Comedy Playhouse
Created by
Starring
Various
Country of origin
United Kingdom
Original language
English
No. of episodes
137 (95 missing)
Production
Running time
Usually 25 minutes, 30 minutes or 35 minutes
Original release
Network
Release
15 December 1961 (1961-12-15) –
9 July 1975 (1975-07-09)
Release
29 April 2014 (2014-04-29) –
15 September 2017 (2017-09-15)
Comedy Playhouse[1] is a long-running British anthology series of one-off unrelated sitcoms that aired for 128 episodes from 1961 to 1975. Many episodes later graduated to their own series, including Steptoe and Son, Meet the Wife, Till Death Us Do Part, All Gas and Gaiters, Up Pompeii!, Not in Front of the Children, Me Mammy, That's Your Funeral, The Liver Birds, Are You Being Served? and particularly Last of the Summer Wine, which is the world's longest running sitcom, having run from January 1973 to August 2010. In all, 27 sitcoms started from a pilot in the Comedy Playhouse strand.
In March 2014, it was announced that Comedy Playhouse would make a return that year with three new episodes.[2] Two further series each comprising three episodes were broadcast in 2016 and 2017 respectively.[3][4]
The series began in 1961 at the prompting of Tom Sloan, Head of BBC Light Entertainment at the time. Galton and Simpson were no longer writing for Tony Hancock and Sloan asked them to write ten one-offs with the hope that one might become established as a series.[5] Thus, the first two series of Comedy Playhouse were written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, but from the third series onwards, the episodes were written by various writers including the likes of Barry Took, Bernard McKenna, Bob Larbey, Brian Cooke, Carla Lane, Craig Cash, David Croft, Dick Clement, Dick Hills, Doug Naylor, Edwin Apps, George Evans, Graham Chapman, Harry Driver, Jack Docherty, Jack Rosenthal, Jeremy Lloyd, John Esmonde, John T. Chapman, Johnny Speight, Ian La Frenais, Ken Hoare, Kingsley Amis, Jilly Cooper, Marty Feldman, Michael Pertwee, Neil Shand, Pauline Devaney, Peter Jones, P.G. Wodehouse, Richard Harris, Ronald Chesney, Ronald Woolfe, Roy Clarke, Richard Waring, Sid Green and Vince Powell.
The first eight series were made in black and white, with the rest from Up Pompeii! onwards being in colour. Like many television programmes from the time, many of 1960s & 1970s episodes are lost. As a result, 95 episodes are currently missing from the archives, although audio recordings from the soundtracks of 15 missing episodes have been recovered, short extracts survive from Till Death Us Do Part and Thank You Sir, Thank You Madam, and a further episode The Melting Pot survives as a U-Matic video copy.[6]
In Australia the series was broadcast on ABC Television in the early 1960s-late 1970s.
The series itself hasn't been released on home media, although some of the surviving episodes have been repeated on television or included on DVD boxsets as pilot episodes to their respective series. These include Steptoe and Son (The Offer), Meet The Wife (The Bed), All Gas and Gaiters (The Bishop Rides Again), Up Pompeii!, Are You Being Served?, Last of the Summer Wine (Of Funerals and Fish) and Happy Ever After. Clips from the series were also featured in the documentary Comedy Playhouse: Where It All Began, which was broadcast on BBC1 on 29 April 2014,[7] which featured interviews with actors and writers who participated in the series, including Ray Galton, Alan Simpson, June Whitfield, Bernard Cribbins and Keith Barron.[8]
No.
overall
No.in
series
Title
Archival Status
Media
Original air date
1
1
"Cliquot et Fils"
Missing
N/A
15 December 1961 (1961-12-15)
2
2
"Lunch in the Park"
Missing
N/A
22 December 1961 (1961-12-22)
3
3
"The Private Lives of Edward Whiteley"
Missing
N/A
29 December 1961 (1961-12-29)
4
4
"The Offer"
Exists
TR16
5 January 1962 (1962-01-05)
5
5
"The Reunion"
Missing
N/A
12 January 1962 (1962-01-12)
6
6
"The Telephone Call"
Missing
N/A
19 January 1962 (1962-01-19)
7
7
"The Status Symbol"
Missing
N/A
26 January 1962 (1962-01-26)
8
8
"Visiting Day"
Missing
N/A
2 February 1962 (1962-02-02)
9
9
"Sealed with a Loving Kiss"
Missing
N/A
9 February 1962 (1962-02-09)
10
10
"The Channel Swimmer"
Missing
N/A
16 February 1962 (1962-02-16)
No.
overall
No.in
series
Title
Archival Status
Media
Original air date
11
1
"Our Man in Moscow"
Exists
TR16
1 March 1963 (1963-03-01)
12
2
"And Here, All the Way From..."
