The Maltby Collection: The Complete Series 1-3

From the creator of Reginald Perrin, this is the complete series 1-3 of David Nobbs' BBC Radio 4 sitcom based in a London art Gallery.

All three series of David Nobbs’ museum-based sitcom, starring Julian Rhind-Tutt 
 
Rod Millet has always dreamed of working at the Maltby Collection, but on being appointed Deputy Curator of Painting and Sculpture, it quickly becomes clear that the son of a self-made biscuit mogul isn't going to fit into the musty, insular world of London antiquities. But when, on his first day, Rod learns that the museum has been earmarked for closure, he starts a campaign to save it (threatening his boss Walter Brindle’s plans for a cushy early retirement). 
 
With the collection’s future secured, the staff turn their energies towards romance. Rod competes with colleague Julian for the affections of the lovely Prunella, Walter makes a move on Susie Maltby, and there are wedding bells for several members of the team – but heartbreak for another. 
 
It’s time for the museum to get sexy too, as Rod drags it out of the past and towards a more modern future, with innovations such as Sunday opening (which does not run smoothly) and a children’s day (where the dog-counting competition gets a little out of hand). Director Walter also has his hands full, with warring curators, cleaners causing controversy, a dodgy alarm system and the prospect of making cuts – who will be for the chop? 
 
Created by comic genius David Nobbs, of Reginald Perrin fame, this warm, good-natured comedy stars Julian Rhind-Tutt as Rod, with Geoffrey Palmer as Walter, Ben Willbond as Julian, Rachel Atkins as Prunella and Margaret Cabourn-Smith as Susie. Guest stars include Hugh Dennis, Barry Cryer and Stephen K Amos.

A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation

We Happened to Be Passing

A wonderfully perceptive BBC Radio 4 comedy of manners and international relations written by David Nobbs (writer of 'The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin' and 'A Bit of a Do'). Originally broadcast as the ‘Afternoon Play’ on 24 September 2010.  It is a quiet Saturday morning in the Hinchcliffe home. Tony and Sal, tired after a week of work, have time on their hands. But not for each other. Middle-aged and middle class, they haven't had kids and they still feel that emotional vacuum.  The doorbell rings. It is an American couple - Monty and Janey - a rather loud duo they stayed with in Delaware years ago. They said, ‘If ever you happened to be passing...’ Well, the Americans are passing and they have no hotel booked. To Tony's horror Sal invites them to stay. Well, it's only polite isn't it?  Once Monty and Janey are settled the doorbell goes again. It is Jan and Hilda, the Flemish Belgian couple from Bruges. They kindly helped when Janey had a migraine in Bruges. Even fed them some waterzooi (Flemish stew). In gratitude Sal and Tony said, ‘If ever you happened to be passing...’  Then the doorbell goes again - it is Pierre and Colette, French Belgians who helped them in Namur when Sal was sick over a Saab because she had eaten some cloying Flemish stew. In gratitude they said, ‘If ever you happened to be passing...’  So polite Tony and Sal have a house full. The Americans are loud and pompous and the Belgians loathe each other. But when Colette and Jan find themselves drawn to one another, the ensuing, messy crisis precipitates a reassessment of all the couples' patterns of behaviour.  With James Nickerson as Tony and Olwen May as Sal. Also starring in the cast are Kerry Shale, Malcolm Raeburn, Maggie Fox, Melissa Jane Sinden, Szilvi Naray-Davey and Hugo Chandor. Directed by Gary Brown.

Frankie Howerd Please Yourselves (Vintage Beeb)

Titter lots at Frankie Howerd’s ditties, sketches, limericks and stand up, recorded in front of a specially-invited audience.

The star of TV’s Up Pompeii and mainstay of innumerable 'Carry On' films, Frankie Howerd causes mayhem and mirth, where even his co-stars can’t help laughing. As well as songs, stories, naughtiness and his usual audience banter, Please Yourselves sees Frankie visiting his (female) doctor about an accident where he fell artichoke over chip, which squashed his sprouts and gave him an enormous swelling on his broad beans... Written by David Nobbs and David McKellar, Please Yourselves also features Ray Fell, Dilys Laye and April Walker. Vintage Beeb: classic albums first available as BBC LPs. This recording was previously released on LP in 1976.

David Nobbs

Full Cast

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation

Meet Reginald Iolanthe Perrin, a man on the brink, in this comedy classic 
 
Fleeing across England in a fruit shaped van, attending his own wake and shouting the word 'parsnip' at inopportune moments wasn't exactly what Reginald Perrin had planned. But for Reggie, nothing in life is really going to plan. This brand new dramatisation of David Nobbs's hilarious classic novel follows the adventures of a middle-aged, middle-of-the-road, middle management dessert salesman, as he decides he's finally had enough. 
 
Part 1: The Fall - Reginald Perrin is having a crisis; he's not only lost his drive at work and in the bedroom but also his grip on reality. Parsnip, anyone? 
 
Part 2: The Rise - Reggie decides that faking his own death is the only way to find freedom and become a new man, but there's an unexpected problem... 
 
Also included here is a bonus interview programme, 'Laughed Off the Page', in which David Nobbs tells Janice Forsyth about his most famous creation, the wonderful Reggie Perrin. 
 
Written By David Nobbs 
Dramatised By Jon Canter 
Directed By Sally Avens 
Piano & Organ Played By Peter Ringrose 
 
Cast 
Reggie - David Haig 
CJ - Pip Torrens 
Elizabeth - Selina Griffiths 
Joan - Amelia Bullmore 
Linda - Celeste Dring 
Jimmy/Man In Car - Thomas Arnold 
Henry/Train Announcer/Inspector Gate - Dan Starkey 
Tom - Joseph Ayre 
Esther - Chloe Sommer 
Tony - Jonathan Forbes 
Mark/Barker/Reverend - Tom Kiteley 
Mrs CJ/Woman In Car - Joanna Monro 
Doc/Bill The Nightwatchman - Roger Ringrose 
Adam - Aiden Davison 
Jocasta - Elise Davison 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 and 20 November 2022 
 
Laughed Off The Page 
First broadcast BBC Radio Scotland, 25 November 2010 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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