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The Navy Lark is a radio sitcom about life aboard a British Royal Navy frigate named HMS Troutbridge, (a play on HMS Troubridge, a Royal Navy destroyer) based in HMNB Portsmouth. 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 programme was transmitted on the BBC Light Programme and subsequently BBC Radio 2. It was produced by Alastair Scott Johnston. Jon Pertwee is frequently quoted as having suggested the idea of a forces comedy based on the Royal Navy, but writer Laurie Wyman and Alastair Scott Johnston both contemplated an Air Force and an Army themed sit-com before going to the BBC with The Navy Lark. Laurie Wyman included ideas based on excuses for late return from leave and other misdemeanours from HMS Troubridge bulletins. He worked with George Evans (Pertwee's personal scriptwriter) from quite early on, but Alastair Scott Johnston did not want him named until the 12th series onwards. For most of its run, it starred Leslie Phillips, Jon Pertwee and Stephen Murray, whose names rotated in order of precedence every episode over the entire 15 season run.

Episodes of The Navy Lark series are still replayed in rotation on BBC Radio 4 Extra, and made available for delayed listening through their iPlayer service.

Plot
Initially the series featured a Naval unit known as 'the island draft', manning a base on a small island off Portsmouth, somewhere near the Isle of Wight. In the fourth episode, it was revealed that the island is also equipped with a frigate, HMS Troutbridge. Later, the main cast live permanently aboard Troutbridge and are stationed in Portsmouth Naval Dockyard.

A normal episode consisted of Sub Lt 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 Pertwee. Over the course of the programme Lt Murray marries Admiral Ffont-Bittocks daughter Rita.

A major departure from the usual format occurred in 1963 when, after 4 series, 'The Navy Lark' was replaced by 'The T.V. Lark'. This depicted most of the main characters, having been thrown out of the Navy, reuniting as the staff of a small regional ITA television station, Troutbridge Television or TTV, located in the town of Troutbridge. However, in the tenth episode it is discovered that their dismissal was not finalised. The characters are recalled to the Navy, and the remaining 6 episodes of the season became series 5 of 'The Navy Lark'.

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 Britain, 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.

Cast

 * Dennis Price – Lieutenant Price ("Number One") (Series 1)
 * Leslie Phillips – Sub-Lieutenant Phillips
 * Jon Pertwee – Chief Petty Officer Pertwee, Commander Weatherby, Vice-Admiral "Burbly" Burwasher, The Master
 * Stephen Murray – Lieutenant/Lieutenant Commander Murray ("Number One")
 * Richard Caldicot – Commander/Captain Povey
 * Ronnie Barker – Able Seaman "Fatso" Johnson, Lieutenant Commander (Archibald) Stanton, Lieutenant Queeg (Series 1–9), Commander Bell
 * Heather Chasen – WREN Chasen, Mrs. Ramona Povey, Lady Toddhunter-Brown, Rita Murray (née Ffont-Bittocks), Second Officer McCluty
 * Tenniel Evans – Able Seaman (later Leading Seaman) "Taffy" Goldstein, Admiral Ffont-Bittocks, Ebeneezer Pertwee, Sir Willoughby Toddhunter-Brown
 * Michael Bates – Able Seaman Ginger, Lieutenant Bates, Rear Admiral Ironbridge, Padre, Captain Ignatius Aloysius Atchison, Flag Lieutenant Claude Dingle
 * Judy Cornwell – WREN Cornwell (Series 4 only)
 * Laurie Wyman – Able Seaman (later Inspector) Burt Tiddy, various
 * April Walker – WREN Barrett (Series 15 only)
 * Jan Waters - WREN Waters (Series 7, ep 1,2)

Lt Price
Dennis Price plays the First Lieutenant or 'Number One' of the Island draft and of Troutbridge in the first series, and is effectively in command due to the inattention of Lt Cdr Stanton.

Price disapproves of Pertwee's dishonest activities, but rather than punish him officially he prefers to force Pertwee to donate the proceeds of his schemes to the unit comfort fund.

Stephen Murray
Lieutenant Murray (Stephen Murray) takes over from Lt Price as "Number One" at the start of series 2. In effective command of Troutbridge, Murray generally wants a quiet life and to stay out of trouble.

Before being posted to 'the island', Murray was in command of an inshore minesweeper, HMS Varsity, including the years 1957-58.

Leslie Phillips
Sub-Lieutenant Leslie Phillips (Leslie Phillips) is a clueless and immature junior officer. Aboard Troutbridge, he acts as navigating officer, despite a complete lack of aptitude. Mainly due to Phillips, Troutbridge is always getting lost or colliding with ships or other objects. Phillips' helm orders are vague and unorthodox, and usually include the series' most famous catchphrase, "Left hand down a bit!". However, Phillips has faith in his own abilities, resents having his failures pointed out, and insists on 'helping' others such as aircraft pilots and bus drivers to navigate, with consistently disastrous results.

