For decades, fans of Keeping Up Appearances believed they had seen every moment of the beloved sitcom exactly as it was intended. However, a surprising mistake by BBC Four in 2022 revealed an unseen version of a scene from the episode The Rolls-Royce, originally aired in 1995.
This accidental discovery offered a rare glimpse into the production process, showing that some scenes were reshot before the final version made it to air.
The unusual find was first noticed by an eagle-eyed viewer who compared the BBC Four broadcast and iPlayer version of The Rolls-Royce to its original BBC One airing and subsequent DVD release. While the latter had a nighttime scene featuring Daisy (Judy Cornwell) and Onslow (Geoffrey Hughes), the newly aired version showed the same scene set in daylight, with slightly different dialogue and almost no audience reaction.
It became clear that BBC Four had accidentally pulled an earlier, unused version of the scene from the archives instead of the final edit. But why was the scene reshot in the first place?
Though the exact reason remains uncertain, there are some strong clues. In the reshot scene—used in the 1995 broadcast—Daisy worries about her father leaving the house at night. This makes sense within the episode’s continuity, as later dialogue references the events happening "last night."
The incorrect, daytime version disrupts that logic, making it an obvious candidate for a redo.
This discovery sheds light on a common but often unseen aspect of television production: reshoots. While modern DVD extras often include deleted scenes and alternate takes, most older sitcoms didn’t preserve unused footage in an accessible way.
Without this BBC mistake, fans likely would never have seen this alternative version.
Digging deeper into production records, it was possible to pinpoint exactly when the two versions of the scene were filmed. The original version—the one mistakenly broadcast in 2022—was recorded on September 10, 1995, during the main studio session for The Rolls-Royce.
However, by analyzing set details, such as items on Daisy and Onslow’s shelves, it became clear that the reshot version was filmed a week later, on September 17, 1995, during the recording of another episode, Skis.
One key clue? A Cadbury Dairy Milk box visible on the shelves in both Skis and the reshot Rolls-Royce scene, proving they were filmed in the same session.
This accidental release is a rare gift for sitcom enthusiasts who rarely get to see alternate versions of scenes from classic shows. Unlike modern series, where deleted scenes are often included as DVD extras, older sitcoms like Keeping Up Appearances rarely have such material publicly available.
For fans, this small mix-up offers a fascinating look at the behind-the-scenes decisions that shaped the final version of the show. Even minor adjustments—like shifting a scene from day to night—can make a big difference in storytelling.
While BBC Four’s mistake was unintentional, it provided an unexpected treat for devoted fans. It’s a reminder that even decades after a show has aired, surprises can still emerge. Keeping Up Appearances continues to entertain audiences worldwide, and thanks to this mix-up, viewers now have a unique glimpse into its production process.
