The Navy Lark
Encyclopedia
The Navy Lark was a radio
sit-com about life aboard a British
Royal Navy
frigate named HMS Troutbridge, (a pun on HMS Troubridge
an actual Royal Navy destroyer) based in HMNB Portsmouth
, though in series 1 and 2 the ship and crew were stationed offshore at an unnamed location known simply as "The Island." In series 2 this island was revealed to be owned by Lt Cdr Stanton. The series was transmitted on the BBC Light Programme
and subsequently BBC Radio 2
. It was produced by Alastair Scott Johnston. Laurie Wyman conceived the idea and wrote the scripts (with George Evans from quite early on, but who was not name checked until the 12th Series onwards). For most of its run, it starred Jon Pertwee
, Leslie Phillips
, and Stephen Murray.
, and had joined NATO because the Potanis considered it to be a "free gift scheme". During Series 3 of The Navy Lark, a Potarneyland frigate, the Poppadom, appears in several episodes manned by various Potani officers voiced by Michael Bates
and Ronnie Barker
.
and characterised voices to supplement the humour, as well as a good deal of innuendo.
The show's theme tune was a traditional hornpipe
called St Ninian's Isle. The programme also featured musical breaks with a main harmonica
theme by Tommy Reilly
and several enduring catchphrases, most notably from Sub Lieutenant Phillips: "Corrrrr", "Ooh, nasty...", "Oh lumme!", and "Left hand down a bit". "Ev'rybody down!" was a phrase of CPO Pertwee's, necessitated by a string of incomprehensible navigation orders by Phillips, and followed by a sound effect of the ship crashing. Also, whenever Pertwee had some menial job to be done, Able Seaman Johnson was always first in line to do it, inevitably against his will: "You're rotten, you are!". The telephone response from Naval Intelligence (Ronnie Barker), was always an extremely gormless and dimwitted delivery of "'Ello, Intelligence 'ere" or "This is intelligence speakin.
Other recurring verbal features were the invented words "humgrummits" and "floggle-toggle" which served to cover all manner of unspecified objects ranging from foodstuffs to naval equipment.
later appeared on television as Blamire in Last of the Summer Wine
and as Rangi Ram in It Ain't Half Hot Mum
. Judy Cornwell was later to appear in the short series Moody and Pegg, but became best known when she was cast as Daisy, one of Hyacinth Bucket's sisters in Keeping Up Appearances
.
Dennis Price returned for a guest appearance in the fourth series episode A Hole Lieutenant
Repeats can regularly be heard on BBC Radio 4 Extra.
and The Big Business Lark
. The TV Lark
was intended to be a replacement for The Navy Lark starting with what would have been the series' fifth season. This situation came about due to the head of light entertainment believing that "forces" based humour had had its day and television was the next "big thing" so Lawrie was told to create a show with the same cast in an independent TV station situation. Alastair Scott Johnston and Lawrie Wyman tried to stop this folly but were overruled, hence the arrival of The TV Lark. The entire cast had been drummed out of the service (as the announcer puts it) and hired by Troutbridge TV Ltd. Janet Brown joined the cast due to the absence of Heather Chasen
for this season. However, mainly due to public pressure, the production team of Alastair Scott Johnston and Lawrie Wyman managed to revert the show back to nautical capers, even though episode ten of The TV Lark revealed that CPO Pertwee had arranged to flog almost the entirety of HMS Troutbridge. Storylines in The TV Lark nudged back to Naval origins across the ten shows until they were finally reunited with Troutbridge and acceptable storylines once more. 10 episodes were made but unfortunately Episode 9 is lost. The nine surviving episodes are available on YouTube
.
In 1959
a film version was made, written by Laurie Wyman and Sid Colin
and directed by Gordon Parry. It starred Cecil Parker
, Ronald Shiner
, Elvi Hale, Leslie Phillips and Nicholas Phipps.
Wyman co-wrote with three other writers a television
sitcom HMS Paradise (Associated-Rediffusion
, 1964-5) set in a naval shore establishment in which Caldicot played Captain Turvey, but only one series was made. The entire series has been wiped, but a rumour exists that one episode still exists.
The show was condensed from 30 to 27 minutes by Transcription services, then the discs were then exported around the world except for South Africa. As Springbok Radio was a commercial station the BBC refused to allow the station to re-broadcast the British shows so the station acquired the scripts from Lawrie and edited them to around twenty five minutes, to accommodate the commercial breaks. The revised show was recorded by them in front of a live audience. All the UK associations were kept for the Durban audiences which must have been incomprehensible on occasions. Excerpts of these broadcasts can be heard on the Springbok celebration site and occasionally Pumamouse.
1. 1- 1 Mar 29 59 The Missing Jeep
2. 1- 2 Apr 5 59 Operation Fag End (pilot episode)
3. 1- 3 Apr 12 59 Number One's Chair
4. 1- 4 Apr 19 59 The Fairground Lights
5. 1- 5 Apr 26 59 The Comfort Fund
6. 1– 6 May 3 59 Stuck up the Inlet
7. 1– 7 May 10 59 The Admiral's Party
8. 1– 8 May 17 59 The Hank of Heather
9. 1– 9 May 24 59 The Multiple Mine
10. 1–10 May 31 59 The Gun Mechanism Test
11. 1-11 Jun 7 59 The Whittlesea Bay Yacht Regatta
