BBC Recovers 'Lost' Episodes of The Likely Lads and Other Comedy Series

What Was Found?

FIVE ‘missing’ BBC comedy episodes from the mid-1960s have been partially recovered – including an edition of The Likely Lads. Traces of the episodes remain because of audio recordings made and donated by a viewer, Mike Dodsworth.

Details of the Discovery

According to British Comedy Guide, The Tony Hancock Appreciation Society made the five discoveries. The episodes were all scripted by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, who co-created and co-wrote The Likely Lads.

About The Likely Lads

One of the audio recordings found is from the show’s third episode of series two, originally aired in June 1965. The show starred James Bolam and Rodney Bewes as two young working class men living in the North East of England.

Further Adventures of Lucky Jim

The collection also includes the first four episodes of Further Adventures of Lucky Jim, adapted from Sir Kingsley Amis’ 1954 novel. Keith Barron starred in the 1967 series.

Legacy of The Likely Lads

The Likely Lads’ popularity led to a sequel series and film, entitled Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?.