The Rag Trade

The Rag Trade (1961-1978)

EndedScripted showComedy

The Rag Trade was a British television sitcom broadcast by the BBC between 1961 and 1963 and by LWT between 1977 and 1978.

The action centred on a small clothing workshop (the title refers to the textile industry), Fenner's Fashions in London. Although run by Harold Fenner (Peter Jones) and Reg Turner the foreman and pattern cutter (Reg Varney), the female workers are led by militant shop steward Paddy Fleming (Miriam Karlin), ever ready to strike, with the catchphrase "Everybody out!" Other cast members included Sheila Hancock (as Carole Taylor), Esma Cannon (as Lily Swann), Wanda Ventham (as Shirley) in series 2 and Barbara Windsor (as Gloria) in series 1 and (as Judy) in series 3 replacing Sheila Hancock.

The Rag Trade was revived by ITV company LWT in 1977, with Jones and Karlin reprising their roles. The 1977 version ran for two series, most of the scripts being based on the BBC episodes from the 1960s, and featured Anna Karen (reprising her role as Olive from On the Buses) and future EastEnders star Gillian Taylforth as factory workers.

Network
Scheduleevery Friday (30 min)

Recent Episodes

EpisodeNameAirdate
S05E07Fenner's FollyOct 20, 1978
S05E06Self DefenceOct 13, 1978
S05E05Come Back PaddyOct 6, 1978
S05E04A Bad PatchSep 29, 1978
S05E03StressSep 22, 1978
View all episodesView all seasons

Frequently Asked Questions  Warning: Spoilers

When did 'The Rag Trade' premiere?

'The Rag Trade' premiered on September 29, 1961.

Who created 'The Rag Trade'?

'The Rag Trade' was created by Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney.

What was the premise of 'The Rag Trade'?

'The Rag Trade' centered around the lives of the female workers at the Fenner Fashions Ltd. garment factory.

Who played the lead character of Paddy Fleming in 'The Rag Trade'?

Miriam Karlin played the lead character of Paddy Fleming in 'The Rag Trade'.

What was the inspiration behind 'The Rag Trade'?

'The Rag Trade' was inspired by the writers' experiences working in a garment factory.

What was the longest running character in 'The Rag Trade'?

The character of Carole was the longest running character in 'The Rag Trade', played by Esma Cannon.

What was the show's theme song called?

The show's theme song was called 'The Rag Trade'.

What was the name of the factory in 'The Rag Trade'?

The Fenner Fashions Ltd. garment factory was the main setting of 'The Rag Trade'.

What was the most popular episode of 'The Rag Trade'?

There is no definitive most popular episode of 'The Rag Trade'.

How did 'The Rag Trade' represent women's role in society at that time?

'The Rag Trade' reflected and challenged the traditional gender roles at the time and highlighted the struggles of working-class women.

How many episodes were there in the first season of 'The Rag Trade'?

The first season of 'The Rag Trade' had 13 episodes.

What was the format of the show?

'The Rag Trade' was a sitcom with each episode running for 30 minutes.

Cast

View all cast

Characters

View all characters

Recently Updated Shows

Recently updated shows that might be of your interest.
The Rookie
Running

The Rookie

The Rookie is inspired by a true story. John Nolan is the oldest rookie in the LAPD. At an age where most are at the peak of their career, Nolan cast aside his comfortable, small town life and moved to L.A. to pursue his dream of being a cop. Now, surrounded by rookies twenty years his junior, Nolan must navigate the dangerous, humorous and unpredictable world of a "young" cop, determined to make his second shot at life count.

The Studio
Running

The Studio

As movies struggle to stay alive and relevant, Matt and his core team of infighting executives battle their own insecurities as they wrangle narcissistic artists and craven corporate overlords in the ever-elusive pursuit of making great films. With their power suits masking their never-ending sense of panic, every party, set visit, casting decision, marketing meeting, and award show presents them with an opportunity for glittering success or career-ending catastrophe. As someone who eats, sleeps, and breathes movies, it's the job Matt's been pursuing his whole life, and it may very well destroy him.

GenreComedy
True Detective
Running

True Detective

Touch darkness and darkness touches you back. True Detective centers on troubled cops and the investigations that drive them to the edge. Each season features a new cast and a new case.

True Detective is an American anthology crime drama television series created and written by Nic Pizzolatto. 

S.W.A.T.
Running

S.W.A.T.

Shemar Moore stars as a locally born and raised S.W.A.T. sergeant newly tasked to run a specialized tactical unit that is the last stop in law enforcement in Los Angeles. Torn between loyalty to where he was raised and allegiance to his brothers in blue, former Marine Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson has everything it takes to be an excellent leader and bridge the divide between his two worlds.

The Equalizer
Running

The Equalizer

A reimagining of the classic series, The Equalizer centers on enigmatic woman with a mysterious background who uses her extensive skills to help those with nowhere else to turn.