12. 1-12 Jun 14 59 The Psychology Test
13. 1-13 Jun 21 59 A Watch on the Initiative
14. 1-14 Jun 28 59 An Exercise in Filming
15. 1-15 Jul 5 59 The Smuggling Spy
16. 1-16 Jul 12 59 The Whittlesea Carnival and Fête
2nd Series Autumn 1959
17. 2- 1 Oct 16 59 New at the Helm
18. 2- 2 Oct 23 59 Fatso's Box Brownie
19. 2- 3 Oct 30 59 Bring Back the Barge
20. 2- 4 Nov 6 59 The Mock Action
21. 2- 5 Nov 13 59 Going Dutch
22. 2- 6 Nov 20 59 The Figurehead
23. 2- 7 Nov 27 59 Gunboat To Gumba
24. 2- 8 Dec 4 59 Johnson Finds Treasure
25. 2- 9 Dec 11 59 The Charter Trip to Antarctica
26. 2-10 Dec 18 59 Cementing Relations
27. 2-11 Dec 25 59 Strike up the Band
28. 2-12 Jan 1 60 The Route March
29. 2-13 Jan 8 60 A Trip up the Thames
30. 2-14 Jan 15 60 Radar Talk Down System
31. 2-15 Jan 22 60 A Crisp Romance
32. 2-16 Jan 29 60 The Lighthouse Lark
33. 2-17 Feb 5 60 Pertwee Posted to Portsmouth
34. 2-18 Feb 12 60 Johnson's Diet
35. 2-19 Feb 19 60 Tug Of War
36. 2-20 Feb 26 60 Return To Potarneyland
37. 2-21 Mar 4 60 The Cross Country Run
38. 2-22 Mar 11 60 The Morning After
39. 2-23 Mar 18 60 The Admiral's Present
40. 2-24 Mar 25 60 Secret Mission to Calais
41. 2-25 Apr 1 60 Mr Murray Goes Sick
42. 2-26 Apr 8 60 The Portarneyland Fishing Limit
3rd Series 1960
44. 3- 1 Nov 2 60 In Portsmouth for a Re-Fit
Nov 5 60 Wrens Reunion at the Royal Festival Hall
45. 3- 2 Nov 9 60 Refitting Ebeneezer Pertwee
46. 3- 3 Nov 16 60 Sea Trials of the Poppadom
47. 3- 4 Nov 23 60 Mutiny Aboard Troutbridge
48. 3- 5 Nov 30 60 The Explosive Biscuits
49. 3- 6 Dec 7 60 Sir Willoughby Takes Over The Island
50. 3- 7 Dec 14 60 Mount Rumpus Atoll
51. 3- 8 Dec 21 60 Mr Murray's Houseboat
52. 3- 9 Dec 28 60 Johnson's Birthday
53. 3-10 Jan 4 61 Povey's Unexpected Leave
54. 3-11 Jan 11 61 Families' Day
55. 3-12 Jan 18 61 Falmouth Ghost Ship
56. 3-13 Jan 25 61 Onabushkan Flu
57. 3-14 Feb 1 61 The Efficiency Expert
58. 3-15 Feb 8 61 The Floggle Grummit Missile
59. 3-16 Feb 15 61 The Hitch Hiking Counterfeiter
60. 3-17 Feb 22 61 Commodore Goldstein
61. 3-18 Mar 1 61 Mr Phillips Has Navigation Tuition
62. 3-19 Mar 8 61 CPO Pertwee and the Laundry
63. 3-20 Mar 15 61 The Surprise Wedding
4th Series 1961
64. 4- 1 Sep 15 61 Returning from Leave
65. 4- 2 Sep 22 61 Captain Povey's Spy
66. 4- 3 Sep 29 61 The Secret Of Nessie's Youth
67. 4- 4 Oct 6 61 The Northampton Hunt Ball
68. 4- 5 Oct 13 61 Hijacked
69. 4- 6 Oct 20 61 Admiral Troutbridge
70. 4- 7 Oct 27 61 Relatives and Reservations
71. 4- 8 Nov 3 61 Humgrummits on the High Seas
72. 4- 9 Nov 10 61 Are Captain and Mrs Povey Married?
73. 4-10 Nov 17 61 Cine Cameras at Sea
74. 4-11 Nov 24 61 The Citizen Adjustment Course
75. 4-12 Dec 1 61 A Hole Lieutenant
76. 4-13 Dec 8 61 Spy Catching in Casablanca
77. 4-14 Dec 15 61 Mount Pot Erupts
78. 4-15 Dec 22 61 Captain Povey's Shop
79. 4-16 Dec 29 61 Leading Seaman Goldstein's Party
80. 4-17 Jan 5 62 The Invitation
81. 4-18 Jan 12 62 The Cornish Exercise
82. 4-19 Jan 19 62 A Strange Hobby
83. 4-20 Jan 26 62 Mr Phillips Get Engaged
84. 4-21 Feb 2 62 The Sinking of the Bubble Car
85. 4-22 Feb 9 62 Long John Pertwee
86. 4-23 Feb 16 62 The Admiral's Accident Report
87. 4-24 Feb 23 62 Over the Sea to Rosyth
88. 4-25 Mar 2 62 The Return of Sir Frederick Flatley
89. 4-26 Mar 9 62 The Ship's Concert
Christmas special 1962
90. S- 1 unaired Calling The Antarctic - Not broadcast in the UK.
The TV Lark 1963
T01. Opening Night
T02. Advertising Drive
T03. The Party Political Broadcast
T04. Back to Portsmouth
T05. Serial Programming
T06. The African Incident
T07. Yours, or MINE!!!
T08. The Portarneyland Election
T09.
T10. Back in the Navy
5th Series spring 1963
91. 5- 1 Apr 5 63 First Day out of Dock
92. 5- 2 Apr 12 63 (100th edition)
93. 5- 3 Apr 19 63 A Deliberate Bashing
94. 5- 4 Apr 26 63 Whittlesea Regatta
95. 5– 5 May 3 63 HMS Troutbridge Gets a Rocket
96. 5– 6 May 10 63 The Ghost Ship
6th Series autumn 1963
97. 6- 1 Sep 27 63 Wren Chasen Returns
98. 6- 2 Oct 4 63 On the Carpet
99. 6- 3 Oct 11 63 The Bungalese Spies
100. 6- 4 Oct 18 63 Troutbridge's Party
101. 6- 5 Oct 25 63 Rescuing Admirals
102. 6- 6 Nov 1 63 Demise of the Depth Charges
103. 6- 7 Nov 8 63 The Struggle for Promotion
104. 6- 8 Nov 15 63 Fred Computables
105. 6- 9 Nov 22 63 Stormy Weather
106. 6-10 Nov 29 63 Chasing the Kepeac
107. 6-11 Dec 6 63 The Submerged Island
108. 6-12 Dec 13 63 The Sicilian Secret Agent
109. 6-13 Dec 20 63 German's Troutbridge
110. 6-14 Dec 27 63 Confirming Povey's Rank
111. 6-15 Jan 3 64 The Calais Dock Strike
112. 6-16 Jan 10 64 Johnson's Memoirs
113. 6-17 Jan 17 64 The Emperor of Tratvia
114. 6-18 Jan 24 64 Open Day
115. 6-19 Jan 31 64 Stuck on a Sandbank
7th Series 1965
116. 7- 1 Jul 11 65 Back in the Muck Again
117. 7- 2 Jul 18 65 Smugglers in the Solent
118. 7- 3 Jul 25 65 Mr Murray Is Victimised
119. 7- 4 Aug 1 65 The Poveys Move House
120. 7- 5 Aug 8 65 Captain Povey Reports Sick
121. 7- 6 Aug 15 65 Admiral Pertwee's Fleet
122. 7- 7 Aug 22 65 Let Loose with a Chopper
123. 7- 8 Aug 29 65 Making a Right Pig's Breakfast
124. 7- 9 Sep 5 65 The Mysterious Pudding Mine
125. 7-10 Sep 12 65 The Hovercraft Training Course
126. 7-11 Sep 19 65 Sabotaged Floggle-Toggle Box
127. 7-12 Sep 26 65 The Portarneyland Training Exercise
128. 7-13 Oct 3 65 Going on Leave to Croydon
Christmas Special 1965
129. S- 2 unaired Not broadcast in UK.
8th Series 1966
130. 8- 1 Sep 4 66 Searching for Their Ship (a.k.a. Where is Troutbridge?)