Phillips is child-like in many ways, wearing a Noddy watch and using the ship's radar set to watch The Woodentops. However, he is also a ladies' man, unable to resist chatting up a pretty girl, with mixed results. The Wrens at Portsmouth refer to him as 'octopus paws', referring to the experience of 'going behind the bicycle sheds' with him. In the fourth series, Heather terrifies Phillips by pretending to take a birthday gift of a cheap ring as a proposal of marriage. On reflection, both characters decide the engagement is not such a bad idea and they become a genuine couple, their enthusiasm for 'plonkers' being a source of irritation for the other characters. However, Phillips still has a roving eye, and his attempts to chat up other Wrens put a strain on their relationship, as does his failure to write to Heather during the events of 'The T.V. Lark'. During Series 7, Heather breaks off the engagement, making Phillips intensely jealous as she begins a new relationship with Pertwee.

Phillips has a sister, Letitia.

Jon Pertwee
Chief Petty Officer Jon 'Jonsy' Pertwee (Jon Pertwee) is from a long-established naval family, with relatives in all parts of the service. He also lives up to the family's reputation for dishonesty, taking any opportunity to make money. He is in charge of the island draft's, and later Troutbridge's, stores, from which he sells as much as he can. Although Pertwee often makes trouble for his shipmates, he also often gets them out of it by some act of cunning or blackmail.

Pertwee is something of a womaniser and has a reputation among the Wrens as a good 'snog'. In series seven, he is pursued by Heather and begins a relationship with her. When she breaks up with him at the end of the series, Pertwee claims unconvincingly the he "wasn't serious", saying he is "not the sort to get tied down".

Pertwee speaks with a cockney accent, with frequent malapropisms and occasional stammering - in particular, he sometimes draws out the letter T to a great length, which other characters then find themselves doing involuntarily as well. Pertwee lacks physical courage and, at the first sign of danger, frantically makes excuses to be somewhere else.

While at sea, Pertwee's station is on the bridge, acting as cockswain, where he has the challenge of interpreting Mr Phillips' helm orders.

During 'The T.V. Lark', Pertwee is the Floor Manager for TTV.

Pertwee has a number of catchphrases, including "Never in the field of human conflict", which he uses in hyperbolic speeches to senior officers; "It's a carve up!" when a scheme of his goes awry; "I've made certain arrangements", as a euphemism for illegal activities; "Belt up!", used to demand silence; "Ooh, me leg!" and "my poor white-haired old mother...", both excuses to get out of dangerous jobs; and "Ev'rybody down!" when a collision or explosion is about to occur.

Heather Chasen
Wren Heather Chasen (Heather Chasen) is, at the beginning of the series, secretary to Lt Price on "The Island".

After "the island" ceased to be featured in the series, Heather became Povey's secretary in Portsmouth.

Heather is popular with all ranks on the island and Troutbridge as a friend, and the subject of romantic interest from several of the regular characters. At different times in the course of the series Heather dates Murray, Phillips and Pertwee. Notably, she becomes engaged to Phillips during series 4. Frustrated by his roving eye and failure to 'name the day', Heather finally breaks off the engagement in series 7 and pursues CPO Pertwee instead. At the end of series 7, however, Heather acknowledges her continued feelings for Phillips and, in an unusually poignant sequence for the series, gently tells Pertwee that she will be going on leave with Phillips instead of him, explaining, "If I leave him on his own he'll probably catch the wrong train and end up in Peking or somewhere." At the start of series 8, Heather and Phillips return from leave separately, their relationship having evidently ended.

Heather does not appear in 'The T.V. Lark'. During this time she remains in the Royal Navy and is posted to Scotland, returning to Portsmouth as Captain Povey's secretary at the start of series six. Initially, relations with Mr Phillips are strained, because he did not trouble to write to her in Scotland, but their engagement resumes until the middle of series six, when Heather returns her engagement ring

Stanton
Lieutenant Commander Stanton is the commanding officer of the Island draft and HMS Troutbridge. However, he takes no interest in his naval duties, instead indulging his passion for fishing, either from a small boat or from the stern of Troutbridge while at sea. Stanton is rather elderly, very forgetful, and generally affable, unless somebody interferes with his fishing, which can cause him to fly into a rage.

Lt Cdr Stanton reveals in one episode that he owns 'the island', foiling an attempt by Cdr Povey to remove him, since the Navy can only retain its base on the island with Stanton's permission. Stanton gets married at the end of series 3 (Series 3, episode 20 'The Surprise Wedding').

While most of the cast leave the Royal Navy during the events of 'The T.V. Lark', Stanton remains in the service, being promoted to Commander and becoming Captain of the destroyer HMS Makepeace(The T.V. Lark Episode 5 - 'Back to Portsmouth'). When Troutbridge is recommissioned, Stanton remains in Makepeace while Lt Cdr Bell becomes Captain of Troutbridge.

Bell
Commander Bell (Ronnie Barker) first appears in 'The T.V. Lark' as the Captain of an Aircraft Carrier. On the resumption of 'The Navy Lark', Bell is appointed Captain of Troutbridge. Like Stanton, Bell takes little to do with the running of the ship, leaving Murray in effective command.

Bell is perpetually embarrassing himself, either by saying something tactless or by physical clumsiness.

