The series won Logie Awards for Best Comedy in 1982 and 1983. A sequel series, titled Bullpitt!, was broadcast from 1997 to 1998, although it proved less successful.[1]
Premise
The series is a family sitcom which follows the life of Ted Bullpitt and his interactions with his vague wife, Thelma, his progressive adult children, Craig and Greta, and his Italian son-in-law Bruno, to whom Ted objects. Ted, a conservative, immature and petty individual, lives for three things in life: his beloved chair in front of the television, his unsuccessful racinggreyhounds Repco Lad and Gay Akubra, and his beloved Holden Kingswood (which, later in the series, was replaced for Holden's replacement mid-range family car, the Commodore). His long-suffering wife, the vague and dithering Thelma, is a housewife trapped by Ted's conservative family views, although she often gets her own back on her husband.
Ted's son, Craig, is a sexually rampant medical student who often clashes with his father over their differing views on life, sex and politics. Ted's daughter, Greta, is a feminist, and is married to Bruno Bertolucci, the son of Italian immigrants, to whom Ted objects, often referring to him as a "bloodywog" and an "Al Grassby Groupie".
Humour was generated by the conflict of Ted's traditional views and his children's progressive nature. A recurring gag was Ted's references to Neville, his concrete Aboriginal garden statue, which was named after Australia's first Aboriginal Senator, Neville Bonner, who enjoyed the series so much he visited the show's recording. At other times, humour was based on the more traditional comedic methods Ted's poorly thought-out get-rich-quick schemes; class differences between the suburban Bullpitts and Ted'sDatsun-dealer brother Bob and his upwardly-mobile wife Merle); and simple misunderstandings.
Cast and characters
Main characters
Ross Higgins as Edward "Ted" Melba Bullpitt, a white Australian, conservative, Holden Kingswood-loving putty factory worker and WWII veteran. Immature and petty, Ted is also intolerant of Catholics. During the war, he was part of a kitchen unit captured by the Italians, which explains his dislike for Bruno Bertolucci. He enjoys reading the comic Mandrake, sitting in front of the television with his paper or a beer, and tending to his greyhounds, Gay Akubra and Repco Lad. Ted is known as "Big Bum Bullpitt" to the students and nuns at the local Catholic school St Joseph's. He is afraid of the nuns, although he likes Sister Maria, because she also likes beer. According to Ted, he is a descendant of Lord Stokely Bullpitt of Kingswood who died in 1786 as he fell from his horse during a nun hunt. His only son was illegitimate so therefore could not claim his father's title. That son married an Italian kitchen maid named Maria Bertalucci – an ancestor of Bruno. The title was first bestowed by Henry VIII to a man whom he gave a large section of his forest or the King's Wood, hence the title.
Judi Farr as Thelma "Thel" Bullpitt, Ted's wife and the mother of Craig and Greta, who often answers the telephone with catchphrases in the hope of winning prizes from TV Week or competition running on the radio. Thelma keeps a drawer full of old receipts to show Ted after buying expensive items from Myer (she holds her fingers over the date and waves the receipt at him, showing a small purchase). Thelma gives very specific advice on how to perform everyday chores – for example, making coffee or tea, "You'll have to add hot water dear, otherwise it'll be a bit dry". At the end of the fourth series, Thelma leaves on an extended holiday which lasted until the end of the series.
Peter Fisher as Craig Bullpitt, Ted's only son. He is a medical student who, later in the series, marries his girlfriend Wendy.
Laurel McGowan as Greta Bertolucci, née Bullpitt, Ted's only daughter who is married to Bruno Bertolucci.
Lex Marinos as Bruno Bertolucci, Ted's son-in-law, who he refers to as "the wog", and is married to Greta. He drives a purple Chrysler Valiant, which is often a sore point with the Holden-loving Ted. Bruno takes great delight in poking fun at Ted and calling him "Grumblebum" or "Teddles", but affectionately calls Thelma "Mrs B" and sympathises with her for having to put up with Ted. Towards the end of the series, Bruno becomes a recurring character.
Shelia Kennelly as Rosa Bertolucci, a relative of Bruno's who looks after Ted when Thelma leaves on holiday. Appearing from the fifth series onwards, Rosa is fond of cooking, and describes herself as a "happy-go-lucky wog".
