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Steptoe and Son

1962 – 1974Show8 seasons55 episodesNR

Comedy
78
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.8

A nostalgic, melancholic comedy series about family and class and money, with standout performances and world-building.

Good for family movie night · friends night · teens

Where to watch

Set your services

Not streaming in United States. Where it is:

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Not for scares, adrenaline or awe.

Shows with

Episodes

8 seasons · 55 episodes · best: S7E6 "Divided We Stand" 9.2

Episodes

7.6
7.8
7.7
7.8
7.8
8.1
8.6
8.2

Story

A father and son who work as rag-and-bone men live together in Shepherd's Bush, London. While Albert is content with their way of life, Harold aspires to better himself and build a life of his own, but his attempts are repeatedly thwarted by his father, leading to frequent clashes between the two.

Feels like

  • Working-Class Tragicomedy
  • Toxic Father-Son Bond
  • Social Mobility Frustration
  • Classic British Sitcom
  • Nostalgic Shepherd's Bush
  • Character-Driven Humor
  • Class Consciousness
  • Domestic Claustrophobia
  • Sharp Dialogue
  • Enduring Cultural Icon

Cast

24 of 88 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Duncan Wood, John Howard Davies, Douglas Argent
Written by
Ray Galton, Alan Simpson
Produced by
Duncan Wood, Douglas Argent, David Croft
Music by
Ron Grainer, Dennis Wilson, Norman Percival

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

January 5, 1962 · October 10, 1974 · Ended

First aired
January 5, 1962
Last aired
October 10, 1974
Status
Ended
Length
8 seasons · 55 episodes
Age rating
NR
Content
Strong Language
Genres
Comedy
Original language
English
Made in
United Kingdom
Available in
4 countries

Tropes

Catch Phrase, Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping, Bottle Episode +9

  • Catch Phrase
  • Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping
  • Bottle Episode
  • Economy Cast
  • Newscaster Cameo
  • Perpetual Poverty
  • Oh, Crap!
  • Christmas Episode
  • Missing Mom
  • O.O.C. Is Serious Business
  • Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other
  • I Was Young and Needed the Money

12 of 50 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Steptoe and Son?"

Questions about Steptoe and Son

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Steptoe and Son?

It streams in 2 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is Steptoe and Son worth watching?

78
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 78 (IMDb 7.8).

Does Steptoe and Son get better after season 1?

Yes: season 1 has an IMDb average of 7.6, and season 7 peaks at 8.6. The highest-rated episode is Divided We Stand (season 7, episode 6) at 9.2, and the lowest is The Economist (season 1, episode 4) at 7.2.

Is Steptoe and Son okay for kids?

NRStrong language

Yes: it's rated NR in the United States for strong language, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

How long does it take to watch Steptoe and Son?

28 h

About 28 hours: 55 episodes in 8 seasons of about 30 minutes each, aired from 1962 to 1974.

Will Steptoe and Son make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly situational comedy (8 of 10) and sharp wit (7 of 10).

Is Steptoe and Son plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on dialogue centrality (9 of 10) and character depth (8 of 10) more than on its plot.