A BBC Radio Vintage Comedy

Mind Your Own Business!

All four series of the hilarious adventures of tycoon Jimmy Bright and accountant Russell Farrow - starring Bernard Cribbins, Frank Thornton and Annette CrosbieIt’s the 1980s: business is big, the shoulder pads are bigger and Jimmy Bright is a tycoon on a mission… He’s got big dreams and the only thing standing between him and a millionaire lifestyle is accountant, Russell Farrow, whose attention to financial detail is unsurpassed. The two must rub along if Jimmy’s business, BrightCo, is to succeed but they seem to have very different views on what success looks like.There’s plenty keeping the duo busy; there are business takeovers to contend with, relocation issues to consider and not to mention a blossoming office romance - is Russell falling for Sue the secretary or just putting in a lot of overtime?Set in an era when Thatcher was boss, money was everything and consumption was king, this vintage comedy from the BBC is pitch perfect. All four series collected together for the first time ever, this is a hilarious listen, that will have you laughing out loud as the two men try and make the most of some truly terrible situations.Bernard Cribbins’s career spanned over seven decades. He became known in the 1960s for his appearances in such comedy films as Two-Way Stretch and the Carry On series. His other screen credits include The Railway Children, Alfred Hitchcock’s Frenzy, Fawlty Towers and several appearances in Dr Who. Frank Thornton played the unforgettable Captain Peacock in TV sitcom Are You Being Served?. He also appeared in the role of Herbert 'Truly’ Truelove in the hugely popular TV sitcom Last of the Summer Wine. BAFTA award winning actress Annette Crosbie OBE is best known for her role as Margaret Meldrew in the BBC sitcom One Foot in the Grave. 
 NB: Series 2 Episode 3 has unfortunately been lost to time, and due to the age of the source material, the sound quality may vary. 
Cast and creditsWritten by Andrew PalmerProduced by Edward TaylorJimmy Bright - Bernard CribbinsRussell Farrow - Frank ThorntonNan Forbes - Annette CrosbieSue Plant - Annee BlottBacon/Jacko - John KaneYouth/Man/Tenko - Paul B DaviesSir William Penny - Dennis RamsdenColonel Jagger - John GrahamSoyamoto - Kenneth ConnorMum - Patricia HayesFirst Broadcast BBC Radio 2, 22 Dec 1987 – 26 Jan 1988 (series 1), 28 Apr - 2 Jun 1989 (series 2), 6 Apr - 11 May 1990 (series 3), 3 May - 14 Jun 1991 (series 4). 
©2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A BBC Radio Comedy

Jim the Great

A historical romp with regal trips to the pub, medieval battle toys, and not-so-arranged marriages 
 
 
In Jim the Great, Jimmy Edwards stars as the titular medieval chieftain who has more on his plate than whatever the huntsman's brought in... 
 
From using the Venerable Bede to research the King's (perhaps questionable) ancestry and attempting to build himself an empire as cheaply as possible, to settling a debt with a Viking by way of a duel and accidentally losing his Kingdom before becoming a grumpy galley slave rowing to Rome, King Jim's adventures are history as you've never heard it before. 
 
A classic comedy from the writer of Take Me To Your Reader and Drop Me Here, Darling, and with a fantastic cast including June Whitfield, Chris Emmett, David Ryall and Joan Sanderson, this is the perfect listen for a little royal entertainment. 
 
Cast 
Jimmy Edwards - Jim the Great 
Joan Sanderson - Queen Esmerelda 
Other roles played by: 
Julian Orchard 
John Baddeley 
Ronald Baddiley 
David Ryall 
Jon Glover 
Chris Emmett 
Kenneth Connor 
Fred Harris 
Alexandra Dane 
Douglas Blackwell 
Nicolette McKenzie 
June Whitfield 
 
Production credits 
Written by Andrew Palmer 
Produced by Edward Taylor 
 
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A historical romp with regal trips to the pub, medieval battle toys, and not-so-arranged marriages 
 
 
In Jim the Great, Jimmy Edwards stars as the titular medieval chieftain who has more on his plate than whatever the huntsman's brought in... 
 
From using the Venerable Bede to research the King's (perhaps questionable) ancestry and attempting to build himself an empire as cheaply as possible, to settling a debt with a Viking by way of a duel and accidentally losing his Kingdom before becoming a grumpy galley slave rowing to Rome, King Jim's adventures are history as you've never heard it before. 
 
A classic comedy from the writer of Take Me To Your Reader and Drop Me Here, Darling, and with a fantastic cast including June Whitfield, Chris Emmett, David Ryall and Joan Sanderson, this is the perfect listen for a little royal entertainment. 
 