Henry Povey
In the first series, Commander Povey works in an office in Portsmouth and has responsibility for inspecting the Island draft. Povey often uses the destroyer Makepeace for personal transport. Later he is specified to be the Captain of Makepeace and commander of a flotilla of which Troutbridge is also part, although he mostly remains on shore.

Povey is notorious throughout the service as a stickler for procedures and paperwork, and taking harsh action against those who do not meet his standards. He is universally known (behind his back) as 'Old Thunderguts'.

Many episodes of the series involve Povey's efforts to prove charges against the crew of Troutbridge to allow him to take disciplinary action against them, which the crew always manage to get out of.

Povey is keen on promotion and is obsequious to senior officers, who tend to find him irritating. At home, he is hen-pecked by his wife Ramona.

Povey has a daughter, Rita, who addresses him as 'Daddikins'. Rita appeared once, before the character of Ramona was created, and does not resemble Ramona. He also has a Scottish niece, Jeannie.

During 'The T.V. Lark', Povey is the Deputy Controller of TTV.

Povey may be named after the Second World War Admiral Tovey.

Merrivale
Mr Merrivale (Ronnie Barker) is the Director of Naval Expenditure from Whitehall. He is fast-talking and businesslike, focused on saving money wherever possible.

Shaw
Commander Shaw was formerly in charge of inspecting 'the island', a responsibility he hands over to Povey in the pilot episode. Afterwards he is appointed Povey's direct superior. Shaw is generally resigned to letting the island draft do as they please, knowing they will get their revenge on him if he makes serious attempts to interfere.

Bracewell
Commander Bracewell (Michael Bates) is a perpetually cheerful Intelligence officer. Bracewell often speaks to Povey by phone to deliver bad news, which he generally finds hilarious, despite Povey's horrified reactions.

Ebenezer Pertwee
CPO Pertwee's uncle, whom he refers to as 'Numky', often appears in his battered old coal-fired tug, Hortence, with which he makes a significant income towing Troutbridge out of trouble. Numky also runs a number of small side businesses of dubious legality.

Bright
Able Seaman Bright (Ronnie Barker) works on Commander Bracewell's staff. Slow-witted, with a voice to match, he always announces himself on the telephone by saying "'Ello...This is Intelligence speaking."

Jeremiah Johnston
Able Seaman Jeremiah 'Fatso' Johnston (Ronnie Barker) joins the island draft in the pilot episode and is assigned to the stores as Pertwee's assistant. He is often the victim of or the reluctant accomplice in Pertwee's dishonest schemes.

In 'The T.V. Lark', Johnston is a cameraman for TTV.

Johnston's first name was not revealed until series 7. He has a West Country accent and often refers to his mother, or "My Mum Min".

Goldstein
Able Seaman 'Taffy' Goldstein (Tenniel Evans) is part of the island draft and the crew of HMS Troutbridge.

Goldstein hails from Llambolgelly, a small village in Wales. A Welsh nationalist, Goldstein is forever extolling the virtues of Welsh products, mainly its coal, complaining about English oppression and demanding Home Rule.

Goldstein is a serial complainer, forever claiming he is put upon because of his nationality, and demanding promotion to Leading Seaman - an ambition finally realised in series 4 after three years of asking, whereupon he immediately began lobbying to be appointed a Petty Officer.

While at sea, he acts as the 'starboard lookout', on an exposed platform, communicating with the bridge by telephone. Goldstein's tendency to complain or otherwise digress from important communications, however, means his warnings of impending collision often come too late.

In 'The T.V. Lark', Goldstein is a cameraman for TTV alongside Johnston, although Goldstein insists he is senior and refers to himself as "ace cameraman Goldstein".

Goldstein's relatives include his Aunt Morpeth - an even more militant Nationalist - and his Uncle Dai, the village's solicitor and ironmonger.

Ginger
Able Seaman 'Ginger' is a sailor aboard HMS Troutbridge. He is from the North of England. He is often depicted as a drinking companion of Pertwee and Johnston's.

Bates
Lieutenant 'Batesy' Bates (Michael Bates) is an officer aboard HMS Troutbridge. Before the introduction of Lt Queeg he was often depicted in a technical role, such as in the radio room. Bates speaks with an upper-class accent and tends to call people "old man".

In 'The T.V. Lark', Bates is a set designer for TTV.

The Padre
A Church of England chaplain attached to HMS Troutbridge, the Padre is genial, optimistic and unworldly. After making a statement he often repeats himself in song, as if conducting a service. On leaving a room, he will declare "Regards to all... regards tooo alllll!"

Ignatius Aloyisus Acheson
Commander Ignatius Aloyisus Acheson (Jon Pertwee), an officer from the Ministry of Defence, first appears in series 8. He constantly suffers from hayfever and sneezes every time he tries to speak, especially if he attempts to say his own name.

Weatherby
Commander Weatherby (Jon Pertwee) is introduced in series 8. He is a security officer who speaks so rapidly that he is barely able to produce intelligible sentences. When he tries to speak he generally burbles for some time before giving up and chooses a simpler phrase instead.

