{"product_id":"book-jb2v","title":"The Men from the Ministry: The Early Years","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe original 'Yes Minister'- 32 episodes of the beloved Civil Service sitcom\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFeaturing the hilarious exploits of the bumbling bureaucrats of the General Assistance Department, the show starred \u003cb\u003eWilfrid Hyde-White\u003c\/b\u003e and later \u003cb\u003eDeryck Guyler\u003c\/b\u003e as the hapless 'Number One', with \u003cb\u003eRichard Murdoch\u003c\/b\u003e as his hare-brained sidekick 'Number Two'. Together, they muddled their way through Whitehall, creating chaos with their mix-ups, misunderstandings and mismanagement - to the consternation of their boss, the self-serving Permanent Under-Secretary Sir Gregory Pitkin (\u003cb\u003eRoy Dotrice \u003c\/b\u003eand \u003cb\u003eRonald Baddiley\u003c\/b\u003e).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe fantastically funny radio forerunner to 'Yes Minister'\u003ci\u003e, The Men from the Ministry\u003c\/i\u003e ran for 15 years and 13 series between 1962 and 1977, with a final fourteenth series made in 1980 for transmission abroad.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis volume contains 32 specially selected episodes from Series 1-3, in which - among many other misadventures - the panic-stricken pen pushers bungle in Britain's space race; get bogged down in a building project; tackle traffic trouble and town planning and come face to face with some little green men… Co-starring as their loyal (but incompetent) secretary Mildred Murfin is \u003cb\u003eNorma Ronald\u003c\/b\u003e, and taking notes for Wilfrid Hyde-White's 'Number One' is April Adams, played by \u003cb\u003eDiana Olsson. \u003c\/b\u003eGuest stars include \u003cb\u003eJohn Laurie\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eBetty Marsden, Joan Sanderson, June Whitfield, Warren Mitchell, Hugh Paddick\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eRoger Delgado\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNB: Some of the language and humour on this recording reflects the era in which it was first broadcast, and due to the age of the source material, the sound quality may vary. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlease note, the final minute of Series 3, Episode 10 ('\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eGetting the Bird'\u003ci\u003e) is missing.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eCast and credits\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWritten and produced by Edward Taylor, with contributions from John Graham, Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke\u003cbr\u003eTheme music: \u003ci\u003eTop Dog\u003c\/i\u003e by Ivor Slaney\u003cbr\u003eWith thanks to Keith Wickham\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Number One' (Roland Hamilton Jones) - \u003cb\u003eWilfrid Hyde-White\u003c\/b\u003e (Series 1-2)\u003cbr\u003e'Number One' (Deryck Lennox-Brown) - \u003cb\u003eDeryck Guyler\u003c\/b\u003e (Series 3)\u003cbr\u003e'Number Two' (Richard Lamb) - \u003cb\u003eRichard Murdoch\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMildred Murfin - \u003cb\u003eNorma Ronald\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSir Gregory Pitkin - \u003cb\u003eRoy Dotrice\u003c\/b\u003e (Series 1-2), \u003cb\u003eRonald Baddiley\u003c\/b\u003e (Series 3)\u003cbr\u003eApril Adams - \u003cb\u003eDiana Olsson\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMr Dougal - \u003cb\u003eJohn Laurie\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOther parts played by John Graham\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith guest stars including: June Whitfield, Patricia Hayes, Edwin Apps, David Graham, Percy Edwards, Betty Marsden, Julian Somers, Joan Sanderson, Rowena Gregory, Frederick Treves, Brian Oulton, Pat Coombs, Fred Yule, Austin Trevor, John Cazabon, Warren Mitchell, David Nettheim, Charlotte Mitchell, Graham Stark, Hugh Paddick, Jack Watson, Brandon Hawkins, Felix Felton, Bruce Beeby, Peter Bartlett, Ronnie Stevens, Gordon Clyde, Clive Dunn, Roger Delgado, Carol Allen, Hugh McDermott, David Healy and David Fallon\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast on the BBC Light Programme 30 Oct 1962 - 8 Jan 1963 (series 1), 1 Aug - 17 Oct 1965 (series 2), 25 Dec 1966 - 12 Mar 1967 (series 3).\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":49277666361648,"sku":"BDjb2v","price":13.33,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/jb2v-Square-cover.jpg?v=1782496749","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-jb2v","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}