Audio Comedy - TNL - S9 (5) - Video

Variable Audio Quality

S09E19 - Frying Up
S09E20 - Have Been Painting Pink Spots

The Navy Lark is a radio sitcom about life aboard a British Royal Navy frigate named HMS Troutbridge (a play on HMS Troubridge, a Royal Navy destroyer) based in HMNB Portsmouth. In series 1 and 2, the ship and crew were stationed offshore at an unnamed location known simply as "The Island". In series 2 this island was revealed to be owned by Lt. Cdr. Stanton.

The programme was transmitted on the BBC Light Programme and subsequently BBC Radio 2. It was produced by Alastair Scott Johnston. Jon Pertwee is frequently quoted as having suggested the idea of a forces comedy based on the Royal Navy, but Alastair Scott Johnston and writer Laurie Wyman both contemplated an Air Force- and an Army-themed sitcom before going to the BBC with The Navy Lark. Wyman included ideas based on excuses for late return from leave and other misdemeanours from HMS Troubridge bulletins. He worked with George Evans (Pertwee's personal scriptwriter) from quite early on, but Alastair Scott Johnston did not want him named until the 12th series onwards. For most of its run the show starred Leslie Phillips, Jon Pertwee and Stephen Murray, whose names rotated in order of precedence with each new episode over the entire 15-season run. Stephen Murray's daughter Amanda Murray (b. 1942) also appeared in a few episodes.

Plot
Episodes were self-contained, although there was continuity within the series, and sometimes a reference to a previous episode might be made. A normal episode consisted of Sub Lt Phillips, scheming Chief Petty Officer Pertwee, and bemused Lt. Murray trying to get out of trouble they created for themselves without their direct superior, Commander (later Captain) "Thunderguts" Povey finding out. Scenes frequently featured a string of eccentric characters, often played by Ronnie Barker or Jon Pertwee. Over the course of the programme Lt Murray marries Admiral Ffont-Bittocks' daughter Rita.

The Republic of Potarneyland, a country situated somewhere on the Indian subcontinent, is featured in several episodes. Over the course of the series, it is revealed that Potarneyland had recently been granted independence from Great Britain, and had joined NATO because the Potanis considered it to be a "free gift scheme". During Series 3 of The Navy Lark, a Potarneyland frigate, the Poppadom, appears in several episodes manned by various Potani officers voiced by Michael Bates and Ronnie Barker.

Cast
Dennis Price as Lieutenant Price ("Number One") (Series 1)
Leslie Phillips as Sub-Lieutenant Phillips, Captain McDoom
Jon Pertwee as Chief Petty Officer Pertwee, Commander Weatherby, Vice-Admiral "Burbly" Burwasher, The Master
Stephen Murray as Lieutenant/Lieutenant Commander Murray ("Number One")
Richard Caldicot as Commander/Captain Povey
Ronnie Barker as Able Seaman "Fatso" Johnson, Lieutenant Commander (Archibald) Stanton, Lieutenant Queeg (Series 1as9), Commander Bell, Intelligence
Heather Chasen as WREN Chasen, Mrs. Ramona Povey, Lady Toddhunter-Brown, Rita Murray (née Ffont-Bittocks), Second Officer McCluty, The Mistress
Tenniel Evans as Able Seaman (later Leading Seaman) "Taffy" Goldstein, Admiral Ffont-Bittocks, Ebeneezer Pertwee, Sir Willoughby Toddhunter-Brown
Michael Bates as Able Seaman Ginger, Lieutenant Bates, Rear Admiral Ironbridge, Padre, Captain Ignatius Aloysius Atchison, Flag Lieutenant Claude Dingle
Judy Cornwell as WREN Cornwell (Series 4 only)
Laurie Wyman as Able Seaman (later Inspector) Burt Tiddy, various
April Walker as WREN Barrett (Series 15 only)
Guests:

Jan Waters as WREN Waters (Series 7, ep 1,2)
Derek Francis as Sir Jeremy Crichton Buller (Series 8, ep. 10)
Frank Thornton as Henry Pettigrew (Series 8, ep. 10)