History Series / ComeBackMrsNoah

* DecontaminationChamber: Played for FanDisservice when Cunliffe and Mrs. Noah have to undergo the decontamination procedure before the MasterComputer will allow them to go to sleep. With some difficulty they zip themselves up in the bulky and unflattering "decontamination bags", which spray their intimate regions causing them to contort and giggle, then [[ToiletHumor vent from the rear of the bag with a loud farting sound]]. Ah, British 70's comedy...

* ObstructiveBureaucrat: It seems the government of 2050 (which is neither Conservative nor Labour, as those two parties have [[RuleOfFunny formed an opposition coalition]]) is just as uninterested in taking real action as the governments of the 1970's.

In 2050, British housewife Gertrude Noah (Sugden) wins a cookery competition, and the prize is a tour of Britannia Seven, the UK's new Space Exploration Vehicle. In the pilot episode, the craft is accidentally sent blasting off into space with Mrs Noah and a small crew on it; said small crew consists of two mathematicians, Carstairs (Creator/DonaldHewlett) and Fanshaw (Michael Knowles), and low-level maintenance man Garstang (Joe Black), with roving reporter Clive Cunliffe (Creator/IanLavender) dragged along for the ride as he was covering Mrs. Noah on her tour for news programme ''Far and Wide'' (the 2050 equivalent of ''Nationwide'').

In 2050, British housewife Gertrude Noah (Sugden) wins a cookery competition, and the prize is a tour of Britannia Seven, the UK's new Space Exploration Vehicle. In the pilot episode, the craft is accidentally sent blasting off into space with Mrs Noah and a small crew on it; said small crew consists of two mathematicians, Carstairs (Donald Hewlett) and Fanshaw (Michael Knowles), and low-level maintenance man Garstang (Joe Black), with roving reporter Clive Cunliffe (Creator/IanLavender) dragged along for the ride as he was covering Mrs. Noah on her tour for news programme ''Far and Wide'' (the 2050 equivalent of ''Nationwide'').

''Come Back Mrs. Noah'' is a British sitcom starring Mollie Sugden that aired on [=BBC1=] in 1978. It was written by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, who had also written ''Series/AreYouBeingServed'' which also starred Mollie Sugden. ''Come Back Mrs. Noah'' was not a success, with some regarding it as one of the worst British sitcoms ever made.

In 2050, British housewife Gertrude Noah (Sugden) wins a cookery competition, and the prize is a tour of Britannia Seven, the UK's new Space Exploration Vehicle. In the pilot episode, the craft is accidentally sent blasting off into space with Mrs Noah and a small crew on it; said small crew consists of two mathematicians, Carstairs (Donald Hewlett) and Fanshaw (Michael Knowles), and low-level maintenance man Garstang (Joe Black), with roving reporter Clive Cunliffe (Ian Lavender) dragged along for the ride as he was covering Mrs. Noah on her tour for news programme ''Far and Wide'' (the 2050 equivalent of ''Nationwide'').

* ButtMonkey: Garstang, who was only on the spaceship to change the lightbulbs when it took off. Carstairs [[YouGetMeCoffee uses him to fetch the tea]] yet refuses to invite him to tea, Mrs. Noah regards him as an AbhorrentAdmirer (even though he's the only man interested in her), and when [[ColdEquation someone has to be left behind]] on the space station he's the one selected.

* BritishBrevity: The show's lone season consisted of just six episodes, and its poor reception ensured that there wouldn't be another season.

* BillionsOfButtons: Leading to [[OverlyLongGag excessive button-pushing and accompanying sound effects]] whenever someone tries to operate a piece of equipment (which they inevitably get wrong).

* FunWithAcronyms: The Britannia Seven is launched from the Pontefract International Space Centre, or PISC, which sounds a bit rude and is therefore used as a joke. [[OverusedRunningGag Constantly.]]

* BitingTheHandHumor: Our gallant heroes are arguing about [[ColdEquation who is the most valuable member to society.]] Hawke says he's needed to pilot the shuttle. Mrs. Noah cites her cooking skills. Carstairs and Fanshaw say they are valuable scientists. Cunliffe says he works for the BBC, and is promptly listed as "No special qualifications."

* LovelyAssistant: Scarth Dare; she's specifically referred to as such and her only function is to look pretty and [[KavorkaMan fawn over Garfield Hawke for no apparent reason]].