Hardcastle
Captain Hardcastle (Ronnie Barker) first appears in series 8. He is a straightforward and businesslike officer from the north of England.

Sir Whilloughby Todhunter-Brown
Sir Whilloughby Todhunter-Brown (Michael Bates) appears initially as the British Governor of Potarneyland, later the Ambassador there, and later in a variety of different diplomatic posts. Everyone has trouble pronouncing his name, including himself. He is often heard at official events solemnly delivering nonsensical speeches, which appear to be made up of snippets of speeches written for other occasions to be given by different people.

Lady Todhunter-Brown
Sir Whilloughby's wife usually accompanies him on official functions. She is an alcoholic and is usually depicted drunk. When visiting Troutbridge her main priority is to reach the wardroom bar. On one occasion, having drunk the rest of the alcohol on board, she drank the alcohol from the bridge's floating compass.

The Admiral
The unnamed Admiral is a very old senior officer, who is deaf, forgetful, lecherous and obsessed with drinking huge quantities of neat gin. Povey is forever trying to curry favour with the Admiral, without success.

Rear Admiral Ironbridge
Rear Admiral Ironbridge has even less idea of what is going on around him than his close friend 'The Admiral'. He is similarly old, deaf and forgetful, and speaks in a very slow, circuitous way, repeating himself many times.

The Admiral Superintendent of the Dockyard / Admiral Ffont-Bittocks
This Admiral first appeared in series 7. Somewhat younger and more able than the previous Admiral, he is an authoritarian who intimidates junior officers such as Captain Povey. He is always accompanied by his Flag Lieutenant, whom he is always telling to "Shut your cake hole!".

In his first appearance, the Admiral is delighted to meet Lt Murray, his godson, but this relationship is never mentioned again. As the series goes on, the Admiral becomes increasingly deaf and forgetful, and more interested in drinking - in short, more like the original Admiral from earlier series.

Although there is no notable change in his voice, this Admiral is at some point replaced by Admiral Ffont-Bittocks, father to Murray's girlfriend Rita. Apparently Murray and Admiral Ffont-Bittocks had been acquainted for some time, but never knew each others' names, meaning this cannot be the same Admiral as Murray's godfather, although their voices are the same.

Claude Dingle ("Flags")
Lieutenant Claude Dingle is the obsequious Flag Lieutenant to the Admiral Superintendent of the Dockyard, generally addressed as "Flags". Dingle is constantly toadying to the Admiral, hoping for promotion, which only earns him the Admiral's contempt.

Queeg
Lieutenant Queeg (Ronnie Barker) is a Scottish officer acting as Troutbridge's Engineer Officer; however, due to his poor memory he often appears unaware of this. Queeg has no conception of how Troutbridge works, referring to the contents of the engine room as "all the mechanical gubbins, or whatever they are." He often has to sheepishly telephone the bridge from the engine room, only to report that he cannot follow orders due to the absence of "the young lad", delicately describing the lad's predicament. One of his catchphrases is, "Is that a fact?", used upon hearing something he should already know.

Queeg is presumably named after the character in The Caine Mutiny.

Wullie ("The Young Lad")
'Wullie' is a member of Troutbridge's crew, working in the engine room. He is never heard, but is often referred to by Lieutenant Queeg, sometimes by name, but more normally as "the young lad who understands all the mechanical gubbins, or whatever they are". Due to Queeg's poor memory and lack of mechanical aptitude, he relies on Wullie to run the engine room; however, when needed he is usually confined to a toilet suffering diahorrea, which Queeg puts down to a variety of exotic foodstuffs which "proved a sight too powerful for the lad".

Robin Boyle
A BBC announcer attended recording in order to read the credits and provide a brief introduction to the beginning of each episode. In common with other shows such as The Goon Show, the opportunity was taken to break the fourth wall and have the announcer interact with the characters. This was particularly the case with Robin Boyle, who was the announcer from series 4 to 6. The series contained running jokes in which Boyle appealed to the cast and audience to help him replace lost items, first a fifteen-sided nut for his vacuum cleaner, then a "Saucy Lillian Gish calendar".

In 'The T.V. Lark', Boyle also appears within the show playing himself, an announcer for the Troutbridge Television Service.

Janet Brown
Janet Brown (Janet Brown) is a capable production assistant at TTV in 'The T.V. Lark'.

Vera Simkins
Vera Simkins (Janet Brown) first appears in 'The T.V. Lark' as Povey's secretary. She is scatterbrained and ineffective. She is also infatuated with Povey and, when he is recalled to the Navy, joins up and continues to act as his secretary during series 5.

HMS Troutbridge
Troutbridge is a Royal Navy frigate, named after the real life Type 15 frigate HMS Troubridge, which was in service at the time. Like Troubridge, Troutbridge was formerly a destroyer, redesignated a frigate after modifications.

Troutbridge is a twin-screw, steam powered, oil burning vessel. She is armed with a 'Squid' antisubmarine mortar and two 4" guns forward (whereas the real Troubridge had them aft). In the course of the series the ship is modified many times to carry exotic new equipment such as a computerised navigation system and a launching platform for manned space rockets.

