Comedy Greats

During the 1950s to 1970s, a surprising number of series were either edited, rescripted or remade.

Barry reveals bits that never made it out of Blighty to enable shows to be better understood abroad.

* The Clitheroe Kid - Another Mother for Ossie. From November 1965

* The Navy Lark - Going Dutch. From November 1959

* The Men From the Ministry - Birds of a Feather. Re-recording from 1980.

* Hancock's Half Hour - The New Secretary. Re-recorded in November 1958.

* Round the Horne - The Man With the Golden Thunderball. Re-recorded July 1966 with an edited version of the original script.

* I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again - series 3 (10/13). Re-recording from 1966.

Producer: Kerry Reece

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in July 2012. .

With The Clitheroe Kid, The Navy Lark, The Men From the Ministry and Hancock's Half Hour.

* Life With The Lyons:

Series 5 (7/25) - A Crooner In the House

Daughter Barbara is in love with singer Ronnie Harris and father Ben's not happy. Stars Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon. From January 1955.

* In All Directions:

06/01/56

American President Eisenhower fields questions and life in the BBC's Public Relations Office. Sketches galore scripted by and starring Peter Ustinov and Peter Jones. From January 1956

* The Al Read Show:

Northern Variety Parade

The wonders of modern cafeterias and the cheesy chat-up lines of men with motor cars.

Starring the Salford sausage maker turned monarch of the monologue. From November 1955.

* A Life of Bliss:

Finding a Girlfriend

Matchmakers galore target shy bachelor David Bliss. Stars George Cole, Petula Clark and Percy Edwards as Pysche the dog. From October1954.

* Take It From Here:

Series 10 (8/20)

Jimmy Edwards and Dick Bentley worry over BBC cuts in sound radio - and how Ron and Eth first met in 'The Glums'. With June Whitfield. From February 1957.

* The Goon Show:

Series 8 (10/26) - King Solomon's Mines

Neddie Seagoon loses at roulette, so heads off in search of legendary African riches. Stars Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers. With Wallace Greenslade. From December 1957.

Featuring Life With the Lyons, In All Directions, The Al Read Show and The Goon Show.

* Much Binding in the Marsh:

From 28/8/1953

The Weekly Bind brings you Mr Mulch's gardening and Patience Gush's poetry. Stars Kenneth Horne, Richard Murdoch, Maurice Denham, Dora Bryan and Sam Costa. From August 1953.

* Variety Bandbox:

From 22/01/1950

Comedy and songs with Frankie Howerd, Billy Ternent, Jerry Allen, Barbara Leigh, Peter Sellers, Bill Kerr and Philip Slessor. From January 1950.

* Just Fancy:

From 08/03/51

A grumpy neighbour and a helicopter ride. Gentle sketch show starring Eric Barker and his wife Pearl Hackney. From March 1951.

* Educating Archie:

From 01/03/1959

Brough makes a bet that he and Archie Andrews can travel round the British Isles in eight days. Radio ventriloquism with Dick Emery, Bernard Bresslaw and Warren Mitchell. From March 1959.

* Meet The Huggetts:

Loser Pays

Joe and Fred's attempt to teach their wives a lesson backfires. Stars Jack Warner, Kathleen Harrison and Kenneth Connor. From September 1957.

* Hancock's Half Hour:

Series 5 (7/20) Hancock's School

Inspired by Bill and supplied by Sid, the lad turns his home into a centre of learning. Stars Tony Hancock. With Sid James, Bill Kerr, Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Williams. From March 1958.

Including Much Binding in the Marsh, Variety Bandbox, Hancock's Half Hour and more.

* Beyond Our Ken

Series 3 (7/14)

Kenneth Horne's busy week - and check out the latest film releases in 'Picture Go Round'. With Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden and Bill Pertwee. From May 1960.

* It's A Fair Cop

From 19/06/61

Eric Sykes plays a hapless copper on a bank stake-out. With Hattie Jacques, Deryck Guyler and Dick Emery. From June 1961.

* The Navy Lark

Series 9 (16/20) Cuthbert Joins the Navy

Mrs Povey insists that her snooty nephew samples a career on the ocean wave aboard HMS Troutbridge. Stars Stephen Murray, Jon Pertwee, Leslie Phillips, Ronnie Barker, Michael Bates, Richard Caldicot, Heather Chasen and Tenniel Evans. From October 1967.