Exists
TR16
8 March 1963 (1963-03-08)
13
3
"Impasse"
Exists
TR16
15 March 1963 (1963-03-15)
14
4
"Have You Read This Notice?"
Missing
N/A
29 March 1963 (1963-03-29)
15
5
"A Clerical Error"
Exists
TR16
5 April 1963 (1963-04-05)
16
6
"The Handyman"
Exists
TR16
12 April 1963 (1963-04-12)
No.
overall
No.in
series
Title
Archival Status
Media
Original air date
17
1
"On the Knocker"
Missing
N/A
28 September 1963 (1963-09-28)
18
2
"Underworld Knights"
Missing
N/A
5 October 1963 (1963-10-05)
19
3
"Fools Rush In"
Exists
TR16
12 October 1963 (1963-10-12)
20
4
"Shamrot"
Missing
N/A
19 October 1963 (1963-10-19)
21
5
"The Bachelor Girls"
Missing
N/A
26 October 1963 (1963-10-26)
22
6
"The Plan"
Missing
N/A
2 November 1963 (1963-11-02)
23
7
"A Picture of Innocence"
Missing
N/A
9 November 1963 (1963-11-09)
24
8
"Nicked at the Bottle"
Missing
N/A
16 November 1963 (1963-11-16)
25
9
"The Chars"
Missing
N/A[12]
23 November 1963 (1963-11-23)
26
10
"Comrades in Arms"
Missing
N/A
30 November 1963 (1963-11-30)
27
11
"The Walrus and the Carpenter"
Missing
N/A
14 December 1963 (1963-12-14)
28
12
"The Bed"
Exists
TR35
28 December 1963 (1963-12-28)
29
13
"The Mate Market"
Exists
TR16
3 January 1964 (1964-01-03)
30
14
"The Hen House"
Missing
N/A
10 January 1964 (1964-01-10)
31
15
"The Siege of Sydney's Street"
Exists
TR16
17 January 1964 (1964-01-17)
32
16
"The Mascot"
Missing
N/A
24 January 1964 (1964-01-24)
33
17
"Good Luck Sir, You've Got a Lucky Face"
Missing
N/A
31 January 1964 (1964-01-31)
No.
overall
No.in
series
Title
Archival Status
Media
Original air date
34
1
"Barnaby Spoot and the Exploding Whoopee Cushion"
Missing
N/A
28 May 1965 (1965-05-28)
35
2
"Mother Came Too"
Missing
N/A
5 June 1965 (1965-06-05)
36
3
"Here I Come Whoever I Am"
Missing
N/A
11 June 1965 (1965-06-11)
37
4
"Happy Family"
Missing
N/A
18 June 1965 (1965-06-18)
38
5
"Memoirs of a Chaise Longue"
Missing
N/A
2 July 1965 (1965-07-02)
39
6
"Murray and Me"
Missing
N/A
8 July 1965 (1965-07-08)
40
7
"Hudd"
Missing
N/A
15 July 1965 (1965-07-15)
41
8
Partial[17]
TR16 SEQ
22 July 1965 (1965-07-22)
42
9
"The Time and the Motion Man"
Missing
N/A
29 July 1965 (1965-07-29)
43
10
"Sam and the Samaritan"
Missing
N/A
5 August 1965 (1965-08-05)
44
11
Missing
N/A
12 August 1965 (1965-08-12)
45
12
"Betsy Mae"
Missing
N/A
19 August 1965 (1965-08-19)
No.
overall
No.in
series
Title
Archival Status
Media
Original air date
46
1
"The Bishop Rides Again"
Exists
TR16
17 May 1966 (1966-05-17)
47
2
Missing
N/A
24 May 1966 (1966-05-24)
48
3
"A Little Learning"
Missing
N/A
31 May 1966 (1966-05-31)
49
4
"Judgement Day for Elijah Jones"
Missing
N/A
7 June 1966 (1966-06-07)
50
5
Missing
N/A
14 June 1966 (1966-06-14)
51
6
"The End of the Tunnel"
Missing
N/A
21 June 1966 (1966-06-21)
52
7
"Seven Year Hitch"
Missing
N/A[22]
28 June 1966 (1966-06-28)
53
8
"The Mallard Imaginaire"
Missing
N/A
5 July 1966 (1966-07-05)
54
9
Missing
N/A
2 August 1966 (1966-08-02)
No.