Like Troubridge, Troutbridge is named after a famous Admiral - Admiral Sir Benjamin Troutbridge, born 1741, vanished 1797 (series 6, episode 4). There is also a town named Troutbridge, located in Troutbridgeshire, which is the setting for 'The T.V. Lark'.

For publicity purposes, a ship's crest was designed for Troutbridge. Like that of Troubridge, it features a three-arched bridge, with the addition of a frigate smashing through the bridge and a motto, "Ev'rybody down!" (one of Pertwee's catchphrases).

Production
The series used accents and characterised voices to supplement the humour, as well as a good deal of innuendo.

The show's theme tune was "Trade Wind Hornpipe" written and performed by Tommy Reilly on a Barry Music compilation of short interlude pieces published in 1958 on BMC118.

The programme was strong on creating identifiable characters, the listener was able to clearly differentiate each person Laurie Wyman created; many of whom acquired 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 a 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 "humgrummit" and "floggle-toggle" which served to cover all manner of unspecified objects ranging from foodstuffs to naval equipment. Unspecified illnesses include "the twingeing screws", a illness to which Pertwee was a martyr, especially when hearing about being under sailing orders.

Reception
The programme made household names of Leslie Phillips, Jon Pertwee and Richard Caldicot. Ronnie Barker's versatile contributions were recognised and Laurie Wyman (later known as Lawrie Wyman) was asked by the producer to write more parts for Barker.

Dennis Price returned for a guest appearance in the fourth series episode A Hole Lieutenant. Other 'guest stars' included April Walker, Norma Ronald and June Whitfield.

Spin-offs and adaptations
There were several radio spin-offs, including The Embassy Lark 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 programme's fifth series. This situation came about due to the head of light entertainment believing that "forces"-based humour had become dated and television was the next "big thing", so Lawrie Wyman was ordered to create a show with the same cast in an independent TV station situation. Alastair Scott Johnston and Wyman tried to stop this but were overruled: hence, the arrival of The TV Lark.

The entire crew had been drummed out of the service and hired by Troutbridge TV Ltd. Janet Brown joined the cast due to the absence of Heather Chasen for this series. However, mainly due to public pressure, the production team of Alastair Scott Johnston and Laurie Wyman managed to revert the show to nautical capers. Storylines in The TV Lark nudged back to naval origins across the ten shows until they were finally reunited with Troutbridge.

In 1959 a film version was made, written by Laurie Wyman and Sid Colin and directed by Gordon Parry. It stars Cecil Parker, Ronald Shiner, Elvi Hale, Leslie Phillips and Nicholas Phipps. According to Jon Pertwee's co-written memoir, published shortly after his death in 1996, the film was also supposed to star Pertwee and Dennis Price. However according to Pertwee the film's producer Herbert Wilcox refused to employ Price "because he was gay." Pertwee was among those who objected to Price not being in the film and believed that this contributed to his own replacement in the cast by Shiner. Pertwee noted that the film "bombed" and said audiences did not consider the film to be The Navy Lark due to the absence of himself, Price and Stephen Murray.

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 is considered lost.

The show was condensed from 30 to 27 minutes by Transcription services, then the discs were exported around the world except for South Africa. Springbok Radio broadcast to English speaking listeners from their Durban studios, but because it was a commercial station, the BBC refused to allow the station to re-broadcast the recorded shows. However, the station acquired the scripts from Laurie and edited them to around twenty-five minutes each, to accommodate the commercial breaks. The revised show was recorded by local actors in front of a live audience. All the UK associations were kept for the South African audiences which must have been incomprehensible on occasions. The Pumamouse site once offered a chance to hear these shows but the site has undergone changes due to costs which now means the largest collection of these shows exist only at The Navy Lark Appreciation Society archive.

Episode guide
3rd Series 1960 43.  3- 1   2  Nov 1960   In Portsmouth for a Re-Fit

xx. Sp-01 5 Nov  1960   Wrens' Reunion at the Royal Festival Hall. Not broadcast. The team took part in a special appearance on stage at                             the Royal Festival Hall in the presence of The Queen and The Queen Mother in celebration of the WRNS 21st anniversary. The 20 minute performance was not broadcast, but a recording survives.

44.  3- 2   9  Nov 1960   Refitting Ebeneezer Pertwee's Tug 45.  3- 3   16 Nov 1960   Sea Trials of the Poppadom 46.  3- 4   23 Nov 1960   Mutiny Aboard Troutbridge 47.  3- 5   30 Nov 1960   The Explosive Biscuits 48.  3- 6   7  Dec 1960   Sir Willoughby Takes Over the Island 49.  3- 7   14 Dec 1960   Mount Rumpus Atoll 50.  3- 8   21 Dec 1960   Mr Murray's Houseboat - the 50th show 51.  3- 9   28 Dec 1960   Johnson's Birthday 52.  3-10   4  Jan 1961   Povey's Unexpected Leave 53.  3-11   11 Jan 1961   Families' Day 54.  3-12   18 Jan 1961   Falmouth Ghost Ship 55.  3-13   25 Jan 1961   Onabushkan Flu 56.  3-14   1  Feb 1961   The Efficiency Expert 57.  3-15   8  Feb 1961   The Floggle Grummit Missile 58.  3-16   15 Feb 1961   The Hitch Hiking Counterfeiter 59.  3-17   22 Feb 1961   Commodore Goldstein 60.  3-18   1  Mar 1961   Mr Phillips Has Navigation Tuition 61.  3-19   8  Mar 1961   CPO Pertwee and the Laundry 62.  3-20   15 Mar 1961   The Surprise Wedding. Included in Navy Lark Collection: Series 6 Part 2

