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Whack-O!

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Jim's World- an online appreciation of Jimmy Edwards

This page is really a sub-division of Jim's World- my Jimmy Edwards page (see the above link) and is devoted to my favourite series Jimmy starred in- 'Whack-o!'

* BACKGROUND
This classic situation comedy began life on television. Starring Jimmy Edwards, 'Whack-o!' proved an ideal vehicle for 'Professor' Edwards. The show was brilliantly written by Frank Muir and Denis Norden and one of the early major successes on British screens

One of the episodes ('Potter Wins The Pools') was shown as part of the Lime Grove celebration in the early 1990's. A spin-off film called 'Bottoms Up!' was made which is considerably better than most reviews would have you believe.
In 1961 the series began on radio, running until 1963 and chalking-up 45 editions.

In the show log below I have given the opening remarks/gist which introduce the story. Most episodes are easy to identify in any case. All shows are complete except for (s/m)= words of start missing; (c/m)= end credits partly or wholly missing; (e/m)= end of show missing.
If you have, or think you have, good sound quality copies of any of these shows or any of the ones I do not have then please contact me via. the E-Mail address at the bottom of the page
* CAST LIST OF THE RADIO SERIES
Professor James Edwards- Jimmy Edwards
Mr. Oliver Pettigrew- Arthur Howard (first show only)
Mr. Aubrey Potter- Roddy Maude-Roxby
Mr. Alfred Tennyson- Frederick Treves
Mr. Arnold Halliforth (series 2&3)- Edwin Apps
Matron- June Whitfield
A.J.Lumley (series 2&3)- Roger Shepherd
Phipps (series 2)- John Coxall
Fenner (series 3)- John Coxall
Others appearing included Patricia Hayes and Joan Sanderson.
***SERIES ONE***
1) "The School Strike" (23/5/61)
-' A school beyond comparison...buses run through North end of Assembly Hall'/ Specialised Maths teaching... Headmaster's study as he wonders how many whacks he has done on Tatlow
2) ? (30/5/61) * [missing] *
3) 'The Grange School For Boys' (6/6/61)
- 'Light airy classrooms, large yet cosy dormitories'...Chiselbury being run on democratic lines/ School Council's discussion of school play production. AKA 'Nicholas Nickleby'
4) 'The French Mistress' (13/6/61) * [missing] *
5) 'The Marchioness' (20/6/61)
- 'One of the few schools where the practical is combined with the theoretical'...riding class/ More conventional subjects thoroughly covered- Headmaster's class in elementary arithmetic.
6) 'The Student Prince' (27/6/61)
- ...'By dropping into the study of the Headmaster himself...Beau Edwards' (s/m)
7) 'Potter Takes Over' (4/7/61)
- 'Completely rounded education'...handicrafts...'proper little baskets'/ emphasises the arts- 'concert in the Great Hall'(c/m)
8) 'The £25 Outing Money' (11/7/61)
- Old Boys returning to gaze at hallowed old pile/'nothing but the best'...Sir Anthony Dorchester's Visit as he tries to sell Jim school supplies (c/m)
9) 'The Boxing Championship' (18/7/61)
- Old Boys sending their sons to Chiselbury/Dartmoor and Pentonville visiting days...signs of incipient manhood...Lower Third shaving. (c/m)
10) 'The Inspector's Visit'(25/7/61)
- 'Sons who have gone onto be more than gentlefolk'- Empire builders...Scientists being of value- Tennyson presents progress graph to Headmaster (c/m)
11) 'The Popularity Ballot'(1/8/61)
- Pupils that 'will make their mark in future years' but some will also be able to write names/'all work and no play...'school Outing...English literature class as Potter reads poetry (c/m)
12) 'Exposure!' (8/8/61)
- 'School's record proudly displayed on Honours Board... before boys return from half-term holiday Potter scrubs Headmaster's floor.
13) 'Task Master' (15/8/61)
- 'Like all progressive schools...excursions for boys to see wheels of government in motion/judicial drama...Jim on trial for being violent towards Lumley! (s/m) AKA 'On Trial'
14) 'The Dismissal' (22/8/61)
- 'Old Boys well represented in cabinets'/ Secrets of success is careful planning via. staff meetings...Senior Common Room staff meeting (c/m) AKA 'The Sack'
15) 'The Book Prizes' (29/8/61)
- Despite imposing qualifications Headmaster is not aloof...'giving praise where praise is due' (s/m)
16) 'The New Post' (5/9/61)
- Sons following colours to many a foreign field...Customs & traditions/ Ceremony in Headmaster's Study (c/m)
17) 'The Cricket Pavilion Fire' (12/9/61)