Cast 
Jimmy Edwards - Jim the Great 
Joan Sanderson - Queen Esmerelda 
Other roles played by: 
Julian Orchard 
John Baddeley 
Ronald Baddiley 
David Ryall 
Jon Glover 
Chris Emmett 
Kenneth Connor 
Fred Harris 
Alexandra Dane 
Douglas Blackwell 
Nicolette McKenzie 
June Whitfield 
 
Production credits 
Written by Andrew Palmer 
Produced by Edward Taylor 
 
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A BBC Radio 4 comedy drama

Drop Me Here, Darling

All 13 episodes of the classic role-reversal comedy starring Leslie Phillips and Jill Bennett 
 
It's not easy, being chauffeur to your ex-wife. Especially when she's wealthy and you're broke...' 
 
Leslie Duggan was once a high-flying property tycoon - but then came the 1980s property crash, which wiped out his business and left him broke. Down on his luck and desperate to earn a living, he takes a job chauffeuring his wealthy ex-wife, Caroline, who owns a successful mail order company and is very much on the up. 
 
The Duggans may be divorced, but they're still close friends. Although they no longer live together, they're still involved in each other's affairs - and keep a beady eye on each other's love lives. But when they're out and about, while it's Leslie behind the wheel of the Roller, it's Caroline who's in the driving seat - and what Madam says, goes... 
 
 
Drop Me Here, Darling was first broadcast on BBC Radio 2 between December 1982 and February 1983. Recorded in front of a live audience, this light-hearted vintage comedy stars legendary comic actor Leslie Phillips of Doctor in the House and The Navy Lark fame as Leslie, with Jill Bennett (The Nanny, The Sheltering Sky) as Caroline. The stellar cast also features Norma Ronald (The Men from the Ministry), Kenneth Connor (Carry On...) and Joan Sanderson (Please Sir!, After Henry). 
 
 
 
NB: Contains dated language and attitudes 
 
 
Production credits 
Written by Andrew Palmer 
Produced by Edward Taylor 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 2, 2 December 1982-24 February 1983 
 
Cast 
Leslie - Leslie Phillips 
Caroline - Jill Bennett 
Claire/Lisa/Alaria/Moira/Mrs Elliott/Flora/Minicab controller/Kay - Norma Ronald 
Walter/Policeman - James Taylor 
Coats/Mr Crabbe/Herr Kobourg/Kelly - Kenneth Connor 
Betty - Joan Sanderson 
Simon/Alan Archer - John Kane 
Derek/Michael - Edward Judd 
Kramer Hodgkiss - Gordon Clyde 
Dave - Michael Robbins 
Heather - April Walker 
Dr Rogers/Bill Welling - Richard Davies 
Innkeeper/AA Man/Ben - Joe Dunlop 
Emma - Eve Karpf 
With John Graham, Garard Green, Jennifer Croxton and Sandra Clark 
 
Please note: due to the age of this recording the sound quality may vary 
 
©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Andrew Palmer

Nell Brennan

Roy Dotrice

Patricia Hayes

Frank Thornton

John Graham

Frances Jeater

Pat Coombs

Norma Ronald

Bernard Bresslaw

Full Cast

Selected episodes from the BBC Radio Comedy

Eight episodes from the 1980s sitcom about a jobsworth caretaker pursued by an over-amorous cleaner 
 
Know Your Place ran for two series and 15 episodes between January 1982 and August 1983. Included here are all eight of the surviving shows, starring Roy Dotrice as curmudgeonly caretaker Ramsay Potts and Patricia Hayes as cheery cleaning lady Elsie Spurgeon. 
 
Janitor Ramsay works at Worthing Court, a once-prestigious block of Edwardian flats in Bloomsbury that has seen better days. He takes pride in keeping the place spick and span, but flirty, feisty Elsie is always distracting him from his duties – and getting him into trouble. While he’s a stickler for the rules, she delights in breaking them, and while he respects authority, she refuses to know her place. 
 
In these eight episodes, the odd couple join forces to deal with an MP stuck in a lift, and Elsie takes advantage when she’s given a storeroom and borrows a flat. Meanwhile, ‘the remarkable’ Ramsay hears the peal of wedding bells, takes on a dangerous job, is forced to give up cigarettes, has a close call with a local gangster – and saves Elsie from being evicted... 
 
Written by Andrew Palmer and Nell Brennan, and produced by Edward Taylor (The Men from the Ministry), this light-hearted sitcom also features a host of guest stars, including Frank Thornton, April Walker, Pat Coombs, Norma Ronald and Bernard Bresslaw. 
 
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 
Written by Andrew Palmer and Nell Brennan 
Produced by Edward Taylor 
 
Cast 
Ramsay Potts – Roy Dotrice 
Elspeth Spurgeon – Patricia Hayes 
With Frank Thornton, John Graham, April Walker, John Glover, Pat Coombs, Sue Holderness, Norma Ronald, Nell Brennan, Yvonne Manners, Benny Lee, Joe Dunlop, James Taylor, Frances Jeater, Avis Bunnage, John Blythe and Bernard Bresslaw 
 
Episode guide 
 
1 Lift Off 
2 Not to Be Used for Babies 
3 Room to Manoeuvre 
4 Marriage of Convenience 
5 Jumpers 
6 Sisterly Feelings 
7 Health Can Damage Your Smoking 
8 Out of the Closet 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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