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Created by humorist Neil Munro, Scottish barge captain Para Handy and his crew were featured in a number of popular British TV sitcoms, including BBC1's 1966 offering The Vital Spark (the title referred to Capt. Handy's dilapidated boat). Originating as a one-off on the Comedy Playhouse anthology, this incarnation of Handy and company lasted 12 episodes, which aired from 1966 to 1967. The star of the series Roddy McMillan, revived his Para Handy characterization when The Vital Spark resurfaced on BBC1 in 1973, yielding six more half-hour episodes, and one hour-long special.