Take It From Here: The Early Years

Vintage shenanigans from the much-loved variety show

Take It from Here was one of the most influential radio shows of all time, ushering in a new era of comedy and introducing an enduring writing partnership: bright young things Frank Muir and Denis Norden. Their witty, literate scripts ensured 13 series of classic capers between 1948 and 1960, and regularly attracted an audience of over 20 million.

Who could forget the barrage of puns, the Take It from Here ‘Oscar’-winning film parodies, Jimmy Edwards’ catchphrases (‘Greetings, gentlefolk!’) – and, of course, the fractious, dysfunctional Glum family, making their debut here in the first episode of Series 7. We also hear the various grumbles and complaints of Wallas Eaton’s curmudgeonly letter-writer, ‘Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells’.

Included in this volume are 43 specially selected episodes from the first eight series, including shows recorded at the Royal Naval Barracks in Portsmouth (Series 2, Episode 13) and HMS Indefatigable at Spithead (Series 6, Episode 24), as well as two Christmas editions of the show from 1953 and 1954.

Packed with all your favourite songs, sketches and send-ups, this bumper collection stars Jimmy Edwards, Dick Bentley, Joy Nichols, Wallas Eaton and June Whitfield, with appearances from Clarence Wright and Wilfred Babbage in Series 1. Accompanying them for some musical interludes are Alma Cogan and The Keynotes.

NB: Some of the language and humour on this recording reflects the era in which it was first broadcast, and due to the age of the source material, the sound quality may vary.


Production credits
Starring Jimmy Edwards, Dick Bentley, Wallas Eaton (Series 2 onwards), Joy Nicholls (Series 1-6), June Whitfield (Series 7 onwards), Wilfred Babbage (Series 1), Clarence Wright (Series 1)
With contributions from ‘Herbert Mostyn’ (aka Frank Muir and Denis Norden)
Written by Frank Muir and Denis Norden
Produced by Charles Maxwell
Music from The Keynotes and the Augmented BBC Revue Orchestra, and Alma Cogan (Series 7 & 8)
With thanks to Keith Wickham

Episode guide

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme on the following dates:

Series 1 (23 March-5 October 1948)
Episode 21 & 23

Series 2 (28 December 1948-28 June 1949)
Episode 3 & 13

Series 4 (24 October 1950-20 May 1951)
Episode 1 & 2

Series 6 (5 January-29 June 1953)
Episode 24

Series 7 (12 November 1953-6 May 1954)
Episode 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24

Series 8 (9 December 1954-2 June 1955)
Episode 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

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