Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet

7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet

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SERIES ELEVENDECEMBER 1969 - APRIL 1970


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THE NAVY LARK, SERIES ELEVEN

DECEMBER 1969 APRIL 1970

EPISODES ONE TO SIXTEEN

As long as you continue to laugh, we continue to eat, producer Alastair Scott Johnston informed

the audience at another recording for The Navy Larkas the unfortunate crew of the frigate

HMS Troutbridgesailed into their eleventh series. The sitcom was now one of the longest-

running BBC radio comedy series, although The Clitheroe Kid which had debuted a few

months earlier in May 1958 was also still on the air at this point. Over the summer of 1969,

Alastair had again worked with Lawrie Wyman, the creator and writer of The Navy Lark, on a

new radio sitcom with a similar style; this had been The Big Business Larkwhich focussed on

the managerial mishaps at British United Plastics and had starred Jimmy Edwards and Frank

Thornton (one of the stars of the earlier spin-off The Embassy Lark). He had also been working

onJust Perfick, an adaptation of the Larkin family novels by HE Bates which was to debut on

BBC Radio 2 from November.Helping out Lawrie Wyman with some of the new scripts was Cardiff-born writer George

Evans who was an old friend of Jon Pertwee one of The Navy Larks three stars. George had

written material for Jon to perform in shows like Starlight Rendezvousand London Lightsover

the last decade as well as producing his 1962 LP Songs for Vulgar Boatmen. One of his earliest

credits had been the radio show Were in Businessand he soon formed a writing partnership

with Derek Collyer. As well as being a script associate on the BBC television sitcom The Rag

Trade, he contributed to TV series such as Pet Pals(featuring Richard Caldicot), Roy Hudd, TheReluctant Romeo, The Dick Emery Showand The Jimmy Logan Showwhile on radio his work

featured in The Arthur Haynes Show, This Is Your Jim, Its Mike and Bernie and Get Fell Inas well

as series produced by Alastair Scott Johnston like Crowthers Crowdin 1963 and 1966, The

Alfred Marks Showin 1964 and the 1964 Third Programme production Phony.

Of the three stars of The Navy Lark, during the autumn of 1969 Jon Pertwee had started

work on his new starring vehicle, the BBC One science fiction adventure series Doctor Who.

Leslie Phillips was also looking at further television work, recording a pilot episode for a


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prospective BBC One sitcom entitled The Culture Vulturesin which he would star as the easy-

living anthropology lecturer Doctor Michael Cunningham of the University of Hampshire.

Stephen Murrays serious acting career had continued with radio productions such as

Freedom Farewellfor Radio 4s Sunday Playslot and numerous readings for Radio 3. Along

with the rest of the regular cast Heather Chasen, Richard Caldicot, Tenniel Evans andMichael Bates the three leads reassembled back at the Paris Theatre for the first recording

of Series Eleven on Sunday 19 October.

In 1968, Ronnie Barker who had been with The Navy Larksince its inception had

become unavailable because of his Sunday evening commitments to the new LWT sketch

show Frost on Sunday, since when he had enjoyed success with his own LWT series Hark at

Barker; as such, his television work meant that he would not be returning to radio. Becauseof this, in the 1968 series, a new senior officer had been created for HMS Troutbridgein the

form of the seasick Commander Trotter, played by semi-regular cast member Alan Reeve-

Jones. Trotter had been a replacement for the character of Commander Bell, one of Ronnies

characters, but was now felt to be redundant to the format. To dispense with the character

of Commander Trotter, it was simplest to finally promote Mr Murray to the rank of Lieutenant

Commander Murray and put him in charge of HMS Troutbridgewhere he would combine the

duties of both ships captain and Number One. Commander Trotter it was revealed hadbeen recalled to Whitehall for special duties. This new dynamic for the crew set up the fresh

situation of Murray no longer being able to enter the ships ward room without an invitation

from one of his subordinates. During the first show, which concerned Troutbridgebeing

occupied by a group of hippies akin to those which had come to prominence in recent years,

Mr Phillips also used the catchphrase Sock it to mepopularised by Judy Carne on the US

sketch comedy Laugh Inwhich had been appearing on BBC Two since autumn 1968.

Although Jon Curle announced the first episode of the new series, from the second show recorded on Sunday 26 October this role was taken on a regular basis by Michael de

Morgan as per the previous series and The Big Business Lark. Lawrie Wyman also rejoined the

cast on an irregular basis from this recording, resuming his frequent role of AB Tiddy, usually

phoning to the bridge from the W/T room.

The third show was recorded on Sunday 2 November when Heather Chasen soldiered

on despite suffering from a bad cold which was written into the script. There was another


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variation on an existing character for the review board sequences which had been a popular

element since the eighth series. Originally comprising Michael Bates hay-fever-stricken Captain

Atcheson, Jon Pertwees stammering Lt-Commander Wetherby (a character which originated

during the 1940s in Waterlogged Spa) and Ronnie Barkers blunt Northerner Commander

Hardcastle, following Ronnie Barkers departure Hardcastle had been replaced by the nearidentical Captain Ormanroyd, played by Lawrie Wyman. The writer continued to play this

character, now named Captain Titchwell.

Another replacement character was introduced for the fourth show, taped on Sunday 9

November. Since the sixth series, Troutbridges engineering officer had been the technically

ignorant Scotsman Lt Queeg, played by Ronnie Barker, who had always relied upon assistance

from the lad, a nameless subordinate with an unreliable stomach. Taking Queegs place nowwas the well-brought-up and polite Lt Sharp played by Tenniel Evans who had joined the

Navy as an accountant and was every bit as reliant on the lad as his predecessor. This show

also introduced the new fictional country of Forbodia, a revolution-torn land that would loom

large in forthcoming escapades With the fifth edition, recorded on Sunday 16 November,

Heather Chasen developed a new character as Myrtle, another member of the vast Pertwee

family and the skinhead niece of Uncle Ebenezer (and therefore as confirmed in the following

edition CPO Pertwees sister).No show was recorded on Sunday 23, with double recordings scheduled the following week.

