Shillingbury Tales

1981·Show

·6Episodes in1Season·

Comedy Sci-Fi & Fantasy

GoodGoodWatch score

Shillingbury Tales fingerprint

Funny, strong craft, calm.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

Fast Pace3
Tension2
Spectacle2

Heart

Heartwarming and hopeful

Much of it is about family.

Wholesome9
Hopefulness8
Nostalgia8

Humor

Plenty of situational comedy and sharp wit

Situational Comedy8
Wit & Wordplay7
Physical Comedy3

World

Everyday modern life and family

Lived-in and easy to get lost in. Holds up on a rewatch.

World Immersion8
Dialogue Centrality8
Rewatchability8

Craft

Standout performances, dialogue, and characters

Acting8
Dialogue Quality8
Character Depth8

Style

Functional look and sound

Cinematography7
Editing6
Music Composition6

Energy

None

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

Shillingbury Tales is calm and low-intensity. The story builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

Feel Good shows Funny shows Nostalgic shows Peaceful shows Atmospheric shows

All energy traits

Fast Pace3Quick tempo and momentum.
Tension2Edge-of-your-seat suspense and pressure.
Spectacle2Scale and set-piece grandeur.

Adrenaline1High-energy, pulse-pounding intensity.
Scare0Frightening moments and scares.
Violence0Physical conflict and intensity.

Related traits

Slow Burn7Gradual build with payoff.

Heart

Medium

Heartwarming and hopeful

Much of it is about family.

Emotionally, it's heartwarming, hopeful, and nostalgic. Much of it is about family.

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All heart traits

Wholesome9Heartwarming, uplifting feelings.
Hopefulness8Optimism and uplifting resolve.
Nostalgia8Warmth of memory and retro vibes.
Family Dynamics7Relationships and generational ties.
Wonder6Awe, discovery, and amazement.

Catharsis5Emotional release and payoff.
Romance4Love stories and emotional connections.
Pathos3Deeply moving, empathetic emotion.
Melancholy3Bittersweet, reflective sadness.
Coming of Age2Personal growth and self-discovery.

Related traits

Character Depth8Rich, complex characterization.

Humor

High

Plenty of situational comedy and sharp wit

Expect plenty of situational comedy and sharp wit.

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All humor traits

Situational Comedy8Humor from everyday scenarios and setups.
Wit & Wordplay7Clever dialogue and verbal humor.
Physical Comedy3Slapstick and visual gags.
Satire & Parody3Sharp critique and playful imitation.

Cringe Humor2Awkward, uncomfortable laughs.
Absurdist Humor1Surreal, nonsensical comedy.
Dark Humor0Humor from taboo or grim topics.

Related traits

Wholesome9Heartwarming, uplifting feelings.

Eccentricity5Oddball tone and quirks.

World

Medium

Everyday modern life and family

Lived-in and easy to get lost in. Holds up on a rewatch.

Its world is built around everyday modern life and family. The setting feels lived-in and easy to get lost in. It holds up on a rewatch.

More shows with medium world Nostalgic shows Peaceful shows Atmospheric shows

All world traits

World Immersion8Depth and sensory richness of setting.
Dialogue Centrality8Stories driven by conversation.
Rewatchability8Invites repeat viewing.

Novelty5Fresh ideas and invention.
Ambiguity2Open-endedness and uncertainty.

Related traits

Contemporary Realism9Modern, grounded storytelling.

Craft

High

Standout performances, dialogue, and characters

The performances, dialogue, and characters stand out.

More shows with high craft Peaceful shows Atmospheric shows

All craft traits

Acting8Performance craft and presence.
Dialogue Quality8Sharp writing and memorable lines.
Character Depth8Rich, complex characterization.
Direction7Vision and command behind the camera.
Narrative Structure7Story architecture and form.

Intrigue5Curiosity and investigative pull.
Complexity4Layered plots and ideas.
Non-linear Narrative0Time-shifts and structure play.
Meta Narrative0Stories about storytelling.

Related traits

Slow Burn7Gradual build with payoff.

Novelty5Fresh ideas and invention.

Style

Medium

Functional look and sound

The look and sound stay functional.

More shows with medium style Atmospheric shows

All style traits

Cinematography7Visual composition and camera work.
Editing6Pacing and structure through cuts.
Music Composition6Score and musical identity.

Sound Centrality6Sound design as core element.
Music Centrality5The score or soundtrack shapes the emotional experience.
Visual Stylization4Distinctive aesthetic signature.

Related traits

Dialogue Centrality8Stories driven by conversation.

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFamily Movie NightFriends NightIntergenerationalKidsPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensBackground WatchBinge-FriendlyComfort WatchDrop-in FriendlyPure Escapism

Skip it if

You want dark or edgy material

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every show. Select a row to see all of them.

Episode ratings

IMDb rating of every episode, one row per season
Season	Episode 0	Episode 1	Episode 2	Episode 3	Episode 4	Episode 5	Episode 6

IMDb rating of every episode, one column per season
Episode
Episode 0
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6

About

Shillingbury Tales is a 1980–81 British sitcom produced by Associated Television for ITV. Comprising a single feature length pilot and six one-hour episodes, the series deals with life in an idealised fictional English village and stars Robin Nedwell, Diane Keen, Nigel Lambert, Jack Douglas, John Le Mesurier, Bernard Cribbins and Trevor Howard. The series was written by Francis Essex and directed by Val Guest. Unusual for the time, it was shot entirely on location in the village of Aldbury in Hertfordshire on 16mm and consequently there was no laugh track. The show ended when ATV lost their licence to broadcast and their replacement Central declined to continue production.

British Comedy-DramaQuaint Village LifeCharacter-DrivenGentle HumorEnsemble CastNostalgic AppealRural CharmObservational ComedySlice of Life