Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh

Last Edited: 20-Jan-2012 A Global British Comedy Collaborative document. Edited by John Lucas
Broadcast source is indicated by source. Recording quality is considered good unless otherwise indicated.

This programme began as the RAF portion of Merry-Go-Round during the Second World War. Much-Binding continued on the BBC Light Programme from early 1947 until late 1950 when it was cancelled and moved to Radio Luxembourg for a year. Two further series, 1950-1951 and 1952-1953, were created for the BBC Light Programme and Home Service, respectively. Dates and idenfication of episodes is very uncertain!

1944-1946 1947-1950 1950-1951 1951-1952 1953-1954

1944-1946

Date

 Episode

Title

Cast

Parameters
         

1947-1950 (BBC Light Programme)

Date

 Episode

Title

Cast

Parameters
02-Jan-1947 1-1

 

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Marilyn Williams,
Vivian Chatterton, Maurice Denham, Dick Griffin
Augmented Dance Orchestra, conducted by
Stanley Black
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont

  
09-Jan-1947 1-2   same throughout series  
16-Jan-1947 1-3      
23-Jan-1947 1-4      
30-Jan-1947 1-5      
06-Feb-1947 1-6      
13-Feb-1947 1-7      
20-Feb-1947 1-8      
27-Feb-1947 1-9      
06-Mar-1947 1-10      
13-Mar-1947
 1-11
      
20-Mar-1947 1-12      
27-Mar-1947 1-13

Ladies and gentlemen, we’re running what’s
called “very tight” today

    
03-Apr-1947 1-14      
10-Apr-1947 1-15      
17-Apr-1947 1-16      
24-Apr-1947 1-17      
01-May-1947 1-18      
08--May-1947 1-19      
15-May-1947 1-20

Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, I'm afraid I
have somewhat of a shock for you
The Annual General Meeting

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Marilyn Williams, Vivian Chatterton, Maurice Denham,
Dick Griffin
Augmented Dance Orchestra, conducted by
Stanley Black
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont

 28:01, 26278 m
22-May-1947 1-21

Well, as I said to Charlie Farnzbarnz on the
night of the table tennis semi-finals
Write A Song For £1000

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Marilyn Williams, , Maurice Denham, Dick Griffin
Augmented Dance Orchestra, conducted by
Stanley Black
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont

 28:05, 6583, m
slightly fast
29-May-1947 1-22      
05-Jun-1947 1-23      
12-Jun-1947 1-24      
19-Jun-1947 1-25      
26-Jun-1947 1-26      
03-Jul-1947 1-27      
10-Jul-1947 1-28      
17-Jul-1947 1-29      
24-Jul-1947 1-30      
31-Jul-1947 1-31      
04-Aug-1947 special

 

    
07-Aug-1947 1-32      
14-Aug-1947 1-33      
21-Aug-1947 1-34      
28-Aug-1947 1-35      
04-Sep-1947 1-36      
11-Sep-1947 1-37      
18-Sep-1947 1-38      
26-Nov-1947 2-1  

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Gwen Catley,
Helen Hill (when GC was indisposed), Maurice Denham,
Barbara Valerie
The [Augmented] Dance Orchestra, conducted by
Stanley Black
Announcer Philip Slessor
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont

  
03-Dec-1947 2-2

Some people may think it a bit boring
to be an announcer

 same throughout  
10-Dec-1947 2-3      
17-Dec-1947 2-4      
24-Dec-1947 2-5      
31-Dec-1947 2-6      
07-Jan-1948 2-7      
14-Jan-1948 2-8