In the seventh episode, a post-modern approach was taken with a plot which hinged on CPO

Pertwee being able to do perfect impersonations of both Lt-Commander Wetherby and Vice-

Admiral Buttenshaw all of which were of course voiced by Jon Pertwee! And in addition to

Mr Phillips continuing subscription to the fictitious childrens comic Noddy Weekly, there were

now various comments made about Jon Pertwees Doctor Who, such as the game in Leslies

comic referred to in this seventh edition.Unfortunately, Jon Pertwee was taken ill and unable to attend the recording of the eighth

show on Sunday 7 December. As a last-minute replacement, the script was rewritten so that

CPO Jon Pertwee was indisposed in sickbay with theres a lot of it aboutand as a replacement

Mr Murray was assigned CPO Nathaniel Pertwee played by Frank Thornton who had

co-starred in the two spin-off series as well as HMS Paradise, an earlier attempt to transfer The

Navy Larkto television. Jon Pertwee was back for the ninth show on Sunday 14 which saw


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the introduction of Murrays new girlfriend, the horse-mad Rita Ffont-Bittocks (played by

Heather Chasen) who was soon revealed to be none other than the daughter of the Admiral.

This edition made reference to the one-time left-wing journalist and broadcaster Malcolm

Muggeridge and also the long-running BBC One series Dr Finlays Casebook with its gentle

period tales of a Scots GP. For the tenth and final edition taped on Sunday 21 (and scheduledaround requirements for Jon Pertwee to record sequences for Doctor Who), Mrs Ramona

Povey again inflicted her lack of singing skills on the world with renderings of both Ramona

a 1921 song which had been a 1964 hit for The Bachelors and Vera Lynns 1941 hit The

Anniversary Waltz.

The Navy Larkwas scheduled to return as part of the 1970 New Year schedule, kicking

off the first weekend after Christmas 1969. As with the previous series, each new episode

made its debut on Radio 2 at 2pm on Sundays with a repeat on the combined wavelengths

of Radios 1 and 2 at 8.45pm the following evening, replacing The Ken Dodd Experience. The

Radio Timesbillings for the chronicle of events aboard HMS Troutbridgeemphasised the

continuing presence of Leslie Phillips in The Man Most Likely To at the Vaudeville Theatre in

London, and a photo of Mr Phillips trying to speak in confidence to Mr Murray without being

overheard by Captain Povey appeared at the top of the quick overview of the Corporations

second week of programmes in the revamped Christmas double issue. The repeat of thedebut programme was even granted a longer than usual synopsis in the programme billing

section: Whenever the crew of HMS Troutbridgereturn from leave, Portsmouth Dockyard

normally locks everything up and runs for cover. But not this time. Everyone from Admiral

downwards just doubles up with laughter. Something highly unpleasant is about to fall on them

from a very great height. But what?The Radio Timeswas now focussing far more heavily on

television than radio following a re-design in September 1969; the dedicated radio preview

pages for each day were gone which would mean a far lower profile in future for all soundbroadcasts. The jaunty introductions to each new series penned by Alastair Scott Johnston

would now be a thing of the past

The opening broadcast of the eleventh series attracted a good reaction index score of

65, although audiences were down to just over two million listeners; during the 1960s,

radio listening figures had been on a continual decline as television had become even more

widespread. For the first full week of 1970, Jon Pertwee dominated the cover of the Radio


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Times, but in his new role as Doctor Whowith his first episode airing on Saturday 3 January.

The issue carried the short feature Welcome to 1970 The Navy Lark, Emma, Does the Team

Think? and eight more new radio series Readers were informed: HMS Troutbridgehas sailed

the seven seas in a remarkable number of directions for 11 years, but one of the chief problems

arises over leave: theTroutbridgecrew has enormous difficulty in getting back to the ship From the second week in January 1970, Leslie Phillips was filming Doctor in Trouble, the

seventh and final film in the sequence based on the books of Richard Gordon which was

shot at Pinewood through to February. For the week of Sunday 25 January, the presence

of The Navy Larkin Radio 2s schedules was emphasised with a shot of Jon Pertwee in the

abbreviated listings at the front of the Radio Times. The following week, a feature on the

actors role in Doctor Whoappeared in the magazine, and the text also encouraged readers

to catch his exploits aboard HMS Troutbridgethat Sunday.

By the sixth episode, audiences had grown and peaked for the run at over three million

on Sunday 1 February. At the start of February, the cast were rebooked to record six more

shows in three double sessions from Sunday 15 February to 1 March. Around the same

time, Stephen Murray received great acclaim for his lead role in the dramatised BBC One

documentary: On Trial: J Robert Oppenheimer Security Risk? and could also be heard in the

Radio 4 dramatisation of the epic novel War and Peace. Since the start of the year, AlastairScott Johnston had also been busy on a series of operettas recorded for Radio 2.

With the Cold War now well underway, the Forbodians made their first appearance as a

generic Eastern Bloc communist state in the eleventh show, while in the twelfth, Mr Murray

was married off to Rita and so became the Admirals son-in-law. As in the sixth series,

Murray was forced to reveal that his middle name was Butterfield the surname of his wife,

actress Joan Butterfield when the Padre conducted the matrimonial ceremony. Murrays

new married status then fuelled narratives for the next couple of episodes. The fourteenthshow saw references to Conservative Party leader Edward Heath and his yacht, Morning

Cloud, with which he had won the 1969 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race; a general election

was looming in June 1970 and it was felt unlikely that Labour would be ousted. Further

dialogue related to the impending decimalisation of Britains currency which would take

place in February 1971 (although the new coinage had been introduced since April 1968)

and also to John Stonehouse, the former Postmaster General and now Minister of Posts and


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Telecommunications. The show also introduced another new character for Heather Chasen

to perform; this was Netta, the wife of Admiral Ffont-Bittocks. Recording then concluded

with a final pair of episodes taped on Sunday 1 March. At this point, Leslie Phillips left the

cast of The Man Most Likely To so that he could concentrate on the recordings for the full

series of The Culture Vultures from Friday 6 March.Stephen and Ritas wedding on Sunday 15 March attracted a reaction index of 57 while

the tale of Pertwees sudden wealth a fortnight later fared better with an index of 61. While

the series was still on-air, Leslie Phillips was rushed to hospital at the start of April with an

internal haemorrhage; production on further editions of The Culture Vultureswas immediately

suspended, and the truncated run of academic mishaps began on BBC One on Friday 24 April.

