Frank Spencer

Frank Spencer was the leading character in the BBC's highly successful 1970s sitcom, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. Every week saw the idiotic but well-meaning Frank, played by Michael Crawford, getting into ridiculous scrapes which usually involved a major degree of physical exertion. Episodes would frequently climax in some destructive catastrophe requiring stunt work from Crawford that even today would be unusual in an inexpensive half-hour comedy. With such a denouement in mind, typical plot lines would involve picnics on high cliffs, driving lessons by the sea, or a wide variety of new jobs such as motorcycle courier or high-rise window cleaner.

The wimpish Frank, sporting his trademark beret and raincoat, was married to the (apparently normal) Betty (played by Michele Dotrice) and in later series they had a baby daughter, Jessica, which offered scope for even more slapstick humour. Frank was a gift for impersonators, and the name "Frank Spencer" may still be used in the UK to refer to a particularly inept man, particularly one who is not very good at home improvements.

One of Frank's catch phrases was a quavering "Ooh... I'm being ha-RASSed!". This gained comic effect by employing a little-used word, pronounced wrongly (compared to the normal UK emphasis, "HArassed"). But Frank's usage has since become common in the UK, perhaps solely from the popularity of this phrase. (See the List of words of disputed pronunciation.)