Video Killed the Radio Star Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hancock's Half Hour

'Hancock's Half Hour' was first aired on 2nd November 1954. It departed from the usual format at that time by having a single story line for the whole episode. The first TV episode appeared in July 1956. The final radio show was broadcast on 29th December 1959. The TV series ran for another 18 months.

Answer: False

'The TV Lark' was still a radio show. It came between the 4th and 5th series of 'The Navy Lark'. It was an experiment to try and breathe new life into the show. It was based around the premise that the entire crew of HMS Troutbridge was surplus to Navy requirements; they set about trying to establish up their own TV channel, 'Troutbridge TV'.

The show only lasted for one series before the 'staff' were back in the Navy once again.

Answer: The Clitheroe Kid

'The Clitheroe Kid' ran between 1957 and 1972. The 'Kid' was born James Robinson Clitheroe, in the Lancashire town of the same name, on Christmas Eve 1924. He didn't take his stage name from his birth town, unlike Eric Morcombe. It was his actual birth name.

When he started the radio series Jimmy Clitheroe was already in his thirties, but because he never grew above 4 feet 3 inches he could pass for an 11 year old; although in later life his facial features made this increasingly more difficult. The childrens TV character 'Jimmy Crankie' was based on 'The Clitheroe Kid'.

Answer: Round The Horne

'Round The Horne' was invariably introduced by Kenneth Horne giving answers to a ficticious quiz from the week before. The main characters were portrayed by Horne himself, Hugh Paddick and Kenneth Williams. Bill Pertwee, who later went on to play a significant part in TV's 'Dad's Army' also appeared.

Answer: Round The Horne

'Round The Horne' was first broadcast in 1965. It was the successor to 'Beyond Our Ken' and featured some of the cast from the previous series. Notables missing from 'Beyond Our Ken' were Ron Moody and Stanley Unwin. The show came about because of an apparent disagreement between one of its original writers, Eric Merriman, and BBC producers. 'Round The Horne' was mainly scripted by Barry Took and Marty Feldman.

Answer: Sunday

As a young child I remember having Sunday lunch and then sitting down to listen to one of the comedies on 'The Light Programme', one of the BBC's several radio channels. The comedies were invariably preceeded by 'Two Way Family Favourites', a way of linking those at home to their loved ones still seving in Germany. It became a bit of a ritual in many British homes at the time.

Answer: Much Binding in the Marsh

'Much Binding in the Marsh' was first broadcast in 1944. It was originally set at a fictional RAF station which was turned into a Country Club when it was decommissioned. It starred Kenneth Horne who was, in reality, an ex RAF Wing Commander, and Richard 'Dickie' Murdoch.

It featured early appearences by Dora Bryan and Nicholas Parsons. One enduring catchphrase is 'Would you like to see my puppies?'. "Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells" is still used by people of a certain age group. It was originally attributed to the editor of a local newspaper, the "Tunbridge Wells Advertiser", who was dismayed at the lack of letters sent in to the paper.

The story says he encouraged his staff to write ficticious letters to fill space. One, unknown, journalist signed one of his letters 'Disgusted, Tunbridge Wells'.

Answer: Take It From Here

'Take It From Here' is not well remembered, except for the regular sketch which introduced the Glums. The sketches were written by Dennis Norden and Frank Muir. They almost always started with Mr Glum, Jimmy Edwards, talking to the barman in his local pub about something that had hapened between his, not very intelligent son, Ron, and Ron's plain looking girlfriend, Ethel, played by June Whitfield.

Answer: The Goon Show

The newly formed BBC Radiophonic Workshop had a great deal of difficulty reproducing the sounds that Spike Milligan wanted. They eventually achieved it by using multiple recordings and playing them back simulaneously. There is a story about socks filed with custard which Spike hoped would produce the sound of squelching that he wanted. It didn't work.

Answer: Educating Archie

'Educating Archie' was first broadcast in 1950. Despite the fact that ventriloquism would seem to be a visual art, the radio show was a great success, pulling in up to 15 million listeners. It also introduced future stars like Tony Hancock, Benny Hill and Harry Secombe. Julie Andrews also featured as Archie's girlfriend.

The ventriloquist was Peter Brough. In 1958 'Educating Archie' moved to television, but only lasted for just over a year.