On the Buses

In The Visit, the inspector's mother comes to stay and proves to be a thoroughly unpleasant person, driving the comic situations of the series. This British seventies comedy programme stars Stephen Lewis and Bob Grant, delivering the era's characteristic humour.

"The Visit" is a television programme presented as a single episode. Classified within the comedy genre, it belongs to the wave of British humour that aired during the 1970s. The show follows the conventions of its time, offering a self‑contained story that unfolds within a familiar domestic or professional setting, and it is structured to deliver laughs through character interactions and situational irony. The central narrative revolves around an inspector whose mother arrives to stay with him. Her presence quickly proves to be a source of friction, as she is portrayed as thoroughly unpleasant. The episode explores the tension that arises from her meddling and disagreeable behaviour, creating a series of uncomfortable yet comic moments that test the inspector's patience and professionalism. As a product of its era, the comedy relies on sharp dialogue and the clash of personalities to generate humour. The contrast between the inspector's attempts to maintain order and his mother's disruptive nature drives the plot forward, providing a platform for witty exchanges and situational comedy. The episode encapsulates the light‑hearted yet pointed style typical of seventies British television comedy. The episode’s brevity allows it to focus tightly on the clash between familial obligation and professional duty, using the mother’s abrasive character as a catalyst for humour that reflects the everyday absurdities familiar to audiences of the time.