navy lark series 11 booklet
TRANSCRIPT
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
1/27
SERIES ELEVENDECEMBER 1969 - APRIL 1970
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
2/27
2
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
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
3/27
1
3
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
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
4/27
4
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
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
5/27
5
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
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
6/27
6
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
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
7/27
7
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
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
8/27
8
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
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
9/27
9
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
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
10/27
10
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
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
11/27
11
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
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
12/27
12
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.
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
13/27
13
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.
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
14/27
14
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.
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
15/27
15
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.
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
16/27
16
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.
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
17/27
17
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
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
18/27
18
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
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
19/27
19
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
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
20/27
20
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
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
21/27
21
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.
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
22/27
22
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
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
23/27
23
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
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
24/27
24
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!
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
25/27
25
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
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
26/27
26
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
-
7/25/2019 Navy Lark Series 11 Booklet
27/27