MovieChat Forums > On the Buses (1969) Discussion > Poor Olive...I felt sorry for her...

Poor Olive...I felt sorry for her...


Am I the only one to feel sorry for Olive?
Sometimes the way they shouted at her, criticised her, made fun of her, and called her cruel names went against the fun nature of the programme as far as I was concerned.
Her character seemed to be loyal and kind...didn't deserve it.

I know it was just a tv programme, but I always felt sorry for her.

reply

I agree with you, I think if they had used more wit or sarcasm instead of the same old ''You stupid great lump!'' it would have been much funnier.
I actually like the character of Arthur, just a shame they made him say the same stuff over and over again.. ''How right you are'' got a little tedious after the 28th time.

reply

"don't tawk wet!"

reply

I thought the 'jokes' about her weight were very unconvincing. It was the same with Mrs Slocombe in 'Are You Being Served?'. Neither were overweight but they regularly made fun of them. I think Olive is a great comic creation. Such a shame she wasn't used more, instead of being made fun of so much. The Olive character turned up in a late 70s sitcom called 'The Rag Trade'. It was really good to see her again.

reply

Olive appears to be much happier in The Rag Trade. She gets along well with the girls in the factory, talks about a new husband, plus she has a baby, so we could assume she had a happy ending after her divorce from Arthur.

reply

I suppose they all had the P taken out of them. Blakey hated Stan and Jack. Stan's pathetic attempts at picking up women. I suppose it was quite 1970s sexist style though. Maybe that's why Anna who played Olive wasn't recognised for her great comedic ability.

reply

I think Olive was hilarious. I admire how she agreed to take the insults for the comedy effect.

reply