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Hark at Barker

TV·1969–1970·2 seasons, 15 episodes·ITV1·Comedy·30m·Created by Ronnie Barker, Alun Owen

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Hark at Barker is a 1969 British programme combining elements of sitcom and sketch show, which starred Ronnie Barker. It was made for the ITV network by LWT. Each show began with a spoof news item read by Barker as a continuity announcer. He would then introduce the main part of the programme, a lecture to be given by Lord Rustless on a different topic each week from his stately home, Chrome Hall. Helped and hindered by Rustless' secretary Bates, his Butler Badger, his bad-tempered Cook, his incoherent gardener Dithers and his buxom, near-mute maid Effie, these lectures invariably degenerated into farce, and were frequently interrupted by comic sketches on film or videotape which also starred Barker in various roles. Barker reprised the role of Lord Rustless in the BBC series His Lordship Entertains, and played very similar characters in Futtock's End and the Two Ronnies specials The Picnic and By the Sea.

Cast

Ronnie BarkerRonnie BarkerLord Rustless / Various CharactersJosephine TewsonJosephine TewsonMildred BatesFrank GatliffFrank GatliffBadger
Mary Baxter
Mary BaxterCookDavid JasonDavid JasonDithersMoira FootMoira FootEffie

Episodes by season

Season018Episodes1969Aired—Season avg
  1. S01E01Meet Lord RustlessApril 11, 1969—
  2. S01E02Rustless & Women—
  3. S01E03Rustless In PigtailsApril 25, 1969—
  4. S01E04Rustless & A Banquet—
  5. S01E05Rustless & Murder—
  6. S01E06Rustless & Foreigners—
  7. S01E07Rustless & The Solar System—
  8. S01E08Rustless & Relics—

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

Season027Episodes1970Aired—Season avg
  1. S02E01Rustless on MusicJuly 10, 1970—
  2. S02E02Rustless on LawJuly 17, 1970—
  3. S02E03Rustless On CommunicationsJuly 24, 1970—
  4. S02E04Rustless on CookingJuly 31, 1970—
  5. S02E05Rustless on MedicineAugust 7, 1970—
  6. S02E06Rustless on Do-It-YourselfAugust 14, 1970—
  7. S02E07Rustless on SportAugust 21, 1970—

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

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