Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh

Last Edited: 12-Oct-2016 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
Re-opening the club
 Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Helen Hill, Maurice Denham, Barbara Valerie,
Patricia Ross 
The Augmented Dance Orchestra, conducted by
Stanley Black
Announcer Philip Slessor
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont
 29:11, 28224, m
heavy groove
noise, 78 rpm
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
 BBC R7
29:28, 27630, s
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 [No announcer intro]
Much Binding Goes to Town		 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
 R4X:
27:39, 25933, s
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
 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
 R7:
02-Jul-2006
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
31-Jul-1953 7-1 Murdoch Inherits the Paper
 Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Dora Bryan, BBC Men's Chorus
BBC Variety Orchestra, Paul Fenouilet
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont
 31:53, 7476, m
07-Aug-1953
R4:
 		 7-2 First Issue Of The Weekly Bind
 Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Dora Bryan, BBC Men's Chorus
BBC Variety Orchestra, Paul Fenouilet
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont
 30:16, 7097, m
14-Aug-1953 7-3 Notting Hill Novelty Factory
date guessed		 Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Dora Bryan, BBC Men's Chorus
BBC Variety Orchestra, Paul Fenouilet
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont
 30:11, 7077, m
21-Aug-1953 7-4      
28-Aug-1953
R7:
09-Jul-2006
 7-5 In the Darkroom
 Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Dora Bryan, BBC Men's Chorus
BBC Revue Orchestra, Harry Rabinowitz
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont
 27:27, 25735, m
04-Sep-1953
R4:
 7-6 Creating a Costume,
Sheepdog Trials
 Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne, Sam Costa,
Maurice Denham, Dora Bryan, BBC Men's Chorus
BBC Revue Orchestra, Harry Rabinowitz
Script by Richard Murdoch & Kenneth Horne
Produced by Leslie Bridgmont
 30:21, 28458, m
11-Sep-1953

 7-7      
18-Sep-1953 7-8      
25-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