The BBC Radio 4 20 questions game show

Guess What?

Barry Took presents this revised radio version of the popular parlour game 'Twenty Questions' 
 
Hosted by veteran humorist Barry Took, presenter of Points of View and former chair of The News Quiz, this entertaining guessing game sees a panel of intellectually acute guests attempting to determine a mystery object in 20 tries. Their only clue is the category it falls into: animal, vegetable, mineral, abstract, or a combination of all four. 
 
For most rounds, the studio audience know the answer and cheer on the contestants with promising guesses - but sometimes, both they and the listeners are kept in the dark, giving them an opportunity to play along too. 
 
Pitting their wits against Barry Took are panellists Geoffrey Durham, Jeremy Hanley, Helen Atkinson Wood, Hattie Hayridge, Dick Vosburgh, Neil Innes, Jan Ravens, Nigel Dempster, Frances Edmonds, Chris Serle and Clare Francis, as they play their hunches and attempt to identify everything from a supermodel to a Page 3 girl, the Channel Tunnel to the shipping forecast, and a minicab driver to man's best friend. Using their best deductive reasoning, will they figure it out - or will they get stumped? 
 
Production credits 
Chaired by Barry Took 
Written and compiled by Michael Dines 
Voice provided by Peter Donaldson 
Produced by Andy Aliffe 
 
With: Geoffrey Durham, Jeremy Hanley, Helen Atkinson Wood, Hattie Hayridge, Dick Vosburgh, Neil Innes, Jan Ravens, Nigel Dempster, Frances Edmonds, Chris Serle, Clare Francis 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8 April-10 June 1998 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Barry Took was born in London in 1928. 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.

The BBC Radio classic comedy series

Beyond Our Ken: The Collected Series 1-4

All 60 surviving episodes from the first four series of the fabulous forerunner to Round the Horne - plus bonus programme Forty Laughing Years 
 
An irresistible mix of of sketches, songs, puns and double entendres, Beyond Our Ken kept the nation laughing over seven series and 123 episodes between 1958 and 1964. 
 
With its witty wordplay, zany humour and comic catchphrases, it remains every bit as hilarious and entertaining today. Featuring larger-than-life characters like Rodney and Charles, roving reporter Cecil Snaith and doddery duo Ambrose and Felicity - not to mention avuncular host Kenneth Horne himself - this 'sort of radio show' is full of classic comedy moments. 
 
All your favourites are here in these 60 episodes, including spoof documentary series 'Hornerama', with its regular investigations into 'topics of immediate interest' such as showbusiness, shipping, photography, food, the City - and many more. There's also a wealth of surprising, surreal incidents from Kenneth Horne's week, the latest film releases in 'Picture Go Round', and a unique take on Any Questions, with panellists Hankie Flowered, Ricky Livid, Fanny Haddock and Arthur Fallowfield. Musical interludes are provided by a host of top artistes, among them Pat Lancaster, Janet Waters, The Malcolm Mitchell Trio, The Fraser Hayes Four and the BBC Variety Orchestra. 
 
Scripted by Eric Merriman and Barry Took, these much-loved shows star Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden and Bill Pertwee. 
 
 
Episode guide 
First broadcast on BBC Light Programme on the following dates: 
Series 1 - 1 July-12 November 1958 
Series 2 - 26 March-21 December 1959 
Series 3 - 5 April-15 July 1960 
Series 4 - 20 October 1960-2 March 1961 
Bonus programme: Forty Laughing Years, 12 November 1962 
 
The following episodes are missing from the BBC archives and therefore not included in this release: 
Series 1: Episodes 6, 10-13, 17, 21 and 22 
Series 2: Episodes 1, 4, 7, 9, 15, 16 and 19 
Series 4: Episode 12 
 
Episodes restored and remastered by Ted Kendall. 
 
(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

All 60 surviving episodes from the first four series of the fabulous forerunner to Round the Horne - plus bonus programme Forty Laughing Years 
 
An irresistible mix of of sketches, songs, puns and double entendres, Beyond Our Ken kept the nation laughing over seven series and 123 episodes between 1958 and 1964. 
 
With its witty wordplay, zany humour and comic catchphrases, it remains every bit as hilarious and entertaining today. Featuring larger-than-life characters like Rodney and Charles, roving reporter Cecil Snaith and doddery duo Ambrose and Felicity - not to mention avuncular host Kenneth Horne himself - this 'sort of radio show' is full of classic comedy moments. 
 