Recurring characters
Colin McEwan as Bob Bullpitt, Ted's brother, who is a used car salesman. Often referred to as a "bloody Datsun dealer" by Ted. He has a love-hate relationship with both Ted and his wife Merle and insults are often traded, though he does have a soft spot for Thelma. His trademark greeting is, "Hey-dee ho everybody, here comes the party!"
Maggie Dence as Merle Bullpitt, Ted's upwardly mobile sister-in-law, who is married to Ted's brother Bob. Merle dislikes her husband Bob (a feeling that is mutual) and dislikes Ted, often referring to him as a "cretin". She often insults them both, although she gets on well with her sister-in-law, Thelma, despite Thelma's vague nature.
A notable guest star was Graham Kennedy, a friend of series creators Reilly and Sattler. Kennedy appeared as himself in the 1980 episode "The Royal Visit" (Series 2, Episode 3).[2]
Catchphrases
In 2009, TV Tonight conducted a survey to gain feedback for the greatest catchphrases in Australian television history. Ted Bullpitt's "Pickle me grandmother!" was listed as one of the most popular catchphrases for a comedy series, in addition to being listed as one of the best catchphrases across all genres of Australian television.[3]
Other notable catchphrases that were used in the series included:
"Don't 'Dad' me boy/girl, I'm your father!" ("Don't 'Mum and Dad' us boy/girl, we're your parents" was also used.)
[when surprised from behind] "Strewth! Give a man a heart attack!"
"Strike me Catholic!"
[when someone asks to drink his beer] "Put the money on the fridge!". Sometimes changed to "Put the money on the fridge, wog!" when Bruno asked Ted for a beer.
"Somebody/someone should blow [current object of annoyance] up!" For example, "Someone should blow those nuns up!"
"The Kingswood! You're not taking the Kingswood!..." [insert far-fetched excuse]. For example, "I've just ducoed the tyres" or "I've just glad-wrapped the aerial!" or "I've just Mr Sheened the number-plate!"
"When I was a boy... " [insert long-winded, far-fetched story]. Always responded to with "Yeah yeah, sure Ted/Dad."
"Hate, hate, vomit!"
[when asked how his day went] "Bloody shambles, of course!"
[Bruno's universal insult for a miserable, miserly old man] "Grumblebum!"
[in response to someone mishearing his surname] "No, it's Bullpitt. Yes, everyone says that." Also said often by Thelma when talking on the phone.
"Where's the bloody Kingswood?"
[describing Sister Maria] "Attila the Nun"
"Bloody wogs!"
"Bloody woman!"
"Bloody nuns!"
"Blow 'em all up!"
"Watch it, mate!"
"No wonder the country's in a mess"
"I win, you lose, and I'm the king of the castle!"
"Never marry a woman, mate"
"Where's my paper?"
Episodes
Series
Episodes
Originally aired
Series premiere
Series finale
1
13
30 January 1980
11 June 1980
2
13
18 June 1980
24 September 1980
3
20
18 June 1981
15 October 1981
4
23
27 May 1982
26 April 1984
5
10
1984
1984
6
10
7 July 1984
13 September 1984
Home media releases
The Best of Kingswood Country DVD cover (Volume 1).
Until 2019, only 52 of the 89 episodes of Kingswood Country had been released on DVD.[4] The first home media release was a "best of" collection of thirteen episodes in 2003. It included the original sketch from The Naked Vicar Show which spawned the series and a blooper reel, in addition to a photo gallery, which only appears on this original release. A second "best of", featuring an additional thirteen episodes, was released in 2006. In September 2008, a third "best of" set was released,[5] and on 12 May 2010, a fourth "best of" set was released, featuring another thirteen episodes.
On 4 December 2019, The Complete Series collection was released as an 11-disc DVD boxset, distributed by Via Vision Entertainment.[6] In November 2023, The Ted Bullpitt Collection, featuring every episode from both Kingswood Country and its sequel Bullpitt!, was released in a 15-disc DVD boxset.[7]
^Kingswood Country (Comedy), Ross Higgins, Peter Fisher, Laurel McGowan, 7 Network, RS Productions, 29 January 1980, retrieved 19 November 2023((citation)): CS1 maint: others (link)
