Here's a lovely little treat from the Radio 4 archives. The Reunion sees Sue MacGregor presents the series which reunites a group of people intimately involved in a moment of modern history. Back in 2008, Sue brought together some of the original team behind The Navy Lark, one of the most popular
and longest-running radio sitcoms. Participants include June Whitfield,
Leslie Phillips, George Evans, Heather Chesen and Tenniel Evans.
The Navy Lark was a radio comedy series about life aboard a British Royal Navy frigate named HMS Troutbridge. The programme was transmitted on the BBC Light Programme and subsequently BBC Radio 2. It was produced by Alastair Scott Johnston.
Jon Pertwee is frequently quoted as having suggested the idea of a
forces comedy based on the Royal Navy, but writer Laurie Wyman and
Alastair Scott Johnston both contemplated an Air Force and an Army
themed sit-com before going to the BBC with 'The Navy Lark'.
Laurie Wyman included ideas based on excuses for late return from leave and other
misdemeanours from HMS Troutbridge bulletins. He worked with George Evans
(Pertwee's personal scriptwriter) from quite early on, but Alastair
Scott Johnston did not want him named until the 12th series onwards. For
most of its run, it starred Leslie Phillips, Jon Pertwee and Stephen Murray, whose names rotated in order of precedence every episode over the entire 15 season run.
Episodes were self-contained, although there was continuity within the
series, and sometimes a reference to a previous episode might be made. A
normal episode consisted of Sub Lt Phillips, scheming Chief Petty
Officer Pertwee, and bemused Lt. Murray trying to get out of trouble
they created for themselves without their direct superior, Commander
(later Captain) "Thunderguts" Povey finding out. Scenes frequently
featured a string of eccentric characters, often played by Ronnie Barker
or Jon Pertwee.
It's a lovely listen and it was great to hear June and Leslie reunited so many years after they first worked together in Carry On Nurse. Indeed, Leslie recalls hearing about The Navy Lark while they were working together as boyfriend and girlfriend on that very film.
You can listen to the programme here: The Reunion: The Navy Lark
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With thanks to my lovely blogging friend Glenda Young for bringing this Carry On related snippet to my attention! The long-running BBC Radio 4 music quiz show Counterpoint featured a round on Carry On stars the other evening and it featured some classic tunes from some of our favourites.
This episode was the 2016 final and saw competitors demonstrate an impressive depth and range of knowledge on all styles of music, from classical and jazz to show tunes and film scores. So what Carry On themed music was featured?
Well there was classic tunes from the likes of Kenneth Williams, Joan Sims, Sid James and Liz Fraser. Kenneth's track was "Song of the Australian Outlaw" (!), Joan's was "Spring Song" and Sid and Liz were featured in their classic duet from the film of the same name "Double Bunk".
Many Carry On actors released comedy or novelty records in the 1960s and 70s. Others contributed musical interludes to some of the classic BBC Radio series of te day. It's great to see some of these tracks remembered and given another outing in 2016. The show is definitely worth a listen and you can find it here
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can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and
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2016 is proving to be another busy year for the wonderful June Whitfield. Now in her 91st year, June shows no signs of slowing down and retirement, thankfully, seems to be a dirty word.
Already this year June has appeared in EastEnders as Sister Ruth, made a return appearance to the BBC comedy series Boomers (alongside the likes of Alison Steadman and Stephanie Beacham) and will soon be seen reprising her role as Mother in the big screen version of Absolutely Fabulous. This film will see her co-star with another member of the Carry On alumni, Wanda Ventham.
Anyway, despite all these screen commitments, June has not forgotten her love for radio. June has been a prolific star of radio comedy and drama since the early days of her career in the 1950s. Who can forget her roles in the long running comedy series Take It From Here? She has appeared on radio with everyone from Leslie Crowther and Ronnie Barker to Frankie Howerd and Sid James. More recently June has played Agatha Christie's Miss Marple in several adaptations and also spent a couple of decades working with Roy Hudd on The News Huddlines.
June's most recent radio assignment is a bit of a departure. In A Girl Called Jack, broadcast on BBC Radio 4, June stars opposite Ray Winstone's actress daughter Jaime. This from the BBC website:
Jack Monroe is an unusual food writer, gaining celebrity from her unique blog about existing on the breadline. During that time, she hit rock bottom but kept fighting to eat well and give her son proper food, rather than live on processed, cheap products. Now successful and no longer on the breadline, she continues to campaign passionately for decent food and standards of living.
This new drama, starring Jaime Winstone and June Whitfield, revisits her past and her relationship with her beloved Grandma.
Jack's blog started in 2012 after a Southend local councillor attacked single mothers. Jack lived in a small flat with her young son. Having been made redundant from a well-paid job, she found herself struggling to get by on benefits while applying unsuccessfully for jobs. Her blog documented the difficulties of living on welfare and, particularly, how to feed her son a nutritious and enjoyable diet on just £10 a week. It became a huge hit. Jack became a journalist, published food writer and a social campaigner.
Sarah Daniels is an award winning radio writer. In 2014, she dramatised Nigel Slater's food memoir, Eating for England, for BBC Radio 4. She has drawn on Jack Monroe's written recipe books, blogs and direct conversations to reveal the personal story behind Jack's years of struggling and subsequent fame.
You can find out more and listen to the first episode via the BBC Radio 4 Website
You can visit Jack's blog here: Cooking On A Bootstrap
You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook
Another lovely find thanks to the wonders of Twitter. My good friend @FutureUrban has drawn my attention to a BBC Radio Four afternoon play with a strong Carry On theme. Broadcast yesterday, Tittle Tattle, focuses on an encounter between Carry On stars Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey and their mothers Louie and Alice.
From the BBC Radio Four website:
Tittle Tattle by Martyn Hesford
It is 1964 and the Carry On films are at the height of their popularity. Kenneth Williams is taking his mother Louie out for afternoon tea to celebrate her birthday. He makes sure it is in a select tearoom - Derry and Toms. But who does he bump into? None other than fellow Carry On actor Charles Hawtrey and his mother Alice. Charles is meeting a director about an upcoming film, but is being very secretive as to who this mystery person is.
Director/Producer Gary Brown
Martyn Hesford is a hugely experienced scriptwriter and is best known for Fantabulosa! (BBC4) starring Michael Sheen which chronicles the life of Kenneth Williams. Martyn was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Single Drama for this film.
Tittle Tattle stars Adam Godley as Kenneth Williams; David Charles as Charles Hawtrey; Janine Duvitski as Louie and Marcia Warren as Alice.
It's a fantastic listen and I would highly recommend it. You can listen to the play here