overall
No.in
series
Title
Archival Status
Media
Original air date
55
1
"Hughie"
Missing
N/A
19 May 1967 (1967-05-19)
56
2
"House in a Tree"
Missing
N/A[26]
26 May 1967 (1967-05-26)
57
3
"Spanner in the Works"
Missing
N/A[27]
2 June 1967 (1967-06-02)
58
4
"Heirs on a Shoestring"
Missing
N/A[28]
9 June 1967 (1967-06-09)
59
5
"Uncle Fred Flits By"
Missing
N/A
16 June 1967 (1967-06-16)
60
6
"Loitering With Intent"
Missing
N/A
23 June 1967 (1967-06-23)
61
7
"To Lucifer: A Son"
Missing
N/A[29]
29 June 1967 (1967-06-29)
62
8
"The Old Campaigner"
Exists
TR16
30 June 1967 (1967-06-30)
No.
overall
No.in
series
Title
Archival Status
Media
Original air date
63
1
"State of the Union"
Missing
N/A
26 April 1968 (1968-04-26)
64
2
"View By Appointment"
Missing
N/A
3 May 1968 (1968-05-03)
65
3
"The Family of Fred"
Missing
N/A
10 May 1968 (1968-05-10)
66
4
"Stiff Upper Lip"
Missing
N/A
17 May 1968 (1968-05-17)
67
5
Missing
N/A
24 May 1968 (1968-05-24)
68
6
"Thank You Sir, Thank You Madam"
Partial[34]
TR16 SEQ
31 May 1968 (1968-05-31)
69
7
"B-And-B"
Exists
TR16
7 June 1968 (1968-06-07)
70
8
"Me Mammy"
Missing
N/A
14 June 1968 (1968-06-14)
71
9
"The Gold Watch Club"
Missing
N/A
28 June 1968 (1968-06-28)
NB
NB
"Current Affairs"
Missing
N/A
Untransmitted
No.
overall
No.in
series
Title
Archival Status
Media
Original air date
72
1
Missing
N/A
14 April 1969 (1969-04-14)
73
2
"The Valley Express"
Missing
N/A
21 April 1969 (1969-04-21)
74
3
"Tooth and Claw"
Missing
N/A[39]
28 April 1969 (1969-04-28)
75
4
Missing
N/A
5 May 1969 (1969-05-05)
76
5
"The Loves of Larch Hill"
Missing
N/A[41]
12 May 1969 (1969-05-12)
77
6
"The Making of Peregrine"
Missing
N/A[43]
19 May 1969 (1969-05-19)
78
7
Exists
VT625
17 September 1969 (1969-09-17)
No.
overall
No.in
series
Title
Archival Status
Media
Original air date
79
1
"Joint Account"
Missing
N/A[47]
19 December 1969 (1969-12-19)
80
2
"The Jugg Brothers"
Missing
N/A
1 January 1970 (1970-01-01)
81
3
"An Officer and a Gentleman"
Missing
N/A
8 January 1970 (1970-01-08)
82
4
"Who's Your Friend?"
Missing
N/A
15 January 1970 (1970-01-15)
No.
overall
No.in
series
Title
Archival Status
Media
Original air date
83
1
"Keep 'Em Rolling"
Missing
N/A[48]
11 March 1970 (1970-03-11)
84
2
"Better Than a Man"
Missing
N/A[49]
18 March 1970 (1970-03-18)
85
3
"Last Tribute"
Exists
TR16
25 March 1970 (1970-03-25)
86
4
"Haven of Rest"
Missing
N/A
1 April 1970 (1970-04-01)
87
5
"Mind Your Own Business"
Missing
N/A[51]
8 July 1970 (1970-07-08)
88
6
"The Old Contemptible"
Missing
N/A
15 July 1970 (1970-07-15)
89
7
"Don't Ring Us...We'll Ring You"
Missing
N/A
29 July 1970 (1970-07-29)
90
8
"Meter Maids"
Missing
N/A
5 August 1970 (1970-08-05)
No.
overall
No.in
series
Title
Archival Status
Media
Original air date
91
1
"Just Harry and Me"
Missing
N/A
1 April 1971 (1971-04-01)
92
2
"Uncle Tulip"
Missing
N/A
8 April 1971 (1971-04-08)
93
3
"It's Awfully Bad for Your Eyes, Darling..."
Missing
N/A
15 April 1971 (1971-04-15)
94
4
Exists
VT625
22 April 1971 (1971-04-22)
95
5
"Equal Partners"
Missing
N/A
29 April 1971 (1971-04-29)
96
6
"The Importance of Being Hairy"
Missing
N/A
6 May 1971 (1971-05-06)
No.
overall
No.in
series
Title
Archival Status
Media
Original air date
97
1
"Idle at Work"
Missing
N/A
14 January 1972 (1972-01-14)
98
2
"And Who's Side Are You On?"
Missing
N/A
21 January 1972 (1972-01-21)
99
3
"Born Every Minute"
Exists
VT625
28 January 1972 (1972-01-28)
100
4
"The Dirtiest Soldier in the World"
Exists
VT625
27 March 1972 (1972-03-27)
101
5
"No Peace on the Western Front"
Exists
VT625
30 August 1972 (1972-08-30)
102
6
"Weren't You Marcia Honeywell?"
