The Men from the Ministry: More Episodes from the Early Years

Selected Episodes from Series 4-7 of the Classic BBC Radio Comedy

By: Edward Taylor

Narrated by: Richard Murdoch, Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, Deryck Guyler, John Graham, full cast

35 episodes from Series 4-7 of the hugely popular Civil Service sitcom

The original ‘Yes Minister’, The Men from the Ministry was a radio comedy phenomenon, running for 15 years and 13 series between 1962 and 1977, with a final fourteenth series broadcast internationally in 1980.

In this second volume, featuring 35 specially chosen episodes from Series 4-7, bumbling bowler-hatted bureaucrats Deryck Lennox-Brown and Richard Lamb (aka ‘Number One’ and ‘Number Two’) cause confusion in the corridors of power as they attempt to tackle the many and varied challenges of the General Assistance Department. Whether they’re hitting the buffers over a London tube station, getting inconvenienced by public toilets, baring it all for the sake of a new motorway route or scaling new heights for Sir Gregory’s poster campaign, they’re sure to get into hot water...

Deryck Guyler stars as Number One and Richard Murdoch as Number Two, with Norma Ronald as Mildred Murfin, Ronald Baddiley as Sir Gregory Pitkin and John Laurie as Mr Dougal. Guest stars include Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa, Patricia Hayes, Clive Dunn, Jo Manning Wilson and Bill Pertwee.

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. Please note, the Series 4 episodes ‘Out of this World’ and ‘Muddlers in Law’ are missing a couple of seconds at 19:51 and 06:38 respectively.

Cast and credits
Written and produced by Edward Taylor, with contributions from John Graham, Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke
Theme music: Top Dog by Ivor Slaney
Pianist: Dennis Gomm (Series 4, Episode 4)
The Legend of The Men From The Ministry sung by Graeme Garden (Series 4, Episode 8)
With thanks to Keith Wickham

‘Number One’ (Deryck Lennox-Brown) – Deryck Guyler
‘Number Two’ (Richard Lamb) – Richard Murdoch
Mildred Murfin – Norma Ronald
Sir Gregory Pitkin – Ronald Baddiley
Mr Dougal – John Laurie
Other parts played by John Graham
With guest stars including: David Nettheim, Clive Dunn, Jack Watson, Ronnie Stevens, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa, Antony Viccars, Douglas Hankin, David Healy, Joan Sanderson, Carol Allen, Graham Stark, Colin Gordon, Gordon Clyde, Jo Manning Wilson, Patricia Hayes, John Curle, John Cole and Bill Pertwee

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2, 18 Feb – 5 May 1968 (series 4), on BBC World Service, 15 Feb – 22 Mar 1969 (series 5), 1 Feb – 29 Mar 1970 (series 6) and on BBC Radio 4, 1 Sep – 29 Sep 1970 (series 6), 29 Jul – 23 Sep 1971 (series 7).

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