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Barbara Liversidge (spelt Liversage in the pilot) is a no-nonsense nosey middle-aged Yorkshire doctor's receptionist with a sharp tongue. She has been married to her husband Ted, a taxi driver, for 35 years. Their twenty-something lovelorn son Neil does very little. Their daughter, the long-suffering Linda is married to Martin Pond (Benson in the pilot). Martin is a chef in the pilot, while in the three series is a TV presenter who has his own show Pond Life on a local TV channel. Jean is her preening sister who is married to the simpering Phil. Barbara's colleague at the doctor's surgery is Doreen. Benedict Sandiford did not appear in the pilot. John Arthur did not appear in the pilot.