Starring Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer, it follows the relationship between two former lovers who meet unexpectedly after losing contact for 38 years.

[2] It was produced and directed by Sydney Lotterby and was written by Bob Larbey,[3] who had co-written both The Good Life and Ever Decreasing Circles with John Esmonde.

[4] The programme's original working title had been Winter with Flowers[5] but was changed during its first day of filming because of the cast's protests.

Recurring characters introduced during this time include American producer Mike Barbosa (played by Richard Holmes, who was credited under the pseudonym Otto Jarman) and the secretaries Daisy (played by Justine Glenton and Zoe Hilson) and Mrs Gwen Flack (Vivienne Martin).

In the March 2011 PBS pledge drive programming special Behind the Britcoms: from Script to Screen hosted by cast members Moira Brooker and Philip Bretherton, the series creator/producer revealed that Jean Simmons had declined the first offer of the role of Jean (which was written with her in mind) due to her reluctance to uproot her life, specifically mentioning her dogs, garden, and family, in California.

After his war service, Lionel emigrated to Kenya, became a coffee planter, and married Margaret, whom he later divorced due to "mutual boredom".

Lionel, now writing his memoir, My Life in Kenya, hires a typist through "Type for You", unaware that Jean owns the agency.

Alistair is a vain ladies' man and likes to call Lionel "Li", but he is also good-hearted and energetic, and proves resourceful enough to handle many situations that arise.

In the first series, Judith develops a crush on Lionel while Alistair takes a similar interest in Jean and likes to call her "lovely lady".

Other story arcs feature Lionel being asked to write an American TV mini-series, Just Two People, based on his early romance with Jean.

Jean's very efficient secretary and Judith's best friend is Sandy, who eventually moves in with the Hardcastles after splitting with her boyfriend Nick.

and who owns a large country house in Hampshire, which he later gives to Lionel; Rocky's housekeeper, Mrs. Bale, who has an unusual interest in the Shipping Forecast and gives exact times that meals will be ready; Rocky's gardener, Lol Ferris, who says Jean is a "tender woman"; and Lionel's glamorous young secretary Daisy, who firmly repels Alistair's clumsy efforts to chat her up every time they meet.

In series nine, Madge is mentioned as being on an archaeological dig in Egypt; in reality, Joan Sims died before filming began.