<P> Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? is a British sitcom which was broadcast between 9 January 1973 and 9 April 1974 on BBC1 . It was the colour sequel to the mid-1960s hit The Likely Lads . It was created and written, as was its predecessor, by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais . There were 26 television episodes over two series; and a subsequent 45 - minute Christmas special was aired on 24 December 1974 . </P> <P> The cast were reunited in 1975 for a BBC radio adaptation of series 1, transmitted on Radio 4 from July to October that year . A feature film spin - off was made in 1976 . Around the time of its release, however, Rodney Bewes and James Bolam fell out over a misunderstanding involving the press, and did not speak again before Bewes' death in November 2017 . This long - suspected situation was finally confirmed by Bewes while promoting his autobiography in 2005 . Even while Bewes was alive, Bolam was consistently reluctant to talk about the show, and vetoed any attempt to revive his character . </P> <P> Set in Newcastle upon Tyne in north - east England, the show follows the friendship, resumed after five years apart, of two working - class young men, Bob Ferris (Rodney Bewes) and Terry Collier (James Bolam). </P> <P> The word "likely" in the title referred, in the 1960s series, to those showing promise, but also to those likely to get up to well - meaning mischief . </P>

Where was whatever happened to the likely lads filmed