{"product_id":"book-io5w","title":"Whack-O!","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJimmy Edwards stars as the irascible Headmaster in this vintage BBC Radio comedy series set in a boys' public school\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStarting life on BBC TV, \u003ci\u003eWhack-O!\u003c\/i\u003e transferred to radio in 1961 and ran for three series on the Light Programme until 1963. Not all of the radio episodes survive, but many from Series 1 and the entirety of Series 2 were recovered by a BBC archivist from a listener's tapes in 2012, and have since been broadcast on Radio 4 Extra.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCollected here are those rediscovered episodes, featuring scholastic scheming and academic anarchy at Chiselbury School. An old-established seat of learning for the 'sons of gentlefolk', Chiselbury is presided over by whack-happy Headmaster Professor James Edwards, who runs rings around his fellow masters and never misses a trick when it comes to exploiting the pupils and their parents.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this catalogue of comic mishaps, the Professor attempts to close down a rival school; hatches a plan to win a cash prize in a popularity contest; goes up before the magistrate accused of excessive use of the cane and endeavours to impress a visiting dignitary from Moscow. And his guile is put to the test when he makes a reckless wager; comes up with a catchy publicity gimmick to attract more pupils and faces a staffing crisis when a teacher has the temerity to leave...\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCo-starring \u003cb\u003eJune Whitfield\u003c\/b\u003e as Matron and \u003cb\u003eRoddy Maude-Roxby\u003c\/b\u003e as Aubrey Potter, this farcical, fun-filled sitcom also features special guest appearances from \u003cb\u003eEamonn Andrews\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eVera Lynn\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eNB: Due to the age and nature of these recordings, the sound quality may vary. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eSome episodes contain dated attitudes and language\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWritten by Frank Muir and Denis Norden\u003cbr\u003eAdapted for radio by David Climie\u003cbr\u003eProduced by Edward Taylor\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eCast\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Headmaster - Jimmy Edwards\u003cbr\u003eMr Pettigrew - Arthur Howard\u003cbr\u003eMatron\/Mildred\/Lady Westbury\/Edwina - June Whitfield\u003cbr\u003eMr Fowler\/Mr Harboard - Laidman Browne\u003cbr\u003eSchool Inspector - David Bird\u003cbr\u003eLumley - Roger Shepherd\u003cbr\u003eAubrey Potter - Roddy Maude-Roxby\u003cbr\u003eThe French Mistress - Tonia Bern\u003cbr\u003eMr Dinwiddie\/Soames\/Alfred Tennyson - Frederick Treves\u003cbr\u003eEamonn O'Reilly - Michael Turner\/Roy Dotrice\/Wallas Eaton\u003cbr\u003eTaplow - David Lott\u003cbr\u003eThe Marchioness\/Lady Uppingham - Joan Sanderson\u003cbr\u003eDr Sopwith\/Magistrate\/Bulenkov\/Major Prosser\/Len Rumbold\/Samuel Tozer - Roy Dotrice\u003cbr\u003eSir Charles - Norman Shelley\u003cbr\u003eAntony Dorchester - Harold Berens\u003cbr\u003eGinger Perkins - Sam Kydd\u003cbr\u003eMiss Fanshawe\/Mrs Mortlake - Joan Young\u003cbr\u003eMr Lumley - Phillip Morant\u003cbr\u003eFiggins - Graham Aza\u003cbr\u003eMr Arkwright\/Vicar - John Cazabon\u003cbr\u003eMarvin - Malcolm Ranson\u003cbr\u003eBrigadier Lumley - Austin Trevor\u003cbr\u003eBailey - Harry Locke\u003cbr\u003eInspector Matthews - Fred Yule\u003cbr\u003eMr Barlow\/Forth Robinson\/Rev Barnwell Munro - John Graham\u003cbr\u003eArnold Halliforth - Edwin Apps\u003cbr\u003eYvette - Prunella Scales\u003cbr\u003eMr Wiltshire - David Graham\u003cbr\u003eTerry - John Pike\u003cbr\u003ePhipps - John Coxall\u003cbr\u003eMusic master - Edwin Braden\u003cbr\u003eMrs Baker - Patricia Hayes\u003cbr\u003eMr Morgan\/Biggs - Julian Somers\u003cbr\u003eRawlinson - Philip Leavermore\u003cbr\u003eWith Brian Thomas, John Mitchell, Heather Bennett, Jennie Lathan, Angela Shade, Michael Hammond, Richard McCarthy, Eamonn Andrews, Stuart Anderson, Kenneth Gouge, Vera Lynn, Harry Lewis, Sheila Grant, Diana Olsson, Elizabeth Morgan, Amos the Owl\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin UK","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49397324480816,"sku":"BDio5w","price":14.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/io5w-Square-cover.jpg?v=1772119561","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-io5w","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}