Not in Front of the Children was a British television sitcom that presented a comic portrait of family life in the late 1960s. Starring Wendy Craig in the central role, the programme ran for 39 episodes across four series, first airing in August 1967 and concluding on 9 January 1970. Its title echoes a common British admonition to avoid adult subjects in the presence of children, and that caution is used as an ironic frame for everyday domestic mishaps.

Overview and format

The show focused on a suburban, middle‑class household and the small-scale crises that arise when household routine collides with social expectations. Episodes were built around situational humour, misunderstandings and the lead character's well‑meaning but often distracted approach to parenting and marriage. Although rooted in family comedy, the scripts frequently touched on changing gender roles and modern domestic pressures of the era.

Characters and style

The central performance by Wendy Craig established a familiar comic persona: a somewhat scatterbrained, affectionate housewife juggling children, household management and social obligations. Supporting characters—relatives, neighbours and the on‑screen husband—provided counterpoint and fuels for the plots. The series relied on observational dialogue and situational setups rather than broad farce, creating a tone that mixed warmth with gentle satire.

Production and broadcast

Produced in the late 1960s, the show was broadcast over four series with a total of 39 episodes between 1967 and 1970. Its run coincided with a prolific era for British sitcoms that examined the home and social change. The programme helped to cement its lead actor's association with the comic middle‑class mother figure and contributed to a recognizable television archetype of the period.

Following this series, Wendy Craig returned to a similar on‑screen persona in the subsequent sitcoms ...And Mother Makes Three and its follow‑up ...And Mother Makes Five, which explored variations on the single‑ or two‑parent family and contemporary domestic concerns. The original series is often cited as part of a continuum of British domestic comedies that influenced later portrayals of family life on television.

Notable aspects and context

  • Title significance: the phrase "not in front of the children" suggests adult discretion and is used deliberately to highlight generational contrasts.
  • Social context: the show reflected shifting postwar family structures and expectations in Britain, using humour to make those shifts accessible to a mainstream audience.
  • Performance legacy: the lead performance helped define a comic type that recurred in British television through the 1970s.

For those seeking more information about the series and its cast, see the broadcaster's programme listings and actor biographies linked under the series and performer entries: series details and Wendy Craig.