

Emergency Ward 9

After being mugged and having his wallet stolen, Shelley finds himself nursing his sore head in the local hospital ward.

EP 4

One of Those Nights

It's Shelley's birthday but he's feeling a bit neglected, despite a solitary birthday card from Fran. During a visit to

EP 5

Why Me?

When Shelley starts receiving hate-mail and threats, he starts to wonder whom he could have possibly upset and calls in

EP 6

The Big S

When Graham becomes overwhelmed with stress at work, he finds some solace in the wisdom of Shelley.

EP 1

The Artful Lodger

Shelley starts a job training in telesales but is still struggling to pay the rent. Meanwhile, when an old friend drops

EP 2

Shelley Washes Whiter

Shelley's old friend Phil is now ensconced as his new lodger and is keen to assist in getting him a new job after gettin

EP 3

A Happy Event

Carol is convinced she's pregnant, and seeks Shelley's wisdom and advice as how to go forward. Graham also seems to be

EP 4

Born Freeish

When Shelley hears Carol and Graham's plans for early retirement he starts to realize he may have some serious thinking

EP 5

Day of the Reptile

Shelley'a flat is invaded by journalists from the Fleet Street gutter press, digging around for any dirt he has on a for

EP 6

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Shelley has spent a long and tiring day in his new job as a London tour guide, and is absolutely exhausted. The trouble

EP 7

The Gospel According to Shelley

Shelley's new weekend job working behind the bar of a quiet pub is going as well as can be expected, until he gets a vis

EP 8

Wages of Virtue

Shelley finds a wallet stuffed full of money dropped on the pavement and no indication as to whom the owner might be. C

EP 9

It's Only a Game

Shelley takes Phil to his first-ever soccer game, and attempts to educate him in the art of terrace etiquette. By chanc

EP 10

Killer Driller

Shelley is working as a laborer on a new docklands development, but his team's work is hampered by a reluctant pop star

EP 11

Cold Turkey

Shelley and Phil are making a good effort to try and have a merry Christmas but their hopes are dashed when a devastated

EP 12

A Problem Aired

Shelley is left to contemplate the aging process - following slightly painful visits to his optician and dentist. But n

EP 13

Help!

Shelley's visit to a service station becomes an ordeal when he's caught up in the middle of a robbery by baseball bat-wi

EP 1

A Trial Period

Shelley is looking for new digs, and lands up at the home of Ted Bishop where a room is up for rent at a very reasonable

EP 2

A Question of Attitude

Ted's chances of beating the developers are helped when a TV company come to visit and interview him about his plight.

EP 3

Golden Oldies

Ted's 'old boys' stop by for a visit, and seem to have fun reminiscing about all their past indiscretions. Meanwhile, S

EP 4

The Bug

Ted can't help but notice that Shelley seems to be on a lucky streak. With luck like this, where can he go wrong. The b

EP 5

Second Best Man

Shelley's old friend Phil shows up and is in need of a best man for his latest wedding. Is Shelley first choice for bes

EP 6

Brainstrain

Shelley is troubled by his recurring and disturbing dream of standing in a supermarket checkout line and seeks professio

EP 1

The Deep End

Shelley is delighted to hear that his daughter Emma will be coming over from Canada in a couple of weeks to visit him.

EP 2

Come Fly With Me

Ted has the bright idea to whisk Shelley away for a short sunshine break in Athens. However, when their flight is delay

EP 3

Love is ...

Ted's young friend Ravi is concerned about his upcoming arranged marriage, and is looking for a way to escape it. When

EP 4

A Little Learning

Shelley disapproves of the lengths that Ted will go to in order to win a grudge match in his local pub quiz league.

EP 5

Happy Birthday - R.I.P.

Ted is upset that nobody has remembered his birthday so takes to his bed pretending he has a bad back. His mood is not

EP 6

Accountants & Zulus

Ted persuades Shelley to come along to the local night school classes.

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