YMMV / Steptoe and Son

• Adaptation Displacement: In America, the Foreign Remake Sanford and Son is far better known than the British original.
• Alternate Character Interpretation: Regarding who of the Steptoes is the most sympathetic. Is Harold a pretentious nit who wants to be among the upper classes without really understanding why, or does he genuinely just want better things for both him and his father? Is Albert a bitter, lazy, dirty old man who can't accept that his son aspires to a higher social station, or is he just a very lonely old man who's afraid of his son leaving him? It tends to vary depending on the episode, as well.
• Genre Turning Point: For British sitcoms. It was one of the first to cast actors in the lead roles rather than comedians (the writers didn't want people who would "count their laughs") and in an age when the predominant sources of laughter in British comedy were farce, coincidence, slapstick and innuendo, it dealt with social and class issues.
• Retroactive Recognition:
  • Four guest roles between 1962 and 1965 are played by Frank Thornton, who would later be best known for playing Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served?.
  • Madge from "The Bond That Binds Us" is played by June Whitfield, who would later be best known for playing June Fletcher in Happy Ever After, June Medford in Terry and June, and Mother in Absolutely Fabulous.
  • Lionel Sturgis from "Wallah, Wallah Catsmeat" is played by Leslie Dwyer, who would later be best known for playing Mr. Partridge in Hi-de-Hi!.
  • Melanie's mother from "And Afterwards at..." and Auntie Minnie from "Oh, What a Beautiful Mourning" are played by Mollie Sugden, who would later be best known for playing Mrs. Slocombe in Are You Being Served?.
  • Madame Fontana from "Seance in a Wet Rag and Bone Yard" is played by Patricia Routledge, who would later be best known for playing Hyacinth Bouquet in Keeping Up Appearances.
  • Auntie May from "And Afterwards at..." is played by Rose Hill, who would later be best known for playing Madame Fanny in 'Allo 'Allo!.
  • Rupert Ffaines-Muir from "A Star Is Born" is played by Trevor Bannister, who would later be best known for playing Mr. Lucas in Are You Being Served?.
  • Delilah from "The Bath" and Avis from "A Box in Town" are played by Yootha Joyce, who would later be best known for playing Mildred Roper in Man About the House and George & Mildred.

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