* MissionControl: Or [[WeWillUseWikiWordsInTheFuture "mish-con" as Carstairs and Fanshaw call them]], run by Sir Garfield Hawke and his LovelyAssistant (and mistress) Scarth Dare. Much of the action on Earth (such as it was) centred around mish con attempting to find a way to retrieve Britannia Seven. Or more usually, giving excuses as to why they can't.

** Piloting the rescue shuttle somehow requires Scarth Dare and Garfield Hawke to dress up in gold lame.

* TrrrillingRrrs: Carstairs and Hawke, as shown when they have to RepeatToConfirm the word "rrrroute".

** Mish-con call up the rescue shuttle and [[InterruptedIntimacy bust Hawke and Dare making out]].

* ButtMonkey: Garstang, who was only on the spaceship to change the lightbulbs when it took off. Carstairs uses him to fetch the tea yet refuses to invite him to tea, Mrs. Noah refuses his advances (even though he's the only man interested in her), and when [[ColdEquation someone has to be left behind]] on the space station he's the one selected.

* KnowNothingKnowItAll: Despite their air of authority it's obvious that Carstairs and Fanshaw have little idea of how to run the Britannia Seven. What training they have received is either inadequate or on the wrong model of equipment.

** Carstairs tells the others to hide when Garstang calls on the phone to conceal the fact that he invited the others to tea and not him, but Garstang can see the cups set out on the table, not to mention Mrs. Noah's big behind sticking out from behind the sofa.

** Carstairs tells the others to hide behind the sofa when Garstang calls on the phone to hide the fact that he invited the others to tea and not him, but Garstang can see the cups set out on the table.

** When our heroes decide to try a RocketlessReentry, they dress up in silver thermal suits with a pointy radio beacon hat.

* ColdEquation: A rescue shuttle is sent up to the space station, but due to damage sustained while docking it can only take a limited cargo, so someone has to remain behind. The decision is made on everyone's 'worth' to society, so it's decided the maintenance man whose only job is to change the lightbulbs is going to be left behind. Then it turns out the damage is worse than they thought, so [[StatusQuoIsGod only the pilot and co-pilot can return]].

* ColdEquation: A rescue shuttle manages to make it up to the space station, but due to damage sustained it has to leave someone behind. The decision is made on everyone's 'worth' to society, so it's obvious the maintenance man whose only job is to change the lightbulbs is going to be left behind. Then it turns out the damage is worse than they thought, so [[StatusQuoIsGod only the pilot and co-pilot can return]].

* BitingTheHandHumor: Our gallant heroes are arguing who should stay behind on the Britannia Seven while everyone else gets rescued. Carstairs and Fanshaw say they are valuable scientists. Cunliffe says he works for the BBC, and is promptly listed as "No special qualifications."

-->'''[[MissionControl Mish Con]]:''' We have an ETA for RA on TF, which gives a TAT of 72 minus 439. Any questions?

* MissionControl: Or "mish-con" as Carstairs and Fanshaw call them, run by Sir Garfield Hawke and his LovelyAssistant (and mistress) Scarth Dare. Much of the action on Earth (such as it was) centred around mish con attempting to find a way to retrieve Britannia Seven. Or more usually, giving excuses as to why they can't.

--->'''Carstairs:''' It's probably a fusion interruption.
--->'''Cunliffe:''' What's a fusion interruption?
--->'''Carstairs:''' Well, it's a...I don't know; we've never had one before.

** In a later episode they use the suction tubes to travel around the space station because the lift still isn't working. Unfortunately being in the tube [[AssShove when another item is shooting up behind you is a bad idea]].

In 2050, British housewife Gertrude Noah (Sugden) wins a cookery competition, and the prize is a tour of Britannia Seven, the UK's new Space Exploration Vehicle. In the pilot episode, the craft is accidentally sent blasting off into space with Mrs Noah and a small crew on it; said small crew consists of two mathematicians, Carstairs (Donald Hewlett) and Fanshaw (Michael Knowles), and low-level maintenance man Garstang (Joe Black), with roving reporter Clive Cunliffe (Ian Lavender) dragged along for the ride after having been accompanying Mrs Noah on her tour for news programme ''Far and Wide'' (the 2050 equivalent of ''Nationwide'').

The series then centres on efforts to bring everyone back to Earth. The news bulletins on Earth revealed countries like the United States and Germany had to turn to Britain, the most successful nation on Earth, for help. After a failed effort to nudge the craft into the Earth's atmosphere, the series concluded with Mrs. Noah, and crew, careering off uncontrollably to the depths of space.

