Whack-O!

Jimmy Edwards stars as the irascible Headmaster in this vintage BBC Radio comedy series set in a boys' public schoolStarting life on BBC TV, Whack-O! 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.Collected 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.In 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...Co-starring June Whitfield as Matron and Roddy Maude-Roxby as Aubrey Potter, this farcical, fun-filled sitcom also features special guest appearances from Eamonn Andrews and Vera Lynn.NB: Due to the age and nature of these recordings, the sound quality may vary. Some episodes contain dated attitudes and languageWritten by Frank Muir and Denis NordenAdapted for radio by David ClimieProduced by Edward TaylorCastThe Headmaster - Jimmy EdwardsMr Pettigrew - Arthur HowardMatron/Mildred/Lady Westbury/Edwina - June WhitfieldMr Fowler/Mr Harboard - Laidman BrowneSchool Inspector - David BirdLumley - Roger ShepherdAubrey Potter - Roddy Maude-RoxbyThe French Mistress - Tonia BernMr Dinwiddie/Soames/Alfred Tennyson - Frederick TrevesEamonn O'Reilly - Michael Turner/Roy Dotrice/Wallas EatonTaplow - David LottThe Marchioness/Lady Uppingham - Joan SandersonDr Sopwith/Magistrate/Bulenkov/Major Prosser/Len Rumbold/Samuel Tozer - Roy DotriceSir Charles - Norman ShelleyAntony Dorchester - Harold BerensGinger Perkins - Sam KyddMiss Fanshawe/Mrs Mortlake - Joan YoungMr Lumley - Phillip MorantFiggins - Graham AzaMr Arkwright/Vicar - John CazabonMarvin - Malcolm RansonBrigadier Lumley - Austin TrevorBailey - Harry LockeInspector Matthews - Fred YuleMr Barlow/Forth Robinson/Rev Barnwell Munro - John GrahamArnold Halliforth - Edwin AppsYvette - Prunella ScalesMr Wiltshire - David GrahamTerry - John PikePhipps - John CoxallMusic master - Edwin BradenMrs Baker - Patricia HayesMr Morgan/Biggs - Julian SomersRawlinson - Philip LeavermoreWith 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(c) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Lt