Another 20 Nostaglic TV Theme Tunes We Just Can’t Let Go

By Wayne Madden /

18. Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? (1973)

Written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais €“ the same duo responsible for Porridge €“ The Likely Lads was a BBC sitcom following the exploits of two working class men Bob and Terry from the North East of England. The show proved so popular that it was revived for a sequel almost a decade later which informed audiences just what had become of the pair. And it was this theme that's most fondly remembered today, with a simple question being pondered, whatever happened to the good old days? A few fans of this show said that everyone wished they were Terry €“ although probably ended up accepting they were much more like Bob €“ with those who watched the show thinking exactly the same and asking just the same as their on screen counterparts. The show's song was co-written by La Frenais and Mike Hugg (of Manfred Mann) with lead vocals by Tony Rivers. The single got to the lower end of the UK Top 40 in 1973 and, just like Minder, a TOTP appearance was also granted - though River's was absent from this and the short lived UK tour which followed.