131. 8- 2 Sep 11 66 Float a Peddle Fiddle
132. 8- 3 Sep 18 66 Gumming Up the Works (a.k.a. A Sticky Business)
133. 8- 4 Sep 25 66 Buoys Will Be Buoys
134. 8- 5 Oct 2 66 Steamship Day
135. 8- 6 Oct 9 66 Farewell to HMS Varsity
136. 8- 7 Oct 16 66 Blowing Themselves Up (a.k.a. The Army Lark)
137. 8- 8 Oct 23 66 Buying Tickets (a.k.a. Just the Ticket)
138. 8- 9 Oct 30 66 Mr Phillips Promotion
139. 8-10 Nov 6 66 Pertwee and the Tratvian Beer
140. 8-11 Nov 13 66 The PM Papa
141. 8-12 Nov 20 66 Getting Rid of Pertwee
142. 8-13 Nov 27 66 Off to Sea at Last
9th Series 1967
143. 9- 1 Jul 2 67 Back from the Antarctic
144. 9- 2 Jul 9 67 Fishing in Troubled Waters (a.k.a. Fishers off the Faroes)
145. 9- 3 Jul 16 67 Cleaning Up (a.k.a. A Filthy Ferryboat)
146. 9- 4 Jul 23 67 Doing a Disastrical (a.k.a. Jigsaws and Jemmies)
147. 9- 5 Jul 30 67 The Naval Review
148. 9- 6 Aug 6 67 Going Caravaning (a.k.a. The Curious Caravan Case)
149. 9- 7 Aug 13 67 Having a Bit of Trouble with the French (a.k.a. Frenchmen in J.41)
150. 9- 8 Aug 20 67 Tangling with the Law (a.k.a. The Police Drop In)
151. 9- 9 Aug 27 67 Mr Murray's Endurance Course
152. 9-10 Sep 3 67 Women in the Wardroom
153. 9-11 Sep 10 67 Troutbridge's Silver Jubilee
155. 9-12 Sep 17 67 Computerising (a.k.a. CECIL the Navigation Computer)
156. 9-13 Sep 24 67 A Russian Rendezvous
157. 9-14 Oct 1 67 The Bugged and Burgled Beer
158. 9-15 Oct 8 67 Picking up the Poppadom
159. 9-16 Oct 15 67 Cuthbert Joins the Navy
150. 9-17 Oct 22 67 The Flying Machine
160. 9-18 Oct 29 67 Sub Lt. Philips at Dartmouth
161. 9-19 Nov 5 67 Frying Up
162. 9-20 Nov 12 67 Troutbridge in Quarantine
10th Series 1968
163. 10- 1 Oct 13 68 Lighting Up (a.k.a. Troutbridge Electrifies Portsmouth)
164. 10- 2 Oct 20 68 The Redundancy Drive
165. 10- 3 Oct 27 68 The Smugglers Return
166. 10- 4 Nov 3 68 Captain Trotter Takes Charge
167. 10- 5 Nov 10 68 The Anti-Submarine Missile
168. 10- 6 Nov 17 68 Accredited (a.k.a. Sub-Conductor Phillips)
169. 10- 7 Nov 24 68 The South Kawowan Summit
170. 10- 8 Dec 1 68 Pertwee's Enlistment Expires
171. 10- 9 Dec 8 68 Capt. Povey Takes Over
172. 10-10 Dec 15 68 Sir Willoughby Goes to Kawowa
173. 10-11 Dec 22 68 The Padre's Birthday
174. 10-12 Dec 29 68 The Portsmouth Kiosk
175. 10-13 Jan 5 69 The Radio Beacon
176. 10-14 Jan 12 69 The Wrong Uniform
177. 10-15 Jan 19 69 Harold Wilson Reviews the Fleet
178. 10-16 Jan 26 69 Relief of the Weather Ship
179. 10-17 Feb 2 69 Bunging Up (a.k.a. The Mickey Mouse Toothbrush)
180. 10-18 Feb 9 69 The Brick Smugglers
11th Series 1969
181. 11- 1 Dec 28 69 The Squatters
182. 11- 2 Jan 4 70 Admiral Hunting (a.k.a. What is the S.S.E.?)
183. 11- 3 Jan 11 70 The Promotion Ladder
184. 11- 4 Jan 18 70 Stranded
185. 11- 5 Jan 25 70 StarrSir Willoughby's Party
186. 11- 6 Feb 1 70 Fleet Initiative Test
187. 11- 7 Feb 8 70 C.P.O. Pertwee's Long Service Medal
188. 11- 8 Feb 15 70 The Phenomenal Pertwee Tug
189. 11- 9 Feb 22 70 The Security Clampdown
190. 11-10 Mar 1 70 The Anniversary and the Washing
191. 11-11 Mar 8 70 The Forbodians Hijack Troutbridge
192. 11-12 Mar 15 70 Getting Spliced (a.k.a. Number One Gets Married)
193. 11-13 Mar 22 70 The Honeymooners Return
194. 11-14 Mar 29 70 C.P.O. Pertwee and the Lead Half Crowns
195. 11-15 Apr 5 70 Dartmouth Naval College Has Had a Narrow Escape
(a.k.a. Sup-Lt Phillips to Leave for Dartmouth)
196. 11-16 Apr 12 70 The Mark 31 Radar
12th Series 1971
197. 12– 1 May 16 71 The Put-a-Horse-out-to-Graze Fund
198. 12– 2 May 23 71 Impressions for Survival
199. 12– 3 May 30 71 The Beard-Growing Race
200. 12- 4 Jun 6 71 The Mysterious Radio Signals
201. 12- 5 Jun 13 71 Operation Recovery
202. 12- 6 Jun 20 71 The Slogan Contest
203. 12- 7 Jun 27 71 Sir Willoughby at Shanghai
204. 12- 8 Jul 4 71 Operation Cowes Barge
205. 12- 9 Jul 11 71 Number One's Anniversary
206. 12-10 Jul 18 71 The Loch Ness Monster
207. 12-11 Jul 25 71 The Forbodian Attaché
13th Series 1972
208. 13- 1 Mar 26 72 The TV Documentary
209. 13- 2 Apr 2 72 The P.O.W. Escape Exercise
210. 13- 3 Apr 9 72 Number One's Married Quarters
211. 13- 4 Apr 16 72 Operating for Profit (a.k.a. The Newhaven-Dieppe Smuggling Run)
212. 13- 5 Apr 23 72 The Bumble Spit Lighthouse Affair
213. 13- 6 Apr 30 72 The Tongipouhaha Treasure
214. 13– 7 May 7 72 The US Navigator Swap
215. 13– 8 May 14 72 Son of a Sea Lord
216. 13– 9 May 21 72 Hypnotising Ramona
217. 13–10 May 28 72 The Master of Sardinia
218. 13-11 Jun 4 72 Opportunity Knockers
219. 13-12 Jun 11 72 Friday the 13th
220. 13-13 Jun 18 72 The New NAAFI
14th Series 1973
221. 14- 1 Jul 29 73 The Montezuela Revolution
222. 14- 2 Aug 5 73 The Island Swordfish
223. 14- 3 Aug 12 73 Bunged in the Brig (a.k.a. Bunged in the Rattle)
224. 14- 4 Aug 19 73 Kidnapped Down Under
225. 14- 5 Aug 26 73 The Digital Isles Go Unstable
226. 14- 6 Sep 2 73 Egbert Hitches a Ride
227. 14- 7 Sep 9 73 Povey an Admiral at Last
228. 14- 8 Sep 16 73 The Bergan Horse Trials
229. 14- 9 Sep 23 73 Captain Povey's Wig
230. 14-10 Sep 30 73 Brain Pill
231. 14-11 Oct 7 73 Operation Showcase
232. 14-12 Oct 14 73 Living the High Life (a.k.a. CPO Pertwee Yachtmonger)
233. 14-13 Oct 21 73 The Talpinium Shell
15th Series 1975
234. 15- 1 Nov 9 75 Sequel to the Talpinium Shell
235. 15- 2 Nov 16 75 NANA
236. 15- 3 Nov 23 75 Helen, the New Wren
237. 15- 4 Nov 30 75 Relief for Station 150
238. 15- 5 Dec 7 75 Black is Beautiful
239. 15- 6 Dec 14 75 Sidney and the Stamp
240. 15- 7 Dec 21 75 Riding to Victory (a.k.a. Commander Murray Becomes a Showjumper)
241. 15- 8 Dec 28 75 Horrible Horace
242. 15- 9 Jan 4 76 Officer's and Gent's Lib
243. 15-10 Jan 11 76 The Case of the HGM Mark 5
244. 15-11 Jan 18 76 Uncle Wilberforce Pertwee
Special 1977
245. S - 3 Jul 16 77 Queen's Silver Jubilee Edition