- School encouraging pupils to keep a straight bat as opposed to Vampire Bat/ Details involved in running a school...staff photograph in Headmaster's study in front of model of new Cricket Pavilion (c/m)
18) 'The Burglary' (19/9/61)
- 'School steeped in ancient tradition... love the boys have for their Headmaster shown in small ways'... 3.00 a.m. surprise outside his bedroom door (c/m)
19) 'This Is Your Life' (26/9/61)
- Delegating authority...Potter & Matron's sock darning discussion (s/m) [Guest star-EAMMON ANDREWS]
20) 'The End-Of-Term Report' (3/10/61)
- School maintains ancient tradition ...if pupils marched past in line...identification parade...mixed emotions of end of term
***SERIES TWO***
1) 'The Russian Visitor' (1/3/62)
-School's exclusiveness- high stone wall keeping all undesirables in/ Headmaster returns from Moscow.
2) 'Jim's Attempt To Win Respect' (8/3/62)
- 'Headmaster's scholarly advice and academic encouragement...' pupils take trouble for Headmaster's benefit/ Lower Third Dormitory.
3) 'The Recording' (15/3/62)
- 'Corridors have echoed....'/ virtues of charity which begins at home...music room auditions for charity concert. [Guest star-VERA LYNN]
4) ? (22/3/62) * [missing] *
5) 'Mr.Phipps' Bet' (29/3/62)
- Headmaster sets social example... 'Willingness to work with unpromising material'/ practising having shots in his study (c/m)
6) 'The Factory' (5/4/62)
- Scientific encouragement...scientific experiment (s/m)
7) 'Pools Win' (12/4/62)
- 'School so exclusive Minister of Education not encouraged to visit it'/ Headmaster's success a result of keeping abreast of news...Headmaster at breakfast (c/m)
8) 'Chiselbury Experiment' (19/4/62)
- ...'Up-to-date equipment...good Headmaster knows value of personal touch to staff/ staff- meeting and Jim's criticisms (s/m)
9) 'Mildred's Little Bit' (26/4/62)
- '...even now being discussed outside the Chiselbury picture palace'/ boys try to sneak in to films posing as adults (s/m)
10) 'The New Master' (3/5/62)
- Devotion of staff unequallled except by crew of 'Bounty'/A Master leaving... Ceremony in Headmaster's Office: farewell to Halliforth. (s/m) AKA. 'Minimum Wage' or 'Welsh Harp'
11) 'The Old Lag' (10/5/62)
- 'But let no one imagine...common philosophy...Common celebration in School tuck-shop' (s/m)
12) 'The Cross-Country Cup' (17/5/62)
- Pupils go forth with confidence to 4 corners of world/hand of Headmaster missing from reign...Headmaster's absence causes puzzlement.
***SERIES THREE***
1) 'Madison Avenue' (unconfirmed) (29/4/63) * [missing] *
2) 'The Quiz Game' (6/5/63)
- Many people would put school before Eton etc. ...unexpected incident in Headmaster's study- Jim suffering.
3) 'The Girl' (13/5/63)
- Minister of Education visited recently- 'Chiselbury made me boil'/ Tour of school with new boys (s/m)
4) 'The Whacking Machine' (20/5/63)
- Many of pupils will become familiar figures in courts of Europe...'One practical demonstration is worth a dozen theories'/Lower Third science group in Headmaster's study (s/m)
5) 'The New Matron' (27/5/63)
- ...'delinquency...Headmaster's are not the only ones to find life hectic'...Potter finds darning socks difficult and Jim refuses to get a new matron (s/m)
6) 'Jim's Better Self' (3/6/63)
- 'Even in the sternest atmosphere a mood of relaxation must prevail'...travel warrants being issued (s/m) AKA. 'Measles'
7) 'Top Of The Form' (10/6/63)
- School officially classified as a seat of learning/ painful scene just taken place in Headmaster's study...Headmaster has cained Mr.Halliforth by mistake!
8) 'The New Uniform' (17/6/63)
- [start missing]- 'could go to a good school and walk down the street looking a lot of right twits....' (s/m)(c/m)
9) 'The Empty Cash Box' (24/6/63)
- 'Even the most concientious Headmaster ...Headmaster leaves pay negotiations to Potter but strike is threatened by staff (s/m)
10) 'The Fete' (1/7/63)
- The Three 'R's'...Pupils hang on Headmaster's every word...Jim's absence and the microphone set-up (s/m)
11) 'The Upjohn Statue' (8/7/63)
- School leaves an indelible impression on pupils/ceremonial punishment for placing object on steeple (e/m)
12) 'The T.V. Set' (15/7/63)
- 'School offers the most comprehensive curriculum in the country'...latest innovation of television for schools.
13) 'Jim Ahoy' (22/7/63)
- 'A system of education unequalled by any teacher past or present'...Headmaster finds time for staff/ Mr.Tennyson prepares class for Headmaster's impending visit to Lower Third classroom (s/m)

Email: richtharr@freenet.co.uk