From Monday 6 April, the 8.45pm slot on Radios 1 and 2 was given over to music from

Edmundo Ros. Thus the final two repeats of The Navy Larkaired on Radio 4 at 6.15pm

instead, apart from the Welsh and Scottish services. When The Navy Larkcame to an end

on Sunday 12 April with a broadcast to an audience of just under three million, the Sunday

afternoon and Monday evening slots were given over to the return of Kenneth Williams in

Stop Messing About!

March 1970 saw the end of the line for HMS Troubridge, the real Royal Navy frigate which

had inspired the name of the radio shows sister vessel; she had been decommissioned inMarch 1969 and now, after a year residing at a breakers yard in Chatham, was sold to Messrs

John Cashmore Ltd of Newport for scrap. And as time moved on, HMS Troutbridgewas now

also under threat. After the final recording for the series on Sunday 1 March, Alastair Scott

Johnston informed the audience of recordings for a new sitcom, Blast of Spring, which was

being recorded from Wednesday 11 March and would air on Radio 4 from October 1971.

Aware that television was now an increasingly dominant medium, Lawrie Wyman also paid

tribute to the fine cast of his long-running senior service sitcom, telling the theatre audience:With the horror of radio in the Seventies staring us in the face shortly, would you mind all writing

in and saying ForGods sake bring [The Navy Lark]back, otherwise I think weve had it and

youre in for Mantovani for the rest of your life. Goodnight!

Programme notes, episode synopses and cast

biographies researched and written by Andrew Pixley

The Navy Lark Appreciation Society can be contacted at:

The Navy Lark Appreciation Society, Honeysuckle Cottages,Little Street, Yoxford, Suffolk IP17 3JQ

Web address: www.navylark.org.uk


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THE NAVY LARK

SERIES ELEVEN

DECEMBER 1969 APRIL 1970Episodes written by Lawrie Wyman

Incidental music for the series was by Tommy Reilly and James Moodie [16]

Announcers: Jon Curle [1], Michael de Morgan [2-16]

Produced by Alastair Scott Johnston

Regular cast unless indicated: Stephen Murray, Leslie Phillips and Jon Pertwee with Richard

Caldicot, Heather Chasen, Tenniel Evans and Michael Bates

Note: none of the episodes were originally given titles. The ones here have been adopted for easyreference and are in line with previous commercial releases

Due to the age and, in some cases, the off-air source of these recordings, the sound quality may at times vary

EPISODE ONE: Commander Murray and the Squatters

Broadcast 28 December 1969 (recorded 19 October 1969)Captain Povey has enjoyed a spell of low blood pressure which comes to an end as the crew of

HMS Troutbridgereturns to Portsmouth. However, Mr Murray is amazed when, having been told to

report immediately to Poveys office, Heather addresses him as Sir. He has been promoted to take

command of the luckless vessel which is currently occupied by the Scruffies

EPISODE TWO: What is the SSE?Broadcast 4 January 1970 (recorded 26 October 1969)With Lawrie Wyman

When Povey arrives in the office, he discovers that a Vice Admiral has tried to contact him from

the Ministry of Ummm. He is to put to sea at once to meet somebody or other at sometime

or another at a location best described as somewhere. Troutbridgeis the only ship available,

and their subject would appear to be Vice-Admiral Burlington-Grimshaw of the SSE aboard the

Mediterranean Fleet flagship

EPISO

DE

SY

NOPS

ES


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EPISODE THREE: Pertwee Climbs Up the Promotion LadderBroadcast 11 January 1970 (recorded 2 November 1969)

With Lawrie Wyman

During a recruiting drive for the Royal Navy, the Admiral visits Povey to select potential officers

from lower decks. Impressed that CPO Pertwee carries a flask of booze on him, the Admiral orders

him transferred to the flagship as real officer material. While Pertwee mixes with the officers and

toadies to the Admiral, Murray and Phillips prepare for his review board

EPISODE FOUR: StrandedBroadcast 18 January 1970 (recorded 9 November 1969)

Vice-Admiral Buttenshaw informs Povey that he will be the replacement Naval Attach at the

British Embassy in the revolution-torn Forbodia for a month, and will be accompanied by WREN

Chasen. However, before Troutbridgecan deliver him to his assignment, the ship runs aground on

a small island

EPISODE FIVE: Sir Willoughbys PartyBroadcast 25 January 1970 (recorded 16 November 1969)With Lawrie Wyman

The Troutbridgecrew notice that Mr Phillips is rather touchy. The reason for his mood is soon clear

he is lovelorn. To get him over his ennui, his colleagues fix him up on a date with Uncle Ebenezer

Pertwees niece Myrtle so that they can both attend a party to celebrate the appointment of Sir

Willoughby Todhunter Brown as the new Naval Attach (Docks Superintendent in Chief )

EPISODE SIX: The Fleet Initiative TestBroadcast 1 February 1970 (recorded 30 November 1969)

Nunkie summons CPO Pertwee to his War Surplus Emporium on Gosport High Street to explain

that he is running a book on the new Navy initiative tests and Troutbridgeis at 100-1 so must

notwin. Murray and Phillips collect their first clue from Povey, and cannot even leave port until

they have obtained a pair of lock-knit, double winceyette, fully reinforced, pale pink ladies

bloomers


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EPISODE SEVEN: CPO Pertwees Long Service MedalBroadcast 8 February 1970 (recorded 30 November 1969)

