A Sharp Intake of Breath - Wikipedia A Sharp Intake of Breath A Sharp Intake of Breath A Sharp Intake of Breath opening titles by Mel Calman Genre Situation Comedy Created by Ronnie Taylor Written by Ronnie Taylor ( 1977 -- 80 ) Vince Powell ( 1981 ) Directed by Les Chatfield ( 1977 -- 79 ) Stuart Allen ( 1980 -- 81 ) Starring David Jason Jacqueline Clarke Richard Wilson ( series 1 -- 3 ) Alun Armstrong ( series 1 -- 2 ) Country of origin United Kingdom No. of series No. of episodes 22 Production Producer ( s ) Les Chatfield ( 1977 -- 79 ) Stuart Allen ( 1980 -- 81 ) Running time 30 Minutes Production company ( s ) ATV Release Original network ITV Picture format 4 : 3 Audio format Mono Original release 28 July 1977 ( 1977 - 07 - 28 ) ( pilot ) 28 February 1978 ( 1978 - 02 - 28 ) -- 15 February 1981 ( 1981 - 02 - 15 ) A Sharp Intake of Breath is a British sitcom starring David Jason, Jacqueline Clarke, Richard Wilson and Alun Armstrong which ran from 1977 to 1981. It was made for the ITV network by ATV and recorded at their Elstree Studios. The opening titles featured cartoons by Mel Calman. Jason played an everyman character called Peter Barnes and Jacqueline Clarke played his wife Sheila. Wilson and Armstrong played a range of petty officials and bureaucrats whose actions frustrated Barnes ' attempts to deal with the necessities of everyday life. The title A Sharp Intake of Breath refers to the reactions of various characters to seemingly simple requests by Peter, generally followed by a denial. The show made use of the fourth wall plot device. Episode listing Pilot Title Directed by Written by Original Air Date `` A Sharp Intake of Breath '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 28 July 1977 ( 1977 - 07 - 28 ) The pilot was part of ITV 's The Sounds of Laughter series of six one - off comedies. Sheila fancies having a small porch added to the back door off the kitchen, so calls in a local builder. Peter heads off to see his bank manager for a loan to cover the quote. Sheila Barnes was played by Patricia Brake in this episode. Series No. Episode No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date `` Your Life In Their Hands '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 20 February 1978 ( 1978 - 02 - 20 ) Peter does n't much feel like eating his breakfast, which leads Sheila to insist he visit the doctor for a check - up. `` Happy Motoring '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 27 February 1978 ( 1978 - 02 - 27 ) The car wo n't start, which is doubly frustrating as Peter not only has places to go, but also give Sheila a driving lesson. Typically, it turns out to be rather expensive a repair. `` Somewhere In The Sun '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 6 March 1978 ( 1978 - 03 - 06 ) What could be easier than booking a summer holiday ? As Peter is about to find out ; just about anything. `` See You In Court '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 13 March 1978 ( 1978 - 03 - 13 ) The Barnes ' marital bliss is thrown awry when he 's forced to bring his very drunk boss home from an office party. Peter 's desperate to bring their relationship back from the brink of divorce. 5 `` The Gasman Cometh '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 20 March 1978 ( 1978 - 03 - 20 ) Peter begins to tear his hair out when men from the gas board arrive to install his new central heating : he has n't asked for, and does not want, it. 6 `` Seven Year Hitch '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 27 March 1978 ( 1978 - 03 - 27 ) For their seventh wedding anniversary, Peter and Sheila intend to stay in the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon. Series No. Episode No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date `` Your Move '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 19 February 1979 ( 1979 - 02 - 19 ) Sheila 's suddenly desperate to move home. She 's never been happy living in their current home, apparently ! All this is news to Peter, who 's forced to engage with local estate agents. `` Your Very Good Health '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 26 February 1979 ( 1979 - 02 - 26 ) Peter 's hospitalised after a small accident in the garden damages his ankle. His doctor 's nice enough, but the matron ? `` Where There 's A Will '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 5 March 1979 ( 1979 - 03 - 05 ) The Barnes ' are forced to deal with Sheila 's argumentative family when her aunt dies. After a series of mishaps at the wake and dealing with a grasping vicar, Peter 's very surprised to discover that they 've been left an old piano. `` Another Little Drink '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 12 March 1979 ( 1979 - 03 - 12 ) Double trouble 's on the horizon when Peter 's workmates wo n't let him leave the pub without another few rounds down him first. Sheila 's not happy, and after a struggle to extricate his car, neither is P.C. Reynolds 5 `` The Square On The Hypoteneuse '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 19 March 1979 ( 1979 - 03 - 19 ) Commiserating with a stranger in the pub leads to all manner of domestic disharmony for poor Peter Barnes when both his wife and girlfriend arrive. 