* Benny Hill Time

From 29/03/64

Fred Scuttle in a James Bond spoof. Topical sketches and more with Peter Vernon, Jan Waters and Anthony Sharp. From March 1964

* The Clitheroe Kid

Series 12 (11/20) Stop the Wedding, I Want to Get Off

The cheeky youngster is due to be a page boy at his Auntie's wedding, but he's not too keen on his satin outfit - so soon sparks more mayhem. Stars Jimmy Clitheroe, Peter Sinclair, Patricia Burke, Danny Ross, Diana Day, Fred Gaunt and Brian Trueman. From December 1968.

* I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again

Series 6 (4/13)

Schools debate, Merseyside mariachi and trouble at t'mill. Songs and sketches with John Cleese, Bill Oddie, Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor, David Hatch and Jo Kendall. From May 1968.

With Beyond Our Ken, It's a Fair Cop, The Navy Lark, Benny Hill Time and The Clitheroe Kid

* Whack-O!

From 15/03/1962

Crooked headmaster Professor Jimmy Edwards holds auditions for Chiselbury School's charity concert in aid of a retiring teacher. With Vera Lynn. From March 1962.

* The Men From the Ministry

Series 2 (2/13) Something about a Soldier

The bumbling civil servants find a 20-year-old demob letter. Stars Richard Murdoch, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Norma Ronald and Warren Mitchell. From August 1965.

* The Ken Dodd Show

From 19/07/1964

The King of Knotty Ash offers tips for nude photography and the hunt for a Scottish lake-bound monster. With Judith Chalmers, John Laurie and Patricia Hayes. From July 1964.

* Steptoe & Son

Series 1 (11/13) The Lead Man Cometh

The rag and bone men get an irresistible offer. Adapted from TV with Wilfrid Brambell, Harry H Corbett and Leonard Rossiter. From September 1966.

* The Embassy Lark

Series 1 (6/13) A Trip to London

The staff of the British Embassy panic over the expiry of their lease in Tratvia. Stars Derek Francis, Frank Thornton and Francis de Wolff. From April 1966

* Round the Horne

Series 4 (12/16)

Kenneth Horne makes Fleet Street headlines, and calls round to Julian and Sandy's 'Bona Private Detective Agency'. With Kenneth Williams, Hugh Paddick and Betty Marsden. From May 1968.

Bona! Round the Horne, Ken Dodd, plus Steptoe and Son lead the comedy classics!

Six favourites plucked from the sensational 1970s schedules of BBC Radio 2 and 4:

* The News Huddlines

From 7th November 1979

Roy Hudd's long-running topical comedy sketch series. Janet Brown and Chris Emmett help to poke fun at the week's news events featuring Margaret Thatcher, James Callaghan and ABBA. .

* All Gas And Gaiters

Series 1 (6/13) Only Three Can Play

Will Noote's playing away ruin the clerics' game? Clerical comedy adapted from TV starring Derek Nimmo and William Mervyn. From February 1971.

* The Frankie Howerd Show

Series 4 - from November 1975

The king of titters reads some ditties and takes on some overgrown animals in a spoof sci-fi thriller! With Norma Ronald, Ray Fell and Timothy Davies.

* Parsley Sidings

Series 2 (6/10) A Bird In The Hand

A rare gull is spotted during a station spring-clean, causing chaos on the line. Railway station comedy starring Arthur Lowe, Kenneth Connor, Liz Fraser and Ian Lavender. From November 1973.

* Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?

(11/13) Count Down

Terry helps stressed Bob prepare for his wedding. Adapted from TV's classic sitcom about mismatched friends. Starring James Bolam, Rodney Bewes, Joan Hickson and Bill Owen. From October 1975.

* Hello Cheeky

From October 1979

Red Rum and sound effects galore! Sketches galore with rapid pun-tastic fun starring Tim Brooke-Taylor, John Junkin and Barry Cryer. Music by the Denis King Trio.

Made for BBC 7 and first broadcast in June 2003.

Hello Cheeky! Hear The News Huddlines, Frankie Howerd, Parsley Sidings and more!

* Radio Active

Series 2 (3/6) Good Day Sport

Get all the sport results you need from your local national radio station. Stars Angus Deayton, Geoffrey Perkins, Helen Atkinson-Wood, Michael Fenton Stevens and Philip Pope. From 1982.

