The Big Business Lark

Jimmy Edwards stars in this spin-off from The Navy Lark, chronicling life in and around the higher echelons of British United Plastics Ltd

Following in the footsteps of The Navy Lark, The TV Lark and The Embassy Lark, The Big Business Lark aired for 13 episodes over the summer of 1969. Blending satire with farce, it charted the business machinations at a fictional plastics company.

Ruling the roost at this chaotic commercial enterprise is managing director and chairman Sir Charles Bonniface, a crafty, cricket-loving tycoon who likes to keep one hand firmly on the tiller and the other on his secretary’s posterior. Waiting in the wings is his son Frank, stoically enduring his father’s bluff and bluster as he bides his time to take over the top job. Ensuring that all runs smoothly is Edith, Sir Charles’ put-upon personal assistant, who bears her boss’s lecherous attentions with equanimity.

Together, they endeavour to promote British United Plastics’ sole product – Polystumer, a seemingly indestructible synthetic material with a surprising number of uses, from bathroom fixtures to breakfast cereal toys. In these entertaining episodes, they swing a contract with a camping company to make speedboat shells, land an order to supply the Red Army with tents, attempt to create camel-proof plastic to seal a deal with a Sultan, and make a TV commercial to try and impress a Hollywood film mogul...

Starring Jimmy Edwards as Sir Charles, with Frank Thornton as Frank and Gwen Cherrell as Edith, The Big Business Lark also benefits from the considerable talents of Alexander John, Elizabeth Morgan and Nigel Graham, who between them play over 50 larger-than life characters. So mix business with pleasure, and enjoy this lively, laughter-filled Lark!

Content warning: the humour in this programme reflects the era in which it was broadcast and may not reflect current attitudes

Production credits
Scripted by Lawrie Wyman
Produced by Alastair Scott Johnston
Starring: Jimmy Edwards, Frank Thornton and Gwen Cherrell
With Elizabeth Morgan, Alexander John and Nigel Graham
Announcer: Michael de Morgan

With thanks to Keith Wickham and The Radio Circle

Note: none of the episodes were originally given titles. The ones here are taken from the closing announcements of the episode.

Episode guide

1. Leading You Through
2. Cruising on the River
3. Taking You Through
4. Disposing of a Relative
5. Playing Ducks
6. Taking Orders
7. Strike Breaking
8. Dining Out
9. Initiating You Through
10. Searching For Liberty
11. Contracting Out
12. Destructing
13. Advertising

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2, 6 July – 28 September 1969

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