4th Series 1961 63.  4- 1   15 Sep 1961   Returning from Leave 64.  4- 2   22 Sep 1961   Captain Povey's Spy 65.  4- 3   29 Sep 1961   The Secret of Nessie's Youth 66.  4- 4   6  Oct 1961   The Northampton Hunt Ball 67.  4- 5   13 Oct 1961   Hijacked 68.  4- 6   20 Oct 1961   Admiral Troutbridge 69.  4- 7   27 Oct 1961   Relatives and Reservations 70.  4- 8   3  Nov 1961   Humgrummits on the High Seas 71.  4- 9   10 Nov 1961   Are Captain and Mrs Povey Married? 72.  4-10   17 Nov 1961   Cine Cameras at Sea 73.  4-11   24 Nov 1961   The Citizen Adjustment Course 74.  4-12   1  Dec 1961   A Hole Lieutenant 75.  4-13   8  Dec 1961   Spy Catching in Casablanca 76.  4-14   15 Dec 1961   Mount Pot Erupts 77.  4-15   22 Dec 1961   Captain Povey's Shop 78.  4-16   29 Dec 1961   Leading Seaman Goldstein's Party 79.  4-17   5  Jan 1962   The Invitation 80.  4-18   12 Jan 1962   The Cornish Exercise Missing as of 2019. 81.  4-19   19 Jan 1962   A Strange Hobby 82.  4-20   26 Jan 1962   Mr Phillips Get Engaged 83.  4-21   2  Feb 1962   The Sinking of the Bubble Car 84.  4-22   9  Feb 1962   Long John Pertwee 85.  4-23   16 Feb 1962   The Admiral's Accident Report 86.  4-24   23 Feb 1962   Over the Sea to Rosyth 87.  4-25   2  Mar 1962   The Return of Sir Frederick Flatley 88.  4-26   9  Mar 1962   The Ship's Concert

Christmas Special 1962 xx. Sp-02 Xmas   1962   Calling The Antarctic. Christmas Special 1962. Not broadcast in the UK. Released on The Navy Lark: The Collection: Series 4, Vol 2.

The TV Lark 1963 T01. 25 Jan 1963  Opening Night T02. 1 Feb 1963   The Prestige Show T03. 8 Feb 1963   Z Ambulances T04. 15 Feb 1963  House of Commons T05. 22 Feb 1963  Back to Portsmouth T06. 1 Mar 1963   On Safari T07. 8 Mar 1963   Ship Ahoy! T08. 15 Mar 1963  The Portarneyland Election T09. 22 Mar 1963  The Top Secret Rocket Trials Missing as of 2019. T10. 29 Mar 1963  Back in the Navy

5th Series spring 1963 89.  5- 1   5  Apr 1963   First Day out of Dock 90.  5- 2   12 Apr 1963   The New Barmaid (100th edition) 91.  5- 3   19 Apr 1963   A Deliberate Bashing 92.  5- 4   26 Apr 1963   Whittlesea Regatta 93.  5– 5   3  May 1963   HMS Troutbridge Gets a Rocket 94.  5– 6   10 May 1963   The Ghost Ship

6th Series autumn 1963 95.  6- 1   27 Sep 1963   Wren Chasen Returns 96.  6- 2   4  Oct 1963   On the Carpet 97.  6- 3   11 Oct 1963   The Bungalese Spies 98.  6- 4   18 Oct 1963   Troutbridge's Party 99.  6- 5   25 Oct 1963   Rescuing Admirals 100.  6- 6   1  Nov 1963   Demise of the Depth Charges 101.  6- 7   8  Nov 1963   The Struggle for Promotion 102.  6- 8   15 Nov 1963   Navigation by Computer 103.  6- 9   22 Nov 1963   Stormy Weather 104.  6-10   29 Nov 1963   Chasing the Kepeac 105.  6-11   6  Dec 1963   The Submerged Island 106.  6-12   13 Dec 1963   The Sicilian Secret Agent 107.  6-13   20 Dec 1963   German's Troutbridge 108.  6-14   27 Dec 1963   Confirming Povey's Rank 109.  6-15   3  Jan 1964   The Calais Dock Strike 110.  6-16   10 Jan 1964   Johnson's Memoirs 111.  6-17   17 Jan 1964   The Emperor of Tratvia 112.  6-18   24 Jan 1964   Open Day 113.  6-19   31 Jan 1964   Stuck on a Sandbank

