Title: Educating Archie (BBC)

Type: British Comedy

Broadcast History:

June 6,1950 until the last show in 1960. A short run of the show was tried in 1956 on TV but was less successful than the radio series.

Cast: Peter Brough -(Ventriloquist for Archie)

Playing various roles were: Tony Hancock, Max Bygraves, Harry Secombe, Bruce Forsyth, Hattie Jacques and Dick Emery. Julie Andrews featured regularly as Archie's girlfriend.

One of the best descriptions of the show is from the Guardian : "The manic-eyed Archie Andrews, elegantly clad in a broad-striped blazer, always haughtily called his mentor "Brough" as if he were some menial functionary in a stately home. Like his American predecessor, Edgar Bergen's Charlie McCarthy, Archie was always a stronger character than his manipulator, indeed part of his charm was the appeal of the stroppy dummy to the anarchic child in everyone. By contrast Brough himself was smooth and dapper, unremarkable except for the fact that his two upper front teeth were half filed away to help him throw his voice."

Source: Guardian Archives "Peter Brough- The voice of Archie Andrews"

Source: Radio Days "Educating Archie" radiodays@whirligig-tv.co.uk

Series information compiled by Terry Davies