Page "Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?" Paragraph 5

Since the ending of the original series, in 1966, Bob has left factory life behind for an office job with his future father-in-law's building firm ( something which leaves Bob even more desperate to retain favour with Thelma and her family ).

But what Bob does for a living is not a major factor in the show ; more important is the fact that he is now a white-collar worker, and ( at Thelma's urging ) is joining badminton clubs, attending dinner parties, and — in all sorts of ways — appearing to Terry as aspiring to join the middle class.