Casanova '73 is a British sitcom broadcast on BBC1 in September and October 1973. Written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, the series starred Leslie Phillips as wealthy womaniser Henry Newhouse (the English translation of "casa nova").[1]
Casanova '73 followed an episode of Galton and Simpson Comedy ("The Suit", 1969) for London Weekend Television in which Phillips played Howard Butler, a philandering businessman whose clothes are stolen whilst he is in bed at his secretary's home. As with this series, it also featured Jan Holden as his wife. Casanova '73 was specially written for Phillips.[2]
Henry Newhouse has a successful career in public relations. Although happily married to Carol, he is a compulsive philanderer and leads a double life. His relationships invariably backfire and lead to farcical situations.[1]
Casanova '73 was poorly received by the critics.[3] Stanley Reynolds in The Times wrote that Phillips character "gets caught in the wrong beds in all the right comic places but it still does not seem to work. The script is either too laborious and slow or the jokes are too old and feeble."[4] Mary Whitehouse, of the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association and others objected to its risque contents.[2] The complaints led to the programme being moved to a later time slot. The first three episodes aired at 8.00pm on Thursdays and the final four on Mondays at 9.25pm.[1] The quiz show Mastermind replaced it in the slot, helping it to become a hit.[5]
All seven episodes of Casanova '73 were released on DVD by Acorn Media UK on 8 October 2012.