Last missing Navy Lark episode recovered
- The final missing episode of iconic radio sitcom The Navy Lark has been found
- However, other editions still only exist in low quality or cut edits, rather than as originally heard in Britain
- The programme, 1962's The Cornish Exercise, is hoped to air on Radio 4 Extra
The last completely missing episode of one of BBC radio's most important and long-running comedies has been recovered.
The Navy Lark debuted in 1959 and ran for more than 240 episodes over 15 series, concluding with a special to mark Her Majesty the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977.
Amongst its stars were Leslie Phillips, Jon Pertwee, Stephen Murray, Ronnie Barker and Dennis Price.
The sitcom now exists in a near-complete state in the BBC archives after the recovery of the final wholly missing programme, The Cornish Exercise, Series 4 Episode 18, originally broadcast on the BBC Light Programme on 12th January 1962.
The episode also starred series regulars Richard Caldicot, Heather Chasen, Tenniel Evans and Michael Bates, with a guest role for Judy Cornwell, best known as Daisy in Keeping Up Appearances.
However, other editions of the comedy still survive only as Transcription Service versions rather than in their original UK broadcast form.
The BBC's Transcription Service edited or re-recorded hundreds of hours of programmes for sale and distribution overseas, notably removing topical and overtly British references. Other notable comedy series to have episodes only survive in this cut form include Hancock's Half Hour, The Goon Show and Round The Horne, whilst many other surviving original versions only exist as lower quality off-air recordings made by fans.
Discovered by Richard Harrison and Keith Wickham of Radio Circle, an organisation dedicated to the preservation - and where possible, recovery - of archive radio, The Cornish Exercise has been remastered and is now planned to be broadcast later this spring on Radio 4 Extra.
Harrison and Wickham were also responsible for last year's landmark recovery of the only episode of Hancock's Half Hour to guest star Peter Sellers, as well as a haul of more than 90 missing episodes of Desert Island Discs.
Meanwhile, [g=1566]The Navy Lark]'s short-lived spin-off/successor series, The TV Lark, is still entirely missing one episode of its 10-part run. The original had been so successful on its debut in March 1959 that a feature film based on the premise was produced and released in cinemas before the end of the same year, but by 1963 BBC executives felt forces-based humour was of declining interest to the public and forced writer Lawrie Wyman to change the sitcom's setting. It in turn was an almost immediate disaster, leading quickly to the return of the original naval format.
If you have any recordings made at the time of the original transmission of any radio programme, Radio Circle are interested in hearing from you.
Numerous collectable volumes of The Navy Lark have previously been released on CD and download formats.
The Navy Lark - 60th Anniversary Special Edition
A 60th anniversary collection of selected Navy Lark episodes and bonus programmes.
March 2019 will mark 60 years since the very first episode of The Navy Lark was broadcast in 1959. This classic sitcom - based around life on the British Royal Navy frigate the HMS Troutbridge - continued until 1977 and starred Leslie Phillips, Jon Pertwee, and Stephen Murray, with regular appearances from other stars including Ronnie Barker and Heather Chasen.
This bumper extended collection features 17 episodes from across the series, including Left Hand Down A Bit, a feature programme in which Leslie Phillips takes listeners on a voyage through six classic episodes of the iconic series:
Operation Fag End (January 1959)
The Hank Of Heather (April 1959)
The Lighthouse Lark (January 1960)
A Deliberate Bashing (April 1963)
Mr. Phillips At Dartmouth (October 1967)
The Jubilee Navy Lark (July 1977)
Plus extra bonus programmes which will allow listeners to dip their toes into the water of this classic comedy, such as a mini-episode from The Light Entertainment Show; two cross-over episodes from spin-off series The Embassy Lark featuring the beloved Navy Lark characters; and a discussion from Farewell To The Paris featuring Leslie Phillips and Jon Pertwee as they reminisce about making the series.
First released: Thursday 7th March 2019
- Publisher: BBC Worldwide
- Minutes: 600
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- Distributor: BBC Physical Audio
- Minutes: 600
- Catalogue: 9781787535084
Buy and sell old and new items
Search for this product on eBay
BCG may earn commission on sales generated through the links above.