The World Of Beachcomber, 1968
The World Of Beachcomber was a surreal TV comedy sketch inspired by thew Beachcomber column in the Daily Express newspaper.
Two series were broadcast in colour from 1968 (series one 13 episodes, series two 6 episodes). The cast featured a whole host of well known names from the world of comedy.
Regrettably like many shows of that time the original tapes were wiped.
Summary
The show was a series of unrelated pieces of humour linked by Spike Milligan dressed in a smoking jacket and cap as in the cartoon logo above the newspaper column.
Clips
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Cast
Included:
Ann Lancaster
Frank Thornton
Spike Milligan
Clive Dunn
Michael Redgrave
Julian Orchard
Hattie Jacques
George Benson
Hatricia Hayes
Archives
Only one complete episode, on black and white 16mm film now survives of this show in the BBC archives, from the penultimate (20.10.69) edition. In addition to this, excerpts (origin unknown, but likely filmed inserts) for the 29.09.69 edition also survive. Audio soundtracks also survive for episodes Three (06.10.69) and Four (13.10.69) of the 1969 series.
Details
Channel: BBC2
Written By:
Spike Milligan
Barry Took
John Junkin
Neil Shand
and others
Produced By: John Howard-Davies
Original Transmission Dates: 22nd January 1968 – 27th October 1969