The Navy Lark : Series 1, Episode 1

The Navy Lark Series One, Episode 1 : The Missing Jeep The Navy Lark was a classic BBC Radio comedy that ran for an incredible 15 series between 1959 and the mid-1970s, with largely the same cast throughout. It featured a brilliant ensemble of actors, each playing multiple characters — many of them instantly recognisable thanks to their famous catchphrases. Some of the most memorable characters include the gloriously dodgy Chief Petty Officer Pertwee, the Navy’s oldest Sub-Lieutenant, Phillips, Able Seaman Goldstein, and Wren Chasen - often the only sensible person on board. There’s also the long-suffering Lieutenant Murray, and of course their collective nemesis, the permanently exasperated Commander Povey. The series follows the ongoing misadventures of HMS Troutbridge. In the first two series, Troutbridge is a shore-based naval establishment, but from Series 3 onwards it becomes a fully fledged warship — which gives the crew even more opportunity to unleash absolute chaos. All told, The Navy Lark ran for a whopping 244 episodes across 15 series, cementing its place as one of the most enduring and beloved radio comedies in British broadcasting history.