CPO Pertwee is looking forward to his Fifteen Years Service and Good Conduct medal so that

he can pawn it and cop the 20 gratuity. And while Captain Povey cites numerous incidents of

Pertwees Bad Conduct since June 1959, he cannot produce any evidence. But to seal his award,

Pertwee decides to use his powers of impersonation

EPISODE EIGHT: The Phenomenal Pertwee TugBroadcast 15 February 1970 (recorded 7 December 1969)

With Frank Thornton; without Jon Pertwee

Nunky is furious when Povey orders that he must maintain his tug, the Hortense, properly and make

it seaworthy and not spend his Navy contract fee on brown ale! Meanwhile, Lt Phillips returns

from London delighted to have been promoted from a BOWWOW to a WOOFWOOF in the world of

psychic phenomena and therefore very keen to investigate strange glowing objects reported by

the Needles lighthouse

EPISODE NINE: The Security ClampdownBroadcast 22 February 1970 (recorded 14 December 1969)

Lt-Commander Murray has a secret: he has been dating a horse-loving girl called Rita and spent

the evening at the Gosport and Havant Gasworks Gymkhana (G&HGG). He even agrees to go to

the cinema to watch all seven hours of a subtitled War and Peace. But Murrays behaviour, his new

habits and the mysterious Rita make him a prime suspect when naval engines are sabotaged

EPISODE TEN: The Anniversary and the WashingBroadcast 1 March 1970 (recorded 21 December 1969)

The pianist was Dennis Gomm

Murray aims to introduce Get to know yousherry mornings (without sherry) during which the crew

can discuss their problems with him. But their main problem is that Mrs Povey hasrequested the

presence of the crew at her wedding anniversary party. Even Povey himself is invited if he behaves

himself although he has just broken the family washing machine


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EPISODE ELEVEN: The Forbodians Hijack TroutbridgeBroadcast 8 March 1970 (recorded 15 February 1970)

With Lawrie Wyman

Murray is still in his pyjamas when Admiral Ffont-Bittocks comes aboard with two senior officials

from the Forbodian Embassy, Igor Astrakhanovitch and Natasha Snogitov. The two visitors seem

very keen to take photographs of Mr Phillips in various parts of Troutbridge particularly when he

is standing beside key pieces of equipment. Then they reveal their true colours

EPISODE TWELVE: Number One Gets MarriedBroadcast 15 March 1970 (recorded 15 February 1970)

The Admiral demands to know from Povey if Murray is a suitable character to marry his daughter,

the first stage of an engagement which everyone is aware of apart from Lt-Commander Murray

himself. To celebrate the wedding, the Admiral sends Troutbridgeover to Calais to collect some

crates of champagne, while a private detective is hired by Rita to follow her intended

EPISODE THIRTEEN: The Honeymooners ReturnBroadcast 22 March 1970 (recorded 22 February 1970)

CPO Pertwee and Mr Phillips cannot resist smirking when Mr Murray and his blushing bride

return from their honeymoon abroad. In Murrays absence, Commander Whitaker helmed a

trouble-free run to Portugal (from which Pertwee has smuggled some wine) and the crew believe

that now Murray is the Admirals son-in-law, their seafaring days are over

EPISODE FOURTEEN: CPO Pertwee and the Lead Half CrownsBroadcast 29 March 1970 (recorded 22 February 1970)

Murray and Phillips have a post-wedding drink at the Popples Head and are amazed to discover

that CPO Pertwee is buying all the drinks! Meanwhile, the newlyweds are living with the Admiral

and his wife, neither of whom are happy when the lead starts to go missing from their roof


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EPISODE FIFTEEN: Sub-Lt Phillips to Leave for DartmouthBroadcast 5 April 1970 (recorded 1 March 1970)

Troutbridgecrashes back into dock yet again, so badly that it seems that Mr Phillips will have to

leave the service. However, Povey receives a visit from Rear Admiral Evans who recalls that Phillips

was his star pupil and the very man he wants to succeed him when he retires from running the

Naval School. Unfortunately, he recalls Phillips as being dark, six foot six, and fourteen stone

EPISODE SIXTEEN: The Mark 31 RadarBroadcast 12 April 1970 (recorded 1 March 1970)

CPO Pertwee and Mr Phillips are intrigued when a white saucer appears on top of Troutbridgesmast; this is a Mark 31 Radar scanning disc which is being trialled by the navy. However, HMS

Troutbridgeis not scheduled to take part in the fleet exercise as it is too dangerous, and instead

they are detailed to take Rita for a trip around the harbour

BONUS ITEM:The Honeymooners Return/CPO Pertwee and the Lead Half Crowns

Alastair Scott Johnstons introduction to the double recording on 22 February 1970 plus a retake

from the first show, four out-takes from the second show and the sign-off from the recording.

BONUS ITEM:Sub-Lt Phillips to Leave for Dartmouth/The Mark 31 RadarAlastair Scott Johnstons introduction to the double recording on 1 March 1970 plus two out-

takes from the first show, the link between the two programmes, three out-takes from the second

show and the sign-off from the recording with Alastair and writer Lawrie Wyman.


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BIOGRAPHIES

Lawrie WymanRather than serving in the Royal Navy, Lawrie Wyman was actually a lance-corporal

in the Army. After the war, he started writing comedy for radio and television with

shows like Happy Go Lucky andThe Lighter Side.Teaming up with Len Fincham, he

wrote for Morecambe and Wise, Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warriss. Concurrent with The

Navy Larkhe wrote So Ill Tell You andThe Motor Way, and he transferred The Navy

Larkto TV as HMS Paradise. On radio he also wrote The Embassy Lark, The Big Business

Lark andJust the Job,the latter with his new co-writer, George Evans, with whom he

collaborated on scripts for Bless This House, Love Thy Neighbour andCarry On Dick.

