Controversy
Labour MP Tom Pendry won a libel action against the programme when it portrayed a Labour Party candidate (played by Michael Ward) with his surname in an unflattering light. Pendry's name is edited out of the broadcast version when it is repeated. The episode in question Stand Up and Be Counted was the final episode of the first series, and was first broadcast on 27 December 1974. Today's copies of the episode are taken from an NTSC copy returned from Canada, after the original PAL videotape was deliberately wiped by Yorkshire Television because of the offence caused. It was never intended to be broadcast in the UK again. However, the candidate's name has been edited out of broadcast and DVD versions, his name on a document digitally painted out, and the closing credits remade with his character listed as "Labour Candidate".
The character of Rigsby was originally called Rooksby (however the name was altered prior to recording the pilot episode). This was changed following the threat of legal action against Yorkshire Television from a bed and breakfast owner from Scarborough with the same name.
Read more about this topic: Rising Damp
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