* BridgeBunnies: [[MissionControl Mish-con]] is populated entirely by middle-aged {{Stuffy Brit}}s wearing ties, and beautiful women with {{SciFi Bob Haircut}}s wearing SpaceClothes that [[FanserviceExtra show off their legs and cleavage]].
* ButtMonkey: Garstang, who was only on the spaceship to change the lightbulbs when it took off. Carstairs uses him to fetch coffee and refuses to invite him to tea, Mrs. Noah refuses his advances (even though he's the only man interested in her), and when [[ColdEquation someone has to be left behind]] on the space station he's the one selected.
* {{Cliffhanger}}: At the end of the final episode, "The Last Chance", a mistake by Mission Control has caused Britannia Seven to go shooting out of Earth's orbit. However will the intrepid passengers get back to Earth now? We'll never know; they never got a second series.
* ColdEquation: A rescue ship manages to make it up to the space station, but due to damage sustained it has to leave someone behind. The decision is made on everyone's 'worth' to society, so it's obvious the ButtMonkey (whose only job is to change the lightbulbs) is going to be left behind. Then it turns out the damage is worse than they thought, so [[StatusQuoIsGod only the pilot and co-pilot can return]].
* DistractedByTheSexy: At the end of "The Last Chance", Sir Garfield Hawk has only to press a button to fire a beam that will nudge Britannia Seven into Earth's atmosphere so that the five passengers can jump out without dying of asphyxiation. Unfortunately, at the critical moment, he is too busy gazing amorously at his fellow bridge bunny, Scarth Dare, and when he realises the countdown to firing has already finished, he frantically presses the first button he can--which fires a beam that pushes Britannia Seven ''away'' from the Earth.
* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: The format of the show meant that any attempt to return the Britannia Seven to Earth was doomed to fail.
* FoodPills: A "nutrition pill" is inserted into a robot chicken, which after much clucking produces a string of eggs.
* FunWithAcronyms: The Britannia Seven is launched from the Pontefract International Space Centre, or PISC, which sounds a bit rude and is therefore used as a joke.
* FutureImperfect: Music/RingoStarr is misidentified as the inventor of the telephone.
* GoingDownWithTheShip:

* ImprovisedMicrogravityManeuvering: In the pilot, Mrs Noah maneuvers in Zero G by spritzing her perfume sprayer.

* LovelyAssistant: Scarth Dare; she's specifically referred to as such and her only function is to look pretty and [[KavorkaMan fawn over Sir Garfield Hawke for no apparent reason]].
* {{Malaproper}}: It wouldn't be a David Croft sitcom without a character who confuses similar-sounding long words. In the first episode, Mrs. Noah, not realising the station really is about to launch by mistake, thanks the crew for "stimulating" an emergency for her benefit.
* MissionControl: Many of the scenes on Earth centred around mission control (or "mish con" as Carstairs and Fanshaw call them) attempting to find a way to retrieve Britannia Seven. Or more usually, giving excuses as to why they can't.
* MonochromeCasting: Despite repeated gags about future Britain being a multicultural society.
* ObstructiveBureaucrat: It seems the government of 2050 (which is neither Conservative nor Labour, as those two parties have formed an opposition coalition) is just as uninterested in taking real action as the governments of the 1970s.

** When our heroes decide to try a RocketlessReentry by jumping out at a low orbit wearing a HelicopterPack, they dress up in silver thermal suits with a pointy radio beacon hat.

* AutoKitchen: A "[[FoodPills nutrition pill]]" is inserted into a robot chicken, which after much clucking produces a string of eggs.

* ButtMonkey: Garstang, who was only on the spaceship to change the lightbulbs.

* SpaceClothes: Piloting the rescue shuttle somehow requires Scarth Dare and Garfield Hawke to dress up in gold lame.

* TrrrillingRrrs: Carstairs and Sir Garfield Hawke, as shown when they have to RepeatToConfirm the word "rrrroute".

-->'''Carstairs:''' How do you know all that.

** From the pilot episode

** From "The Last Chance"
--->'''Mish Con:''' We have an ETA for RA on TF, which gives a TAT of 72 minus 439. Any questions?
--->'''Carstairs:''' Yes--what the hell are you talking about?

-->'''Carstairs:''' It's probably a fusion interruption.
-->'''Cunliffe:''' What's a fusion interruption?
-->'''Carstairs:''' Well, it's a...I don't know; we've never had one before.