Stephen Murray

Stephen Murray was born in Lincolnshire in September 1912, and he madehis professional acting debut in Much Ado About Nothing in Stratford in

1933. After working at Birmingham Rep, Westminster Theatre and at

the Old Vic, Stephen was commissioned as an Army officer during the

war. After 1945, Murray returned to the theatre and focused initially on

directing, touring Europe with his controversial interpretation of King

Lear. On stage, Stephen appeared in On the Rocks, School for Scandaland

Six Characters in Search of an Author, although his favourite performance wasas George in Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf?in Edinburgh in 1965. On television,

he starred in plays such as Thunder Rockand Marriage Lines. Stephen died in April

1983 at the age of 70.


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Jon PertweeThe son of playwright Roland Pertwee, Jon was born John Devon Roland

Pertwee in Chelsea in July 1919. A keen performer, he trained at RADA in

the 1930s and was soon in demand on stage for his versatile characterwork. After wartime Naval service, Jon entered radio by accident where

his vocal talents made him a star in The Waterlogged Spaand

Up the Poleamongst others. His film career included movies like

Murder at the Windmill, Will Any Gentleman?and several of the Carry

On...films while on television he was best known as the third Doctor

Who,scarecrow Worzel Gummidgeand as the host of Whodunnit?

A showman all his life, Jon died in New York in May 1996.

Leslie PhillipsDespite his famous well-bred ladies man persona, Leslie Phillips was born

in the working class environs of Tottenham in April 1924. A child actor at

the Italia Conti School, he made his debut in Peter Panat the Palladium.

Picking up his cultured tones from officers in the Durham Light Infantry,

Leslie appeared in comedy movies including The Smallest Show on Earth,

early Carry On films and taking over the Doctor series. On television,

he starred in Our Man at St Marks and Casanova 73 while his film work

includes Out of Africa and Empire of the Sun. Awarded an OBE in 1998, he

recently achieved acclaim with his one-man show On the Whole Lifes BeenPretty Good.


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Richard CaldicotBorn October 1908 in London, Richard Caldicot enjoyed a long acting

career, often playing irritable authority figures. In demand in both comic

and serious roles, his movies included The Million Pound Note, Room atthe Top andThe VIPs, while on television he was seen in If the Crown Fits,

Moody in ..., Steptoe and Son, Pet Pals, The Beverly Hillbillies, Vanity Fair,

Coronation Street, Fawlty Towers, Minder, Bergerac, Lord Peter Wimsey and

Casualty.He was the only cast member of The Navy Larkto appear in the

short-lived television version, HMS Paradise,and on radio he also featured

in The Motorway Men.Working to the end of his life, Richard died in

October 1995.

Heather ChasenBorn July 1927 in Singapore, Heather Chasen and her mother escaped on

the last ship to leave before the Japanese occupation. Trained at RADA,

she did a lot of stage work including a tour with Frankie Howerd inHotel Paradiso,appearing with Dame Sybil Thorndyke in Call Me

Jackieand receiving a Tony nomination as the New York lead of A

Severed Head. On television she appeared as Caroline Kerr in The

Newcomersand as Valerie Pollard in Crossroads. On stage, she has

enjoyed seasons at Chichester, done open-air Shakespeare at Regents

Park and appeared in The Mountain Womenat the Royal Court.


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Michael BatesBorn in December 1920 in Jhansi in what was British India, Michael Bates was

versed in many languages and dialects which made him much in demand

as a character actor. Entering films in the 1940s he appeared in Im All RightJack, Bedazzled, Oh! What a Lovely War, A Clockwork Orange andNo Sex Please

Were Britishamongst others. On television, his first starring sitcom was

Turnbulls Finest Half-Hour,followed rapidly by the role of Cyril Blamire in Last

of the Summer Wine. Diagnosed with cancer in 1975, Michael continued to

work, appearing as Rangi Ran in It Aint Half Hot Mumthrough to his death in

January 1978.

Tenniel EvansBorn in May 1926 in Nairobi, Welshman Tenniel Evans spent his

childhood in Kenya before settling in England. His great-uncle was the

illustrator Sir John Tenniel and his great-great-aunt was Marian Evans

(George Eliot). On television, he appeared in series such as The Plane

Makers, Budgie, War and Peace, The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, Yes

Minister, The Citadel, Inspector Morse, Casualty and Heartbeat,as well as

featuring regularly in Shine on Harvey Moon, The Two of Us andOne by

One.Tenniel also performed on stage across England in everything from

Shakespeare to modern drama. Before his death in June 2009, Tenniel spent

his later years as a clergyman, writing an autobiography about his childhoodcalled Dont Walk in the Long Grass.


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THE BIG BUSINESS LARK

JULY SEPTEMBER 1969

EPISODES ONE TO THIRTEEN

In March 1969, producer Alastair Scott Johnston had made a final attempt to have

The Embassy Lark the spin-off from The Navy Larkwhich had been running since 1966

revived for a fourth series, suggesting to Douglas Muggeridge, who had recently become

the Controller of BBC Radios 1 and 2, that it could be aired in the Sunday 2.30pm slot onRadio 2 from July. As it transpired, it was felt that The Embassy Larkhad runs its course with

smaller audiences and lower appreciation scores than its previous series. Nevertheless,

it was felt that there was room for another show in the same vein of humour from writer

Lawrie Wyman in the form of a different form of Lark.

The new format was entitled The Big Business Lark, and stemmed from the desire to

drive ahead with British technological development, manufacture and export which had

been inspired by Harold Wilsons speech at the Labour Party Conference in September1963 in which he stated that the Britain that is going to be forged in the white heat of this

revolution will be no place for restrictive practices or for outdated measures on either side of

industry. Then the leader of the Labour party, Wilson became Prime Minister in 1964 and

recent years had seen Britain establish itself as a leading manufacturer in various fields,

boosted slightly by 1968s Im Backing Britaineconomic campaign.