7th Series 1965 114.  7- 1   11 Jul 1965   Taking Some Liberties 115.  7- 2   18 Jul 1965   Smugglers in the Solent 116.  7- 3   25 Jul 1965   Mr Murray is Victimised 117.  7- 4   1  Aug 1965   The Poveys Move House 118.  7- 5   8  Aug 1965   Captain Povey Reports Sick 119.  7- 6   15 Aug 1965   Admiral Pertwee's Fleet 120.  7- 7   22 Aug 1965   Let Loose with a Chopper 121.  7- 8   29 Aug 1965   Making a Right Pig's Breakfast 122.  7- 9   5  Sep 1965   The Mysterious Pudding Mine 123.  7-10   12 Sep 1965   The Hovercraft Training Course 124.  7-11   19 Sep 1965   Sabotaged Floggle-Toggle Box 125.  7-12   26 Sep 1965   The Portarneyland Training Exercise 126.  7-13   3  Oct 1965   Going on Leave to Croydon

Christmas Special 1965 xxx. Sp-03 Xmas   1965   Hitting the Ice Floe. (Christmas Special.                             Not broadcast in the UK. Released on The Navy Lark:                             The Collection: Series 7.)

8th Series 1966 127.  8- 1   4  Sep 1966   Where is Troutbridge? 128.  8- 2   11 Sep 1966   Float a Peddle Fiddle 129.  8- 3   18 Sep 1966   A Sticky Business 130.  8- 4   25 Sep 1966   Buoys Will Be Buoys 131.  8- 5   2  Oct 1966   Steamship Day 132.  8- 6   9  Oct 1966   Farewell to HMS Varsity 133.  8- 7   16 Oct 1966   The Army Lark 134.  8- 8   23 Oct 1966   Just the Ticket 135.  8- 9   30 Oct 1966   Mr Phillips Promotion 136.  8-10   6  Nov 1966   Pertwee and the Tratvian Beer 137.  8-11   13 Nov 1966   The PM Papa 138.  8-12   20 Nov 1966   Getting Rid of Pertwee 139.  8-13   27 Nov 1966   Off to Sea at Last

9th Series 1967 140.  9- 1   2  Jul 1967   Having Been Towing (a.k.a. Back from the Antarctic) 141.  9- 2   9  Jul 1967   Fishers off the Faroes 142.  9- 3   16 Jul 1967   Cleaning Up (a.k.a. A Filthy Ferryboat) 143.  9- 4   23 Jul 1967   Jigsaws and Jemmies 144.  9- 5   30 Jul 1967   The Naval Review 145.  9- 6   6  Aug 1967   The Curious Caravan Case 146.  9- 7   13 Aug 1967   Frenchmen in J.41 147.  9- 8   20 Aug 1967   The Police Drop In 148. 9- 9  27 Aug 1967   Mr Murray's Endurance Course 149.  9-10   3  Sep 1967   Women in the Wardroom 150.  9-11   10 Sep 1967   Troutbridge's Silver Jubilee 151.  9-12   17 Sep 1967   CECIL the Navigation Computer 152.  9-13   24 Sep 1967   A Russian Rendezvous 153.  9-14   1  Oct 1967   The Bugged and Burgled Beer 154.  9-15   8  Oct 1967   Picking up the Poppadom 155.  9-16   15 Oct 1967   Cuthbert Joins the Navy 156.  9-17   22 Oct 1967   The Flying Machine 157.  9-18   29 Oct 1967   Sub-Lieutenant Phillips was at Dartmouth 156.  9-19   5  Nov 1967   Fishy Business 159.  9-20   12 Nov 1967   Troutbridge in Quarantine

10th Series 1968 160. 10- 1   13 Oct 1968   Troutbridge Electrifies Portsmouth 161. 10- 2   20 Oct 1968   The Redundancy Drive 162. 10- 3   27 Oct 1968   The Smugglers Return 163. 10- 4   3  Nov 1968   Commander Trotter Takes Charge 164. 10- 5   10 Nov 1968   The Anti-Submarine Missile 165. 10- 6   17 Nov 1968   Sub-Conductor Phillips 166. 10- 7   24 Nov 1968   The South Kawowan Summit 167. 10- 8   1  Dec 1968   Pertwee's Enlistment Expires 168. 10- 9   8  Dec 1968   Capt. Povey Takes Over 169. 10-10   15 Dec 1968   Sir Willoughby Goes to Kawowa 170. 10-11   22 Dec 1968   The Padre's Birthday 171. 10-12   29 Dec 1968   The Portsmouth Kiosk 172. 10-13   5  Jan 1969   The Radio Beacon 173. 10-14   12 Jan 1969   Mr Phillip's Wrong Uniform 174. 10-15   19 Jan 1969   Harold Wilson Reviews the Fleet 175. 10-16   26 Jan 1969   The Relief of the Weather Ship 176. 10-17   2  Feb 1969   The Mickey Mouse Toothbrush 177. 10-18   9  Feb 1969   The Brick Smugglers