All your favourites are here in these 60 episodes, including spoof documentary series 'Hornerama', with its regular investigations into 'topics of immediate interest' such as showbusiness, shipping, photography, food, the City - and many more. There's also a wealth of surprising, surreal incidents from Kenneth Horne's week, the latest film releases in 'Picture Go Round', and a unique take on Any Questions, with panellists Hankie Flowered, Ricky Livid, Fanny Haddock and Arthur Fallowfield. Musical interludes are provided by a host of top artistes, among them Pat Lancaster, Janet Waters, The Malcolm Mitchell Trio, The Fraser Hayes Four and the BBC Variety Orchestra. 
 
Scripted by Eric Merriman and Barry Took, these much-loved shows star Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden and Bill Pertwee. 
 
 
Episode guide 
First broadcast on BBC Light Programme on the following dates: 
Series 1 - 1 July-12 November 1958 
Series 2 - 26 March-21 December 1959 
Series 3 - 5 April-15 July 1960 
Series 4 - 20 October 1960-2 March 1961 
Bonus programme: Forty Laughing Years, 12 November 1962 
 
The following episodes are missing from the BBC archives and therefore not included in this release: 
Series 1: Episodes 6, 10-13, 17, 21 and 22 
Series 2: Episodes 1, 4, 7, 9, 15, 16 and 19 
Series 4: Episode 12 
 
Episodes restored and remastered by Ted Kendall. 
 
(p) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
© 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A collection of rare material from the classic BBC Radio comedy

Round the Horne: A Compendium

An exclusive collection of restored episodes and archive rarities from the fondly remembered BBC radio comedy series.

A fascinating and hilarious collection of archive rarities - plus two restored episodes - from the much loved BBC radio comedy series 
 
Starring Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden and Bill Pertwee, Round the Horne breathed daring new life over the BBC radio airwaves from 1965 to 1968, a madcap mix of daring double entendres, captivating characters and bawdy badinage. 
 
In this exhaustive collection of rare material, two complete episodes - Series 1, Episode 5 and Series 1, Episode 15 - are presented complete and remastered, alongside a cornucopia of previously unpublished segments from the series' original run. 
 
In addition there's a host of rarities from the BBC Sound Archive and other sources, including the cast's appearance on Sounds Familiar and Kenneth Horne's autobiographical turn on The Time of My Life, both from 1968. These are followed by A Tribute to Kenneth Horne from 1969, Round and Round the Horne from 1977, and Horne of Plenty from 2004. There's also a selection of rarely heard interviews with cast and writers, two sketches in celebration of Much Binding in the Marsh, and more. 
 
Content warning: the humour in this programme reflects the era in which it was broadcast and may not reflect current attitudes. 
 
©2017 BBC Worldwide Ltd. (P)2017 BBC Worldwide Ltd.

Barry Took was born in London in 1928. 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. 
 
Marty Feldman was born in London in 1933. He left school aged 15 to become a jazz trumpeter, but fell into show business with a Marx Brothers-style stage act. His meeting with Barry Took in 1954 led to a prolific writing partnership on radio shows including Round the Horne and The Army Game. A move into television saw Feldman writing for The Frost Report and At Last! The 1948 Show. An on-screen appearance in the latter led to his becoming an overnight star; a sketch show for British TV was followed by success in America and numerous film appearances, including Young Frankenstein. He died in 1982, aged 49.

A fascinating and hilarious collection of archive rarities - plus two restored episodes - from the much loved BBC radio comedy series 
 
Starring Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden and Bill Pertwee, Round the Horne breathed daring new life over the BBC radio airwaves from 1965 to 1968, a madcap mix of daring double entendres, captivating characters and bawdy badinage. 
 
In this exhaustive collection of rare material, two complete episodes - Series 1, Episode 5 and Series 1, Episode 15 - are presented complete and remastered, alongside a cornucopia of previously unpublished segments from the series' original run. 
 
©2017 BBC Worldwide Ltd. (P)2017 BBC Worldwide Ltd. 
 
