Set in the fictional town of Nouvion in Nazi-occupied during WW2, it followed Ren้ Artois, a caf้-owner and reluctant Resistance fighter. Joined by his long-suffering wife, Edith, his saucy waitresses Yvette, Maria, and later, Mimi, he was pressured into hiding the British airmen Carstairs and Fairfax by Resistance leader Michelle. The local Germans were Colonel von Strohm, Captain Geering, Lieutenant Gruber and Private Helga Gerhard with local commander General von Klinkerhoffen and Gestapo Officers Herr Flick and von Smallhausen, and later, providing the Italian effort in the war, was Captain Bertorelli.
Helping Ren้ along the way were Crabtree - an Englishman posing as the local policeman and speaker of appalling French, M. Leclerc - an ancient safebreaker/forger/idiot, M. Alfonse - wooer of Madame Edith after the 'death' of Ren้ (he then posed as his twin brother, also Ren้) and local undertaker (and just as ancient as M. Leclerc) and Madame Fanny, Edith's bedridden mother.
Recurring themes were 'The Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies', a work of art by painter Van Clomp, Rene's affairs with his waitresses and many large Knockwurst sausages.
Edith Artois Carmen Silvera
Yvette Carte Blanche Vicki Michelle
Maria Recamier Francesca Gonshaw (Series 1-3)
Mimi Labonq Sue Hodge (Series 4-9)
Fanny La Fan Rose Hill
M. Roger Leclerc Jack Haig (Series 1-4)
M. Ernest Leclerc Derek Royle (Series 6)/Robin Parkinson (Series 7-9)
M. Alfonse Kenneth Connor (Series 2-9)
Michelle Dubois Kirsten Cooke
Officer Crabtree Arthur Bostrom (series 2-9)
Fairfax John D. Collins (Series 1-7)
Carstairs Nicholas Frankau (Series 1-7)
Colonel Erich/Kurt von Stohm Richard Marner
Lieutenant Hubert Gruber Guy Siner
Captain Hans Geering Sam Kelly (Series 1-4)
Private Helga Gerhard Kim Hartman
General Eric von Klinkerhoffen Hilary Minster
Herr Otto Flick Richard Gibson (Series 1-8) /David Janson (Series 9)
Herr Engelbert von Smallhausen John Louis Mansi (Series 2-9)
Captain Alberto Bertorelli Gavin Richards (Series 4-6)/Roger Kitter (Series 7)
Denise Laroque Moira Foot (Series 5-6)
Louise Carole Ashby (Series 5-9)
General von Flockenstoffen Ken Morley