As Time Goes By

"As Time Goes By" is a song written by Herman Hupfeld for the 1931 Broadway musical Everybody's Welcome, made famous by its inclusion in the film Casablanca. A British comedy TV series of the same name, using the song as its theme tune, aired from 1992 to 2002. It was set in London's Holland Park and occasionally in the British countryside. It was written by Bob Larbey[?] and produced and directed by Sydney Lotterby[?].

The main plot of the show follows a couple, accidentally separated for 38 years, who are brought back together again by chance. As a young man Lt. Lionel Hardcastle was sent to the Korean War in 1954 leaving behind Nurse Jean Pargetter. He wrote a letter which was lost in the postal system and never delivered to him (thus giving her no way to contact him). Having lost touch in this way, they went their separate ways for nearly four decades. In 1992, when Lionel (played by Geoffrey Palmer[?]) needs a secretary to assist in writing his book My Life in Kenya, he happens to choose a firm operated by Jean (Judi Dench).

Judy (Moira Brooker), Jean's daughter, takes an interest in Lionel. Meanwhile, Lionel's young publisher Alistair (Philip Bretherton) takes an interest in Jean. These interests fade as Lionel and Jean fall in love with each other again. Sandy (Jenny Funnell), Jean's best secretary, began as a supporting character, but when she leaves her boyfriend and moves in with Judy, Jean, and Lionel, she became an integral part of the ensemble. In addition to following Jean and Lionel's relationship, the show often features the development of Lionel's book, the relationships of Judy and Sandy, and the peculiarities of Jean and Lionel's relatives.

Other notable characters:

• Penny (Moyra Fraser) and Stephen (Paul Chapman)
• Rocky Hardcastle (Frank Middlemass[?]) and Madge (Joan Sims)
• Mrs Bale (Janet Henfrey[?])

Nine series with a total of 64 episodes were produced. The show was completed with an hour-long final episode. Broadcasts on PBS have made As Time Goes By popular in the United States as well.