Between 1958 and 1964, Beyond Our Ken lit up the airwaves. A madcap mix of sketches and songs, packed with puns, parody and inspired characters, it remains as fresh and funny today as when it was first broadcast. This collection features the first four episodes from the classic BBC radio comedy starring Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden, Ron Moody and Pat Lancaster...

Volume 1 of Beyond Our Ken features the first four episodes of the BBC radio comedy series fronted by Kenneth Horne, and starring Kenneth Williams, Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden, Ron Moody and Pat Lancaster. The show was the predecessor to Horne's more famous Round the Horne.

In this collection you can hear Kenneth Williams and company indulge in a spot of announcer-baiting, and find out about Kenneth Horne’s many highly eventful weeks. And of course there’s documentary feature Hornerama, where you can learn about atomic power with Professor Stanley Unwin; join roving reporter Cecil Snaith to find out what the public is reading; flip through the pages of the Sketch Book 1908 and appreciate Art with the help of Charles and Rodney.

The format was pretty similar every week and the musical entertainment was provided by Pat Lancaster and The Malcolm Mitchell Trio.

While a lot of the jokes are showing their age now, this is still an interesting collection that will appeal to all Horne and Williams fans.

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Pete Boomer