‘That's the Last Time I Play the Tart for You, Jerry!’: Penelope Keith and British Television Situation Comedy

Abstract

Women's historical role in British sitcom has been critically regarded as both limited and limiting. Yet, any exploration of the historical representation of women in British situation comedy reveals that women have frequently been cast in leading roles. Penelope Keith is a key figure in any consideration of women and television situation comedy, and her long successful career is explored in this article. The re-evaluation of the television comedy careers of women such as Keith means we can reinsert and reposition women into critical and popular narratives of British television comedy.