| Genre: | Sitcom |
| Director: | Rod Kinnear |
| Theme Music Composer: | Bruce Clark |
| Country: | Australia |
| Language: | English |
| Num Series: | 1 |
| Num Episodes: | 13 |
| Producer: | Rod Kinnear |
| Camera: | Multi-camera |
| Runtime: | 30 minutes |
| Network: | GTV-9 |
Barley Charlie was an Australian television sitcom which aired in 1964. It was the second television sitcom produced in Australia; being preceded by the 1957–1959 series Take That, although that Crawford Productions sitcom had only aired in Melbourne.[1] Some of the creatives went on to be involved in the serial drama Undercurrent (1965).
Barley Charlie aired for 13 episodes, produced by GTV-9 and also shown on other stations across Australia.[2] Though short-lived, the series was a ratings success.[3] The main cast were Sheila Bradley, Robina Beard, and Edward Hepple.[4]
The National Film and Sound Archive hold at least four episodes of Barley Charlie as well as some documentation.[5]
The premise was developed by the British scriptwriting team of Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe while they were visiting Australia in the wake of the worldwide success of The Rag Trade.
Joan and Shirley Muggleton are two cityslicker sisters who inherit a roadhouse café and garage midway between Melbourne and Sydney. Working there is Charlie Appleby, a lazy and clueless mechanic.
All episodes were produced and directed by Rod Kinnear. The first six episodes were written by Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney and adapted for Australian audiences by Alan Hopgood; the remaining seven were written solely by Hopgood. The series was first broadcast in Melbourne; selected episodes were later broadcast for the first time in Adelaide.[6]