The series starred Peter Bowles (of To the Manor Born fame) as Howard Booth, an ex-convict who served two years in jail.

This sitcom marked Cole's return to the format after a three-year gap, after previously starring as troubled writer Gordon Maple in Don't Forget to Write!

[2] Chappell told the Reading Evening Post in 1982, "Peter played the part [in Rising Damp] with such flamboyancy and style.

And, after watching his performance in the hospital comedy, I thought it would be marvellous to create a likeable rogue who had all the qualities we had seen conveyed by Peter.

[6] Determined to treat Trevor and Mary to a wedding anniversary dinner at a posh hotel, Howard cons his way into a private party, pretending to be a school old boy.

When Trevor won't advance Howard a small loan, he cons a bank manager into investing in an African diamond mine he claims to have discovered during a fictitious trip to Africa.

When Greasy slips the purloined items into Trevor's shopping bag, Howard has to do some quick thinking, including impersonating a police officer.

Howard starts the HB Matrimonial Agency, but the first (and only) two clients are dissatisfied with his bumbling efforts and demand their money back.

To compound her resistance, she acquires ‘Sabre’, a German Shepherd Dog, who takes Howard's presence as a threat.