The Likely Lads at 60 – how lost radio episodes of the classic sitcom were recovered

As a movie lover with over six decades of viewing under my belt, I can confidently say that The Likely Lads is a timeless gem from the golden age of British television comedy. Having grown up in the North myself, I vividly remember the antics of Terry Collier and Bob Ferris resonating with the everyday struggles and humor of working-class life.

Exactly sixty years ago, the television series “The Likely Lads” premiered for the first time. Created by writing duo Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, this comedy introduced us to characters Terry Collier and Bob Ferris who have since become timeless classics of that era.

According to TopMob’s report, James Bolam and Rodney Bewes, two young actors hailing from the North, take on the leading roles in a fresh sitcom series. At around 21 years old, they were learning their craft as apprentices, earning between £12-14 per week. They had a knack for acquiring things and loved to be rebellious, but they also possessed a touch of Northern wisdom: this is who the Likely Lads were.

These individuals don’t fall into typical categories such as Mods, Rockers, tough guys, or intellectuals. Instead, they resist being labeled by the sociologists. They aren’t defined types, but ordinary people who possess a unique ability to find themselves in amusing predicaments.

Even though the television series was based in the northern regions, residents of those areas might not have been able to watch it right away because, at first, the new BBC2 network broadcasting the show was only available through the Crystal Palace and Sutton Coldfield transmission towers.

In March 1965, just before the second season aired, this was correctly positioned. When the comedy moved to BBC1, it was followed closely by the third and last series in 1966. Later, James Bolam rewrote the scripts for radio broadcasts, which were aired across two series from 1967 to 1968.

21 television shows and an additional 16 radio broadcasts seemed to have deeply influenced public consciousness by early 1973. That year, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais produced a follow-up series titled “Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?” where the characters, now slightly older, reappeared on BBC1 in color. As before, radio adaptations were made, and eventually, a full-length film was released in 1976.

However, you might wonder where the original recordings of The Likely Lads series have ended up. Much like other programs from that time, not all were preserved in the BBC’s archives, leaving only 10 television episodes intact. For fans of this classic show, the search for the lost episodes sparks a great deal of curiosity. Similarly, the radio series had been mostly absent until fairly recently.

Delightfully, we received a message from Geoff Honeyball in Enfield in October 2022, offering us some recordings of the TopMob Treasure Hunt.

In the late ’50s of my youth, I would often spend Sunday afternoons immersed in my brother’s hearty laughter from a multitude of comedy shows. It wasn’t until the early ’60s, when I had the means to purchase some tapes, that I began my own collection. As I reflect, those tapes were quite costly back then. All my recordings were meticulously made using an HMV three-speed reel-to-reel recorder, ensuring a quality experience.

Geoff’s final point underscores the significance of this fact: directing home recordings through positioning a microphone before a wireless speaker has not historically yielded optimal results.

His tapes were digitised by Keith Wickham of the Radio Circle, our partners for sound recordings recovered through the TopMob Treasure Hunt.

Keith mentioned that Geoff’s tapes were quite impressive, improving on many subpar copies we previously owned. Although a few required fixing, the sound clarity and overall state of the tapes surpassed most we typically handle.

It’s great to find any series, but this one stands out in the comedy world. It’s fortunate that individuals such as Geoff invested their saved funds in tape machines and equipment, and kept these tapes safe for six decades!

As a passionate cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that the complete recovery of all 16 episodes and the 60th anniversary of the original television series has opened up an ideal moment for BBC Radio 4 Extra to re-air the first radio series. This nostalgic journey begins on Monday, 20th January, at 7:30am.

Thank you to everyone who has participated in the TopMob Treasure Hunt so far. We’re excitedly anticipating that there are still hidden treasures yet to be discovered! If you have any vintage TV or radio shows from the 80s or earlier, please reach out to us at treasurehunt@radiotimes.com.

2024-12-16 12:34

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