About this season
Home to Roost is a British television sitcom produced by Yorkshire Television in the 1980s. Written by Eric Chappell, it starred John Thaw as Henry Willows and Reece Dinsdale as his 18-year-old son Matthew. The premise is that Henry Willows is forty-something, who has been divorced from his wife for seven years and is perfectly happy living alone in London. That is, until his youngest child, Matthew arrives to live with him, after being thrown out by his mother. The plots generally revolved around Henry's annoyance at having his solitude disturbed, and the age gap clash. Henry employed two cleaners throughout the show's life; first Enid Thompson, and, in the third season, Fiona Fennell.
Episodes (7)
1. A New Life
Aired 19 April 1985 • 30 min
Divorced office worker Henry Willows is content in his uneventful life, one of his few domestic contacts being Enid, who comes in to clean for him. However his ordered existence is shattered when his seventeen year old son Matthew arrives on his door-step, having previously lived with Henry's ex-wife. Matthew claims that he was fed up at his mother's house and was keen to see his father again. A call to the ex-wife uncovers another story. Matthew was thrown out and told to move in with his father. Henry is about to find out why.
2. Bad Apples
Aired 26 April 1985 • 30 min
Henry and Matthew's differences in age and taste are constant and comic irritants in their daily confrontations, but they rise to new levels when the subject of education is raised and they must choose a school for Matthew.
3. All You Need Is Love
Aired 3 May 1985 • 30 min
When Matthew brings a girlfriend home, the cleaning lady finds incriminating evidence in his bedroom.
4. Suspect
Aired 10 May 1985 • 30 min
When Henry's next door neighbour's son returns from college, comparisons between Matthew and the student are inevitable. But while the neighbour boy might look to be industrious, considerate, well-mannered and a great sportsman, Matthew knows the truth.
5. Dating Henry
Aired 17 May 1985 • 30 min
Wine is chilling, candlesticks are on the table and Henry has shaved. Who is coming to dinner? Matthew attempts to find out.
6. Small Change
Aired 24 May 1985 • 30 min
As most young people are, Matthew is desperate for money, but his father refuses to invest in his future unless he finds more suitable employment.
7. The Way We Were
Aired 31 May 1985 • 30 min
It's Henry's wedding anniversary, but after seven years of separation there is nothing to celebrate, so he goes to the club. While he is out, Matthew welcomes a special guest into his father's home.