* After Henry

Series 1 (4/8) The Dinner Party

Sarah plays hostess, Mother plays the martyr and daughter Clare holds a flat-warming party. Stars Prunella Scales, Joan Sanderson, Gerry Cowper and Benjamin Whitrow. From 1985.

* Unnatural Acts

Series 1 (2/6) A Death in the Family

As Caroline mourns Monty the gerbil, a séance brings some surprises. Stars Jeremy Hardy, Kit Hollerbach and Caroline Leddy. Later series were renamed 'At Home With The Hardys'. From 1987.

* Legal, Decent, Honest and Truthful

Activist turned advertising copywriter, Ken Handley finds himself assigned to the Conservative Party. Stars Martin Jarvis, Wendy Richard, Michael Jayston and Bill Fraser. From 1982.

* Saturday Night Fry

Stephen Fry hosts humorous banter and sketches with his chums Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson, Jim Broadbent and Phyllida Law. From 1988.

* The Mary Whitehouse Experience

Series 3 (7/12)

The original billing proclaimed it was 'The show that dares to ignore the issues that other shows would tackle'. Starring David Baddiel, Rob Newman, Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis. Series debuted in 1989. Episode from 1990.

First broadcast on BBC 7 in 2003.

Featuring Radio Active, After Henry, Unnatural Acts and The Mary Whitehouse Experience.

* Naked Radio

(23rd March 1985)

The Scottish comedy team pokes fun at topical events. Recorded at the Glasgow Theatre Club at the Tron. Stars Ian Aldred, Ron Bain, Andy Gray, Tony Roper and Elaine C Smith. From 1985.

* The Grumbleweeds

(10th August 1980)

Impressions and sketches in an episode of the long-running series featuring the musical comedy band of Graham Walker, Albert Sutcliffe, Carl Sutcliffe, Maurice Lee and Robin Colvill. From 1980.

* The Jason Explanation... of Myths and Legends

Does the Loch Ness monster really exist? Is there life after death? Why do fingers and toes go all crinkly in the bath? David Jason explains all with Sheila Steafel and Jon Glover. From 1981.

* The Million Pound Radio Show

Series 2 (8/8)

Back to the days of Mrs Thatcher, Sir Clive Sinclair and Brookside courtesy of Andy Hamilton and Nick Revell's sharp-edged topical humour. From 1986.

* The Big Fun Show

Sketches galore in the series starring Paul Merton, Julian Clary, Tony Hawks and Josie Lawrence - before they hit the big time. From 1988.

* Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Ep 4/6

The improv game before it moved to TV. Clive Anderson hosts more ad-lib fun with Stephen Fry, John Sessions, Kate Robbins and Griff Rhys-Jones. From 1988.

Made for BBC 7 and first broadcast in July 2003.

With Naked Radio, The Grumbleweeds, The Jason Explanation and The Big Fun Show.

* A Look Back At The Nineties

(2/5) 1996:

Recorded in 1993 - Brian Perkins, Kate Robbins and Chris Barrie 'look back' at the decade that was yet to happen.

* Hair in the Gate

Series 1 (3/6)

Camilla revamps the TV arts show to keep her cutting edge lover. Stars Harriet Thorpe and Alistair McGowan. From 1993.

* The Now Show

Series 3 (4/13)

Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis poke fun at events of 1999 via sketches, songs and stand-up. With Bert Tyler-Moore, George Jeffrie, Mitch Benn and Marcus Brigstocke.

* Goodness Gracious Me

Series 3 (6/6)

The Archers' and 'The Waltons' with a twist and The Minx Twins tackle feminism. Stars Sanjeev Bhaskar, Meera Syal, Nina Wadia and Kulvinder Ghir. From 1998.

* On The Town With The League of Gentlemen

(4/6) Gunpowder, Treason and Plot

The eccentric locals of the town of Spent get an unusual new guy for the bonfire. Pre-TV sitcom with Steve Pemberton, Mark Gatiss and Reece Shearsmith. From 1997.

* On The Hour

Series 2 (5/6)

Ireland hits the headlines, as the programme celebrates its 33rd birthday. Chris Morris fronts the news satire. With Steve Coogan, David Schneider, Rebecca Front, Doon Mackichan and Patrick Marber. From 1992.

Made for BBC 7 and first broadcast in July 2003.

