The musical is remembered as Ellis's best work and for the recordings of "This is my lovely day" and "I was never kissed before", with the original stars Lizbeth Webb and Georges Guétary.

It was not overshadowed by the American hit, enjoying a good reception from the critics[2] and audiences, and running for three years and a total of 886 performances.

The production was notable for its highly stylised scenery by Tanya Moiseiwitsch, a break with the realism of earlier musical comedy sets.

In Victorian England, it is 1870, the eve of the Franco-Prussian War, and a young woman, Lucy Veracity Willow, is having second thoughts about her imminent marriage to the Hon.

Thomas introduces Lucy to a couple of new French friends of his, the debonair and romantic Pierre Fontaine, an actor, and his companion Suzanne, who is also on the stage.

Into the restaurant crash Lucy's father, mother, cousin George, and the jilted Thomas, who is determined to fight a duel with Pierre if they can find him ("The Englishman").

Their efforts to pass themselves off as French arouse suspicions, and Lucy and Suzanne have to step in to vouch for the party, saving them from arrest as Prussian spies.

However, Thomas nobly removes it and hands it to Pierre ("My Big Moment"), and the lovers can at last marry with everyone's approval ("This Is My Lovely Day" (reprise)).

Una Stubbs was Mary, Gerald Harper was Augustus, Ruth Madoc was Suzanne, Simon Williams was Thomas, Jean Challis was Nanny and Jeremy Sinden was George.