It Sticks Out Half A Mile

A RADIO SERIES
"A Seaside Saga of Post-War Pier Perpetuation."

Arthur Lowe as George Mainwaring (1st Pilot)
John Le Mesurier as Arthur Wilson
Ian Lavender as Frank Pike (2nd Pilot onwards)
Bill Pertwee as Bert Hodges (2nd Pilot onwards)

Written by Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles
All episodes originally broadcast on BBC Radio 2.
The first eight episodes (inc the 1st pilot) have been released on CD (details below)
No episodes were released on cassette by the BBC. Although BBC EXtra (now replaced by BBC Sounds) broadcast the complete series.
UK DAAS members can borrow all episodes from the DAAS audio library.

1ST PILOT EPISODE
It Sticks Out Half a Mile Studio Recording Date: early 1982.
This programme starts with a solo version of the signature tune which seems longer than that of the broadcast programmes. It is 1948 and George Mainwaring after leaving the bank and spending some time abroad returns to England, apparently being abroad did not suit Elizabeth. He goes to see the manager of 'Swallow Bank' in the hope of securing a loan to buy Frambourne Pier, the bank manager turns out to be a certain Arthur Wilson. Mainwaring's plan is to renovate the pier and make it the towns centre of attraction, so he takes Wilson to see the pier and then the Town Council. The Town Council had been trying to raise the money to dismantle the pier and were delighted that Mainwaring wanted to buy it. Mainwaring gets his loan and toasts himself as the new proud owner of the pier. Wilson points out that actually the real owner is Swallow Bank!

This pilot episode for It Sticks Out Half A Mile was recorded with Arthur Lowe as George Mainwaring, but was shelved due to his sudden death (15/4/82) shortly after the recording. Apparently it was Joan Cooper (Arthur's wife) who convinced Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles to carry on as Arthur had liked it so much. Naturally, this caused the writers a considerable rethink and the character Hodges was brought in to replace Mainwaring. 
With; Arthur Lowe (George Mainwaring), John Le Mesurier (Arthur Wilson), Josephine Tewson (Miss Baines), Dougie Brown (Stephen Rawlings), Timothy Weston (Guthrie), Anthony Sharp (Charles Hunter), Sidney Bronty (Percy Short) and Hayden Wood (The Man).
The programme was produced by Jonathan James Moore.

2ND PILOT EPISODE
1. Episode One Recorded: Saturday 11th September 1982
First Broadcast Sunday 13th November 1983, 1.30-2.00pm
(Broadcast as Episode One of the series.)
The War has been over three years. Arthur Wilson is now Manager of Swallows Bank in Frambourne-on-Sea. Frank Pike has moved there too, but their peacetime lives are shattered when Bert Hodges suddenly appears with a business proposition for Frank.
With: Vivienne Martin (Miss Perkins), Robin Parkinson (Mr Hunter), Edward Burnham (Mr Short), Gordon Peters (Mr Rawlings) and Spencer Banks (Council Employee).
Episode sometimes referred to as The Business Proposition.

SERIES ONE
2. Episode Two Recorded: Saturday 19th February 1983
First Broadcast: Sunday 20th November 1983, 1.30-2.00pm
Bert Hodges and Frank Pike have persuaded Arthur Wilson reluctantly to loan them £5000, from Swallows Bank to renovate the pier at Frambourne-on-Sea, but on the pier they meet resistance from its Caretaker, Guthrie, and Hodges almost goes to a watery grave.
With: Vivienne Martin (Miss Perkins), Glynn Edwards (Fred Guthrie) and Michael Bilton (Mr Johnson).
Episode sometimes referred to as The Bank Loan.

3. Episode Three Recorded: Wednesday 23rd February 1983
First Broadcast: Sunday 27th November 1983, 1.30-2.00pm
Hodges, Pike and Wilson continue their renovations of the pier at Frambourne-on-Sea and visit the local library to do some research on the previous pre-War owners.
With: Vivienne Martin (Miss Perkins), Glynn Edwards (Fred Guthrie), Barry Gosney (Mr Watkins / the Electrician), James Bryce (the Bank Cashier / the Librarian) and Stuart Sherwin (Electricity Showroom Assistant).
Episode sometimes referred to as Who Owned the Pier?

4. Episode Four Recorded: Wednesday 23rd February 1983
First Broadcast: Sunday 4th December 1983, 1.30-2.00pm
In an effort to save money Hodges, Pike and Wilson decide to inspect the foundations of Frambourne Pier themselves and put to sea at night in an inflatable rubber dinghy.
With: Vivienne Martin (Miss Perkins).
Episode sometimes referred to as Inspecting the Piles.

5. Episode Five Recorded: Saturday 19th February 1983
First Broadcast: Sunday 11th December 1983, 1.30-2.00pm
Pike is unable to concentrate on the pier renovations, because he is in love. Mrs Pike is worried and calls in Mr Wilson to lecture her son on the birds and the bees.
With: Vivienne Martin (Miss Perkins), Carol Hawkins (Avril), Janet Davies (Mavis Pike) and Gordon Salkild (the Telephone Engineer).
This episode is a mono recording - reason unknown.
Episode sometimes referred to as Pike in Love.

6. Episode Six Recorded: Saturday 26th February 1983
First Broadcast: Sunday 18th December 1983, 1.30-2.00pm
Pike and Hodges decide to launch a campaign asking for volunteers to save the pier. And so the Friends of Frambourne Pier Association (F.O.F.P.A.) is born.
With: Vivienne Martin (Miss Perkins), Glynn Edwards (Fred Guthrie), Michael Knowles (Ernest Woolcot) and Hilda Braid (Olive Briggs).
Episode sometimes referred to as The Friends of Frambourne Pier.

7. Episode Seven Recorded: Saturday 5th March 1983
First Broadcast: Sunday 1st January 1984, 1.30-2.00pm
The first meeting of the Friends of Frambourne Pier Association is convened. Arthur Wilson attends but has to explain his evening out to a suspicious Mrs Pike.
With: Glynn Edwards (Fred Guthrie), Michael Knowles (Ernest Woolcot), Hilda Braid (Olive Briggs), Michael Bilton (the Elderly Man), Madi Hedd (the Woman) and Jill Lidstone (the Young Lady).
Episode sometimes referred to as The First Meeting.

8. Episode Eight Recorded: Tuesday 8th March 1983
First Broadcast: Sunday 8th January 1984, 1.30-2.00pm
A visit to the Pier Theatre, which can only be reached by Bosun's Chair, ends in disaster when Arthur Wilson and romantically inclined Miss Perkins are marooned together.
With: Vivienne Martin (Miss Perkins) and Paul Russell (Derek).
Episode sometimes referred to as Marooned.

9. Episode Nine Recorded: Saturday 5th March 1983
First Broadcast: Sunday 15th January 1984, 1.30-2.00pm
The Friends of Frambourne Pier Association arrange a Fancy Dress Night on the Pier to raise money, but problems arise for Arthur Wilson when Miss Perkins and Mrs Pike choose the same costumes.
With: Janet Davies (Mavis Pike), Viviene Martin (Miss Perkins), Michael Knowles (Ernest Woolcot), Hilda Braid (Olive Briggs), Gordon Clyde (Willoughby Smallpiece) and Miranda Forbes (the Waitress).
Episode sometimes referred to as The Fancy Dress Night.

10. Episode Ten Recorded: Saturday 26th February 1983
First Broadcast: Tuesday 21st August 1984, 10.30-11.00pm
Pike and Hodges find a builder to repair the Pier, but old hostilities are renewed when they discover his nationality.
With: Vivienne Martin (Miss Perkins), Glynn Edwards (Fred Guthrie), Stella Tanner (Myrte Spivy), Gordon Clyde (Mr Fisher), Carole Harrison (the Builders Receptionist) and Katherine Parr (the Irish Nun).
Episode sometimes referred to as The Builder.

11. Episode Eleven Recorded: Tuesday 8th March 1983
First Broadcast: Tuesday 4th September 1984, 10.30-11.00pm
Wilson, Pike and Hodges go to London to claim War Damage Compensation for the Pier.
With: Vivienne Martin (Miss Perkins), Reginald Marsh (Sir Wensley Smithers), Gordon Clyde (Civil Servants 1 & 5), Jon Glover (Civil Servants 2 & 4) and Michael Bilton (Mr Thornedyke / Civil Servant 3).
Episode sometimes referred to as War Damage.

12. Episode Twelve Recorded: Tuesday 15th March 1983
First Broadcast: Tuesday 18th September 1984, 10.30-11.00pm
Pike and Hodges decide to update the photographs in the Piers What the Butler Saw machine and persuade Miss Perkins to pose as their pin-up girl.
With: Vivienne Martin (Miss Perkins), Christopher Biggins (Dudley Watkins) and Robin Parkinson (Mr Hunter).
Episode sometimes referred to as The Pin Up Girl.

13. Episode Thirteen Recorded: Tuesday 15th March 1983
First Broadcast: Tuesday 9th October 1984, 10.30-11.00pm
Pike and Hodges discover that there may be hidden treasure on the Pier and clairvoyant Madame Zara is called in to help them.
With: Vivienne Martin (Miss Perkins), Glynn Edwards (Fred Guthrie) and Betty Marsden (Madame Zara).
Episode sometimes referred to as Hidden Treasure.

Production Credits:
Written by Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles
The characters of Wilson, Pike and Hodges were originally created by Jimmy Perry and David Croft.
Recorded in Stereo.
Producers: Jonathon James Moore (1st Pilot) & Martin Fisher (2nd Pilot and series)

Two audio CDs have been released by the BBC
The first CD contains four episodes - the Pilot episode with Arthur Lowe, plus The Business Proposition, The Bank Loan and Who Owner the Pier?
The second CD also contains four episodes - Inspecting the Piles, Pike in Love, The Friends of Frambourne Pier and The First Meeting.

TV VERSIONS OF THE SERIES
It is not widely known that 'It Sticks Out Half A Mile' spawned two TV outings based on the same premise, one was a pilot, the other a seven part series.
Walking the Planks (1985)
A BBC 30 min pilot set in 1946 starring Michael Elphick as Ron Archer (Hodges' role) and Richard Wilson as Richard Talbot (Wilson's role) joined by Gary Raynsford as Ron's gormless son, Trevor Archer (Pike's role).
Written by Michael Knowles and Harold Snoad, Produced by Harold Snoad.
High and Dry (1987)
A Yorkshire TV production which ran for 7 x 30min episodes.
Starring Bernard Cribbins as Ron Archer and Richard Wilson as Richard Talbot. This time Archer's son, Trevor, was played by Angus Barnett in the Pike role.
The setting was Midbourne set just before 1946 and it was entirely studio bound. It was networked but to little response.
Written by Alan Sherwood (a Harold Snoad pseudonym due to his contract with the BBC) & Michael Knowles. Produced by Ronnie Baxter.

The DAAS Library holds a copy of both these programmes.