"Live On Arrival" - from l to r Flip Webster, Hugh Dennis, Steve Punt. In bed - Guy Jackson

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Live On Arrival

“Live On Arrival” (Summer 1988) was in many ways the precursor of both “The Mary Whitehouse Experience” and “The Now Show”. Devised to exploit the popular talents of Steve Punt & Hugh Dennis, the idea was to do a topical narrative half hour consisting of sketches linked to a central story.

This went out on Radio 4 live; the first live comedy show since “In One Ear”, and came with the usual terrifying stringencies of a live show, including live music by singer/songwriter extraordinaire, Guy Jackson.

The show then went into the edit to create a 15 minute cut down version of just the sketches for Radio One, long viewed as a tempting target for the BBC Light Entertainment Department.

Although Radio 1 decided not to go with it, they liked it enough to consider another comedy show for Radio One, and that led to the pilot and series of Hey Rrradio later on that year.

The cast of “Live On Arrival” was Steve Punt, Hugh Dennis and Flip Webster, with Guy providing all the music. It was written by Steve, Hugh and the producer, David Tyler.

Highlights of the series include doing a Christmas Pantomime in the middle of the Summer and decorating the studio with the full BBC Xmas tree, tinsel and apparel, much to the bafflement of the studio audience...

A second series was commissioned but, partly because David Tyler had left BBC Radio, and partly because The Mary Whitehouse Experience had begun in 1989, it was never made.

Live On Arrival

Show 1

First Tx: 30/4/88 23.30-24.00

In this week’s story, Steve floats his soul on the stock exchange of eternity and receives success and all earthly rewards and gratifications plus a fabulous digital alarm clock while Hugh plays the representative of Forces Of Darkness plc. Plus the first outing for that dickhead in the BMW - Geoff Challenge and a duet between The Glitter Band and The Reverend Ian Paisley. 

StarringSteve Punt
Hugh Dennis
Flip Webster
Guy Jackson
 
Written bySteve Punt
Hugh Dennis
David Tyler
 

Music by Guy Jackson

 
Produced & directed byDavid Tyler

Show 2

First Tx: 7/5/88 23.30-24.00

In this week’s story, Detective Sergeant Baffled of Scotland Yard is on the case as up and down the country vegetables are being ruthlessly murdered. Meanwhile, Professor Smedley of Strangemoor Manor continues his mysterious genetic experiments leading to a thrilling climax in the EC Tomato Mountain. Meanwhile, we meet Captain Dull, bureaucratic superhero.

Songs - “Burger King In Hovis Land”, “Dan Dare Flies Dan Air”

StarringSteve Punt
Hugh Dennis
Flip Webster
Guy Jackson
 
Written bySteve Punt
Hugh Dennis
David Tyler
 

Music by Guy Jackson

 
Produced & directed byDavid Tyler

Show 3

First Tx: 14/5/88 23.30-24.00

Cowboy builders in Fairytale Land meets Chariots Of the Gods meets The Wicker Man meets Quatermass meets Time Travel as run by British Rail in this supernatural mystery... as we track the adventures of the Minister For The Paranormal as investigates the mysterious goings-on in the small town of Ridley’s Bottom.

Songs - “Mr & Mrs. Cardigan”, “Stone Age Life” 

StarringSteve Punt
Hugh Dennis
Flip Webster
Guy Jackson
 
Written bySteve Punt
Hugh Dennis
David Tyler
 

Music by Guy Jackson

 
Produced & directed byDavid Tyler

Show 4

First Tx: 21/5/88 23.30-24.00

This episode is set in the High Court as we follow the trial of David Copthorne MP, the Minister for Walking Out Of Cabinet Meetings in a case involving MI5, libel, scandal, peccadilloes of the arms trade and armadillos of the peck trade.

Songs - “XR3i”, “I Love My Little Vending Machine”, “Top Cop In God Rap Shock Drama”

StarringSteve Punt
Hugh Dennis
Flip Webster
Guy Jackson
 
Written bySteve Punt
Hugh Dennis
David Tyler
 

Music by Guy Jackson

 
Produced & directed byDavid Tyler

Show 5

First Tx: 28/5/88 23.30-24.00

With June around the corner, what better time to present Live On Arrival’s Christmas Special! It’s a pantomime - Dick Whittington goes to London, where, as the wise old woman says - “there’s buildings there as high as a house!”.

Songs - “Ding-Dong Bloody Ding-Dong, Season’s Bastard Greetings”, “Looking Through Ted Roger’s Eyes”

StarringSteve Punt
Hugh Dennis
Flip Webster
Guy Jackson
 
Written bySteve Punt
Hugh Dennis
David Tyler
 

Music by Guy Jackson

 
Produced & directed byDavid Tyler

Show 6

First Tx: 4/6/88 23.30-24.00

It’s an International Summit and as the President of the USA loses the missile codes, our heroes led by US Marine Kurt Torsion embark on an Incredible Journey inside his body to save the world. Trapped in a tiny vessel inside the President, the team have to get out - As Torsion says:

“What’s the fastest way out of the male human body?”

PAUSE

“Alright - the second fastest”

Songs - “The Enzyme Song” 

StarringSteve Punt
Hugh Dennis
Flip Webster
Guy Jackson
 
Written bySteve Punt
Hugh Dennis
David Tyler
 

Music by Guy Jackson

 
Produced & directed byDavid Tyler

Live On Arrival

As well as hearing a clip from the show itself, you can also click here to hear some Guy Jackson songs -

"The Enzyme Song"
"Going Public"
"I've Got A New CD Machine"
"Top Cop In God Rap Shock Drama" (inspired by the occasion when the former Chief Constable of Greater Manchester, James Anderton, claimed he spoke regularly to God...)

Read more about the super talented Punt & Dennis here...

and you can find out more, or possibly less, about Guy Jackson's musical alter ego, The Wibbley Brothers by clicking here


Other shows in GEOFF & DAVID ...