Clara’s Verdict
Some recordings are historical artefacts as much as entertainment — and The Navy Lark: Series 6 and 7 sits squarely in that category. Broadcast between 1963 and 1965, these 33 episodes (plus the delightful 1965 Christmas Special) represent British radio comedy at a peculiar peak: absurdist naval bureaucracy, farcical romances, and the kind of cheerful insubordination that could only flourish in the BBC Light Programme. I’ve revisited this collection twice now, and what strikes me most is how effortlessly it holds up. The writing is tighter than you might expect from something this old, the ensemble timing is impeccable, and Jon Pertwee — years before his TARDIS tenure — is simply magnificent.
This isn’t a passive listen. You’ll need to surrender to its rhythm. But if you do, you’ll find something genuinely funny, and genuinely human.
About the Audiobook
HMS Troutbridge returns from eventful leave in Series 6, sailing straight into a series of magnificently ill-advised schemes. Sub-Lieutenant Pertwee embroils himself in money-making ventures of varying legality, Captain Povey navigates domestic crises with characteristic bluster, and the stoker « Fatso » Johnson’s literary and culinary ambitions cause precisely the sort of havoc you’d expect. Series 7, broadcast two years later in summer 1965, brings romantic rivalry back to the fore — Mr Phillips and Mr Murray competing for Wren Chasen’s affections in episodes that crackle with the warmth of a well-established cast who clearly enjoyed each other’s company.
The Christmas Special, « Hitting the Ice Floe, » was made specifically for BBC Overseas Service broadcasts to the British Antarctic Survey Teams — a detail that adds a faintly melancholy poignancy to its festive silliness. The production notes are admirably candid about the source material’s age: some language reflects the era, and audio quality varies. Neither should put you off.
Episodes are not given their original titles (the BBC didn’t bother) but have been assigned names for easy navigation, consistent with previous commercial releases. There are 33 episodes across the two series, running to nearly 16 hours in total — a serious commitment, and worth every minute for enthusiasts of classic British radio.
The Narration
To call this « narrated by Leslie Phillips » is slightly misleading — he’s one of the principal cast members, not a narrator in any conventional sense. Phillips plays Mr Phillips (yes, really) with his trademark velvet smugness, and the ensemble around him includes Ronnie Barker in early form, Richard Caldicot’s magnificent pomposity as various authority figures, and Jon Pertwee doing what Pertwee always did: filling every corner of the frame with comic energy. Stephen Murray anchors the ensemble as the long-suffering Mr Murray, and Heather Chasen’s Wren Chasen is one of radio’s more underrated comic creations.
The audio has been remastered by Ted Kendall, and while this can’t entirely compensate for 60-year-old source recordings, it’s sympathetically done. The warmth of the original studio performances comes through clearly.
What Readers Say
With only a handful of ratings at present, the audience here is self-selecting — people who already know and love The Navy Lark and are seeking a high-quality digital version of the classic episodes. That audience has given it a perfect five stars, and the enthusiasm is palpable. Listeners particularly value the completeness of the collection and the quality of the remastering, noting that it does justice to performances they’ve loved for decades. First-time listeners who’ve stumbled across it tend to report genuine surprise at how funny it still is — which is, frankly, the best possible endorsement.
Who Should Listen?
If you love classic British radio comedy — Round the Horne, I’m Sorry, I’ll Read That Again, The Goon Show — this belongs in your collection without question. It’s also an ideal introduction for anyone curious about pre-television British comedy, or about the early careers of performers like Ronnie Barker and Jon Pertwee. History teachers and anyone interested in postwar British culture will find it fascinating social documentation as well as great fun. Younger listeners willing to tune their ears to the conventions of 1960s radio comedy will be rewarded handsomely.
Listen on Audible UK and let HMS Troutbridge take you on a voyage you won’t regret: Get The Navy Lark: Series 6 and 7 on Audible UK.