Hello. Be as quick as you can please, I've
just got to announce a programme

    
21-Jan-1948 2-9

You know, announcing some programmes
is a bit of a bore

    
28-Jan-1948 2-10

I was in the House of Commons the
other day

    
04-Feb-1948 2-11

I had the priviledge the other day of meeting
Mlle Fifi Lovesbonbon

    
11-Feb-1948 2-12

You know, Mr Murdoch told me that when they
broadcast the Quartet from Rigoletto

    
18-Feb-1948 2-13      
25-Feb-1948 2-14

Well I'm afraid I can't stay very long tonight

    
03-Mar-1948 2-15

Every week when I come here, I wonder
whether or not I shall have to

    
10-Mar-1948 2-16      
17-Mar-1948 2-17      
24-Mar-1948 2-18

You know, right in the middle of a debate
the other day

    
29-Mar-1948 special      
31-Mar-1947 2-19      
07-Apr-1948 2-20      
14-Apr-1948 2-21      
21-Apr-1948 2-22      
28-Apr-1948 2-23      
05-May-1948 2-24      
12-May-1948 2-25      
19-May-1948 2-26      
26-May-1948 2-27      
02-Jun-1948 2-28      
09-Jun-1948 2-29      
16-Jun-1948 2-30      
21-Sep-1948
BBC 7:
06-Jan-2008		 3-1

At last the moment for which I've waited so
long has arrived
Much Binding as a club

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Maureen Riscoe, Helen Hill
The Dance Orchestra conducted by Stanley Black
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont

 28:44, 26947, S
28-Sep-1948 3-2  

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham,
Maureen Riscoe (some), Helen Hill (some),
Gwen Catley (some), Barbara Valerie (some),
The Dance Orchestra conducted by Stanley Black
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont

  
05-Oct-1948 3-3      
12-Oct-1948 3-4      
19-Oct-1948 3-5      
26-Oct-1948 3-6      
02-Nov-1948 3-7

Well, after my debut as a real member of the
cast last week

    
09-Nov-1948 3-8      
16-Nov-1948 3-9      
23-Nov-1948 3-10

Well I must say that the way I'm being treated
in this show

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Maureen Riscoe, Helen Hill
The Dance Orchestra conducted by Stanley Black
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont

 29:02, 27228, m
30-Nov-1948 3-11      
07-Dec-1948 3-12      
14-Dec-1948 3-13      
21-Dec-1948 3-14      
28-Dec-1948 3-15

Well, ladies and gentlemen, Christmas is over and
the new year is upon us
Attended By The Royal Family

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Maureen Riscoe, Helen Hill
The Dance Orchestra conducted by Stanley Black
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont

 27:27, 25736, m
04-Jan-1949 3-16      
11-Jan-1949 3-17      
18-Jan-1949 3-18      
25-Jan-1949 3-19      
01-Feb-1949 3-20

Telephonist: Frank Filliabut's supervisor.
Can I help you?

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Maureen Riscoe, Helen Hill
The Dance Orchestra conducted by Stanley Black
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont

 29:14, 27416, m
08-Feb-1949 3-21

Well ladies and gentlemen, I wasn't too happy about
my opening remarks last week

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Maureen Riscoe, Helen Hill
The Dance Orchestra conducted by Stanley Black
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont

 28:08, 6595, m
15-Feb-1949 3-22      
22-Feb-1949 3-23      
01-Mar-1949 3-24      
08-Mar-1949 3-25      
15-Mar-1949 3-26      
22-Mar-1949 3-27      
29-Mar-1949 3-28      
05-Apr-1949 3-29      
12-Apr-1949 3-30      
19-Apr-1949 3-31      
26-Apr-1949 3-32      
03-May-1949 3-33      
10-May-1949 3-34      
17-May-1949 3-35      
24-May-1949 3-36      
31-May-1949 3-37      
07-Jun-1949 3-38      
14-Jun-1949 3-39      
21-Jun-1949 3-40      
28-Jun-1949 3-41      
05-Jul-1949 3-42      
12-Jul-1949 3-43      
25-Dec-1949 special      
22-Mar-1950 4-1  

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Diana Morrison, Barbara Lee
Dance Orchestra conducted by Stanley Black
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont

  
29-Mar-1950 4-2   same throughout  
05-Apr-1950 4-3      
12-Apr-1950 4-4      
19-Apr-1950 4-5      
26-Apr-1950 4-6      
03-May-1950 4-7      
10-May-1950 4-8

Now this is Philip Slessor warning you beware. For the
8th time this season, Much Binding takes the air
"Babysitting"

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Diana Morrison, Barbara Lee
Dance Orchestra conducted by Stanley Black
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont

 29:09, 6833, m
17-May-1950 4-9

Now this is Franklin Engleman, I'm warning you beware.
For the 9th time this season Much Binding takes the air
"The PAYE Form"

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Diana Morrison, Barbara Lee
Dance Orchestra conducted by Stanley Black
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont

 28:40, 6719, m
24-May-1950
R7:
02-Jul-2006		 4-10

Now this is Philip Slessor, and less I could not care.
(All: Slessor!)
For the 10th time this season Much Binding takes the air
"Brains Amalgamated"

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Diana Morrison, Barbara Lee
Dance Orchestra conducted by Stanley Black
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont

 28:31, 26741, m
31-May-1950 4-11      
07-Jun-1950 4-12      
14-Jun-1950 4-13      
21-Jun-1950 4-14      
28-Jun-1950 4-15      
05-Jul-1950 4-16      
12-Jul-1950 4-17      
19-Jul-1950 4-18      
26-Jul-1950 4-19      
02-Aug-1950 4-20      
09-Aug-1950 4-21      
16-Aug-1950 4-22      
23-Aug-1950 4-23      
30-Aug-1950 4-24      
06-Sep-1950 4-25      
13-Sep-1950 4-26      
20-Sep-1950 4-27      

1950-1951 (Radio Luxembourg)

Date

 Episode

Title

Cast

Parameters
05-Nov-1950 5-1 Of course it's very exciting
A new sponsor

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Diana Morrison
The Squadronaires with Patricia Hughes
Compere: Geoffrey Sumner

 27:36, 6470, m
record noise
12-Nov-1950 5-2 Well Mr Yapp wasn't too pleased by the rehearsal last week
Visit to Broadcasting studio

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Diana Morrison
The Squadronaires with Patricia Hughes
Compere: Geoffrey Sumner

 29:14, 6854, m
19-Nov-1950 5-3

Now most animals can sleep through the winter months
Horne's Medical Examination

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Diana Morrison
The Squadronaires with Patricia Hughes
Compere: Geoffrey Sumner

 28:32, 6690, m
26-Nov-1950 5-4      
03-Dec-1950 5-5

Well once again we find ourselves involved in Much Bindery
Going to London for the Circus

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Diana Morrison
The Squadronaires with Patricia Hughes
Compere: Bob Danvers-Walker

 26:22, 24734, m
10-Dec-1950 5-6

Well now, this week we find the boys in what is
known as a ferment
Going to the Circus

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Diana Morrison
The Squadronaires with Patricia Hughes
Compere: Bob Danvers-Walker

 26:52, 25502, m
17-Dec-1950 5-7

Y'know, the Much Binding in the Marsh Club reminds me
of a very funny story
Paying for the Taxi

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Diana Morrison
The Squadronaires with Patricia Hughes
Compere: Bob Danvers-Walker

 27:23, 6422, m
24-Dec-1950 5-8

Now recently the Much Binding in the Marsh boys were
thinking of doing a play
Murdoch's Play

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Diana Morrison
The Squadronaires with Patricia Hughes
Compere: Bob Danvers-Walker

27:22, 6417, m
31-Dec-1950 5-9      
07-Jan-1951 5-10

So here we are again - the same old crew in the same
old dither

    
14-Jan-1951 5-11

It is with deep regret, not unmixed with a little relief

    
21-Jan-1951 5-12      
28-Jan-1951 5-13      
04-Feb-1951 5-14      
11-Feb-1951 5-15      
18-Feb-1951 5-16      
25-Feb-1951 5-17

 

    
04-Mar-1951 5-18

Well, we didn't get very far with the programme
last week
The Loose Door Handle

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Diana Morrison
The Squadronaires with Patricia Hughes
Compere: Bob Danvers-Walker