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
sit-com about life aboard a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
frigate named HMS Troutbridge, (a pun on HMS Troubridge
HMS Troubridge (R00)
HMS Troubridge was an T-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service during the Second World War.In 1943, she was sent to the Mediterranean, where she performed screening duties for major naval units...
an actual Royal Navy destroyer) based in HMNB Portsmouth
HMNB Portsmouth
Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the British Royal Navy...
, though in series 1 and 2 the ship and crew were stationed offshore at an unnamed location known simply as "The Island." In series 2 this island was revealed to be owned by Lt Cdr Stanton. The series was transmitted on the BBC Light Programme
BBC Light Programme
The Light Programme was a BBC radio station which broadcast mainstream light entertainment and music from 1945 until 1967, when it was rebranded as BBC Radio 2...
and subsequently BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
. It was produced by Alastair Scott Johnston. Laurie Wyman conceived the idea and wrote the scripts (with George Evans from quite early on, but who was not name checked until the 12th Series onwards). For most of its run, it starred Jon Pertwee
Jon Pertwee
John Devon Roland Pertwee , was an English actor. Pertwee is best known for his role in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, in which he played the third incarnation of the Doctor from 1970 to 1974, and as the title character in the series Worzel Gummidge...
, Leslie Phillips
Leslie Phillips
Leslie Samuel Phillips, CBE is an English actor with a highly recognisable upper class accent. Originally known for his work as a comedy actor, Phillips subsequently made the transition to character roles.-Early life:...
, and Stephen Murray.
Plot
Programmes 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 Lieutenant 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 PertweeRepublic of Potarneyland
The Republic of Potarneyland, a country situated somewhere on the Indian subcontinent, is featured in several episodes. Over the course of the series, it is revealed that Potarneyland had recently been granted independence from Great BritainGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, and had joined NATO because the Potanis considered it to be a "free gift scheme". During Series 3 of The Navy Lark, a Potarneyland frigate, the Poppadom, appears in several episodes manned by various Potani officers voiced by Michael Bates
Michael Bates (actor)
Michael Bates was a British actor born in Jhansi, United Provinces, India.-Biography:Bates served as a Major serving with the Brigade of Gurkhas in Burma before his discharge at the end of World War II...
and Ronnie Barker
Ronnie Barker
Ronald William George "Ronnie" Barker, OBE was a British actor, comedian, writer, critic, broadcaster and businessman...
.
Cast
- Dennis PriceDennis PriceDennis Price was an English actor, remembered for his suave screen roles, particularly Louis Mazzini in Kind Hearts and Coronets, and for his portrayal of the omniscient valet Jeeves in 1960s television adaptations of P. G...
– Lieutenant Price ("Number One") (Series 1) - Leslie PhillipsLeslie PhillipsLeslie Samuel Phillips, CBE is an English actor with a highly recognisable upper class accent. Originally known for his work as a comedy actor, Phillips subsequently made the transition to character roles.-Early life:...
– Sub Lieutenant Phillips - Jon PertweeJon PertweeJohn Devon Roland Pertwee , was an English actor. Pertwee is best known for his role in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, in which he played the third incarnation of the Doctor from 1970 to 1974, and as the title character in the series Worzel Gummidge...
– Chief Petty OfficerChief Petty OfficerA chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards.-Canada:"Chief Petty Officer" refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy...
Pertwee / CommanderCommanderCommander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
Weatherby / Vice-Admiral "Burbly" Burwasher / The Master - Stephen Murray – LtLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
/Lt CommanderLieutenant CommanderLieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
Murray ("Number One") - Richard CaldicotRichard CaldicotRichard Caldicot was a British actor famed for his role of Commander Povey in the BBC radio series The Navy Lark. He also appeared often on television, memorably as the obstetrician delivering Betty Spencer's baby in Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em.His father was a civil servant and he attended Dulwich...
– CommanderCommander (Royal Navy)Commander is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. It is immediately junior to captain and immediately senior to the rank of lieutenant commander...
/CaptainCaptain (Royal Navy)Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
Povey - Ronnie BarkerRonnie BarkerRonald William George "Ronnie" Barker, OBE was a British actor, comedian, writer, critic, broadcaster and businessman...
– Able SeamanAble Seaman (rank)In the British Royal Navy in the middle of the 18th century, the term able seaman referred to a seaman with at least two years' experience at sea...
"Fatso" Johnson / Lt CommanderLieutenant CommanderLieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
Stanton / Commander Bell / Lieutenant Queeg - Heather ChasenHeather ChasenHeather Jean Chasen is a Singapore-born English actress. Her best known roles are playing Valerie Pollard in the ITV soap opera Crossroads and voicing many roles in BBC Radio 2's The Navy Lark...
