My Uncle Silas

2001 – 2003
Ended
Drama · Comedy · Family
2 seasons
8.5/10

In 1901, a middle-class schoolboy whose parents are working abroad spends his summer in Bedfordshire with his great-uncle Silas. Though sixty years old, Silas relishes life—he’s a womaniser, drinker, and a poacher. At the prompting of his long-suffering housekeeper, Mrs Betts, he takes on the occasional odd job.

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Latest: Series 2 · 2003

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Adaptations of H.E. Bates' stories A Funny Thing, Finger Wet – Finger Dry, Shandy Lil, The Race, A Happy Man, and The Christening.

E1. A Funny Thing
Jan 5, 2003
Silas's nose is put out of joint by the visit of cousin Cosmo, who thrills Ned with his stories of foreign travel and charms Mrs. Betts by flirting with her. Seeking attention, he agrees to pose for Hermione, a sculptress, but she ends up revealing more than she should of herself, which causes trouble with her boyfriend.
E2. Finger Wet, Finger Dry
Jan 12, 2003
Silas takes his boar to mate with the sow belonging to the village bobby. Unfortunately Silas himself gets rather too matey with Connie, the policeman's ample wife, and Ned has to help him avert a scandal.
E3. Shandy Lil
Jan 19, 2003
Silas gets work helping with the harvest at the farm owned by Pamela Farrell. He takes pity on Shandy Lil, the put-upon serving girl at the farm, and plays Cupid between her and Pikey, an equally shy young thresher. His efforts to demonstrate the act of courtship to Pikey go awry when they are misconstrued by Pamela who sets her cap at Silas.
E4. The Race
Jan 26, 2003
When Silas challenges the wirier Goffy Windsor to a five-mile race around the local countryside, Uncle George takes bets on the result and Silas is sure of victory. However, after suffering a series of ailments Silas realizes that he will have to cheat and, literally, take short cuts to win.
E5. A Happy Man
Feb 2, 2003
Uncle Silas has only one real rival likely to beat his roses in the forthcoming show - retired soldier Walter Hawthorn. Ned is fascinated by Walter's collection of military memorabilia; Silas is fascinated by 'Topsy' Turvey, the local district nurse. Will this diversion give Walter his break or is he falling prey to painful memories of the past?
E6. The Christening
Feb 9, 2003
Georgina and Abel have their first child, making Silas a proud grandfather. One of the guests at the christening is Georgina's friend Ellen, a professional cook, who knows the way to a man's heart and finds Silas as irresistible as most of the women he encounters.