Sharon: No we couldn't get him out, so we decided to do the next best thing. (Beat) Let him rot.
— Sharon Theodopolopodous telling Mark about how she left her husband Chris in prison.
- Date First Aired: 09/11/1991
Sharon is warning Tracey that her son will become a "mummy's boy" if she ain't careful. On top of this, Sharon has also taken to dressing up and going out a lot, claiming that she is heading out for job interviews. In fact, she is having lunch with the upper-class Mark and they're now on their sixth date. However, her hopes of happiness are dashed when discovering Mark is actually an overgrown kid controlled by his mother.
Tropes in this episode:
- Accidental Misnaming: Mark can't pronounce Theodopolopodous.Mark: But there was no miscarriage of justice? No "Free Christopher Theo-puh-lotta-potta-dopodous" effort?
- Amusing Injuries: Sharon falls off a horse.
- Apron Matron: Mark's domineering mother who embarrasses him in front of Sharon.
- Appeal to Flattery: Garth complements Sharon's figure in a bid to get maggots for his fishing trip.
- My Beloved Smother:
- Sharon warns Tracey that she is at risk of becoming this when Tracey gets annoyed at Garth for his social life.
- Mark's mother, who's fairly controlling of Mark and bosses him as if he were a child.
- Continuity Nod: Tracey mentions she hasn't seen Garth since "Baby Come Back".
- Deadpan Snarker:
- Sharon throughout the first scene.Sharon: Mmm, two weeks in Chigwell. Must be every teenager's dream.
- Dorien when Sharon asks her why she didn't get her horse riding clothes that fit.Dorien: How? Where would I find someone the same shape?
- Sharon throughout the first scene.
- Feud Episode: Tracey and Sharon have a falling out because Sharon is keeping secrets from Tracey.
- Malaproper: Tracey mixes up bigot and baguette.
- Noodle Incident: Sharon once fell off a donkey at Southend.
- Oh Wait, This Is My Grocery List: Mark accidentally initially gives Sharon a brochure for Auntie Ruby's 5-Star Cattery instead of the intended romantic getaway (Abbey Court Hotel) that Mark wanted.
- One-Shot Character: Mark and Sophie.
- One-Word Title: The title of the episode is "Schooling".
- Pull the Thread: Sharon lies that she's been out looking for work, so Tracey asks what jobs she's been looking for which makes Sharon instantly change the subject.
- Shout-Out:
- Sharon mentions Jimmy Savile.
- Sharon makes a remark comparing Tracey to Superman.
- Dorien calls herself a cross between Claire Rayner and Dyno-Rod.
- Sharon remarks they'll have to do a reverse Eliza Doolittle on Garth to stop him talking posh.
- Dorien mentions the RSPCA.
- Mark and his mother look forward to watching David Attenborough talk about penguins.
- Staircase Tumble: Sharon tells Tracey she's lucky she didn't throw her down the stairs.
- Slobs vs. Snobs: Tracey worries that Garth's friends will pick on him for being common.
- Take That!:
- Sharon and Mark crack jokes about finding bits of Brigitte Nielsen after her plastic surgery.
- Sharon thinks all prime ministers are maggots.
- Your Door Was Open: How Dorien makes her usual entrance, although she tries to justify it this time.Dorien: I did tap on the door but I couldn't compete, I've never had a particularly vulgar knock.
