Fred Moffatt is the sardonic, perpetually struggling proprietor of a small light engineering firm. Permanently on the verge of bankruptcy, Moffatt spends his days trying to outwit his workforce, led by shop steward Harry, while also fending off VAT inspectors and other officials he views as enemies of the small businessman. Later in the series, Moffatt becomes a local councillor, putting him in direct conflict with a business rival.
The programme was created by Graham White, who was himself the managing director of an engineering company in Derby, lending considerable authenticity to the scripts and situations. For star Bill Maynard, the role of the beleaguered Fred Moffatt was a deliberate move away from his more knockabout character in Selwyn Froggitt, allowing him to play a more verbal and world-weary character grounded in real-world pressures.
Broadcast: ITV – Yorkshire, 9 January 1981 – 5 July 1983
Written by: Graham White
Producer: Alan Tarrant
Main Cast: Bill Maynard (Fred Moffatt). Russell Hunter (Harry). Pat Ashton (Betty). Don Crann (Charlie). David Gillies (Ginger). Keith Marsh (Henry Dodd). Alan Hockey (Joe Gregory)