– Mrs. Ramona Povey / WRENWomen's Royal Naval ServiceThe Women's Royal Naval Service was the women's branch of the Royal Navy.Members included cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists, radar plotters, weapons analysts, range assessors, electricians and air mechanics...
Chasen / Lady Toddhunter-Brown - Tenniel EvansTenniel Evans-Family:Walter Tenniel Evans was born in Nairobi, Kenya. His middle name derived from the illustrator Sir John Tenniel, a distant relation. His daughter, Serena Evans, is an actress, and his son, Matthew, is a television director....
– Able SeamanAble Seaman (rank)In the British Royal Navy in the middle of the 18th century, the term able seaman referred to a seaman with at least two years' experience at sea...
(later Leading SeamanLeading RatingLeading rating is the most senior of the junior rates in the Royal Navy. It is equal in status to corporal, although for a long time was officially junior to that rank. The rate was introduced under the authority of Admiralty Circular No. 121 of 14 June 1853.Leading ratings are normally addressed...
) Taffy Goldstein / AdmiralAdmiralAdmiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Ffont-Bittocks / Sir Willoughby Toddhunter-Brown - Michael BatesMichael Bates (actor)Michael Bates was a British actor born in Jhansi, United Provinces, India.-Biography:Bates served as a Major serving with the Brigade of Gurkhas in Burma before his discharge at the end of World War II...
– Able Seaman Ginger / Lt.LieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Bates / Rear AdmiralRear AdmiralRear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
Ironbridge / Padre / Captain Ignatius Aloysius Atchison - Judy CornwellJudy CornwellJudy Valerie Cornwell is an English actress best known for her role as Daisy in the British sitcom Keeping Up Appearances.-Biography:...
– WREN CornwellWomen's Royal Naval ServiceThe Women's Royal Naval Service was the women's branch of the Royal Navy.Members included cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists, radar plotters, weapons analysts, range assessors, electricians and air mechanics...
(Series 4 onwards) - Laurie Wyman – Inspector Burt Tiddy / various
Production
The series used accentsAccent (linguistics)
In linguistics, an accent is a manner of pronunciation peculiar to a particular individual, location, or nation.An accent may identify the locality in which its speakers reside , the socio-economic status of its speakers, their ethnicity, their caste or social class, their first language In...
and characterised voices to supplement the humour, as well as a good deal of innuendo.
The show's theme tune was a traditional hornpipe
Hornpipe
The term hornpipe refers to any of several dance forms played and danced in Britain and elsewhere from the late 17th century until the present day. It is said that hornpipe as a dance began around the 16th century on English sailing vessels...
called St Ninian's Isle. The programme also featured musical breaks with a main harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
theme by Tommy Reilly
Tommy Reilly
Thomas Rundle Reilly MBE was a Canadian classical harmonica player. He began studying violin at eight and began playing harmonica at aged eleven as a member of his father's band...
and several enduring catchphrases, most notably from Sub Lieutenant Phillips: "Corrrrr", "Ooh, nasty...", "Oh lumme!", and "Left hand down a bit". "Ev'rybody down!" was a phrase of CPO Pertwee's, necessitated by a string of incomprehensible navigation orders by Phillips, and followed by a sound effect of the ship crashing. Also, whenever Pertwee had some menial job to be done, Able Seaman Johnson was always first in line to do it, inevitably against his will: "You're rotten, you are!". The telephone response from Naval Intelligence (Ronnie Barker), was always an extremely gormless and dimwitted delivery of "'Ello, Intelligence 'ere" or "This is intelligence speakin.
Other recurring verbal features were the invented words "humgrummits" and "floggle-toggle" which served to cover all manner of unspecified objects ranging from foodstuffs to naval equipment.
Reception
The series made household names of Leslie Phillips, Jon Pertwee and Richard Caldicot, but Ronnie Barker's versatile contributions were only recognised after he had become better known through television comedy. Michael BatesMichael Bates (actor)
Michael Bates was a British actor born in Jhansi, United Provinces, India.-Biography:Bates served as a Major serving with the Brigade of Gurkhas in Burma before his discharge at the end of World War II...
later appeared on television as Blamire in Last of the Summer Wine
Last of the Summer Wine
Last of the Summer Wine is a British sitcom written by Roy Clarke that was broadcast on BBC One. Last of the Summer Wine premiered as an episode of Comedy Playhouse on 4 January 1973 and the first series of episodes followed on 12 November 1973. From 1983 to 2010, Alan J. W. Bell produced and...
and as Rangi Ram in It Ain't Half Hot Mum
It Ain't Half Hot Mum
It Ain't Half Hot Mum was a British sitcom about the adventures of a Royal Artillery Concert Party, broadcast on the BBC between 1974 and 1981, and written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, the creators of Dad's Army...
. Judy Cornwell was later to appear in the short series Moody and Pegg, but became best known when she was cast as Daisy, one of Hyacinth Bucket's sisters in Keeping Up Appearances
Keeping Up Appearances
Keeping Up Appearances is a British sitcom created and written by Roy Clarke for the BBC. Centred on the life of eccentric, social-climbing snob Hyacinth Bucket , the sitcom portrays a social hierarchy-ruled British society...
.
Dennis Price returned for a guest appearance in the fourth series episode A Hole Lieutenant
Repeats can regularly be heard on BBC Radio 4 Extra.
Sequels and adaptations
There were several radio sequels, including The Embassy LarkThe Embassy Lark
The Embassy Lark was a radio comedy series broadcast from 1966 to 1968 as a spin-off from The Navy Lark. It was written by Lawrie Wyman and starred Frank Thornton and Derek Francis. It was produced by Sir Alistair Scott-Johnston...
and The Big Business Lark
The Big Business Lark
The Big Business Lark was a radio comedy sitcom of partly satirical form broadcast in 1969. It starred Jimmy Edwards and Frank Thornton and was written by Laurie Wyman as a spin-off from The Navy Lark, although no characters cross over between the two shows...
. The TV Lark
The Navy Lark (film)
The Navy Lark is a 1959 British comedy film adaptation of The Navy Lark radio series broadcast on the BBC Light Programme. It featured Cecil Parker, Ronald Shiner and Leslie Phillips, Gordon Jackson and Hattie Jacques...
was intended to be a replacement for The Navy Lark starting with what would have been the series' fifth season. This situation came about due to the head of light entertainment believing that "forces" based humour had had its day and television was the next "big thing" so Lawrie was told to create a show with the same cast in an independent TV station situation. Alastair Scott Johnston and Lawrie Wyman tried to stop this folly but were overruled, hence the arrival of The TV Lark. The entire cast had been drummed out of the service (as the announcer puts it) and hired by Troutbridge TV Ltd. Janet Brown joined the cast due to the absence of Heather Chasen
Heather Chasen
Heather Jean Chasen is a Singapore-born English actress. Her best known roles are playing Valerie Pollard in the ITV soap opera Crossroads and voicing many roles in BBC Radio 2's The Navy Lark...
for this season. However, mainly due to public pressure, the production team of Alastair Scott Johnston and Lawrie Wyman managed to revert the show back to nautical capers, even though episode ten of The TV Lark revealed that CPO Pertwee had arranged to flog almost the entirety of HMS Troutbridge. Storylines in The TV Lark nudged back to Naval origins across the ten shows until they were finally reunited with Troutbridge and acceptable storylines once more. 10 episodes were made but unfortunately Episode 9 is lost. The nine surviving episodes are available on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.
