Policing Britain

7th, 14th, 21st December, BBC Radio 4

Summary

Andy Hayman presents a three part series for BBC Radio 4 on law and order in today's UK. Featuring exclusive interviews with senior police officers, government ministers and Civil Service mandarins.

“a depth of knowledge and excellent sources...” The Guardian.

Production Credits

Presented by Andy Hayman

Produced by Richard Clemmow

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1929: Crash, Bang, Wallop!

20th October 2009, BBC Radio 2

Summary

Kirsty Wark looks into the cultural impact of the last stock market crash and ensuing Great Depression. It was the era of Hollywood’s Golden Age, the birth of radio, and the Dust Bowl Ballads.

“This classy documentary...” The Guardian.

Production Credits

Presented by Kirsty Wark

Produced by David Morley

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What Became Of The Bank Manager?

18th September 2009, BBC Radio 4

Summary

Clive Anderson, whose father was a bank manager, investigates the demise of the traditional high street Captain Mainwaring and asks if this cautious beast might have been useful in recent times.

Production Credits

Presented by Clive Anderson

Produced by David Morley

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The Hunt for Sexton Blake

28th July 2009, BBC Radio 2

Summary

Sexton Blake is the missing link between Sherlock Holmes and James Bond. The square jawed sleuth is still the best selling British character ever created, with over 4000 stories and 200 authors behind him. In anticipation of the comedy drama series, The Adventures of Sexton Blake, David Quantick uncovers the story behind this literary phenomenon.

Production Credits

Presented by David Quantick

Produced by David Morley

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Growing Up with the Goons

Christmas Day 2008, BBC Radio 2

Summary

Andy Secombe, son of Goon Harry Secombe, goes in search of the other children of the Goons. What were their experiences of living in the shadow of the single most influential 20th Century British radio comedy show?

For years Andy was hounded by teachers and classmates expecting the son of Neddie Seagoon to be as feckless as his father’s Goon character.

However, it was only in 2001, after being persuaded to take part in the 50th Anniversary Radio 2 Goon Show re-creation, that he felt he was ready to accept his inheritance.

As part of the documentary, Andy speaks to Sile Milligan (daughter of Spike), Sarah Sellers (daughter of Peter), Jenny Secombe (Sir Harry’s daughter) and radio comics Mitch Benn and Steve Punt whose fathers both introduced them to the Goons.

Production Credits

Presented by Andy Secombe

Produced by David Morley

Directed by Dirk Maggs

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Neither Here Nor There - A Celebration Of Chic Murray

28th August 2007, BBC Radio 2

“[a] gem of a programme”
Gillian Reynolds, The Telegraph

Summary

Chic Murray was regarded by his entertainment industry peers as one of the true geniuses of comedy. His uniquely surreal and rambling observations attracted everyone from Spike Milligan to Sean Connery to Orson Welles. For Billy Connolly he remains the comedian’s comedian.

In this hour long celebration of Chic’s life and work, Hollywood actor and Murray fan Brian Cox introduces reminiscences, songs and sketches from the ‘tall droll’ himself, and tributes from Timothy Spall, John Sessions, Bill Paterson, Barry Cryer, and film composer Patrick Doyle, with Chic’s wife Maidie, his daughter Annabelle Meredith - and Billy Connolly himself.

Production Credits

Devised and directed by Simon Treves

Presented by Brian Cox

Produced by Dirk Maggs