 24:23, 5719, m
11-Mar-1951 5-19      
18-Mar-1951 5-20      
25-Mar-1951 5-21      
01-Apr-1951 5-22      
08-Apr-1951 5-23      
15-Apr-1951 5-24      
22-Apr-1951 5-25      
29-Apr-1951 5-26      
06-May-1951 5-27      
13-May-1951 5-28      
20-May-1951 5-29      
27-May-1951 5-30      
03-Jun-1951 5-31      
10-Jun-1951 5-32      
17-Jun-1951 5-33      
24-Jun-1951 5-34      

1951-1952 (BBC Light Programme, Over to You)

Date

 Episode

Title

Cast

Parameters
30-Sep-1951 6-1      
07-Oct-1951 6-2      
14-Oct-1951 6-3      
21-Oct-1951 6-4      
28-Oct-1951 6-5      
05-Nov-1951 6-6      
12-Nov-1951 6-7      
19-Nov-1951 6-8      
26-Nov-1951 6-9      
03-Dec-1951 6-10      
10-Dec-1951 6-11      
17-Dec-1951 6-12      
24-Dec-1951 6-13      
31-Dec-1951 6-14      
07-Jan-1952 6-15      
14-Jan-1952 6-16      
21-Jan-1952 6-17      
28-Jan-1952 6-18      
04-Feb-1952 6-19      
11-Feb-1952 6-20      
18-Feb-1952 6-21      
25-Feb-1952 6-22      
03-Mar-1952 6-23      
10-Mar-1952 6-24      
17-Mar-1952 6-25      
24-Mar-1952 6-26      
31-Mar-1952 6-27      
14-Apr-1952 6-28      

1953-1954 (BBC Home Service, Much Binding)

Date

 Episode

Title

Cast

Parameters
21-Jul-1953 7-1

Murdoch Inherits the Paper

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Dora Brian, BBC Men's Chorus
BBC Variety Orchestra, Paul Fenouilet
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont

 31:53, 7476, m
28-Jul-1953
R4:
 		 7-2

First Issue Of The Weekly Bind

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Dora Brian, BBC Men's Chorus
BBC Variety Orchestra, Paul Fenouilet
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont

 30:16, 7097, m
04-Aug-1953 7-3 Notting Hill Novelty Factory
date guessed

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Dora Brian, BBC Men's Chorus
BBC Variety Orchestra, Paul Fenouilet
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont

 30:11, 7077, m
11-Aug-1953 7-4      

18-Aug-1953
R7:
09-Jul-2006

 7-5

In the Darkroom

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Dora Brian, BBC Men's Chorus
BBC Revue Orchestra, Harry Rabinowitz
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont

 27:27, 25735, m

25-Aug-1953
R4:

 7-6

Creating a Costume,
Sheepdog Trials

Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Dora Brian, BBC Men's Chorus
BBC Revue Orchestra, Harry Rabinowitz
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont

 30:21, 28458, m

01-Sep-1953

 7-7      
08-Sep-1953 7-8      
15-Sep-1953 7-9      
22-Sep-1953 7-10      
29-Sep-1953 7-11      
06-Oct-1953 7-12      
13-Oct-1953 7-13      
20-Oct-1953 7-14      
27-Oct-1953 7-15      
03-Nov-1953 7-16      
10-Nov-1953 7-17      
17-Nov-1953 7-18      
24-Nov-1953 7-19      
01-Dec-1954 7-20      
08-Dec-1953 7-21      
15-Dec-1953 7-22      
22-Dec-1953 7-23      
29-Dec-1953 7-24      
05-Jan-1954 7-25      
12-Jan-1954 7-26      
19-Jan-1954 7-27      
26-Jan-1954 7-28      
02-Feb-1954 7-29      
09-Feb-1954 7-30      
16-Feb-1954 7-31      
23-Feb-1954 7-32      
02-Mar-1954 7-33      
09-Mar-1954 7-34      
16-Mar-1954 7-35      

Documentaries and Collateral Material

See also pages for Kenneth Horne, Richard Murdoch, Maurice Denham

Date

Title

Cast

Parameters