As Time Goes By: Series 1 & 2

Once upon a time, a dashing young British Army officer and a lovely student nurse fell deeply, magically in love. Then he was shipped off to Korea and they never heard from one another. Forty years later, fate brings them together again... with hilarious results.

Includes all 13 episodes from Series 1 and 2.

Series 1
Lionel (Geoffrey Palmer), a divorced coffee planter, returns to England to finish his memoir, My Life In Kenya. In need of a temporary secretary, he turns to a local agency, unaware it's owned by none other than his long-lost wartime sweetheart, the still beautiful and now widowed Jean (Judi Dench). Jean's incurably romantic daughter Judith (Moira Brooker) plays matchmaker for her mother and Lionel. Despite a rough start and many hilarious obstacles Jean and Lionel begin the journey of rekindling their old romance.

Series 2
Lionel struggles with decisions surrounding his book while his relationship with Jean continues to grow. Lionel drives Jean nuts by fretting over encroaching old age and lost opportunities while Jean begins to feel uncomfortable about friends knowing about their youthful romance!

Series 1
Episode 1 - Lionel and Jean meet again by accident after 38 years. Each has been married but is now alone. There is a possibility that they could get together again, but 38 years is a long time and many things have changed.

Episode 2 - Although 38 years ago Lionel and Jean were young and in love, any thoughts of rekindling the romance seem absurd. They have made vague promises to keep in touch, but there is some doubt as to whether they really will.

Episode 3 - Jean and Lionel have now established a vague, uneasy friendship. Does this give them enough common ground on which they can build a new relationship?

Episode 4 - After spending a day visiting old haunts together, Lionel departs London to give a lecture. Jean is persuaded by her daughter to pay him a surprise visit. It is Jean who is surprised when she finds Lionel with one Denise on his arm.

Episode 5 - Relations have turned quite frosty between them since Jean has found Lionel in the company of another woman. Alistair, Lionel's agent, has become keen on Jean. Jean responds to his attentions as a way of getting back at Lionel.

Episode 6 - Judy, Jean's daughter, is besotted with Lionel while Alistair is smitten with Jean. Lionel and Jean are flattered by the attention but feel it must stop. They plan a picnic with the Judy and Alistair in the hopes that the two of them will hit it off together.

Series 2
Episode 1 - Lionel is more scared of being "shot" for his book cover than he was of being shot during the Korean War. While Jean at first declines to accompany his to the studio, she later decides to join him and is amused at the photographer's tricks.

Episode 2 - Judy leaves home so that her mother and Lionel can have the house to themselves for the weekend. This leaves Jean with misgivings since everything is so set up. Lionel sees his book cover photograph and pronounces it "...vaguely pornographic."

Episode 3 - Lionel and Jean take a trip to Hampshire to meet his father. The 85-year-old Mr. Hardcastle defies stereotype. He is an outgoing eccentric with a house crammed full of items which reflect his interest - from juke boxes to motor bikes.

Episode 4 - Lionel and Jean work on getting him a suitable outfit for his impending book launch. Meanwhile, Lionel cannot figure why a talented publisher like Alistair is working so hard to promote his book, one which even Lionel admits is "...rather a dull read."

Episode 5 - A chance meeting with Jean's sister-in-law Penny leads to a weekend in the country and a tricky situation for Lionel and Jean. Not wanting to admit to Penny that their relationship goes back four decades, Jean fibs that they have know one another for only a few months.

Episode 6 - Back from a country weekend with Lionel, Jean is annoyed at Judy's insinuations about the relationship with Lionel. Lionel only makes matters worse when he crassly invites Jean to join him on a "freebie" cruise.

Episode 7 - Lionel has "first night nerves" over his first signing session at a bookshop. Alistair and Jean, meanwhile, are working overtime wheedling and cajoling friends and acquaintances to queue up for signatures from the author.

Jean	---	Dame Judi Dench
Lionel	---	Geoffrey Palmer
Judith	---	Moira Brooker
Sandy	---	Jenny Funnell
Alistair	---	Philip Bretherton
Harry	---	David Michaels
Penny	---	Moyra Fraser
Simon	---	Paul Chapman
Rocky	---	Frank Middlemass
Mrs Bale	---	Janet Henfrey
Lol Ferris	---	Tim Wylton

Written by Bob Larbey
Directed by Sydney Lotterby
Produced by Sydney Lotterby
Executive Produced by Philip Jones, John Reynolds

“Much of this show’s popularity can be attributed to the deft performances, but its old-fashioned style of humour plays a large part, too. It doesn’t deliver a belly laugh a second, nor does it have the repetitive setup/punchline rhythm of a US sitcom, but it does leave viewers with smiles on their faces and warm feelings in their hearts.” -Radio Times

“Dame Judi's citrus-sharp observations as Jean, served up with Geoffrey Palmer's dry wit as Lionel, have provided an irresistible feast for viewers.” -Leicester Mercury

"Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer provide an acting masterclass in gentle comedy. The pair are so natural together it is hard to believe they are not man and wife in real life." -Mirror

"You can almost cut the air with their impeccable timing." -Time Out