Eric Chappell was a very busy man in the mid to late 70's. With 'Rising Damp' a smash hit, he decided rightly to devote his time to it and farmed out his other hit - 'The Squirrels' - to other writers. 'Burke In Clover' was penned by Richard Harris ( not the actor! ), a writer who'd worked on 'The Avengers' and co-created 'Man In A Suitcase' ( with Dennis Spooner ). The change in writer is very noticeable.
Once again, Rex, Harry, Burke and Mr. Fletcher have attended a party ( an employee of International Rentals is retiring ) and gotten drunk and done embarrassing things. Burke not only locked himself in a cupboard, but has gotten engaged to a female member of the staff called Sylvia Manton. Burke brazenly asks Fletcher for a pay rise, and when he does not get it, resorts to blackmail...
While its good to see Ellis Jones getting a bit more screen time than usual, the episode does not work we well as it should. For one thing, we never see Sylvia which is a pity as it would have been a perfect role for either Claire Davenport or Rita Webb.
Funniest moment - Rex and Harry look out of a window and react with disgust when they see the future Mrs. Burke. Realising she is looking at them, the men adopt happy expressions, which are funnier than anything found in the script.
Once again, Rex, Harry, Burke and Mr. Fletcher have attended a party ( an employee of International Rentals is retiring ) and gotten drunk and done embarrassing things. Burke not only locked himself in a cupboard, but has gotten engaged to a female member of the staff called Sylvia Manton. Burke brazenly asks Fletcher for a pay rise, and when he does not get it, resorts to blackmail...
While its good to see Ellis Jones getting a bit more screen time than usual, the episode does not work we well as it should. For one thing, we never see Sylvia which is a pity as it would have been a perfect role for either Claire Davenport or Rita Webb.
Funniest moment - Rex and Harry look out of a window and react with disgust when they see the future Mrs. Burke. Realising she is looking at them, the men adopt happy expressions, which are funnier than anything found in the script.