Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads

[Billy in Bristol]

Older NSC posters will recall the classic episode when the two characters spent a whole day trying at great lengths to avoid the score of an England match so they could watch the highlights...They ultimately succeeded only to switch on and find out the game was called off.

Yesterday, I was in London, and having no time to catch any of the pre match banter on here, set the recorder for ESPN Classic, working an event last night with five female Olympians, I made sure that I resisted all opportunities to find out the result.

So, I got home at 1am, and woke up at 8am this morning to watch the match over a lesiurely breakfast and well, I guess we all know the rest.

In hindsight the QPR fans at Notting Hill Tube, who did try and tell me, were attempting to do me a favour, but at least I can watch live tonight!

Anyone else gone to such lengths to avoid results only to be scuppered?

 

[The Large One]

The only time I can think of is - and I didn't particularly have to try too hard - was Newcastle v Brighton FA Cup 3rd Round replay in 1983. The highlights were on Sportsnight.

I had no idea of the score. I just assumed we'd lose, and (admittedly 29 years later the memory has fogged a little) I don't recall knowing that the game was going to be shown.

 

[Hove Park]

Palace 02/03 season at home.

I was working away and avoided the result all day texted the mrs to tell of my accomplishment , spoke her at about 9pm after my curry, she said well done for avoiding it, but was surprised i was staying up that late "cos there was no goals"..... WTF, mini bar got nailed that night.

 

[Pbseagull]

Older NSC posters will recall the classic episode when the two characters spent a whole day trying at great lengths to avoid the score of an England match so they could watch the highlights...They ultimately succeeded only to switch on and find out the game was called off.

Yesterday, I was in London, and having no time to catch any of the pre match banter on here, set the recorder for ESPN Classic, working an event last night with five female Olympians, I made sure that I resisted all opportunities to find out the result.

So, I got home at 1am, and woke up at 8am this morning to watch the match over a lesiurely breakfast and well, I guess we all know the rest.

In hindsight the QPR fans at Notting Hill Tube, who did try and tell me, were attempting to do me a favour, but at least I can watch live tonight!

Anyone else gone to such lengths to avoid results only to be scuppered?

Yes, it was a few years ago, I had been away working and missed the live showing of an England game, so had videod it for when I got home ( can't remember which game). When I got home about midnight my wife was still up, as i walked in to the Living room I said "Don't tell me the score as I'm going to watch it now", My wife replied "OK but it's not worth watching as there weren't any goals". To this day she is adamant that she did not tell me the score!

 

[backson]

Wasn't football, but I taped the last round of the Masters last year (the one where Rory imploded) to watch at my leisure the following day. Avoided all news etc, only to open my email to see one from a Golf magazine "Check out the clubs Masters winner Charl Schwartlz uses".

 

[Jameson]

Ah yes a classic episode! But was it "The Likely Lads" rather than "Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads"? Seem to remember it was in black and white. Also featured Brian Glover in that episode?

Enjoy the game tonight!

 

[Beach Hut]

I sold Rodney Bewes a return to London once when I worked at Brighton ticket office many moons ago, pretty sure he was doing a weeks show at Theatre Royale, nice bloke as well

 

[User removed 4]

Ah yes a classic episode! But was it "The Likely Lads" rather than "Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads"? Seem to remember it was in black and white. Also featured Brian Glover in that episode?

Enjoy the game tonight!

No, it was in colour, I remember they went past a newspaper hoarding outside a paper shop, and all they saw before they looked away was "England F", they imagined all sorts such as england five down etc , it turned out that he hoarding said "england flooded out" , there had been a waterlogged pitch, the game was abandoned and something rubbish replaced the game on TV. i have got a wierd memory, I saw that episode in the 70's , only once, never seen it since , and I remember that, weird.

 

[drew]

Terry saw his life was going nowhere so joined the met. Eventually retired only to be called back as a consultant for unsolved crimes.

As for Bob, just old and it seems a bit bitter.

The Likely Lads fall out as Bolam refuses to sanction TV repeats - TV Radio - Media - The Independent

 

[Left Footer]

Palace 02/03 season at home.

I was working away and avoided the result all day texted the mrs to tell of my accomplishment , spoke her at about 9pm after my curry, she said well done for avoiding it, but was surprised i was staying up that late "cos there was no goals"..... WTF, mini bar got nailed that night.

were there highlights on of that game then? could be wrong but don`t remember that game being covered by tv.

the 2005/6 which we lost 3-2 was live on sky i think.

 

[Brovion]

Ah yes a classic episode! But was it "The Likely Lads" rather than "Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads"? Seem to remember it was in black and white. Also featured Brian Glover in that episode?

Enjoy the game tonight!

Definitely, 100% a 'Whatever Happened ...' episode.

 

[User removed 4]

Terry saw his life was going nowhere so joined the met. Eventually retired only to be called back as a consultant for unsolved crimes.

As for Bob, just old and it seems a bit bitter.
The Likely Lads fall out as Bolam refuses to sanction TV repeats - TV Radio - Media - The Independent

you cant blame him though can you ? it does seem a bit mean for james Bolam to refuse to allow repeats.

 

[Dr. Notthenineo'clocknews]

The Tim wetherspoon Frank Bruno clash was to be shown in it's entirety on ITV at about 9 am on a Sunday, due to no live coverage from the early hours of that morning (pre Sky about 1988)

it seemed quite easy to avoid the result until the between programmes anouncer ploudly exclaimed "Now on ITV watch Tim Wetherspoon retain his (whatever) Title"

 

[maltaseagull]

To clear up one bit of the debate Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? - Episode Guide - British Comedy Guide

 

[Phat Baz 68]

TUT TUT TUT !!! Oh Billy in Bristol what happened to you ? Whatever happened to me ?

 

[User removed 4]

The Tim wetherspoon Frank Bruno clash was to be shown in it's entirety on ITV at about 9 am on a Sunday, due to no live coverage from the early hours of that morning (pre Sky about 1988)

it seemed quite easy to avoid the result until the between programmes anouncer ploudly exclaimed "Now on ITV watch Tim Wetherspoon retain his (whatever) Title"

he got stapbbed to death recently , that tim whatshisname

 

[Dr. Notthenineo'clocknews]

he got stapbbed to death recently , that tim whatshisname

what, (I'm laughing while i type this) Witherspoon?

 

[User removed 4]

what, (I'm laughing while i type this) Witherspoon?

No, witherknife , badoom tschhh!!

 

[Easy 10]

Euro 2004 Finals, I was on a plane coming home from holiday during the England v Croatia game. I was harbouring a small hope of avoiding the result and watching a recording of the game as soon as I got in. My chances of this were boosted when on takeoff the captain came over the intercom and said "we are aware England are playing Croatia during this flight, but will refrain from giving you any news of the game as we know some of our passengers like to avoid the result". Nice one I thought.

Got all the way inside the terminal and through passport control, avoiding anyone who looked like they might be switching on their mobiles looking for the score. Got to the baggage carousel and looked up at the little board above it which usually, and to my knowledge, just displays the flight number. But there, scrolling across like a tickertape, was the score.......England 4....Croatia 2.....on the frigging BAGGAGE RECLAIM sign FFS.

Macked me right off that did.

 

[The Large One]

Tomorrow's almost over
Today went by so fast
The only thing to look forward to
... the past