11th Series 1969 178. 11- 1   28 Dec 1969   Commander Murray and The Squatters 179. 11- 2   4  Jan 1970   What is the S.S.E.? 180. 11- 3   11 Jan 1970   Pertwee Climbs Up The Promotion Ladder 181. 11- 4   18 Jan 1970   Stranded 182. 11- 5   25 Jan 1970   Sir Willoughby's Party 183. 11- 6   1  Feb 1970   The Fleet Initiative Test 184. 11- 7   8  Feb 1970   C.P.O. Pertwee's Long Service Medal 185. 11- 8   15 Feb 1970   The Phenomenal Pertwee Tug 186. 11- 9   22 Feb 1970   The Security Clampdown 187. 11-10   1  Mar 1970   The Anniversary and the Washing 188. 11-11   8  Mar 1970   The Forbodians Hijack Troutbridge 189. 11-12   15 Mar 1970   Number One Gets Married 190. 11-13   22 Mar 1970   The Honeymooners Return 191. 11-14   29 Mar 1970   C.P.O. Pertwee and the Lead Half Crowns 192. 11-15   5  Apr 1970   Sub-Lt Phillips to Leave for Dartmouth 193. 11-16   12 Apr 1970   The Mark 31 Radar

12th Series 1971 194. 12– 1   16 May 1971   The Put-a-Horse-out-to-Graze Fund 195. 12– 2   23 May 1971   Impressions for Survival 196. 12– 3   30 May 1971   The Beard-Growing Race 197. 12- 4   6  Jun 1971   The Mysterious Radio Signals 198. 12- 5   13 Jun 1971   Operation Recovery 199. 12- 6   20 Jun 1971   The Slogan Contest 200. 12- 7   27 Jun 1971   Sir Willoughby at Shanghai 201. 12- 8   4  Jul 1971   Operation Cowes Barge 202. 12- 9   11 Jul 1971   Number One's Anniversary 203. 12-10   18 Jul 1971   The Loch Ness Monster

13th Series 1972 204. 13- 1   26 Mar 1972   The TV Documentary 205. 13- 2   2  Apr 1972   The P.O.W. Escape Exercise 206. 13- 3   9  Apr 1972   Number One's Married Quarters 207. 13- 4   16 Apr 1972   The Newhaven-Dieppe Smuggling Run 208. 13- 5   23 Apr 1972   The Bumble Spit Lighthouse Affair 209. 13- 6   30 Apr 1972   The Tongipouhaha Treasure 210. 13– 7   7  May 1972   The USA Navigator Swap 211. 13– 8   14 May 1972   Son of a Sea Lord 212. 13– 9   21 May 1972   Hypnotising Ramona 213. 13–10   28 May 1972   The Master of Sardinia 214. 13-11   4  Jun 1972   Opportunity Knockers 215. 13-12   11 Jun 1972   Friday the 13th 216. 13-13   18 Jun 1972   The New NAAFI

14th Series 1973 217. 14- 1   29 Jul 1973   The Montezuela Revolution 218. 14- 2   5  Aug 1973   The Island Swordfish 219. 14- 3   12 Aug 1973   Bunged in the Rattle 220. 14- 4   19 Aug 1973   Kangaroo Polka 221. 14- 5   26 Aug 1973   The Digital Isles Go Unstable 222. 14- 6   2  Sep 1973   Egbert Hitches a Ride 223. 14- 7   9  Sep 1973   Povey an Admiral at Last 224. 14- 8   16 Sep 1973   The Bergan Horse Trials 225. 14- 9   23 Sep 1973   Captain Povey's Wig 226. 14-10   30 Sep 1973   Brain Pill 227. 14-11   7  Oct 1973   Operation Showcase 228. 14-12   14 Oct 1973   CPO Pertwee Yachtmonger 229. 14-13   21 Oct 1973   The Talpinium Shell

15th Series 1975 230. 15- 1   9  Nov 1975   Sequel to the Talpinium Shell 231. 15- 2   16 Nov 1975   NANA 232. 15- 3   23 Nov 1975   Helen, the New Wren 233. 15- 4   30 Nov 1975   Relief for Station 150 234. 15- 5   7  Dec 1975   Black is Beautiful 235. 15- 6   14 Dec 1975   Sidney and the Stamp 236. 15- 7   21 Dec 1975   Riding to Victory (aka Commander Murray Becomes a                              Showjumper) 237. 15- 8   28 Dec 1975   Horrible Horace 238. 15- 9   4  Jan 1976   Officer's and Gent's Lib 239. 15-10   11 Jan 1976   The Case of the HGM Mark 5 240. 15-11   18 Jan 1976   Uncle Wilberforce Pertwee

Special 1977 xxx. Sp-04  16 Jul 1977   The BBC Are Sending The Bill To Buckingham Palace (Queen's Silver Jubilee Edition)

13 May 2006 Left Hand Down a Bit - With Leslie Phillips. BBC Radio 7 broadcast of selection of episodes over 3 hours presented by Leslie Phillips. Featured:
 * Special 2006
 * 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)

31 Aug 2008, BBC Radio 4 programme The Reunion. Sue MacGregor presents the series which reunites a group of people intimately involved in a moment of modern history. She brings together some of the original team behind The Navy Lark. Participants included June Whitfield, Leslie Phillips, George Evans, Heather Chasen and Tenniel Evans.
 * The Reunion