In addition there's a host of rarities from the BBC Sound Archive and other sources, including the cast's appearance on Sounds Familiar and Kenneth Horne's autobiographical turn on The Time of My Life, both from 1968. These are followed by A Tribute to Kenneth Horne from 1969, Round and Round the Horne from 1977, and Horne of Plenty from 2004. There's also a selection of rarely heard interviews with cast and writers, two sketches in celebration of Much Binding in the Marsh, and more. 
 
Content warning: the humour in this programme reflects the era in which it was broadcast and may not reflect current attitudes.

Sketches from the classic BBC Radio comedy

Round the Horne: The Complete Julian & Sandy

Kenneth Williams and Hugh Paddick star as the notorious resting thespians in this hilarious collection of sketches from Round the Horne.

Kenneth Williams and Hugh Paddick are the notorious resting thespians in this hilarious collection of sketches from Round the Horne. 
 
'Oh, hello. I'm Julian, and this is my friend Sandy...' 
 
Through four series of Round the Horne, Julian and Sandy graced each episode with an encounter with 'that nice Mr Horne'. Each week they'd be up to new tricks, from filmmaking (Bona Prods) to a travel agency ('something exciting in a cheap package') and a 'bijou restaurantette' (La Casserole de Bona Gourmet). 
 
In these 48 lally-trembling scenarios, Jools and Sand cater for the intimate at 'omey in Bona Caterers, shake hands with a prospective member in Keep Britain Bona, set themselves up as Bona Tax Consultants and teach the world to talk proper in Bona School of Languages. Plus, they reveal to Mr Horne just what Julian received on his last birthday... 
 
This fantabulosa selection of Julian and Sandy sketches is brimming with sparkling repartee, gloriously camp humour and outrageous innuendo. So don't be strange - come on in, rest your lallies and let your riah down with two of the best pros in the business. 
 
Content warning: the humour in this programme reflects the era in which it was broadcast and may not reflect current attitudes. 
 
©2016 BBC Worldwide Ltd. (P)2016 BBC Worldwide Ltd.

Kenneth Williams and Hugh Paddick are the notorious resting thespians in this hilarious collection of sketches from Round the Horne. 
 
'Oh, hello. I'm Julian, and this is my friend Sandy...' 
 
Through four series of Round the Horne, Julian and Sandy graced each episode with an encounter with 'that nice Mr Horne'. Each week they'd be up to new tricks, from filmmaking (Bona Prods) to a travel agency ('something exciting in a cheap package') and a 'bijou restaurantette' (La Casserole de Bona Gourmet). 
 
In these 48 lally-trembling scenarios, Jools and Sand cater for the intimate at 'omey in Bona Caterers, shake hands with a prospective member in Keep Britain Bona, set themselves up as Bona Tax Consultants and teach the world to talk proper in Bona School of Languages. Plus, they reveal to Mr Horne just what Julian received on his last birthday... 
 
This fantabulosa selection of Julian and Sandy sketches is brimming with sparkling repartee, gloriously camp humour and outrageous innuendo. So don't be strange - come on in, rest your lallies and let your riah down with two of the best pros in the business. 
 
Content warning: the humour in this programme reflects the era in which it was broadcast and may not reflect current attitudes. 
 
©2016 BBC Worldwide Ltd. (P)2016 BBC Worldwide Ltd.

17 episodes of the groundbreaking BBC radio comedy

Round the Horne: The Complete Series Four

Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden and Hugh Paddick star in 17 episodes of the anarchic 1960s radio comedy, including the 1967 Christmas special.

Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden and Hugh Paddick star in 17 episodes of the anarchic 1960s radio comedy, including the 1967 Christmas special. 
 
Round the Horne arrived on BBC radio in 1965, bringing laughter to Sunday lunchtimes throughout the land. Over the course of sixteen weekly episodes it carved a niche in the history of broadcast comedy, a sketch show which prodded the boundaries of propriety and innuendo. At its heart was the suave and upstanding Kenneth Horne, around which revolved the multiple naughty personas of Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden, Hugh Paddick and Bill Pertwee. 
 
Among the parade of regular characters were Julian and Sandy, the camp couple of resting thespians happy to turn their hands to anything, Rambling Syd Rumbo the musical cordwangler, Fiona and Charles the passionate duo, and J. Peasemold Gruntfuttock - the world's dirtiest man. Meanwhile regular film parodies, spoof sagas and musical interludes peppered the mix. 
 