Lawrie Wymans drive in big business would be centred on the firm of British United

Plastics whose main creation was an indestructible new plastic, polystumer, which was

manufactured from a secret process from fields of rotting old ahem! Chairman and

managing director was Sir Charles Bonniface, a rather old-fashioned, bombastic, pompous

and rotund figure used to getting his own way in life and who had a frighteningly

unshakable belief that any womans posterior was fair game for his wandering hands.

Sir Charles thought nothing of a bit of casual smuggling on international business trips,

reckless gambling, and would happily evade his responsibilities of reporting to theboard of directors. Much of the time in his penthouse office overlooking the Thames


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Embankment was spent watching cricket or childrens television programmes such as

BBC OnesAndy Pandy, Thames The Sooty Showor BBC Twos Play School.

Bringing a new energy and modern thinking to the company as a recently appointed

director was his son, Frank Bonniface, whose interest in women was every bit as potentbut conducted in a generally more subtle and suave manner. Completing the main line-up

of characters would be Mrs Edith Chambers, Sir Charles long-suffering secretary of twelve

years who was often on the receiving end of Sir Charles goosings.

Cast as Sir Charles was Jimmy Edwards, a popular comedy actor who had been a

distinguished RAF pilot during the war. Having established himself at the Windmill Theatre

in London in 1946, he appeared in Navy Mixtureon the BBC Light Programme delivering

light hearted lecturesas Professor Jimmy Edwards and by 1948 was enjoying success inthe radio sketch show Take It From Here; this was written by Frank Muir and Denis Norden

who then crafted the stars television hit Whack-o! from 1956. In 1957, Jimmy Edwards

devised the long-running radio panel game Does the Team Think?and in the coming years

would see his career flourish on television with shows like The Seven Faces of Jimand

its sequels, Bold as Brassand most recently The Fosset Saga in which he played James

Fosset, Victorian writer of the penny dreadful The Green Dwarf for London Weekend

Television. On stage, he had enjoyed particular success with a farce entitled Big Bad Mouse

which opened in 1967; in this, Jimmy Edwards played Mr Price-Hargreaves, the pompous

boss of a factory called Chunkibix Ltd.

Playing Frank Bonniface was Frank Thornton who had previously featured as the quick-

thinking and girl-fancying first secretary Henry Sexpot Pettigrew across all three series of

The Embassy Lark, and who before that had starred in HMS Paradise, a short-lived attempt

to bring The Navy Larkto television by Associated-Rediffusion. Since the last run of TheEmbassy Lark, Frank had been appearing in Spike Milligans BBC Two series The World

of Beachcomberand in December 1968 had opened in the musical The Young Visitorsat

Piccadilly in which he played a doddering old butler. Rounding off the starring cast was

Gwen Cherrell, an actress who had appeared regularly on radio since the war and was also

a writer; her previous radio credits included A Life of Bliss.

Also appearing in the projected run of thirteen shows would be Elizabeth Morgan,

Nigel Graham and Alexander John, each of whom would take on whatever subsidiary


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roles were needed to drive the plot in the given week. Elizabeth Morgan had featured in

the previous run of The Navy Larkhaving worked with Alastair Scott Johnston since One

Mans Meatin 1964; she was also then working on projects such as Chaucers Troilus and

Criseydefor Radio 3. Nigel Graham had similarly been in the most recent series of The NavyLark, having featured in Alastairs 1967 series of Sexton Blakeadventures. Also from Sexton

Blakecame Alexander John, an actor and narrator who had also worked with Alastair on

Story Timefor the BBC Home Service in 1966 and more recently on his production of Ivor

Novellos Careless Rapturefor Radio 4 in late 1968.

Recording for The Big Business Lark took place on Sundays from 15 June 1969, running

three weeks ahead of transmission at this point. The announcer was Michael de Morgan

who had worked on the final run of The Embassy Larkin 1967/8 and who had taken over asthe main voice heard at the start of the most recent editions of The Navy Lark during 1968.

The shows signature tune was a piece called New Eracomposed by Ivor Slaney and Alan

Lewis and taken from the library music album Commercial Themespublished by Conroy in

1969 (BMLP 066). Many other links for the series such as New Townor Common Purpose

also hailed from this disk, or from other Conroy LPs, augmented by cues composed by Van

Phillips for the Impress library or by Bruce Campbell from other Conroy discs.

The first show established that British United Plastics had a New York office run by anAmerican cousin called Halpacker. Another director who would regularly feature was

Mr Benson, while the debut edition also saw the departure of the rather snide director

in charge of overseas trade, Mr Orrible Holroyd who would join the rival firm of Anglo

Amalgamated Plastics and return to plague Sir Charles in a later show as part of American

Chemical Industries. Regular references were also made to Coggins, an unheard and

elderly employee who was forever catching the wrong train or aeroplane and ending up inentirely the wrong destination. The second episode saw the first appearance of Mr Stokes

from the Board of Trade or BOT who would regularly be approached by British United

Plastics regarding their various polystumer products. The dialogue also made numerous

topical references to Prime Minister Harold Wilson as well as other key members of the

government such as Secretary of State for Employment Barbara Castle, Chancellor of the

Exchequer Roy Jenkins and Deputy Labour Party Leader George Brown.

Described by the Radio Timesas A chronicle of life in and around the higher echelons of


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British United Plastics Ltd, The Big Business Larkdebuted to very little fanfare on Sunday 6

July 1969, running at 2pm on Sunday afternoons on Radio 2 and with a repeat at 8.45pm

the following evening on the combined channels of Radios 1 and 2; it was a replacement

for the Kenneth Williams vehicle Stop Messing About! For the first week on air, the RadioTimespromoted the new series with a short article from Alastair Scott Johnston, illustrated

by a cartoon of Sir Charles, Frank and Mrs Chalmers. This week the Larksaga enters a new

phase,wrote the producer, The Navy Lark, which will return some time next winter (repeats

of nine past programmes begin this Saturday on Radio 4 at 1.15), remains consistently popular,

andThe Embassy Larkhad many loyal fans. So heres a new one. All Larks are, in some way,

an exercise in personal survival in an unkind world, and all their characters are students of

that indispensable little volume,The Princeby Machiavelli. This is certainly true of Sir CharlesBonniface (Jimmy Edwards), Chairman and Managing Director of British United Plastics Ltd.,

a multi-million-pound concern upon which a large part of the British export drive depends.

