Take It From Here

Four episodes from the much-loved radio show starring Dick Bentley, Jimmy Edwards, June Whitfield, and Wallas EatonTake It from Here was one of the most influential radio shows of all time, sweeping in a new era of comedy and introducing an enduring pair of writers: bright young things Frank Muir and Denis Norden. Their literate scripts, and the madcap adventures of Dick Bentley, "Professor" Jimmy Edwards, and June Whitfield, ensured 11 years of classic capers. 
Who could forget the barrage of puns, the Take It from Here "Oscar"-winning screen skits, and the hilarious weekly reports on the marathon engagement of the drippy Ron and the doting Eth of The Glums? "Oh, Ron!" and the inevitable response 'Oh, Eth!' became a despairing catchphrase that swept the land, and The Glums' popularity continued in two television series. 
Now we can laugh again at their timeless humour in these four fantastic episodes from 1958. Oh, bliss! 
©2007 BBC Audiobooks Ltd (P)2007 BBC Audiobooks Ltd

43 Episodes from Series 1-8 of the Classic BBC Radio Comedy

Take It From Here: The Early Years

Vintage shenanigans from the much-loved classic radio show starring Jimmy Edwards, June Whitfield and Dick Bentley 
 
Take It from Here (first broadcast between 1948 and 1960) was one of the most influential radio shows of all time, sweeping in a new era of comedy and introducing an enduring pair of writers: bright young things Frank Muir and Denis Norden. Their literate scripts, and the madcap adventures of the show's stars - Dick Bentley, Jimmy Edwards, Joy Nichols, June Whitfield and Alma Cogan - ensured 11 years of classic capers. The show is best remembered for introducing The Glums, who featured regularly. 
 
This Early Years collection features 43 surviving episodes from Series 1 to 8. 
 
©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Vintage shenanigans from the much-loved classic radio show starring Jimmy Edwards, June Whitfield and Dick Bentley 
 
Take It from Here (first broadcast between 1948 and 1960) was one of the most influential radio shows of all time, sweeping in a new era of comedy and introducing an enduring pair of writers: bright young things Frank Muir and Denis Norden. Their literate scripts, and the madcap adventures of the show's stars - Dick Bentley, Jimmy Edwards, Joy Nichols, June Whitfield and Alma Cogan - ensured 11 years of classic capers. The show is best remembered for introducing The Glums, who featured regularly. 
 
This Early Years collection features 43 surviving episodes from Series 1 to 8. 
 
©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

40 Episodes from Series 9-13 of the Classic BBC Radio Comedy

Take It From Here: The Later Years

Vintage shenanigans from the much-loved classic radio show starring Jimmy Edwards, June Whitfield and Dick Bentley 
 
Take It from Here (first broadcast between 1948 and 1960) was one of the most influential radio shows of all time, sweeping in a new era of comedy and introducing an enduring pair of writers: bright young things Frank Muir and Denis Norden. Their literate scripts, and the madcap adventures of the show's stars - Dick Bentley, Jimmy Edwards, Joy Nichols, June Whitfield and Alma Cogan - ensured 11 years of classic capers. The show is best remembered for introducing The Glums, who featured regularly. In 1959, Muir and Norden moved into writing for television, and the BBC brought in the now legendary writers Barry Took and Eric Merriman for the final season. 
 
This Later Years collection features 40 surviving episodes from Series 9 to 13. 
 
©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Frank Muir

Denis Norden

Jimmy Edwards

June Whitfield

Roy Dotrice

Roger Shepherd

Full Cast

Arthur Howard

Selected Episodes from the Classic BBC Radio Comedy

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 
Adapted for radio by David Climie 
Produced by Edward Taylor 
 
Cast 
The Headmaster – Jimmy Edwards 
Mr Pettigrew – Arthur Howard 
Matron/Mildred/Lady Westbury/Edwina – June Whitfield 
Mr Fowler/Mr Harboard – Laidman Browne 
School Inspector – David Bird 
Lumley – Roger Shepherd 
Aubrey Potter – Roddy Maude-Roxby 
The French Mistress – Tonia Bern 
Mr Dinwiddie/Soames/Alfred Tennyson – Frederick Treves 
Eamonn O’Reilly – Michael Turner/Roy Dotrice/Wallas Eaton 
Taplow – David Lott 
The Marchioness/Lady Uppingham – Joan Sanderson 
Dr Sopwith/Magistrate/Bulenkov/Major Prosser/Len Rumbold/Samuel Tozer – Roy Dotrice 
Sir Charles – Norman Shelley 
Antony Dorchester – Harold Berens 
Ginger Perkins – Sam Kydd 
Miss Fanshawe/Mrs Mortlake – Joan Young 
Mr Lumley – Phillip Morant 
Figgins – Graham Aza 
Mr Arkwright/Vicar – John Cazabon 
Marvin – Malcolm Ranson 
Brigadier Lumley – Austin Trevor 
Bailey – Harry Locke 
Inspector Matthews – Fred Yule 
Mr Barlow/Forth Robinson/Rev Barnwell Munro – John Graham 
Arnold Halliforth – Edwin Apps 
Yvette – Prunella Scales 
Mr Wiltshire – David Graham 
Terry – John Pike 
Phipps – John Coxall 
Music master – Edwin Braden 
Mrs Baker – Patricia Hayes 
Mr Morgan/Biggs – Julian Somers 
Rawlinson – Philip Leavermore 
With Brian Thomas, John Mitchell, Heather Bennett, Jennie Lathan, Angela Shade, Michael Hammond, Richard McCarthy, Eamonn Andrews, Stuart Anderson, Kenneth Gouge, Vera Lynn, Harry Lewis, Sheila Grant, Diana Olsson, Elizabeth Morgan, Amos the Owl 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Lt

Denis Norden

Books by Denis Norden

Series by Denis Norden

Take It From Here

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter