The experience of a prisoner of war (POW) held by Japan during World War II was often harrowing, marked by extreme hardship, brutality, and psychological trauma.As described by Kenneth Horne: The days ground on like some eternal torment, some diabolic punishment for our past misdeeds, boiling sun, empty bellies, bone weary nights on the stone floor of the cell, an occasional man, too sick to move being moved from the cell to God knows where, each day an eternity. March out in the m...

When Kenneth Horne died in 1969 at the age of 61, he was described as 'the last of the truly great radio comics'. In a broadcasting career spanning more than 25 years he starred in three of the most popular radio comedy series of all time - "Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh", "Beyond Our Ken" and "Round the Horne". Born in 1907, Horne was the youngest of seven children of a Congregationalist preacher and MP. He won a half-blue for tennis at Cambridge but was sent down for failing his exams. In 19...

Selected episodes from the much loved Much Binding in the Marsh seriesMuch Binding in the Marsh ran from 1944 to 1954 initially set at a remote RAF station before being converted to a country club and later the action moved to a newspaper.

Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden and Hugh Paddick star in 20 episodes of the anarchic 1960s radio comedy.Round the Horne arrived on BBC radio in 1965, bringing laughter to Sunday lunchtimes throughout the land. It carved a niche in the history of broadcast comedy, a sketch show which prodded the boundaries of propriety and innuendo. At its heart was the suave and upstanding Kenneth Horne, around which revolved the multiple naughty personas of Kenneth Williams, Betty M...

The complete Series 5-7 of the legendary BBC radio comedyOne of the funniest and most popular series on radio between 1958 and 1964, Beyond Our Ken delighted audiences nationwide throughout its seven series and 123 episodes. Packed with sketches, songs, catchphrases and innuendo, it mixes silliness, satire and sophistication to superb effect, and continues to make us laugh today.Kenneth Horne - 'who prefers to remain anonymous' - is our unflappable...

A bumper collection of classic selected episodes and extracts from vintage variety show Calling All ForcesBroadcasting on the BBC Light Programme from December 1950 until July 1952, 'Calling All Forces' was the biggest show of its day, attracting the biggest names of the time. Written by a young Bob Monkhouse and Denis Goodwin, it became a showcase for aspiring young comedians including Peter Sellers, Tony ...

Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden and Hugh Paddick star in 15 episodes of the anarchic 1960s radio comedy.Round the Horne arrived on BBC radio in 1965, bringing laughter to Sunday lunchtimes throughout the land. Over the course of sixteen weekly episodes it carved a niche in the history of broadcast comedy, a sketch show which prodded the boundaries of propriety and innuendo. At its heart was the suave and upstanding Kenneth Horne, around which revolved the multiple na...

BBC adaptations of the 19th-century humourist’s best-loved tales, plus Judith French’s sly comedy based on Jerome’s experiences as a would-be actorJerome K Jerome is best known for his comedy classic Three Men in a Boat and its sequel Three Men on the Bummel. Both hilarious tales are included here, alongside two spooky short stories, extracts from Jerome’s humorous essays and theatrical memoir, and a comic drama about his acting career.

Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden and Hugh Paddick star in 16 episodes of the anarchic 1960s radio comedy.Round the Horne arrived on BBC radio in 1965, bringing laughter to Sunday lunchtimes throughout the land. Over the course of sixteen weekly episodes it carved a niche in the history of broadcast comedy, a sketch show which prodded the boundaries of propriety and innuendo. At its heart was the suave and upstanding Kenneth Horne, around which revolved the mu...

A fascinating and hilarious collection of archive rarities - plus two restored episodes - from the much loved BBC radio comedy seriesStarring Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden and Bill Pertwee, Round the Horne breathed daring new life over the BBC radio airwaves from 1965 to 1968, a madcap mix of daring double entendres, captivating characters and bawdy badinage.In this exhaustive collection of rare material, two...

Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden and Hugh Paddick star in 17 episodes of the anarchic 1960s radio comedy, including the 1967 Christmas special.Round the Horne arrived on BBC radio in 1965, bringing laughter to Sunday lunchtimes throughout the land. Over the course of sixteen weekly episodes it carved a niche in the history of broadcast comedy, a sketch show which prodded the boundaries of propriety and innuendo. At its heart was the suave and upstanding Kenneth Horne,...

A selection of 1960s sketches from "Round the Horne" featuring the outrageously camp couple, Julian and Sandy. Oozing with innuendo and double-entendre, they engage on a variety of entrepreneurial endeavours, from Guided Tripettes to the Bona Guest House, Bogmouth.