Hark at Barker: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox television | {{Infobox television | ||
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Each show began with a spoof news item read by Barker as the announcer. He would then introduce the main part of the programme, a lecture to be given by Lord Rustless (also Barker) on a different topic each week from his [[stately home]], Chrome Hall. Helped and hindered by Rustless' secretary (Mildred) Bates, his Butler Badger, his bad-tempered Cook, his incoherent gardener Dithers and (in Series 2) his buxom, near-mute maid Effie, these lectures invariably degenerated into farce, and were frequently interrupted by comic sketches on location or in the studio which also starred Barker in differing roles. | Each show began with a spoof news item read by Barker as the announcer. He would then introduce the main part of the programme, a lecture to be given by Lord Rustless (also Barker) on a different topic each week from his [[stately home]], Chrome Hall. Helped and hindered by Rustless' secretary (Mildred) Bates, his Butler Badger, his bad-tempered Cook, his incoherent gardener Dithers and (in Series 2) his buxom, near-mute maid Effie, these lectures invariably degenerated into farce, and were frequently interrupted by comic sketches on location or in the studio which also starred Barker in differing roles. | ||
Barker reprised the role of Lord Rustless in the [[BBC]] series ''[[His Lordship Entertains]]'', and played very similar characters in ''[[ | Barker reprised the role of Lord Rustless in the [[BBC]] series ''[[His Lordship Entertains]]'', and played very similar characters in ''[[Futtocks End]]'' and the ''[[The Two Ronnies|Two Ronnies]]'' specials ''The Picnic'' and ''By the Sea''. | ||
==Writers== | ==Writers== | ||
The Chrome Hall sequences were written by Peter Cauldfield (a [[pseudonym]] of [[Alan Ayckbourn]]). Writers on the sketches included Gerald Wiley (Barker), [[Eric Idle]], and the team of [[Graeme Garden]] and [[Bill Oddie]] (some of their sketches reprised material from ''[[I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again]]'', and another was a forerunner of ''[[The Goodies]]'' episode "Bunfight at the OK Tea Room"). | The Chrome Hall sequences were written by Peter Cauldfield (a [[pseudonym]] of [[Alan Ayckbourn]]). Writers on the sketches included Gerald Wiley (Barker), [[Eric Idle]], and the team of [[Graeme Garden]] and [[Bill Oddie]] (some of their sketches reprised material from ''[[I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again]]'', and another was a forerunner of ''[[The Goodies]]'' episode "Bunfight at the OK Tea Room"). | ||
==Regular cast== | ==Regular cast== | ||
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==Archive status and DVD release== | ==Archive status and DVD release== | ||
All episodes exist on their original 2 inch [[Quadruplex videotape|Quad]] b&w and [[PAL]] colour videotapes bar "Rustless on Law" from series 2, which only exists as a 16 mm b/w [[telerecording]]. The series was released on Region 2 [[DVD]] in 2008 by Network DVD, and are also included in ''The Ronnie Barker Collection'' along with ''[[Six Dates | All episodes exist on their original 2 inch [[Quadruplex videotape|Quad]] b&w and [[PAL]] colour videotapes bar "Rustless on Law" from series 2, which only exists as a 16 mm b/w [[telerecording]]. The series was released on Region 2 [[DVD]] in 2008 by Network DVD, and are also included in ''The Ronnie Barker Collection'' along with ''[[Six Dates with Barker]]'' . | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Latest revision as of 11:07, 15 February 2023
| Hark at Barker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Created by | Alun Owen |
| Written by |
|
| Starring | Ronnie Barker Josephine Tewson David Jason Frank Gatliff |
| Theme music composer | John Gregory |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 15 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Humphrey Barclay |
| Running time | 25 minutes |
| Production company | London Weekend Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV |
| Release | 11 April 1969 – 21 August 1970 |
| Related | |
| Six Dates with Barker | |
Hark at Barker is a 1969 British comedy series combining elements of sitcom and sketch show, which starred Ronnie Barker. It was made for the ITV network by London Weekend Television.
Each show began with a spoof news item read by Barker as the announcer. He would then introduce the main part of the programme, a lecture to be given by Lord Rustless (also Barker) on a different topic each week from his stately home, Chrome Hall. Helped and hindered by Rustless' secretary (Mildred) Bates, his Butler Badger, his bad-tempered Cook, his incoherent gardener Dithers and (in Series 2) his buxom, near-mute maid Effie, these lectures invariably degenerated into farce, and were frequently interrupted by comic sketches on location or in the studio which also starred Barker in differing roles.
Barker reprised the role of Lord Rustless in the BBC series His Lordship Entertains, and played very similar characters in Futtocks End and the Two Ronnies specials The Picnic and By the Sea.
Writers
The Chrome Hall sequences were written by Peter Cauldfield (a pseudonym of Alan Ayckbourn). Writers on the sketches included Gerald Wiley (Barker), Eric Idle, and the team of Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie (some of their sketches reprised material from I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again, and another was a forerunner of The Goodies episode "Bunfight at the OK Tea Room").
Regular cast
- Ronnie Barker - Announcer / Lord Rustless / Various sketch characters
- David Jason - Dithers / Various sketch characters
- Frank Gatliff - Badger
- Josephine Tewson - Mildred Bates
- Mary Baxter - Cook
- Moira Foot - Effie the maid (series 2 only)
- Other sketch performers included Pauline Yates, Michael Palin, Jo Kendall and Ronnie Corbett.
Episode guide
Series 1 (11 April 1969 – 30 May 1969) - Produced in black and white
- 1. "Meet Lord Rustless" 11 April 1969
- 2. "Rustless And Women" 18 April 1969
- 3. "Rustless In Pigtails" 25 April 1969
- 4. "Rustless And A Banquet" 2 May 1969
- 5. "Rustless And Murder" 9 May 1969
- 6. "Rustless And Foreigners" 16 May 1969
- 7. "Rustless And The Solar System" 23 May 1969
- 8. "Rustless And Relics" 30 May 1969
Series 2 (10 July 1970 – 21 August 1970) - Produced in colour
- 1. "Rustless On Music" 10 July 1970
- 2. "Rustless On Law" 17 July 1970
- 3. "Rustless On Communications" 24 July 1970
- 4. "Rustless On Cooking" 31 July 1970
- 5. "Rustless On Medicine" 7 August 1970
- 6. "Rustless On Do-It-Yourself" 14 August 1970
- 7. "Rustless On Sport" 21 August 1970
All Star Comedy Carnival Christmas Special (25 December 1970) - Produced in black and white due to the ITV Colour Strike
Archive status and DVD release
All episodes exist on their original 2 inch Quad b&w and PAL colour videotapes bar "Rustless on Law" from series 2, which only exists as a 16 mm b/w telerecording. The series was released on Region 2 DVD in 2008 by Network DVD, and are also included in The Ronnie Barker Collection along with Six Dates with Barker .
External links
- Hark at Barker at IMDb
- Comedy Guide - Hark At Barker at bbc.co.uk
- Hark at Barker episode guide
- Lost Shows on Hark at Barker
- Paul Lewis, 2008: Review of the Network DVD release of Hark at Barker. DVDCompare
- Articles with short description
- Pages using infobox television with unknown parameters
- IMDb title ID not in Wikidata
- ITV sitcoms
- 1969 British television series debuts
- 1970 British television series endings
- 1960s British television sketch shows
- 1970s British comedy television series
- Television series by ITV Studios
- London Weekend Television shows
- English-language television shows
