Beyond Our Ken Series 3: The Classic BBC Radio Comedy

Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden and others star in the complete third series of the madcap forerunner to Round the Horne
A hectic mix of sketches and songs, Beyond Our Ken kept millions of listeners in stitches between 1958 and 1964. These fourteen fantastic episodes, published for the first time on audio, were first broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1960.
In these uproarious half hours, you can enjoy a series of plays to remember; hear all about Kenneth Horne's adventures in Switzerland, Macau and the North West Frontier; check out the latest film releases in Picture Go Round and learn about the worlds of photography, hobbies, food, the City and more in documentary feature Hornerama.
In addition, Russian comrades Rodney and Charles launch their rocket, Felicity and Ambrose enjoy some home movies, Cecil Snaith goes on a polar expedition and there's a special edition of The Archers, American-style.
So join Kenneth Horne and friends for more witty wordplay, larger-than-life characters, comic catchphrases and sublimely silly humour from the hugely popular 'sort of radio show'. Written by Eric Merriman, with musical accompaniments provided by Pat Lancaster, the Fraser Hayes Four, Edwin Braden and the BBC Variety Orchestra. Duration: 7 hours approx

Eric Merriman (1924-2003) was a British radio and television writer, who provided material for numerous comedians including Frankie Howerd, Terry Scott and Morecambe and Wise.He wrote, originally with Barry Took and then solo, the radio series Beyond Our Ken, starring Kenneth Horne. He also was a writer for several Terry Scott vehicles, Scott on... and Happy Ever After. [source: Wikipedia] Barry Took (1928-2002) was born in London. An early career as a stand-up comedian and sketch writer led to his first radio script credit, for Beyond Our Ken. From there he went on to create Round the Horne with Marty Feldman, whilst on television he wrote for series including Bootsie and Snudge and The Army Game. Amongst a variety of later jobs in front of and behind the camera, Took wrote and presented Points of View on BBC1 and also chaired BBC radio's The News Quiz. He wrote a number of books, including The Complete and Utter History of Round the Horne and his autobiography A Point of View. He died in 2002.