Beyond Our Ken

Comedy (late 1950 - 60's)

Beyond Our Ken is much less firmly etched on the minds of the public than its more successful successor. However it ran for twice the length- a total of eight series spanning seven years. Almost all cast members later went on to star in Round the Horne, which differed little in style and content. In fact many of its characters later metamorphosed into Round The Horne favorites. Writers Barry Took and Eric Merriman saw Kenneth Horne as the perfect example of respectability around which to devise a comedy programme. They began writing it in 1957 and it was first broadcast on Tuesday 1st July 1958.

It is frightening to think that the series almost never started, as Kenneth Horne suffered a major stroke in 1957 which caused him to lose the ability to speak. Thankfully he made a speedy recovery.

Beyond Our Ken's cast was made up of Kenneth Horne, Kenneth Williams, Hugh Paddick, Betty Marsden, Ron Moody, Patricia Lancaster and Stanley Unwin. In 1959 both Moody and Unwin left, and the cast was joined by Bill Pertwee. They quickly established themselves as one of the most successful radio ensembles, and it was this core of actors (with the exception of Lancaster) who went on to form Round the Horne after BOK's demise in 1964.