6 `` What About The Workers '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 26 March 1979 ( 1979 - 03 - 26 ) Peter 's caught up in the officiousness of trade unionism when a repair man at his firm spots him, a white collared worker, turning a conveyor belt on and off. Matters are set to only get worse as the shop steward arrives. Series No. Episode No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date `` The Spare Part '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 4 January 1980 ( 1980 - 01 - 04 ) A leaky washing machine is only the start of the Barnes 's problems. Peter 's attempt to acquire the necessary replacement part is easier said than done, especially with British Rail involved. `` Just Cause Or Impediment '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 11 January 1980 ( 1980 - 01 - 11 ) Peter 's lined up for best man duties, but first he needs a suit. Then there 's the small matter of getting to the church on time. `` Look Who 's Coming For Ever '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 18 January 1980 ( 1980 - 01 - 18 ) When her brother and sister - in - law head for a fortnight 's holiday in Benidorm, Sheila 's Dad comes to stay with the Barnes '. Peter is n't keen, but ends up hitting it off with the old man, who takes him for a round of golf. Series No. Episode No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date `` Wheels '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 11 January 1981 ( 1981 - 01 - 11 ) Peter 's asked to deliver the company chairman his car - a flash Mercedes. Giving it a quick drive around, he encounters a group of anti-car, anti-pollution protesters and is swiftly arrested alongside them. `` Match Of The Day '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 18 January 1981 ( 1981 - 01 - 18 ) After managing to secure a ticket to a major international football match at Wembley, Peter manages to lose - and reacquire - his ticket numerous times. Will he make it to see the big game ? `` The Train Now Standing '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 25 January 1981 ( 1981 - 01 - 25 ) Having discovered that the train he and Sheila catch into London has been cancelled, Peter heads to the offices of British Rail to demand changes. `` While The Cat 's Away '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 1 February 1981 ( 1981 - 02 - 01 ) With Sheila away visiting her ill mother, Terry challenges Peter to prove he 's still got what it takes and can chat up a lady in the pub. When he fails, Terry organises the pair a double - date at a Chinese restaurant. 5 `` The Weekend '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 8 February 1981 ( 1981 - 02 - 08 ) Having bumped into an old army friend in the park, Peter and Sheila are invited to stay with him - ' Snogger ' Sutcliffe - and his wife for the weekend at their country retreat. 6 `` Rear Window '' Les Chatfield Ronnie Taylor 15 February 1981 ( 1981 - 02 - 15 ) Having failed to ingratiate himself with the new neighbours, Peter manages to sprain his ankle falling from a ladder. Sat in bed with little more to do than look out of the window, he soon becomes convinced that the short - tempered new neighbour has murdered his wife. DVD release The Complete series was released on DVD 04 / 05 / 2015 and as of August 2017 is currently been played on the channel gold. External links A Sharp Intake of Breath at BBC Online A Sharp Intake of Breath on IMDb A Sharp Intake of Breath at TV.com This article relating to a television programme from the UK is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A_Sharp_Intake_of_Breath&oldid=802763953 '' Categories : 1970s British comedy television series 1977 British television programme debuts 1980s British comedy television series 1981 British television programme endings English - language television programs ITV sitcoms Television programmes produced by Associated Television ( ATV ) Television series by ITV Studios United Kingdom television programme stubs Hidden categories : Use dmy dates from May 2014 Use British English from May 2014 Episode list using the default LineColor All stub articles Talk About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 28 September 2017, at 09 : 38. 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Question: when was a sharp intake of breath made
Answer: from 1977 to 1981