Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em by Crawford himself, as well as featuring various well-remembered and much lampooned catchphrases, that have become part of popular culture. In a 2004 poll to find Britain's Best Sitcom, "Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em" came 22nd. The expression "Some mothers do have them" is meant to refer to someone clumsy or foolish. The wimpish, smiling Frank, sporting his trademark beret and trench coat, is married to the apparently normal Betty (Michele Dotrice) and in later series they have a baby daughter, Jessica. The character was popular with television impressionists such as Mike Yarwood in the 1970s, particularly his main catchphrase,
Michael Crawford "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em", Crawford continued to perform in plays and musicals, starring in "Flowers for Algernon" (1979) in the role of Charley Gordon, based on the book of the same title. He pursued another role on a very short-lived ITV sitcom, "Chalk and Cheese", as the slovenly, uncouth Dave Finn. The show did not go over well with his fans: the popularity of Crawford's portrayal of Frank Spencer, and the similar Billy Fisher character, had left him somewhat typecast, to the extent that they could not accept his very different role as Dave Finn. Crawford abandoned the show