A BBC Radio spoof magazine for boys

The Harpoon

All three series of the BBC Radio spoof boys' magazine - plus Winter and Christmas Specials 
 
Nominated for a British Comedy Award for Best Radio Comedy, The Harpoon is a nostalgic, spiffing spoof of adventure story papers for boys from yesteryear - but on the wireless. In the style of publications such as the Boys' Own Paper - but with its tongue firmly in its cheek - it features a veritable feast of thrilling serials, 'How-Tos', readers' letters and patent cures - all introduced by 'your old chum, the Editor'. 
 
Flick through its pages to find out about whaling for the under-fives, broadcasting secrets, the complete story of evolution from Little Blobby Thing to Homo Erectus Britishus Imperius and great beverages from history. There's also a star-spangled American issue (howdee y'all!), a 'Laughing through the Depression' budget edition, a lovingly hand-tooled issue incorporating Lathe Monthly and a special wartime edition which asks such pertinent questions as Do you know your submarines? Are you bored with your biscuits? and, most importantly, Are you German? 
 
Also included is a bumper winter edition of the Empire's favourite magazine and a rip-roaring Yuletide special, with snow-capped lettering and a silver sixpence hidden in the middle. Hip hip! 
 
Written by Julian Dutton and Peter Baynham and starring Alistair McGowan, Julian Dutton, Peter Baynham, Susie Brann, Mary Elliott-Nelson and Bryonie Pritchard, The Harpoon is wacky, fast-paced and packed with fun and frolics. Subscribe now! 
 
Production credits 
Written by Julian Dutton and Peter Baynham 
Produced by Sarah Smith 
Performed by Susie Brann, Alistair McGowan, Mary Elliot-Nelson, Julian Dutton, Peter Baynham and Bryonie Pritchard 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 7-28 September 1991 (Series 1), 14 December 1991 (Winter Special), 21 December 1991 (Christmas Special), 22 July-12 August 1992 (Series 2), 17 February-10 March 1994 (Series 3) 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Julian Dutton

Liz Fraser

Toby Longworth

David Battley

Simon Godley

Matthew Bell

Stephen Critchley

Peter Hugo-Daly

Full Cast

A BBC Radio 4 Comedy Drama

High comic drama among the humble members of a local council in the Home Counties 
 
Broadcast live from the Club Akimbo, Bletchley, this is Britain's first public access cable radio show, presented by a group of Buckinghamshire district councillors who really should know better. Chairman of the Ways and Means committee Mr Dutton is our host as he introduces us to the items on the agenda, which include sparkling sketches, surreal escapades and musical interludes from Chilean charmer Enrico Valdez and his Orchestra with Mickey Binelli. 
 
Pay a visit to the Ideal Funeral Exhibition; tune into Clink FM, with all the hot hits and cool gossip from Buckinghamshire's grooviest penitentiary; listen to a clip from an early, undiscovered version of Reservoir Dogs written by PG Wodehouse; and hear Sir John Gielgud's lost audition tape for Teletubbies. Plus, we meet jackbooted 'Cockney' garden-centre owner Heinrich Himmler, and go on a cultural exchange with Signor Marinetti, the Mafioso mayor of Bletchley's twin town Las Vegas... 
 
Written by and starring Julian Dutton, with Liz Fraser, David Battley, Toby Longworth, Simon Godley, Peter Hugo-Daly, Stephen Critchlow, Matthew Bell and special guest Cleo Rocos, this is a feast of riotous entertainment from the town they forgot in the AA Guide to Weekend Breaks. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Julian Dutton 
Produced by Dirk Maggs and Andy Aliffe 
Starring Julian Dutton with Liz Fraser, David Battley, Toby Longworth, Simon Godley, Peter Hugo-Daly, Stephen Critchlow and Matthew Bell 
With special guest Cleo Rocos 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 January-5 March 1997 (Series 1), 10 February-17 March 1999 (Series 2) 
 
The humour in this series reflects the era in which the episodes were first broadcast. 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Julian Dutton

Books by Julian Dutton

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