Sir Charles is a wicked old devil, impish, ruthless, mischievous and clever. Assisted by his

secretary, Mrs Chalmers (Gwen Cherrell), he not only has to make a profit, but he has to fend

off the younger generation, and particularly his son Frank (Frank Thornton),who wants his job

and his perks. In government circles a three-million-pound clanger can be comfortably lost

in the accounts, but in business therell always be some clot of a shareholder asking short sharpquestions to which there are only dodgy old answers. Sir Charles does survive and the business

does make a profitand through it all, somehow, the old man remains likeable, as long as one

remembers that, to him, honesty is the best policy only when no other course of action is open.

We hope you enjoy this new saga.

There was no recording on Sunday 6 July, and so a double recording took place the

following weekend for the fourth and fifth shows; the fifth episode introduced thecharacter of Stanley, the liftman from Birmingham. Again, there was no recording on

Sunday 20 July, and when production resumed on Sunday 27 it was without Alastair

Scott Johnston who was now on leave for just over a month. While Alastair would retain

the credit for setting up the show, scripts and casts, for the next few weeks the actual

Sunday recordings would be supervised by veteran comedy producer Peter Titheradge

who had championed fresh humour at the BBC since the 1950s and had recently returned

to producing in an advisory capacity on Im Sorry, Ill Read That Againand the panel game


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Many a Slip.This sixth edition also featured a comment from Sir Charles about Apollo

missions to the moon; Neil Armstrong had stepped out onto the lunar surface in the first

manned landing on Monday 21 July.

The sixth show was promoted in the Radio Timeswith the short article The Sunday

Afternoon Larkwhich established the shows format along with a photograph of Jimmy

Edwards, Frank Thornton and Gwen Cherrell. A fortnight later, the billing for the eighth

edition was emphasised by a reprint of the cartoon from the launch article.

After another weeks gap in recording for Sunday 17 August, the recording of Sunday

24 was also supervised by Peter Titheradge. However, for the tenth recording on Sunday

31 in which the company technical expert Miss Short was introduced the deputising

producer at the recording was John Browell who had started producing variety shows in1954 and had gone on to helm The Goon Show, Benny Hill Time, Down With ..., A Life of Bliss,

The Morecambe and Wise Show andThe Likely Lads amongst others. Alastair returned from

leave in mid-September to take over recordings from the penultimate edition on Sunday

14 September. The final show recording on Sunday 21 September tackled the subject

of advertising, with topical references to commercials of the time such as the Daz soap

powder two-for-one swap, not being able to tell the difference between Stork Margarine

and butter, and driving sports cars along beaches to join the Getaway people using SuperNational petrol.

The final edition of The Big Business Larkaired on Sunday 28 September with a repeat

on Monday 29 September; the following week it was replaced by the return of The Al Read

Show. The executives and employees of British United Plastics were destined never to

return to the airwaves nor to receive any visits from the crew of HMS Troutbridgeas with

their predecessors at the Tratvian Embassy.


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THE BIG BUSINESS LARK

JULY SEPTEMBER 1969Episodes written by Lawrie Wyman

Produced by Alastair Scott Johnston

Starring: Jimmy Edwards (Sir Charles Bonniface, Chairman and Managing Director), FrankThornton (Frank Bonniface, his son), Gwen Cherrell (Mrs Edith Chalmers)

Announcer: Michael de Morgan

Note: none of the episodes were originally given titles. The descriptions here come from the closingannouncements of each show

EPISODE ONE: Leading You ThroughBroadcast 6 July 1969 (recorded 15 June 1969)

With Alexander John (Mr Holroyd, a director/Mr Halpacker), Nigel Graham(Mr Benson, a director),

Elizabeth Morgan (Mavis/BOAC Stewardess).

There is a problem with the managerial washrooms at British United Plastics; the synthetic

plastic fittings made by the company contribute to a hazardous build-up of static electricitywhich is rather embarrassing when the companys whole advertising campaign is that any

home fitted with their products is a cleanhome

EPISODE TWO: Cruising on the RiverBroadcast 13 July 1969 (recorded 22 June 1969)

With Nigel Graham (Mr Potter/Mr Benson), Alexander John (Mr Stokes/Mr Barnes),Elizabeth Morgan (Phoebe).

Sir Charles feels that the best use of the company computer is to have it select the best players

for the next MCC game. Meanwhile, Mr Stokes of Comfy Campers approaches the firm; having

had polystumer anoraks manufactured for them, they now want to branch out into speed

boats with some trials in the Thames that might be of interest to the Ministry of Defence!

EPISO

DE

SY

NOPS

ES


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EPISODE THREE: Taking You ThroughBroadcast 20 July 1969 (recorded 29 June 1969)

With Nigel Graham (Mr Benson, a director), Alexander John (German Receptionist), Elizabeth Morgan

(Helga/BOAC Stewardess).

Frank is furious when his father disallows his expenses for 4/9 especially when Sir Charles

own expenses include stirrups for his polo pony. As the company directors brace themselves for

a family feud, Sir Charles decides to replace Benson on an overseas trip to a German trade fair

where the Yokosaki company of Japan seem determined to pirate their product

EPISODE FOUR: Disposing of a RelativeBroadcast 27 July 1969 (recorded 13 July 1969)With Elizabeth Morgan (Cicely, his [Sir Charles] sister), Nigel Graham (Hoskins),

Alexander John (Mr Halpacker).

