This week the series which raids the comedy archives of ITV brings us Comedy Classics: Rising Damp.

The popular sitcom first hit our screens in 1974 and told the story of a stingy landlord and his dingy boarding house.

Celebrities including Bill Roache, Lesley Joseph, Ian Wright, June Sarpong and Antony Cotton reminisce about the programme and its main characters including landlord Rigsby, played by Leonard Rossiter, Smith, played by Don Warrington and Miss Jones, played by Frances de la Tour.

The series originated from a play called the Banana Box which was about a young black man who arrived at a British boarding house.

The play was adapted for television and the black character, Phillip Smith, moves into the boarding house and shocks Rigsby with the news that he is a prince.

Eric Chappell, who wrote the play, tells the programme: “I read a lot of books on African culture and created a character making him a prince, I suppose because I didn’t really know an individual black man.”

Don Warrington adds: “It was terrifying because I was trained to do serious stuff and then out of the blue comes this sitcom, I have to say people rather looked down on sitcoms.”

Ian Wright says: “When I saw Don Warrington it was most probably the first time I encountered a black guy on TV sounding that intelligent, that posh.”

The programme looks back at the racism portrayed in the series and whether or not it changed the way black people were represented on television.

Eric Chappell says:”I based Rigsby on a man I worked closely with who I adored but who was full of prejudices.”

Bill Roache adds: “Rigsby is unbelievably racist but it was his ignorance in this capacity that was so amusing.”

Don Warrington says: “The feeling that I got from black people was that they were delighted to see a character like Phillip Smith on television.”

And the cast members and celebrities reminisce about the stars of the series.

Bill Roache says: “Leonard Rossiter had that timing, that comedy timing that’s a gift.”

Helen Fraser who played the postwoman in the series said: “He liked to rehearse a lot, all those winks and shrugs that looked natural were very much rehearsed. It was irritating I have to say, but I realised, when I saw it, why he worked like that.”

Don Warrington talks about Richard Beckinsale’s role in the show and his tragic death of a heart attack. He says: “Someone drove past me and wound their car window down and shouted, ‘Your mate’s dead’ – that’s how I found out. I would like to think he was headed for the very very top. He was a fantastic actor.”

And the documentary looks at what happened to the actors after the series ended.

Tuesday 23rd September 10:35pm – ITV1