In 1959
1959 in film
The year 1959 in film involved some significant events, with Ben-Hur winning a record 11 Academy Awards.-Events:* The Three Stooges make their 190th and last short film, Sappy Bull Fighters....
a film version was made, written by Laurie Wyman and Sid Colin
Sid Colin
Sid Colin was an English screenwriter, working for both television and the cinema. He is best rememberd for the television comedies The Army Game , Up Pompeii! and the film Percy's Progress...
and directed by Gordon Parry. It starred Cecil Parker
Cecil Parker
Cecil Parker was an English character and comedy actor with a distinctive husky voice, who usually played supporting roles in his 91 films made between 1928 and 1969....
, Ronald Shiner
Ronald Shiner
Ronald Alfred Shiner was a British stand-up comedian and comedic actor whose career encompassed film, West End theatre and music hall.-Career:...
, Elvi Hale, Leslie Phillips and Nicholas Phipps.
Wyman co-wrote with three other writers a television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
sitcom HMS Paradise (Associated-Rediffusion
Associated-Rediffusion
Associated-Rediffusion, later Rediffusion, London, was the British ITV contractor for London and parts of the surrounding counties, on weekdays between 1954 and 29 July 1968. Transmissions started on 22 September 1955.-Formation:...
, 1964-5) set in a naval shore establishment in which Caldicot played Captain Turvey, but only one series was made. The entire series has been wiped, but a rumour exists that one episode still exists.
The show was condensed from 30 to 27 minutes by Transcription services, then the discs were then exported around the world except for South Africa. As Springbok Radio was a commercial station the BBC refused to allow the station to re-broadcast the British shows so the station acquired the scripts from Lawrie and edited them to around twenty five minutes, to accommodate the commercial breaks. The revised show was recorded by them in front of a live audience. All the UK associations were kept for the Durban audiences which must have been incomprehensible on occasions. Excerpts of these broadcasts can be heard on the Springbok celebration site and occasionally Pumamouse.
Episode guide
1st Series Spring 19591. 1- 1 Mar 29 59 The Missing Jeep
2. 1- 2 Apr 5 59 Operation Fag End (pilot episode)
3. 1- 3 Apr 12 59 Number One's Chair
4. 1- 4 Apr 19 59 The Fairground Lights
5. 1- 5 Apr 26 59 The Comfort Fund
6. 1– 6 May 3 59 Stuck up the Inlet
7. 1– 7 May 10 59 The Admiral's Party
8. 1– 8 May 17 59 The Hank of Heather
9. 1– 9 May 24 59 The Multiple Mine
10. 1–10 May 31 59 The Gun Mechanism Test
11. 1-11 Jun 7 59 The Whittlesea Bay Yacht Regatta
12. 1-12 Jun 14 59 The Psychology Test
13. 1-13 Jun 21 59 A Watch on the Initiative
14. 1-14 Jun 28 59 An Exercise in Filming
15. 1-15 Jul 5 59 The Smuggling Spy
16. 1-16 Jul 12 59 The Whittlesea Carnival and Fête
2nd Series Autumn 1959
17. 2- 1 Oct 16 59 New at the Helm
18. 2- 2 Oct 23 59 Fatso's Box Brownie
19. 2- 3 Oct 30 59 Bring Back the Barge
20. 2- 4 Nov 6 59 The Mock Action
21. 2- 5 Nov 13 59 Going Dutch
22. 2- 6 Nov 20 59 The Figurehead
23. 2- 7 Nov 27 59 Gunboat To Gumba
24. 2- 8 Dec 4 59 Johnson Finds Treasure
25. 2- 9 Dec 11 59 The Charter Trip to Antarctica
26. 2-10 Dec 18 59 Cementing Relations
27. 2-11 Dec 25 59 Strike up the Band
28. 2-12 Jan 1 60 The Route March
29. 2-13 Jan 8 60 A Trip up the Thames
30. 2-14 Jan 15 60 Radar Talk Down System
31. 2-15 Jan 22 60 A Crisp Romance
32. 2-16 Jan 29 60 The Lighthouse Lark
33. 2-17 Feb 5 60 Pertwee Posted to Portsmouth
34. 2-18 Feb 12 60 Johnson's Diet
35. 2-19 Feb 19 60 Tug Of War
36. 2-20 Feb 26 60 Return To Potarneyland
37. 2-21 Mar 4 60 The Cross Country Run
38. 2-22 Mar 11 60 The Morning After
39. 2-23 Mar 18 60 The Admiral's Present
40. 2-24 Mar 25 60 Secret Mission to Calais
41. 2-25 Apr 1 60 Mr Murray Goes Sick
42. 2-26 Apr 8 60 The Portarneyland Fishing Limit
3rd Series 1960
44. 3- 1 Nov 2 60 In Portsmouth for a Re-Fit
Nov 5 60 Wrens Reunion at the Royal Festival Hall
45. 3- 2 Nov 9 60 Refitting Ebeneezer Pertwee
46. 3- 3 Nov 16 60 Sea Trials of the Poppadom
47. 3- 4 Nov 23 60 Mutiny Aboard Troutbridge
48. 3- 5 Nov 30 60 The Explosive Biscuits
49. 3- 6 Dec 7 60 Sir Willoughby Takes Over The Island
50. 3- 7 Dec 14 60 Mount Rumpus Atoll
51. 3- 8 Dec 21 60 Mr Murray's Houseboat
52. 3- 9 Dec 28 60 Johnson's Birthday
53. 3-10 Jan 4 61 Povey's Unexpected Leave
54. 3-11 Jan 11 61 Families' Day
55. 3-12 Jan 18 61 Falmouth Ghost Ship
56. 3-13 Jan 25 61 Onabushkan Flu
57. 3-14 Feb 1 61 The Efficiency Expert
58. 3-15 Feb 8 61 The Floggle Grummit Missile
59. 3-16 Feb 15 61 The Hitch Hiking Counterfeiter
60. 3-17 Feb 22 61 Commodore Goldstein
61. 3-18 Mar 1 61 Mr Phillips Has Navigation Tuition
62. 3-19 Mar 8 61 CPO Pertwee and the Laundry
63. 3-20 Mar 15 61 The Surprise Wedding
4th Series 1961
64. 4- 1 Sep 15 61 Returning from Leave
65. 4- 2 Sep 22 61 Captain Povey's Spy
66. 4- 3 Sep 29 61 The Secret Of Nessie's Youth
67. 4- 4 Oct 6 61 The Northampton Hunt Ball
68. 4- 5 Oct 13 61 Hijacked
69. 4- 6 Oct 20 61 Admiral Troutbridge
70. 4- 7 Oct 27 61 Relatives and Reservations
71. 4- 8 Nov 3 61 Humgrummits on the High Seas
72. 4- 9 Nov 10 61 Are Captain and Mrs Povey Married?
