Johnnie Mortimer partnership with Brian Cooke. A version of "Man about the House" later transferred to America under the name "Three's Company". The partnership also wrote two plays, the first a theatrical version of "George and Mildred" (later renamed "When the Cat's Away" after the death of actress Yootha Joyce who played Mildred). The second was "Situation Comedy", and featured two TV situation comedy writers struggling to come up with an idea for a new series (in the end they write a stage play instead). Johnnie Mortimer John Mortimer, born in Clare, Suffolk, (2 July 1931 – 2 September 1992) professionally Johnnie
Seven of One Glynn Edwards, Joan Sims, Keith Chegwin, Leslie Dwyer, Robin Parkinson, Sam Kelly, Christopher Biggins, Richard O'Callaghan, Yootha Joyce, David Jason, and Avis Bunnage in supporting roles. The series was released on BBC DVD in 2005. Whilst most of the pilots were not developed any further, "Open All Hours" and "Prisoner and Escort" were successfully developed into full series. "Open All Hours" was developed into a sitcom of the same name and a later sequel named "Still Open All Hours", while "Prisoner and Escort" became "Porridge", which led to a spinoff series called "Going Straight" in 1978 and a feature film