Product Description

This title with the Clam Shell box packaging, is no longer available. It will however now be obtainable as "The Navy Lark: The Collection: Series 5 Featuring The TV Lark" (9781408467107) in a jewel CD case. It includes classic BBC radio comedy starring Leslie Phillips, Jon Pertwee, Stephen Murray, Ronnie Barker and Tenniel Evans. It also includes a sixteen-page booklet which will contain a detailed history of the programme's development, cast biographies, an episode guide and Radio Times clippings; all 6 episodes of "Series Five" of "The Navy Lark" plus 9 episodes of "The TV Lark" - all but one previously unreleased - Classic BBC Radio comedy starring Jon Pertwee, Leslie Phillips, Stephen Murray, Ronnie Barker and Tenniel Evans. It features a 16-page booklet containing a detailed history of the programme's development, cast biographies, an episode guide and Radio Times clippings - Running time: 7 hours 30 mins. The Navy Lark will be aboard the HMS Troutbridge again! Written by Laurie Wyman (with George Evans from the 12th Series onwards). For most of its run, it starred Stephen Murray, Jon Pertwee and Leslie Phillips. This collection will also include "The TV Lark", a sitcom intended to be a replacement for "The Navy Lark" starting with what would have been the series' fifth season. The entire cast had been drummed out of the service (as the announcer puts it) and hired by Troutbridge TV Ltd. However, each episode veered closer and closer back to its Naval origins until finally the ongoing plot was that Murray, Phillips, and Pertwee were in charge of producing a weekly TV show about life in the Navy!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #40067 in Books
• Published on: 2009-07-02
• Format: Audiobook
• Binding: Audio CD

Customer Reviews

Navy lark but off form
Having listened to the TV lark episodes several times now, I still cannot put my finger (or ears) on what it is that makes them less funny than the Navy Lark.
The same characters bar those played by Heather Chasen are set to work producing TV programmes but the catch phrases and situations are just not the same as the Navy Lark portion of this set and in my opinion are not as funny.
I have given it 3 stars for the improvement that comes with the return of HMS Troutbridge. Although it is interesting from the completist's viewpoint.

Navy Lark Series 5
In January 1963 the BBC mothballed HMS Troutbridge and transferred the crew to a commercial TV station. The resulting programme was, to say the least a disappointment. However Aunty quickly realised her mistake and returned the crew to the sea for the 5th series of the "Navy Lark".
The "TV Lark" remains a curiosity for interested fans.(Note episode 9 is missing. If you have a recording this episode BBC Audiobooks and/or the Navy Lark Appreciation Society would love to hear from you.)
All six episodes of the Navy Lark Series 5 are included in this set and the audio quality is excellent.
The Episodes are > First Day Out of Dock = The New Barmaid = A Deliberate Bashing = The Whittlesea Regatta = Troutbridge Gets A Rocket = The Ghost Ship
This is an essential purchase for all Navy Lark fans.

More Great Stuff
Just about anybody who grew up in Britain the fifties and sixties must remember The Navy Lark. It was very funny then and still is now.
Curiously, I don't recall the TV Lark so this came as a bit of a surprise. Presumably somebody (Laurie Wyman?) thought the Navy format was getting a bit stale and decided to try something different so Captain Povey and the crew of HMS Troutbridge were demobbed and hired to run a new independent TV station.
It was a nice idea but didn't really work and the TV station gradually got involved with more and more outside broadcasts involving the Navy. As a result it got funnier and, eventually, it was revealed that the crew were all still on demob leave and were recalled to service and get Troutbridge out of mothballs. From here on it was back to normal for The Navy Lark with some great episodes.
The early episodes of The TV Lark aren't up to the established standard but still funny and a must for all 'Lark' fans. The best thing is that it just gets better and better as you progress through the CDs in this box set.
I can't wait for Series 6!