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Jimmy Edwards stars as the irascible Headmaster in this vintage BBC Radio comedy series set in a boys’ public school
Starting life on BBC TV, Whack-O! transferred to radio in 1961 and ran for three series on the Light Programme until 1963. Not all of the radio episodes survive, but many from Series 1 and the entirety of Series 2 were recovered by a BBC archivist from a listener’s tapes in 2012, and have since been broadcast on Radio 4 Extra.
Collected here are those rediscovered episodes, featuring scholastic scheming and academic anarchy at Chiselbury School. An old-established seat of learning for the ‘sons of gentlefolk’, Chiselbury is presided over by whack-happy Headmaster Professor James Edwards, who runs rings around his fellow masters and never misses a trick when it comes to exploiting the pupils and their parents.
In this catalogue of comic mishaps, the Professor attempts to close down a rival school; hatches a plan to win a cash prize in a popularity contest; goes up before the magistrate accused of excessive use of the cane and endeavours to impress a visiting dignitary from Moscow. And his guile is put to the test when he makes a reckless wager; comes up with a catchy publicity gimmick to attract more pupils and faces a staffing crisis when a teacher has the temerity to leave…
Co-starring June Whitfield as Matron and Roddy Maude-Roxby as Aubrey Potter, this farcical, fun-filled sitcom also features special guest appearances from Eamonn Andrews and Vera Lynn.
NB: Due to the age and nature of these recordings, the sound quality may vary.
Some episodes contain dated attitudes and language
Written by Frank Muir and Denis Norden
Episode List
- 01 – Whack-O!
- 02 – Whack-O!
- 03 – Whack-O!
- 04 – Whack-O!
- 05 – Whack-O!
- 06 – Whack-O!
- 07 – Whack-O!
- 08 – Whack-O!
- 09 – Whack-O!
- 10 – Whack-O!
- 11 – Whack-O!
- 12 – Whack-O!
- 13 – Whack-O!
- 14 – Whack-O!
- 15 – Whack-O!
- 16 – Whack-O!
- 17 – Whack-O!
- 18 – Whack-O!
- 19 – Whack-O!
- 20 – Whack-O!
- 21 – Whack-O!
- 22 – Whack-O!
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- 24 – Whack-O!
- 25 – Whack-O!
- 26 – Whack-O!