Missing
N/A
7 September 1972 (1972-09-07)
103
7
Exists
TR16[55]
8 September 1972 (1972-09-08)
No.
overall
No.in
series
Title
Archival Status
Media
Original air date
104
1
"Of Funerals and Fish"
Exists
VT625
4 January 1973 (1973-01-04)
105
2
"The Rescue"
Exists
TR16
11 January 1973 (1973-01-11)
106
3
"Elementary, My Dear Watson"
Exists
VT625
18 January 1973 (1973-01-18)
107
4
"The Birthday"
Exists
VT625
25 January 1973 (1973-01-25)
108
5
"Marry the Girls"
Missing
N/A
1 February 1973 (1973-02-01)
109
6
"Home From Home"
Exists
TR16
8 February 1973 (1973-02-08)
No.
overall
No.in
series
Title
Archival Status
Media
Original air date
111
1
Exists
VT625
16 April 1974 (1974-04-16)
112
2
"Franklyn and Johnnie"
Missing
N/A
23 April 1974 (1974-04-23)
113
3
"Howerd's History of England"
Missing
N/A[58]
30 April 1974 (1974-04-30)
114
4
Exists
VT625
7 May 1974 (1974-05-07)
115
5
"The Dobson Donut"
Missing
N/A
14 May 1974 (1974-05-14)
116
6
"The Big Job"
Exists
VT625
21 May 1974 (1974-05-21)
117
7
"It's Only Me"
Missing
N/A
28 May 1974 (1974-05-28)
118
8
"The Last Man on Earth"
Exists
VT625
4 June 1974 (1974-06-04)
119
9
"Sitting Pretty"
Missing
N/A
11 June 1974 (1974-06-11)
120
10
"Pygmalion Smith"
Exists
VT625
25 June 1974 (1974-06-25)
121
11
"A Girl's Best Friend"
Missing
N/A
3 July 1974 (1974-07-03)
122
12
"The Reverend Wooing of Archibald"
Missing
N/A
9 July 1974 (1974-07-09)
123
13
"Too Much Monkey Business"
Missing
N/A
12 December 1974 (1974-12-12)
NB
NB
"French Relish"
Missing
N/A
Untransmitted
NB
NB
"Bird Alone"
Missing
N/A
Untransmitted
No.
overall
No.in
series
Title
Archival Status
Media
Original air date
124
1
Exists
DV[63]
11 June 1975 (1975-06-11)
125
2
"Only on Sunday"
Missing
N/A
18 June 1975 (1975-06-18)
126
3
Missing
N/A
25 June 1975 (1975-06-25)
127
4
"Captive Audience"
Missing
N/A[64]
2 July 1975 (1975-07-02)
128
5
"Going, Going, Gone...Free?"
Exists
VT625
9 July 1975 (1975-07-09)
No.
overall
No.in
series
Title
Original air date
129
1
"Over to Bill"
29 April 2014 (2014-04-29)
130
2
"Miller's Mountain"
6 May 2014 (2014-05-06)
131
3
"Monks"
13 May 2014 (2014-05-13)
No.
overall
No.in
series
Title
Original air date
132
1
"Hospital People"
26 February 2016 (2016-02-26)
133
2
"Broken Biscuits"
4 March 2016 (2016-03-04)
134
3
"Stop / Start"
11 March 2016 (2016-03-11)
No.
overall
No.in
series
Title
Original air date
135
1
"Tim Vine Travels Through Time"
1 September 2017 (2017-09-01)
136
2
"Mister Winner"
8 September 2017 (2017-09-08)
137
3
"Static"
15 September 2017 (2017-09-15)
The BBC aired six comedy pilots in 1970 in Scotland only under the title Scottish Comedy Playhouse, none of which developed onto a full series. While these were being aired, Monty Python's Flying Circus was broadcast in the rest of the UK. All episodes from this series were wiped soon after transmission and are currently missing from the archives.[66] The episodes are as follows:
No.
overall
No.in
series
Title
Archival Status
Media
Original air date
1
1
"Stand-In For a Hearse"
Missing
N/A
22 September 1970 (1970-09-22)
2
2
"The Siege of Castle Drumlie"
Missing
N/A
29 September 1970 (1970-09-29)
3
3
"The Dinner Party"
Missing
N/A
20 October 1970 (1970-10-20)
4
4
"To Gracie a Son"
Missing
N/A
28 October 1970 (1970-10-28)
5
5
"Stobo Takes The Chair"
Missing
N/A
3 November 1970 (1970-11-03)
6
6
"Made in Heaven"
Missing
N/A
10 November 1970 (1970-11-10)