Auf Wiedersehen Pet has made a shock return to TV, much to the delight of many viewers and more than 40 years after it first launched.
in the same week that BBC soap Eldorado is making a surprising comeback to screens, the much loved comedy, starring the likes of Tim Healy, Jimmy Nail and Kevin Whately, has just been added to streaming site ITVX, meaning those who remember it from back in the day can enjoy it all over again, from the very start; while those who have heard their older relatives speak so highly of it, can now see what all the fuss is about.
The massively successful series, which follows seven British migrant construction workers, debuted in 1983 and, at its peak drew in audiences of up to 10 million people. It's still got a huge fanbase and, in more recent times, was immortalised to great effect every two years with the Sunday for Sammy concerts in Newcastle, which means there was great excitement this week when a post appeared on the Auf Wiedersehen Pet account on X (Twitter) to announce: "Auf Wiedersehen, Pet is back on ITVX! @ITVX"
The tweet quickly gathered plenty of responses from fans who were chomping at the bit to start watching the old episodes, including one who replied: "Quite right, too. Hopefully it isn't cut" and another who reacted: "Top of the bill!!!!!" The ITVX account also got amongst it in the comments thread, taking inspiration from the programme's famous theme tune, to post: "That's living alright!"
Auf Wiedersehen Pet initially made a return to screens via UKTV in 2020, when it was repeated on the broadcasters Yesterday channel. However,. having tuned into watch, the show's star, Tim Healy, was far from impressed, as he told a fan: "..it’s such a shame all the gags have gone. So the rhythm of the scenes have become stilted and awkward. Double B******s."
While AWP is now available on ITV, its fourth and final series actually aired on the BBC in 2004, after series 3 welcomed a young Noel Clarke to the cast as Wayne's son Wyman and Love Actually's Bill Nighy, playing corrupt politician Jeffrey Grainger, whom Oz had met in prison.
The last time Auf Wiedersehen Pet aired any new episodes was in December 2004, when two part finale Au Revoir also went out on the BBC, seeing Dennis, Neville and Oz ask the embassy to give them an assignment in a nice peaceful country and securing a return to their old stomping ground of Germany.
Last year, tickets were snapped up in a matter of minutes for Auf Wiedersehen Pet anniversary shows at the City Hall in Newcastle, as fans packed out the famous venue to see Tim, Jimmy, Kevin and co-star Christopher Fairbank on stage.
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