Lawrie Wyman Audiobooks

Lawrie Wyman (1923 to 1982) was a British comedy scriptwriter, born in Brentford, Middlesex, who served in the army during the Second World War before finding his trade at the BBC, writing for comedians including Michael Howard and Derek Roy. Teaming up with Len Fincham in the early 1950s, he co-wrote scripts for Morecambe and Wise, Peter Brough, Peter Jones, and Jewel and Warriss.

His defining idea arrived in 1958: a comedy about the exploits of a military unit, pitched to BBC producer Alastair Scott Johnston and built around Jon Pertwee. It became The Navy Lark, one of the most successful comedy series in British radio history, starring Pertwee, Leslie Phillips and Stephen Murray, with Ronnie Barker also aboard. The series ran for 244 episodes until 1977 with Wyman credited as writer or co-writer throughout, and spawned spin-offs including The Embassy Lark. He later co-wrote scripts for Bless This House, Love Thy Neighbour and Carry On Dick, and died in London in 1982, aged 58.

Vintage radio comedy has found a genuine second life in audiobook catalogues, and Wyman’s masterwork is a prime example. The Navy Lark: Series 1 and 2 is the place to start – the naval comedy that made his name, from the very first episodes – with The Navy Lark: Series 3, 4 and 5 and the later collected runs showing how the formula deepened over two decades on air. For UK listeners of a certain vintage this is pure time travel; for younger ones, it is a masterclass in ensemble timing from the era when radio ruled British comedy, written by one of its most dependable craftsmen.