73. 4-10 Nov 17 61 Cine Cameras at Sea
74. 4-11 Nov 24 61 The Citizen Adjustment Course
75. 4-12 Dec 1 61 A Hole Lieutenant
76. 4-13 Dec 8 61 Spy Catching in Casablanca
77. 4-14 Dec 15 61 Mount Pot Erupts
78. 4-15 Dec 22 61 Captain Povey's Shop
79. 4-16 Dec 29 61 Leading Seaman Goldstein's Party
80. 4-17 Jan 5 62 The Invitation
81. 4-18 Jan 12 62 The Cornish Exercise
82. 4-19 Jan 19 62 A Strange Hobby
83. 4-20 Jan 26 62 Mr Phillips Get Engaged
84. 4-21 Feb 2 62 The Sinking of the Bubble Car
85. 4-22 Feb 9 62 Long John Pertwee
86. 4-23 Feb 16 62 The Admiral's Accident Report
87. 4-24 Feb 23 62 Over the Sea to Rosyth
88. 4-25 Mar 2 62 The Return of Sir Frederick Flatley
89. 4-26 Mar 9 62 The Ship's Concert
Christmas special 1962
90. S- 1 unaired Calling The Antarctic - Not broadcast in the UK.
The TV Lark 1963
T01. Opening Night
T02. Advertising Drive
T03. The Party Political Broadcast
T04. Back to Portsmouth
T05. Serial Programming
T06. The African Incident
T07. Yours, or MINE!!!
T08. The Portarneyland Election
T09.
T10. Back in the Navy
5th Series spring 1963
91. 5- 1 Apr 5 63 First Day out of Dock
92. 5- 2 Apr 12 63 (100th edition)
93. 5- 3 Apr 19 63 A Deliberate Bashing
94. 5- 4 Apr 26 63 Whittlesea Regatta
95. 5– 5 May 3 63 HMS Troutbridge Gets a Rocket
96. 5– 6 May 10 63 The Ghost Ship
6th Series autumn 1963
97. 6- 1 Sep 27 63 Wren Chasen Returns
98. 6- 2 Oct 4 63 On the Carpet
99. 6- 3 Oct 11 63 The Bungalese Spies
100. 6- 4 Oct 18 63 Troutbridge's Party
101. 6- 5 Oct 25 63 Rescuing Admirals
102. 6- 6 Nov 1 63 Demise of the Depth Charges
103. 6- 7 Nov 8 63 The Struggle for Promotion
104. 6- 8 Nov 15 63 Fred Computables
105. 6- 9 Nov 22 63 Stormy Weather
106. 6-10 Nov 29 63 Chasing the Kepeac
107. 6-11 Dec 6 63 The Submerged Island
108. 6-12 Dec 13 63 The Sicilian Secret Agent
109. 6-13 Dec 20 63 German's Troutbridge
110. 6-14 Dec 27 63 Confirming Povey's Rank
111. 6-15 Jan 3 64 The Calais Dock Strike
112. 6-16 Jan 10 64 Johnson's Memoirs
113. 6-17 Jan 17 64 The Emperor of Tratvia
114. 6-18 Jan 24 64 Open Day
115. 6-19 Jan 31 64 Stuck on a Sandbank
7th Series 1965
116. 7- 1 Jul 11 65 Back in the Muck Again
117. 7- 2 Jul 18 65 Smugglers in the Solent
118. 7- 3 Jul 25 65 Mr Murray Is Victimised
119. 7- 4 Aug 1 65 The Poveys Move House
120. 7- 5 Aug 8 65 Captain Povey Reports Sick
121. 7- 6 Aug 15 65 Admiral Pertwee's Fleet
122. 7- 7 Aug 22 65 Let Loose with a Chopper
123. 7- 8 Aug 29 65 Making a Right Pig's Breakfast
124. 7- 9 Sep 5 65 The Mysterious Pudding Mine
125. 7-10 Sep 12 65 The Hovercraft Training Course
126. 7-11 Sep 19 65 Sabotaged Floggle-Toggle Box
127. 7-12 Sep 26 65 The Portarneyland Training Exercise
128. 7-13 Oct 3 65 Going on Leave to Croydon
Christmas Special 1965
129. S- 2 unaired Not broadcast in UK.
8th Series 1966
130. 8- 1 Sep 4 66 Searching for Their Ship (a.k.a. Where is Troutbridge?)