Including Goodness Gracious Me, The Now Show, Hair in the Gate and On the Hour.

* The Small World of Dominic Holland

Series 1 (6/6)

Dominic ponders the journey of life to adulthood. Stand-up and sketches with Dave Lamb, Sally Grace and Simon Greenall. From 2000.

* At Home With The Snails

Series 1 (1/4)

Fed-up Alex has done nothing since university, but then he discovers an unusual hobby. Stars Geoffrey Palmer, Angela Thorne, Gerard Foster and Miranda Hart. From 2001.

* Clare in the Community

Series 1 (4/6)

Social worker Clare Barker is racked with relief when her most detested client dies. Stars Sally Phillips, Alex Lowe, Richard Lumsden, Gemma Craven, Ellen Thomas and Nina Conti. From 2004.

* Radio Shuttleworth

Series 2 (5/6)

1997 Eurovision Song Contest winner Katrina Leskanich drops into visit Sheffield singer John Shuttleworth, but his wife Mary gets the ironing board out. From 2000.

* Mark Watson Makes The World Substantially Better

Series 1 (3/6) Pride

Welsh comic Mark continues his quest to free us from the seven deadly sins. With Tim Key and Tim Minchin. From 2007.

* Little Britain

Series 2 (3/4)

Fat fighting with Marjorie and the hypnotic Kenny Craig. Back where it started out - Matt Lucas and David Walliams's oddball TV smash hit - without the cameras. From 2002.

Made for BBC 7 and first broadcast in August 2003.

Barry Cryer presents comedy including Clare in the Community and Radio Shuttleworth.

* Absolute Power

Series 3 (3/6)

Roguish Martin enters the Lords, as Charles takes on a Big Brother 'star'. Stars Stephen Fry and John Bird. From 2002.

* Fags, Mags and Bags

Series 1 (1/6) Raising Keenan

Sanjeev Kohli and Donald Mcleary's Glasgow corner shop sitcom. Owner Ramesh tackles a young tearaway. From 2007.

* The Sunday Format

Series 3 (1/4)

Celebrity eaters choose 'Desert Island Biscs'. Radio's posh paper tells all. With Alexander Armstrong, Emma Kennedy and Tracy-Ann Oberman. From 2001.

* Chain Reaction

Series 1 (2/6) Jimmy Carr interviews Matt Lucas

The deadpan funny man and comedy actor in the tag talk show, where the guest is next interviewer. From 2005.

* Linda Smith's A Brief History of Timewasting

Linda Smith gets her neighbour's Jack the Ripper letters authenticated and falls foul of the mafia. With Jeremy Hardy and Don Estelle. From 2001.

* Dead Ringers

Series 6 (5/5)

More celeb sound-alikes as Thora Hird instructs James Bond and Zippy imitates Cherie Blair. Topical impressions with Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens and Kevin Connelly. From 2002.

Made for BBC 7 and first broadcast in August 2003.

With Absolute Power; Fags, Mags & Bags; The Sunday Format and Chain Reaction.

From the beginning of 21st century radio comedy, Baz presents his final six-pack of noughties favourites:

* Cabin Pressure

Series 2 Episode 4 Johannesburg

An emergency landing leads to First Officer Douglas getting the shammy out. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Stephanie Cole, Roger Allam and John Finnemore.. From 2009.

* The Boosh

Episode 3 Jazz

The staff of the surreal zoo tackle gangsters, a spirit and porpoises. Starring Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding. From 2001.

* The Flight of the Conchords

3/6 The Fans Proposition

The Kiwi band face fan propositions. Improvised musical comedy by Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, with Rob Brydon. From 2005.

* I've Never Seen Star Wars

Series 2 Episode 1 Barry Cryer

Marcus Brigstocke invites 4 Extra's Comedy Greats host Barry Cryer to try new experiences, including karaoke and changing a nappy. From 2009.

* Ed Reardon's Week

Series 4 Episode 1 January 31

With his tax return looming, the curmudgeonly author surprises his agent. Starring Christopher Douglas. From 2007.

* Down the Line

Series 1 Episode 6

Award-winning spoof phone-in show, with talk radio host Gary Bellamy. Starring Rhys Thomas and Paul Whitehouse. From 2006.

Produced and scripted by Kerry Reece.

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in June 2012.

With Cabin Pressure; The Boosh; Flight of the Conchords and Ed Reardon's Week.