Brian Murphy (actor) the lazy George Roper, whose wife, Mildred, was played by Yootha Joyce. Her domineering, social-climbing characteristic was a sharp contrast to George's desire for an easy and quiet life and the pairing was an instant hit. A contributing factor to their immediate chemistry was that they had been friends for many years. Aside from their Theatre Workshop years, Murphy also featured in "Sparrows Can't Sing" (1963) with Joyce and other Theatre Workshop colleagues. When "Man About The House" ended in 1976, a spin-off was created for Murphy and Joyce, entitled "George and Mildred". This ran for five series until 1979.
Yootha Joyce (1972), "Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width" (1973) and "Steptoe and Son Ride Again" (1973). She also appeared as customer Mrs. Scully in the pilot episode of "Open All Hours" (1973). It was not until 1973 that she acquired a starring role, when she was cast as man-hungry Mildred Roper, wife of sub-letting landlord George, in the sitcom "Man About the House". This series, which starred Richard O'Sullivan, Paula Wilcox, Sally Thomsett, and Brian Murphy as George Roper, ran until 1976, deriving its comic narrative from two young women and a young man sharing the flat above the Ropers.