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