Michael Ripper

Butterflies was a British sitcom series written by Carla Lane broadcast on BBC2 from 1978–83.

The situation was the day-to-day life of the Parkinson family in a bittersweet style. There were both traditional comedy sources and more unusual sources such as Ria’s unconsummated relationship with the outwardly-successful Leonard. Ria was still in love with her husband, Ben, and had raised two potentially fine sons, yet found herself dissatisfied and in need of something more. Throughout the series Ria searched for that “something more” and found some solace in her unconventional friendship with Leonard. In a 2002 interview, Carla Lane explained, “I wanted to write a comedy about a woman contemplating adultery.”

In the first episode, an expository discussion between Ria and Leonard alludes to the significance of the series’ title: “We are all kids chasing butterflies. You see it, you want it, you grab it, and there it is, all squashed in your hand.” She adds, “I am one of the few lucky ones, I have a pleasant house, a pleasant man and two pleasant sons. My butterfly didn’t get squashed.” Ria’s husband Ben collects and studies butterflies.