More than 30 years after its debut, the BBC sitcom Goodnight Sweetheart, starring Nicholas Lyndhurst, is still being hailed as a 'must watch' by devoted fans, some of whom are clamouring for additional episodes. The show, which first launched in 1993, is now available to stream for free on ITVX.
Lyndhurst, widely recognised for playing Rodney Trotter in the legendary BBC show Only Fools and Horses since 1981, surprised fans when he transformed into a time traveller for another London-based sitcom. In Goodnight Sweetheart, he played Gary Sparrow, a television repairman leading a precarious double life after accidentally discovering a time-hopping portal that rewound the clock back to the London Blitz.
Plot and Popularity
Upon discovering the time portal, Gary found he could travel between 1990s London and the same location during the Second World War, pursuing romantic relationships in both eras. In contemporary times, he had established a household with his wife Yvonne Sparrow, portrayed by Michelle Holmes and Emma Amos, alongside Phoebe Bamford, a barmaid he encountered in the 1940s, played by Dervla Kirwan and Elizabeth Carling.
At its peak, the show attracted over 13 million viewers on BBC One. Goodnight Sweetheart ultimately drew to a close in 1945 during VE Day celebrations, with the finale broadcast in 1999 following six series. The beloved sci-fi comedy made a surprise comeback in 2016 with a one-off special, in which Gary, having been marooned in the past, managed to return to the present day and was forced to adjust to contemporary life and rebuild relationships with his family.
Fan Reactions
A decade after its concluding episode, devotees continue to champion the programme as essential viewing. One fan on Reddit suggested: "I loved it, still watch it fairly often. If they brought it back, I think it could be done in a different way. Don't have Gary as a bigamist, just keep him married to Pheobe."
A second added: "Relationship ethics aside, it was an interesting concept and was very watchable", while a third chimed in: "What someone would give nowadays to be in a series with 13.5 million viewers." Speaking about the 2016 special, another added: "I actually enjoyed that episode, it really is a shame it wasn't picked up for more episodes. It had so much potential", as another confirmed "Great show... bought the box set."
Goodnight Sweetheart is available to stream on ITVX.
