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Draft:Comedy Parade

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Comedy Parade
Genre
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Language(s)English
Home station
Original release27 August 1964 (1964-08-27) –
15 November 1986 (1986-11-15)
No. of series5
No. of episodes51

Comedy Parade is a British radio anthology series that was first broadcast non-consecutively from 1964 to 1986. The series aired unrelated comedy pilot episodes each week, with the intention of developing those pilot episodes into full series.

Fifty-one episodes were broadcast during the series run; twelve of these became series. These included: Now Listen; Spare a Copper; There's One Born Every Minute; the 1971 version of Just the Job; Radio Tarbuck; Our Les; Parsley Sidings; I'm Ken, He's Bill; The Motorway Men; Albert and Me; You Start, I'll Join In; and The Phenomenon Squad.

Episodes

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Series 1 (1964)

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This series was first broadcast on the BBC Light Programme at 8:00 pm on Thursdays.[1][2]

This series featured two pilots that were later developed into their own series: "Now Listen" and "Spare a Copper".

Kenneth Horne's appearance in the pilot "Down with Women" resulted in his sitcom, Beyond Our Ken, ending in 1964 and his new sitcom, Round the Horne, beginning the following year. Eric Merriman, the writer of Beyond Our Ken, objected to Horne's appearances in other comedy programmes whilst starring in the writer's sitcom. When the BBC refused to withdraw Horne from "Down with Women", Merriman resigned from writing Beyond Our Ken and the series ended after seven series. Following the broadcast of "Down with Women", the BBC commissioned a replacement series for Horne, titled Round the Horne, which began in 1965 and ended in 1968.[3]

# Title Written by Produced by First broadcast Ref
1 "Now Listen" Charles Hart and Peter Bishop Bill Worsley 27 August 1964 [1]
2 "Askey Rides Again" Les Lilley and Chic Jacob Edward Taylor 3 September 1964 [4]
3 "It Takes All Sorts" Philip Evans John Simmonds 10 September 1964 [5]
4 "The Kerbstone Twist Show" Michael Sharland Trafford Whitelock 17 September 1964 [6]
5 "Wilkie" Marty Feldman John Browell 24 September 1964 [7]
6 "Going Places" James Casey and Frank Roscoe James Casey 1 October 1964 [8]
7 "Mostly Murdoch" Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke Edward Taylor 8 October 1964 [9]
8 "Down with Women" Alastair Foot John Browell 15 October 1964 [10]
9 "Nobody But Doddy" Eddie Braben and Ken Dodd Bill Worsley 22 October 1964 [11]
10 "The Spy's the Limit, or, Whatever Happened to Agent 0091?" Dick Sharples Trafford Whitelock 29 October 1964 [12]
11 "The Andy Stewart Show" Kenneth Little Eddie Fraser 5 November 1964 [13]
12 "Spare a Copper" John Esmonde and Bob Larbey Edward Taylor 12 November 1964 [14]
13 "The Fourteen Stone Five Show" Mike Sharland Edward Taylor 19 November 1964 [15]
14 "Admiral at Anchor" Kenneth Hayles Edward Taylor 26 November 1964 [16]
15 "A State of Chaos" Hugh Woodhouse and Ken Hoare Charles Maxwell 3 December 1964 [17]
16 "One Night of Jim" George Evans and Derek Collyer Charles Maxwell 10 December 1964 [18]
17 "The Don Arrol Programme" Denis Goodwin John Browell 17 December 1964 [19]
18 Comedy Parade presents Joyce Grenfell N/A Bill Worsley 24 December 1964 [2]

Series 2 (1965)

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This series was first broadcast on the BBC Light Programme at 8:00 pm on Thursdays.[20][21]

This series featured one pilot that was later developed into its own series: "There's One Born Every Minute".