Shares at British United Plastics are down by a penny and that means a visit from Sir Charles

sister Cicely demanding to know if this is due to severe mismanagement at boardroom level.

Soon Sir Charles has lost his own office and is under siege in his home; his one chance is to lurehis sister away on holiday

EPISODE FIVE: Playing DucksBroadcast 3 August 1969 (recorded 13 July 1969)

With Alexander John (David Evans/Stanley the Liftman), Nigel Graham (Claude), Elizabeth Morgan

(Gladys).

All firms now have to honour free gift offers, and this results in Sir Charles receiving a visit

from an annoyed customer, Mr David Llewellyn Gareth Evans of Cardiff, who bought a pint of

polystumer paint but never got a Donald-Duck-shaped toothbrush mug. And since none are left,

some will have to be made specially by the designer of the companys new sculpture


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EPISODE SIX: Taking OrdersBroadcast 10 August 1969 (recorded 27 July 1969)

With Alexander John (Mr Stokes/Mr Holroyd/Stanley the Liftman), Elizabeth Morgan (Debby, his [Mr

Stokes] secretary/Barbara/Miss Hertzhymer), Nigel Graham (Igor/Mr Benson/Mr Bishop).

Sir Charles is worried when he receives a letter from the Embassy of the USSR; have his

international trade fair indiscretions caught up with him? In fact, the Soviet Union would

like to order 500,000 tents made from polystumer for their army and so this places British

United Plastics in direct competition with American Chemical Industries, and a figure from the

companys past

EPISODE SEVEN: Strike BreakingBroadcast 17 August 1969 (recorded 3 August 1969)

With Alexander John (Mr Stokes/Stanley the Liftman), Nigel Graham (Welsh Striker/Blasted Ernie/Igor

Grazinov), Elizabeth Morgan (Welsh Striker/Board of Trade Secretary).

Having made most of the electricians redundant, Sir Charles decides to repair his office buzzer

himself only to fuse the lights, jam the lift and send the remaining electrician off to conveneat Transport House. However, Mr Stokes at the Board of Trade is more concerned as to why the

Cardiff factory has not shipped the order of Russian tents

EPISODE EIGHT: Dining OutBroadcast 24 August 1969 (recorded 10 August 1969)

With Nigel Graham (Mr Earp/Chinese Restaurant Owner/Angry Customer), Elizabeth Morgan (his

[Mr Earps] daughter Birdie/Maisy/Gladys/Tricia), Alexander John (nearly everyone else - Stanley theLiftman/Pickwick Arms Proprietor/Carlton Grande Manager/Italian Maitre D).

After the recent behaviour of Sir Charles at the companys annual dinners, there are now no

hotels left that will accept his bookings. At the same time, the firm receives a visit from Mr Earp

of American Novelty Toys and Fun Things Inc who wants to bring English culture to the USA in

the form of blow-up polystumer reproductions of Anne Hathaways cottage!


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EPISODE NINE: Initiating You ThroughBroadcast 31 August 1969 (recorded 24 August 1969)

With Nigel Graham (Ellington King), Alexander John (Stanley the Liftman), Elizabeth Morgan

(Maggie/Penelope).

In order to get information on his competitors, Sir Charles has plans to become the new Grand

Master of the Royal Society of Vendors of Plastics. Unfortunately, not only has he lost the vital

book from which he needs to learn the Grand Masters oath, but he has also received a letter from

an anonymous wartime associate who reminds him of Operation Look Out Here It Comes

EPISODE TEN: Searching For LibertyBroadcast 7 September 1969 (recorded 31 August 1969)

With Nigel Graham (Mr Hintking/Mr Benson/Taxi Driver), Elizabeth Morgan (Miss Short/Nurse),

Alexander John (Basher Fremantle/Mr Turnball).

Sir Charles assembles the directors to discuss the New York Home Hobbies Exhibition display

stand and proposes that the motif to be crafted from polystumer should be a forty-foot-high

statue of him. But the firm lacks the technical expertise to tackle this project, until Frankencounters his old schoolmate Basher Fremantle who is brilliant but rather accident-prone

EPISODE ELEVEN: Contracting OutBroadcast 14 September 1969 (recorded 7 September 1969)

With Nigel Graham (The Sultan/Oldest Employee of BUP), Alexander John (Stanley the Liftman/Zoo

Keeper), Elizabeth Morgan (Myrtle Burton/Fatima/Harem).

Edith is upset; during her birthday treat, Sir Charles disgraced himself with Tornado Trixie. An

opportunity to placate her is the forthcoming Miss British United Plastics competition which

will be held during a visit from a Sultan who wants the firm to provide camel-proof polystumer

pipelines for his oil wells


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EPISODE TWELVE: DestructingBroadcast 21 September 1969 (recorded 14 September 1969)

With Alexander John (Mr Stokes/Corporal), Elizabeth Morgan (Miss Short/Mr Stokes secretary), Nigel

Graham (Mr Burke/Lt Col Banks).

Unfortunately, all 50,000 sheets of polystumer manufactured for Glorious Garden Greenhouses

Ltd have had the bolt holes drilled in the wrong place. Even more unfortunately, polystumer is

indestructible, so the company cannot even dispose of the unwanted stock in their destructor

unit. But maybe they can sell them to the Ministry of Defence

EPISODE THIRTEEN: AdvertisingBroadcast 28 September 1969 (recorded 21 September 1969)

With Alexander John (Samuel J Packenacker), Elizabeth Morgan (Samantha/French Usherette/Elsie

Podmore/Myrtle), Nigel Graham (Talbot Smythe/Doorman).

Sir Charles is deeply unhappy with British United Plastics new television commercial which

makes him look like a nana in charge of an empire of hippies. And he needs something effective

on air imminently to attract the attention of the television-mad Samuel J Packenacker, head of

Transglobal Pictures, so that he will purchase vast quantities of polystumer film


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Documents

Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet