Nearest and Dearest

The popular 1970s sitcom features Jimmy Jewel and Hylda Baker playing siblings Eli and Nellie Pledge, who are compelled to manage their family's pickle factory in Lancashire. This excerpt is from series five, episode three, titled “Barefaced In The Park.”

The show in question is a popular sitcom from the 1970s. It stars Jimmy Jewel alongside Hylda Baker, who together anchor the series with their performances. The programme was produced for television and reached viewers across the UK, becoming a recognised example of British comedy from that era. In the series, Jewel and Baker portray the siblings Eli and Nellie Pledge. The two find themselves compelled to take charge of their family's pickle factory, a business situated in Lancashire. Their forced partnership drives much of the humour, as the brother‑sister duo navigate the challenges of running the quirky enterprise together. Their joint effort often results in humorous situations as they try to keep the pickle operation running. The episode under discussion is the third instalment of the fifth series, titled “Barefaced In The Park.” This particular segment continues the ongoing storyline of Eli and Nellie's reluctant collaboration at the factory, while also placing the characters in a park setting that adds a fresh backdrop to their antics. Overall, the series blends domestic comedy with the peculiarities of a family‑run food business, set against the backdrop of Lancashire. The combination of Jewel’s and Baker’s chemistry, together with the recurring premise of the pickle factory, gives the show its distinctive flavour. Set in Lancashire, the series draws on the local setting to give its jokes a distinct regional edge.