About this season
You're Only Young Twice is a British sitcom produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV. Created and written by Michael Ashton and Pam Valentine, the programme ran for four series from 1977 to 1981, with a total of 31 episodes. At the Paradise Lodge retirement home, Flora Petty and her sidekick Cissie Lupin attempt to thwart the long-suffering staff, led by Miss Milton. The duo are occasionally assisted by former theatrical artiste Dolly Love and the haughty Mildred Fanshaw.
Episodes (7)
1. Breakfast at Peabody's
Aired 23 June 1981 • 30 min
Flora is desperate to get the fur coat offered in Peabody's sale, so she and Cissie hide in the store overnight, keeping one step ahead of the cleaners and the ancient security guards. Eventually, they fall asleep in the bedding department, but for Flora, the next day, there's a rude awakening, in more than one respect.
2. Flora's Big Mistake
Aired 30 June 1981 • 30 min
Accompanying Cissie to the doctor's surgery, Flora overhears the doctor discuss a terminally ill patient, and assumes it is Cissie. Thus she runs herself ragged ensuring her friend's last days are as comfortable as possible, roping in the others at the home. When she learns the truth, Flora is less than enthusiastic — especially as Cissie knew all along and was enjoying the attention.
3. The Missing Ring
Aired 7 July 1981 • 30 min
When Mildred puts her sewing machine into an auction, Flora realises her engagement ring is inside, but is outbid by an obnoxious Irishman. They meet him at the pub and take advantage of his attraction to Cissie to get him drunk and reveal its whereabouts.
4. Desirable Residence
Aired 14 July 1981 • 30 min
Miss Milton is planning to sell Paradise Lodge so that she can emigrate to Australia and wed her pen-pal. An appalled Flora finds out, and martials the other ladies into putting off prospective buyers: however, ultimately, they have the pen-pal himself to thank for preventing the sale.
5. The Gipsy's Curse
Aired 21 July 1981 • 30 min
When gypsy Maddalena visits to tell fortunes, Flora is scornful and dismissive, resulting in Maddalena putting a curse on her. Soon enough, all the gypsy's prophesies start coming true, with Flora's friends suggesting she apologise. Since humility is not in Flora's nature, a compromise must be reached.
6. Thanks for the Memory
Aired 28 July 1981 • 30 min
After arguing with everybody and storming out, Flora returns some six hours later with a bandaged head: claiming to have had an accident and lost her memory, she is uncharacteristically sweet and delightful to be around. Whilst Mildred believes she is faking, and Cissie takes advantage of the situation to get her own back, Miss Milton's idea to jog Flora's memory finally does the trick.
7. The Home Perm
Aired 4 August 1981 • 30 min
Flora wants to impress Mr Petty's niece and nephew, who are visiting the next day, with a glamorous perm, but all the salons are conveniently booked up. When Flora learns that Cissie has a home perm kit, it seems to be the solution. Unfortunately, the result is a disaster, but the ladies know how to improvise.