In addition to the 16 episodes of Series Four, this edition also includes the 1967 Christmas special episode Cinderfella and The Bona History of Julian and Sandy, in which Maureen Lipman takes a vada at Round the Horne's most flamboyant omipalonies. 
 
Content warning: the humour in this programme reflects the era in which it was broadcast and may not reflect current attitudes. 
 
©2016 BBC Worldwide Limited (P)2016 BBC Worldwide Limited

Barry Took was born in London in 1928. 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. 
 
Johnnie Mortimer was a British scriptwriter for British TV whose work included radio seies Men from the Ministry and Round the Horne, and TV situation comedies including Foreign Affairs, Man About the House, Never the Twain, Robin's Nest and George and Mildred, often working in partnership with Brian Cooke. A version of Man about the House later transferred to America under the name Three's Company. Brian Cooke is a British comedy writer who, along with co-writer Johnnie Mortimer wrote scripts for and devised many of the top TV sitcoms of the 1970s, including Man About the House, George and Mildred and Robin's Nest. Cooke also wrote and created the 1980s TV sitcom Keep It in the Family, starring Robert Gillespie and the 1960s sitcom Father, Dear Father starring Patrick Cargill. Man About the House, George and Mildred, Robin's Nest, and Keep It in the Family were remade for American television as Three's Company, The Ropers, Three's a Crowd, and Too Close for Comfort. [source: Wikipedia]

Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden and Hugh Paddick star in 17 episodes of the anarchic 1960s radio comedy, including the 1967 Christmas special. 
 
Round the Horne arrived on BBC radio in 1965, bringing laughter to Sunday lunchtimes throughout the land. Over the course of sixteen weekly episodes it carved a niche in the history of broadcast comedy, a sketch show which prodded the boundaries of propriety and innuendo. At its heart was the suave and upstanding Kenneth Horne, around which revolved the multiple naughty personas of Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden, Hugh Paddick and Bill Pertwee. 
 
Among the parade of regular characters were Julian and Sandy, the camp couple of resting thespians happy to turn their hands to anything, Rambling Syd Rumbo the musical cordwangler, Fiona and Charles the passionate duo, and J. Peasemold Gruntfuttock - the world's dirtiest man. Meanwhile regular film parodies, spoof sagas and musical interludes peppered the mix. 
 
In addition to the 16 episodes of Series Four, this edition also includes the 1967 Christmas special episode Cinderfella and The Bona History of Julian and Sandy, in which Maureen Lipman takes a vada at Round the Horne's most flamboyant omipalonies. 
 
Content warning: the humour in this programme reflects the era in which it was broadcast and may not reflect current attitudes. 
 
©2016 BBC Worldwide Limited (P)2016 BBC Worldwide Limited

16 episodes of the groundbreaking BBC Radio comedy

Round the Horne: The Complete Series Three

Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden and Hugh Paddick star in 20 episodes of the anarchic 1960s radio comedy.

Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden and Hugh Paddick star in 20 episodes of the anarchic 1960s radio comedy. 
 
Round the Horne arrived on BBC radio in 1965, bringing laughter to Sunday lunchtimes throughout the land. It carved a niche in the history of broadcast comedy, a sketch show which prodded the boundaries of propriety and innuendo. At its heart was the suave and upstanding Kenneth Horne, around which revolved the multiple naughty personas of Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden, Hugh Paddick and Bill Pertwee. 
 
Among the parade of regular characters were Julian and Sandy, the camp couple of resting thespians happy to turn their hands to anything, Rambling Syd Rumbo the musical cordwangler, Fiona and Charles the passionate duo, and J. Peasemold Gruntfuttock the world's dirtiest man. Meanwhile regular film parodies, spoof sagas and musical interludes peppered the mix. 
 
Round the Horne earned its place in the annals of comedy history, and is fondly remembered today as a groundbreaking series that influenced many more to come. 
 
Content warning: the humour in this programme reflects the era in which it was broadcast and may not reflect current attitudes. 
 
©2015 BBC Worldwide Ltd (P)2015 BBC Worldwide Ltd

Barry Took was born in London in 1928. 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. 
 
Marty Feldman was born in London in 1933. He left school aged 15 to become a jazz trumpeter, but fell into show business with a Marx Brothers-style stage act. His meeting with Barry Took in 1954 led to a prolific writing partnership on radio shows including Round the Horne and The Army Game. A move into television saw Feldman writing for The Frost Report and At Last! The 1948 Show. An on-screen appearance in the latter led to his becoming an overnight star; a sketch show for British TV was followed by success in America and numerous film appearances, including Young Frankenstein. He died in 1982, aged 49.

Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden and Hugh Paddick star in 20 episodes of the anarchic 1960s radio comedy. 
 
Round the Horne arrived on BBC radio in 1965, bringing laughter to Sunday lunchtimes throughout the land. It carved a niche in the history of broadcast comedy, a sketch show which prodded the boundaries of propriety and innuendo. At its heart was the suave and upstanding Kenneth Horne, around which revolved the multiple naughty personas of Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden, Hugh Paddick and Bill Pertwee. 
 
Among the parade of regular characters were Julian and Sandy, the camp couple of resting thespians happy to turn their hands to anything, Rambling Syd Rumbo the musical cordwangler, Fiona and Charles the passionate duo, and J. Peasemold Gruntfuttock the world's dirtiest man. Meanwhile regular film parodies, spoof sagas and musical interludes peppered the mix. 
 
Round the Horne earned its place in the annals of comedy history, and is fondly remembered today as a groundbreaking series that influenced many more to come. 
 
Content warning: the humour in this programme reflects the era in which it was broadcast and may not reflect current attitudes. 
 
©2015 BBC Worldwide Ltd (P)2015 BBC Worldwide Ltd

Frank Muir

Denis Norden

Barry Took

Eric Merriman

Jimmy Edwards

Dick Bentley

Joy Nichols

June Whitfield

Alma Cogan

Full Cast

40 Episodes from Series 9-13 of the Classic BBC Radio Comedy

More timeless comedy from the long-running variety show 
 
Take It from Here was one of the most popular radio shows of its day, running for 12 years on the BBC Light Programme between 1948 and 1960. With its literate, pun-filled scripts written by comedy legends Denis Norden and Frank Muir, it was a huge hit with listeners, and over 20 million regularly tuned in to enjoy the madcap adventures of the TIFH team. 
 
These 40 specially chosen shows feature Madam Butterfly as you’ve never heard it before, a West End musical spoof, the fall and rise of Punch and Judy – and quickfire quizzing with ‘Double Your Nothing’. Meanwhile in ‘The Glums’, the marathon engagement of the drippy Ron and the doting Eth rumbles on, and down at his local, Mr Glum regales barman Ted with tales of woe and hard-luck stories. 
 
Also included are three Christmas episodes from 1955, 1958 and 1959; the 250th show (Series 10, Episode 1); the 10th anniversary episode (Series 11, Episode 12) and the last ever episode (Series 13, Episode 20) – as well as a piece of comedy history: the original version of a sketch made famous by Peter Sellers, 'So Little Time' (Series 12, Episode 15). 
 
Jimmy Edwards, June Whitfield, Dick Bentley and Wallas Eaton star in this sparkling selection of shows, with musical accompaniments from Alma Cogan, The Keynotes, Toni Eden and The Polka Dots. 
 
NB: 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. 
 
 
Production credits 
Starring Jimmy Edwards, Dick Bentley, June Whitfield and Wallas Eaton 
With contributions from ‘Herbert Mostyn’ (aka Frank Muir and Denis Norden) 
Written by Frank Muir and Denis Norden (Series 9-12) and Barry Took and Eric Merriman (Series 13) 
Produced by Charles Maxwell (Series 9-12) and Charles Chilton (Series 13) 
Music from The Keynotes and the Augmented BBC Revue Orchestra, Alma Cogan (Series 9), Toni Eden (Series 13) and The Polka Dots (Series 13) 
With thanks to Keith Wickham 
 
Episode guide 
 
First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme on the following dates: 
 
Series 9 (11 October 1955-3 April 1956) 
Episode 1, 2, 3, 4 ,5, 6 ,7, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 ,17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24 
Series 10 (2 January-15 May 1957) 
Episode 1, 2 January 1957 
Episode 7, 13 February 1957 
Episode 8, 20 February 1957 
Episode 17, 24 April 1957 
Episode 20, 15 May 1957 
 
Series 11 (8 January-21 May 1958) 
Episode 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20 
Series 12 (27 November 1958-12 March 1959) 
Episode 2, 5, 13, 14, 15 
 
Series 13 (22 October 1959-3 March 1960) 
Episode 10 & 20 
 
© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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