131. 8- 2 Sep 11 66 Float a Peddle Fiddle
132. 8- 3 Sep 18 66 Gumming Up the Works (a.k.a. A Sticky Business)
133. 8- 4 Sep 25 66 Buoys Will Be Buoys
134. 8- 5 Oct 2 66 Steamship Day
135. 8- 6 Oct 9 66 Farewell to HMS Varsity
136. 8- 7 Oct 16 66 Blowing Themselves Up (a.k.a. The Army Lark)
137. 8- 8 Oct 23 66 Buying Tickets (a.k.a. Just the Ticket)
138. 8- 9 Oct 30 66 Mr Phillips Promotion
139. 8-10 Nov 6 66 Pertwee and the Tratvian Beer
140. 8-11 Nov 13 66 The PM Papa
141. 8-12 Nov 20 66 Getting Rid of Pertwee
142. 8-13 Nov 27 66 Off to Sea at Last
9th Series 1967
143. 9- 1 Jul 2 67 Back from the Antarctic
144. 9- 2 Jul 9 67 Fishing in Troubled Waters (a.k.a. Fishers off the Faroes)
145. 9- 3 Jul 16 67 Cleaning Up (a.k.a. A Filthy Ferryboat)
146. 9- 4 Jul 23 67 Doing a Disastrical (a.k.a. Jigsaws and Jemmies)
147. 9- 5 Jul 30 67 The Naval Review
148. 9- 6 Aug 6 67 Going Caravaning (a.k.a. The Curious Caravan Case)
149. 9- 7 Aug 13 67 Having a Bit of Trouble with the French (a.k.a. Frenchmen in J.41)
150. 9- 8 Aug 20 67 Tangling with the Law (a.k.a. The Police Drop In)
151. 9- 9 Aug 27 67 Mr Murray's Endurance Course
152. 9-10 Sep 3 67 Women in the Wardroom
153. 9-11 Sep 10 67 Troutbridge's Silver Jubilee
155. 9-12 Sep 17 67 Computerising (a.k.a. CECIL the Navigation Computer)
156. 9-13 Sep 24 67 A Russian Rendezvous
157. 9-14 Oct 1 67 The Bugged and Burgled Beer
158. 9-15 Oct 8 67 Picking up the Poppadom
159. 9-16 Oct 15 67 Cuthbert Joins the Navy
150. 9-17 Oct 22 67 The Flying Machine
160. 9-18 Oct 29 67 Sub Lt. Philips at Dartmouth
161. 9-19 Nov 5 67 Frying Up
162. 9-20 Nov 12 67 Troutbridge in Quarantine
10th Series 1968
163. 10- 1 Oct 13 68 Lighting Up (a.k.a. Troutbridge Electrifies Portsmouth)
164. 10- 2 Oct 20 68 The Redundancy Drive
165. 10- 3 Oct 27 68 The Smugglers Return
166. 10- 4 Nov 3 68 Captain Trotter Takes Charge
167. 10- 5 Nov 10 68 The Anti-Submarine Missile
168. 10- 6 Nov 17 68 Accredited (a.k.a. Sub-Conductor Phillips)
169. 10- 7 Nov 24 68 The South Kawowan Summit
170. 10- 8 Dec 1 68 Pertwee's Enlistment Expires
171. 10- 9 Dec 8 68 Capt. Povey Takes Over
172. 10-10 Dec 15 68 Sir Willoughby Goes to Kawowa
173. 10-11 Dec 22 68 The Padre's Birthday
174. 10-12 Dec 29 68 The Portsmouth Kiosk
175. 10-13 Jan 5 69 The Radio Beacon
176. 10-14 Jan 12 69 The Wrong Uniform
177. 10-15 Jan 19 69 Harold Wilson Reviews the Fleet
178. 10-16 Jan 26 69 Relief of the Weather Ship
179. 10-17 Feb 2 69 Bunging Up (a.k.a. The Mickey Mouse Toothbrush)
180. 10-18 Feb 9 69 The Brick Smugglers
11th Series 1969
181. 11- 1 Dec 28 69 The Squatters
182. 11- 2 Jan 4 70 Admiral Hunting (a.k.a. What is the S.S.E.?)
183. 11- 3 Jan 11 70 The Promotion Ladder
184. 11- 4 Jan 18 70 Stranded
185. 11- 5 Jan 25 70 StarrSir Willoughby's Party
186. 11- 6 Feb 1 70 Fleet Initiative Test
187. 11- 7 Feb 8 70 C.P.O. Pertwee's Long Service Medal
188. 11- 8 Feb 15 70 The Phenomenal Pertwee Tug
189. 11- 9 Feb 22 70 The Security Clampdown
190. 11-10 Mar 1 70 The Anniversary and the Washing
191. 11-11 Mar 8 70 The Forbodians Hijack Troutbridge
192. 11-12 Mar 15 70 Getting Spliced (a.k.a. Number One Gets Married)
193. 11-13 Mar 22 70 The Honeymooners Return
194. 11-14 Mar 29 70 C.P.O. Pertwee and the Lead Half Crowns
195. 11-15 Apr 5 70 Dartmouth Naval College Has Had a Narrow Escape
(a.k.a. Sup-Lt Phillips to Leave for Dartmouth)
196. 11-16 Apr 12 70 The Mark 31 Radar
12th Series 1971
197. 12– 1 May 16 71 The Put-a-Horse-out-to-Graze Fund
198. 12– 2 May 23 71 Impressions for Survival
199. 12– 3 May 30 71 The Beard-Growing Race
200. 12- 4 Jun 6 71 The Mysterious Radio Signals
201. 12- 5 Jun 13 71 Operation Recovery
202. 12- 6 Jun 20 71 The Slogan Contest
203. 12- 7 Jun 27 71 Sir Willoughby at Shanghai
204. 12- 8 Jul 4 71 Operation Cowes Barge
205. 12- 9 Jul 11 71 Number One's Anniversary
206. 12-10 Jul 18 71 The Loch Ness Monster
207. 12-11 Jul 25 71 The Forbodian Attaché
13th Series 1972
208. 13- 1 Mar 26 72 The TV Documentary
209. 13- 2 Apr 2 72 The P.O.W. Escape Exercise
210. 13- 3 Apr 9 72 Number One's Married Quarters
211. 13- 4 Apr 16 72 Operating for Profit (a.k.a. The Newhaven-Dieppe Smuggling Run)
212. 13- 5 Apr 23 72 The Bumble Spit Lighthouse Affair
213. 13- 6 Apr 30 72 The Tongipouhaha Treasure
214. 13– 7 May 7 72 The US Navigator Swap
215. 13– 8 May 14 72 Son of a Sea Lord
216. 13– 9 May 21 72 Hypnotising Ramona
217. 13–10 May 28 72 The Master of Sardinia
218. 13-11 Jun 4 72 Opportunity Knockers
219. 13-12 Jun 11 72 Friday the 13th
220. 13-13 Jun 18 72 The New NAAFI
14th Series 1973
221. 14- 1 Jul 29 73 The Montezuela Revolution
222. 14- 2 Aug 5 73 The Island Swordfish
223. 14- 3 Aug 12 73 Bunged in the Brig (a.k.a. Bunged in the Rattle)
224. 14- 4 Aug 19 73 Kidnapped Down Under
225. 14- 5 Aug 26 73 The Digital Isles Go Unstable
226. 14- 6 Sep 2 73 Egbert Hitches a Ride
227. 14- 7 Sep 9 73 Povey an Admiral at Last
228. 14- 8 Sep 16 73 The Bergan Horse Trials
229. 14- 9 Sep 23 73 Captain Povey's Wig
230. 14-10 Sep 30 73 Brain Pill
231. 14-11 Oct 7 73 Operation Showcase
232. 14-12 Oct 14 73 Living the High Life (a.k.a. CPO Pertwee Yachtmonger)
233. 14-13 Oct 21 73 The Talpinium Shell
15th Series 1975
234. 15- 1 Nov 9 75 Sequel to the Talpinium Shell
235. 15- 2 Nov 16 75 NANA
236. 15- 3 Nov 23 75 Helen, the New Wren
237. 15- 4 Nov 30 75 Relief for Station 150
238. 15- 5 Dec 7 75 Black is Beautiful
239. 15- 6 Dec 14 75 Sidney and the Stamp
240. 15- 7 Dec 21 75 Riding to Victory (a.k.a. Commander Murray Becomes a Showjumper)
241. 15- 8 Dec 28 75 Horrible Horace
242. 15- 9 Jan 4 76 Officer's and Gent's Lib
243. 15-10 Jan 11 76 The Case of the HGM Mark 5
244. 15-11 Jan 18 76 Uncle Wilberforce Pertwee
Special 1977
245. S - 3 Jul 16 77 Queen's Silver Jubilee Edition