Whack-O
Encyclopedia
Whack-O! was a British sitcom TV series starring Jimmy Edwards
. Broadcast 1956 to 1960 and 1971 to 1972.
The series (in black and white) ran on the BBC
from 1956 to 1960 and (in colour) from 1971 to 1972. Edwards took the part of Professor James Edwards M.A., the drunken, gambling, devious, cane-swishing headmaster who tyrannised staff and children at Chiselbury public school
(described in the opening titles as "for the sons of Gentlefolk"). The Edwards character bore more than a passing resemblance to Sergeant Bilko as he tried to swindle the children out of their pocket money to finance his many schemes.
The show was written by Frank Muir
and Denis Norden
with the first six episodes being subtitled "Six of the Best". In 1959 a film was made based on the show, called Bottoms Up!
. The show was revived in colour with updated scripts in 1971-1972, slightly retitled Whacko!. The series ran for a total of 60 episodes, with 47 of B&W and 13 colour, of 30 minutes each. There were 3 special shorts. Whacko also appeared on the radio, on the Light programme with 45 episodes of 30 minutes lasting from May 1961 till July 1963.
The front of the historic house of Great Fosters
was used in the opening title sequence of the TV comedy series behind the name of the fictional Chiselbury School.
Jimmy Edwards
Jimmy Edwards DFC was an English comedic script writer and comedy actor on both radio and television, best known as Pa Glum in Take It From Here and as the headmaster 'Professor' James Edwards in Whack-O!-Biography:...
. Broadcast 1956 to 1960 and 1971 to 1972.
The series (in black and white) ran on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
from 1956 to 1960 and (in colour) from 1971 to 1972. Edwards took the part of Professor James Edwards M.A., the drunken, gambling, devious, cane-swishing headmaster who tyrannised staff and children at Chiselbury public school
Independent school (UK)
An independent school is a school that is not financed through the taxation system by local or national government and is instead funded by private sources, predominantly in the form of tuition charges, gifts and long-term charitable endowments, and so is not subject to the conditions imposed by...
(described in the opening titles as "for the sons of Gentlefolk"). The Edwards character bore more than a passing resemblance to Sergeant Bilko as he tried to swindle the children out of their pocket money to finance his many schemes.
The show was written by Frank Muir
Frank Muir
Frank Herbert Muir was an English comedy writer, radio and television personality, and raconteur. His writing and performing partnership with Denis Norden endured for most of their careers. Together they wrote BBC radio's Take It From Here for over 10 years, and then appeared on BBC radio...
and Denis Norden
Denis Norden
Denis Mostyn Norden CBE is a former English comedy writer and television presenter. After an early career working in cinemas, he began scriptwriting during World War II. From 1948 to 1959, he co-wrote the successful BBC Radio comedy programme Take It from Here with Frank Muir...
with the first six episodes being subtitled "Six of the Best". In 1959 a film was made based on the show, called Bottoms Up!
Bottoms Up (1960 film)
Bottoms Up is a 1960 British comedy film.It stars Jimmy Edwards in a spin-off of his TV comedy series Whack-O!, playing a seedy headmaster.The plot involves Melvyn Hayes playing a Cockney youth who tries to impersonate an Indian prince.-Cast list:...
. The show was revived in colour with updated scripts in 1971-1972, slightly retitled Whacko!. The series ran for a total of 60 episodes, with 47 of B&W and 13 colour, of 30 minutes each. There were 3 special shorts. Whacko also appeared on the radio, on the Light programme with 45 episodes of 30 minutes lasting from May 1961 till July 1963.
The front of the historic house of Great Fosters
Great Fosters
Great Fosters is a 16th century mansion which originally lay within Windsor Great Park and is still adjacent to the town of Egham, Surrey, England. It is a Grade I listed building, close to Heathrow and the M25 London orbital motorway.-History:...
was used in the opening title sequence of the TV comedy series behind the name of the fictional Chiselbury School.
Cast
- Professor James Edwards played by Jimmy EdwardsJimmy EdwardsJimmy Edwards DFC was an English comedic script writer and comedy actor on both radio and television, best known as Pa Glum in Take It From Here and as the headmaster 'Professor' James Edwards in Whack-O!-Biography:...
- Mr Oliver Pettigrew played by Arthur HowardArthur HowardFor other people with this name, see Arthur Howard Arthur Howard was an English film and television actor.-Life and career:...
in 1956-60 and Julian OrchardJulian OrchardJulian Dean C. Orchard was an English comedy actor.-Biography:Orchard was educated at Shrewsbury School and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama...
in 1971 - Mr F.D. Price Whittaker played by Kenneth CopeKenneth CopeKenneth Cope is an English actor. He is most famous for his roles as Marty Hopkirk in Randall and Hopkirk , Jed Stone in Coronation Street and Ray Hilton in Brookside.- Career :...
- Mr S.A. Smallpiece played by Norman BirdNorman BirdNorman Bird was a British character actor. Often sporting a moustache and an air of worried resignation, he seemed to specialise in downtrodden roles...
- Lumley (a pupil) played by John Stirling
- Mr R.P.Tench played by Peter GlazePeter GlazeWilliam George Peter Glaze was an English comedian born in London. He hosted Crackerjack with Leslie Crowther in the 1960s and with Michael Aspel, Don Maclean, and Bernie Clifton in the 1970s...
- Mr Halliforth played by Edwin Apps in 1956-60 and Peter Greene in 1971.
- Parker played by David Langford
- Mr Forbes played by Keith SmithKeith Smith (actor)Keith Smith is an English actor he is best known to for his roles in The Army Game and The Beiderbecke Trilogy. Smith also appeared in The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin as a manager of a Grot shop.-Roles:* Private Hatchett, The Army Game * Mr Wheeler, The Beiderbecke Trilogy -External links:...
- Mr Proctor played by Brian RawlinsonBrian RawlinsonBrian Rawlinson was an English actor and writer who was prolific in films and TV from the 1950s....
- Mr Dinwiddie played by Gordon Phillot in 1956-60 and Harold BennettHarold BennettHarold Bennett was an English actor best remembered for having played 'Young Mr. Grace' in the 1970s British sitcom Are You Being Served?.-Biography:...
in 1971. - Mr Cope-Willoughby played by Frank Raymond
- Matron played by Barbra Archer, Liz FraserLiz FraserLiz Fraser is an English actress, mainly in comedy roles.- Life and career :Her birthdate is usually attributed as 1933, the year she gave when auditioning for her role in I'm All Right Jack, as the Boulting Brothers wanted someone younger for the part...
and by Charlotte MitchellCharlotte MitchellCharlotte Mitchell is an English actress and poet.She was once the girlfriend of Peter Sellers, hence her occasional appearances on The Goon Show in the 1950s. Charlotte Mitchell was married to actor Philip Guard and is the mother of 3 children, actors Christopher Guard and Dominic Guard and... - Taplow played by Gary WarrenGary WarrenGary Warren was an English child actor, best remembered for his role as Peter in the 1970 film The Railway Children. He also played Cedric in the TV series Catweazle , and in the sitcom Alexander the Greatest .Warren is now retired from acting...
in 1971. - Potter played by Greg Smith in 1971.