# Title Written by Produced by First broadcast Ref
1 "How About That" Bryan Blackburn Edward Taylor 14 October 1965 [20]
2 "Just the Job" Artie Jackson Edward Taylor 21 October 1965 [22]
3 "There's One Born Every Minute" Dick Sharples Trafford Whitelock 28 October 1965 [23]
4 "Mike to Mike" Michael Howard Bill Worsley 4 November 1965 [24]
5 "Brotherly Loves" Godfrey Harrison David O’Clee 11 November 1965 [25]
6 "Jiminy Cricket" Johnnie Mortimer, Brian Cooke, Peter Vincent, David McKellar, Jim Dale and Gordon Clyde Richard Willcox 18 November 1965 [26]
7 "Now for Nixon" Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke John Simmonds 25 November 1965 [27]
8 "Marriage Afloat" John Esmonde and Bob Larbey Bill Gates 2 December 1965 [28]
9 "Hudd – But Not Seen" Eric Davidson John Fawcett Wilson 9 December 1965 [21]

Series 3 (1971)

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This series was first broadcast on BBC Radio 2 at 2:30 pm on Sundays.[29][30]

This series featured six pilots that were later developed into their own series: "Just the Job", "Radio Tarbuck", "Our Les", "Parsley Sidings", "I'm Ken, He's Bill", and "The Motorway Men".

# Title Written by Produced by First broadcast Ref
1 "Second Time Around" Malcolm Hulke and Ray Mansell Trafford Whitelock 3 January 1971 [29]
2 "The Yarwood News" Mike Craig and Lawrie Kinsley Geoff Lawrence and James Casey 10 January 1971 [31]
3 "Just the Job" Colin Mares Edward Taylor 17 January 1971 [32]
4 "A Right Load of Junkin" Mike Craig and Lawrie Kinsley James Casey 24 January 1971 [33]
5 "For Love of a Lady" Philip Learoyd John Cassels 31 January 1971 [34]
6 "Radio Tarbuck" Mike Craig, Lawrie Kinsley and Ron McDonnell James Casey 7 February 1971 [35]
7 "Like My Neighbour" John Lawson Eddie Fraser 14 February 1971 [36]
8 "Our Les" James Casey James Casey 21 February 1971 [37]
9 "Parsley Sidings" Jim Eldridge Edward Taylor 28 February 1971 [38][39][40]
10 "I'm Ken, He's Bill" Richard Matthews and John Davis Edward Taylor 7 March 1971 [41]
11 "Hush Hush, Here Comes the Bolshie Man" Peter Spence David Hatch 14 March 1971 [42][39]
12 "The Motorway Men" Peter Child and Peter Matthews Alastair Scott Johnston 21 March 1971 [43][39][40]
13 "Try Anything Once" Chris Allen Edward Taylor 28 March 1971 [30]

Series 4 (1977)

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This series was first broadcast on BBC Radio 2 at 7:30 pm on Wednesdays.[44][45]

This series featured one pilot that was later developed into its own series: "Albert and Me".

"Albert and Me" was later developed into a full series which ran from...

# Title Written by Produced by First broadcast Ref
1 "Albert and Me" Jim Eldridge John Fawcett Wilson 5 January 1977 [44]
2 "This Man Corbett" Chris Allen John Fawcett Wilson 12 January 1977 [46]
3 "The Menacing Custard" Tony Hart Martin Fisher 19 January 1977 [47]
4 "Beetles and Buckman's Open Window" Rob Buckman and Christopher Beetles Bob Oliver Rogers 26 January 1977 [48]
5 "God Bless the Price of Whales" Andrew Palmer John Lloyd 2 February 1977 [49]
6 "Settle Down Now" James Casey James Casey 9 February 1977 [45]

Series 5 (1986)

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This series was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 11:30 pm on Saturdays.[50][51] For this series, episodes were aired as part of the five winning entries from a 1985 Radio Times comedy writing competition.[50]

This series featured two pilots that were later developed into their own series: "You Start, I'll Join In" and "The Phenomenon Squad".

"The Phenomenon Squad" was later broadcast on 3 October 1987 as the first episode of a five-part series.[52] It was retitled "Hand-Picked" upon subsequent airings.[53]

# Title Written by Produced by First broadcast Ref
1 "You Start, I'll Join In" David Bond and Paul Hawksbee Pete Atkin 18 October 1986 [50]
2 "The Phenomenon Squad" Michael Snelgrove Paul Mayhew-Archer 25 October 1986 [54]
3 "Circus Circus" Bill Brennan Mark Robson 1 November 1986 [55]
4 "The Collapse of the Romanov Autocracy" Phil Steer Pete Atkin 8 November 1986 [56]
5 "Brian the Wise" Ewart Hutton John Fawcett Wilson 15 November 1986 [51]

Successful pilots

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Now Listen (YEAR)

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Description of each series. Actors, broadcast dates, other special info.

Spare a Copper

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There's One Born Every Minute

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Just the Job

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Radio Tarbuck

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Our Les

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Parsley Sidings

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I'm Ken, He's Bill

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The Motorway Men

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Albert and Me

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You Start, I'll Join In

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The Phenomenon Squad

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Now Listen". BBC Genome. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Comedy Parade presents Joyce Grenfell". BBC Genome. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  3. ^ Johnston, Barry (2006). Round Mr Horne: The Life of Kenneth Horne. London: Aurum Press. pp. 235–238. ISBN 1-84513-123-1.
  4. ^ "Askey Rides Again". BBC Genome. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  5. ^ "It Takes All Sorts". BBC Genome. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  6. ^ "The Kerbstone Twist Show". BBC Genome. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Wilkie". BBC Genome. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Going Places". BBC Genome. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Mostly Murdoch". BBC Genome. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Down with Women". BBC Genome. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Nobody But Doddy". BBC Genome. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  12. ^ "The Spy's the Limit, or, Whatever Happened to Agent 0091?". BBC Genome. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  13. ^ "The Andy Stewart Show". BBC Genome. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  14. ^ "Spare a Copper". BBC Genome. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  15. ^ "The Fourteen Stone Five Show". BBC Genome. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  16. ^ "Admiral at Anchor". BBC Genome. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  17. ^ "A State of Chaos". BBC Genome. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  18. ^ "One Night of Jim". BBC Genome. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  19. ^ "The Don Arrol Programme". BBC Genome. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  20. ^ a b "How About That". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Hudd – But Not Seen". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  22. ^ "Just the Job (1965)". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  23. ^ "There's One Born Every Minute". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  24. ^ "Mike to Mike". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  25. ^ "Brotherly Loves". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  26. ^ "Jiminy Cricket". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  27. ^ "Now for Nixon". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Marriage Afloat". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  29. ^ a b "Second Time Around". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  30. ^ a b "Try Anything Once". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  31. ^ "The Yarwood News". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  32. ^ "Just the Job (1971)". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  33. ^ "A Right Load of Junkin". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  34. ^ "For Love of a Lady". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  35. ^ "Radio Tarbuck". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  36. ^ "Like My Neighbour". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  37. ^ "Our Les". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  38. ^ "Parsley Sidings". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  39. ^ a b c Homewood, Dave (2007). "Parsley Sidings - An Appreciation". Dad's Army - An Appreciation. Archived from the original on 7 May 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  40. ^ a b Homewood, Dave (2008). "The Motorway Men". Dad's Army - An Appreciation. Archived from the original on 7 May 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  41. ^ "I'm Ken, He's Bill". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  42. ^ "Hush Hush, Here Comes the Bolshie Man". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  43. ^ "The Motorway Men". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  44. ^ a b "Albert and Me". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  45. ^ a b "Settle Down Now". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  46. ^ "This Man Corbett". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  47. ^ "The Menacing Custard". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  48. ^ "Beetles and Buckman's Open Window". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  49. ^ "God Bless the Price of Whales". BBC Genome. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  50. ^ a b c "You Start, I'll Join In". BBC Genome. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  51. ^ a b "Brian the Wise". BBC Genome. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  52. ^ "The Phenomenon Squad (1987)". BBC Genome. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  53. ^ "The Phenomenon Squad, Hand-Picked". BBC. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  54. ^ "The Phenomenon Squad". BBC Genome. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  55. ^ "Circus Circus". BBC Genome. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  56. ^ "The Collapse of the Romanov Autocracy". BBC Genome. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
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