Love Thy Neighbour - Series 1 - Ep1

It’s quite a shock for Joan and Eddie Booth when Barbie and Bill Reynolds move in as their next door neighbours. Eddie hadn’t even realised he was a racist until he had found himself living next door to a black couple. This British sitcom was hugely popular in the 1970s, an era when many Britons struggled to come to terms with the transition to a multicultural society. The views of Eddie Booth were deliberately presented to make him appear stupid and bigoted, and were contrasted with the more tolerant attitude of his wife. This sitcom was certainly bold in its depiction of racism, and it’s worth noting how much attitudes have changed in the 30 years since Love Thy Neighbour was made. The series stars Jack Smethurst, Rudolph Walker, Nina Baden-Semper and Kate Williams.