Episode 1

Decade by decade, Barry Cryer keeps on truckin’ with some of the funniest and finest shows ever broadcast by the BBC.

Six favourites plucked from the sensational 1970s schedules of BBC Radio 2 and 4:

* The News Huddlines
From 7th November 1979

Roy Hudd’s long-running topical comedy sketch series. Janet Brown and Chris Emmett help to poke fun at the week’s news events featuring Margaret Thatcher, James Callaghan and ABBA. .

* All Gas And Gaiters
Series 1 (6/13) Only Three Can Play

Will Noote's playing away ruin the clerics' game? Clerical comedy adapted from TV starring Derek Nimmo and William Mervyn. From February 1971.

* The Frankie Howerd Show
Series 4 - from November 1975

The king of titters reads some ditties and takes on some overgrown animals in a spoof sci-fi thriller! With Norma Ronald, Ray Fell and Timothy Davies.

* Parsley Sidings
Series 2 (6/10) A Bird In The Hand

A rare gull is spotted during a station spring-clean, causing chaos on the line. Railway station comedy starring Arthur Lowe, Kenneth Connor, Liz Fraser and Ian Lavender. From November 1973.

* Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?
(11/13) Count Down

Terry helps stressed Bob prepare for his wedding. Adapted from TV’s classic sitcom about mismatched friends. Starring James Bolam, Rodney Bewes, Joan Hickson and Bill Owen. From October 1975.

* Hello Cheeky
From October 1979

Red Rum and sound effects galore! Sketches galore with rapid pun-tastic fun starring Tim Brooke-Taylor, John Junkin and Barry Cryer. Music by the Denis King Trio.

Produced and scripted by Peter Reed

Made for BBC 7 and first broadcast in June 2003.