The Men From The Ministry

Knalli ja sateenvarjo

Knalli ja sateenvarjo ("Bowler and Brolly") is a Finnish language adaptation of the BBC radio comedy The Men From The Ministry. It is broadcast on Radio Ylen Ykkönen by the Finnish national broadcaster YLE. For most of its twenty-year history, the episodes of this long-running and popular series have been adapted from the scripts by Edward Taylor and John Graham, originally written for the BBC. Starting with Season 20 in 2000, Edward Taylor has written entirely new scripts specifically for Knalli ja sateenvarjo. The stereotype of British bowler-hatted twittery continues to be popular in Finland. The Finnish version of The Men From The Ministry now surpasses the original BBC series both in terms of longevity and number of episodes.

Knalli ja sateenvarjo is well documented in Finnish Language sources. Wikipedia provides a good summary, with further details given in the extensive site maintained by Ari Liekola . In addition, Seaflower Oy has published a mini-bibliography. Audio copies of several Knalli ja sateenvarjo episodes are available from YLE.
Knalli ja sateenvarjo
Pekka Autiovuori, Heikki Nousiainen,
Aila Svedberg and Yrjö Järvinen.

History

Episodes of The Men From The Ministry originally found their way to Finland via script translations made into Swedish. Fourteen of these scripts were further translated into Finnish and produced for the first broadcast season in 1979/80. The programmes were immediately successful, and further episodes were adapted from the English originals. Bruno Helenius sent the following account of the early history of the series:

I didn't find any evidence of MFTM really being produced or broadcast in Sweden. Yet, there is circumstancial evidence: some of the episodes had been translated into Swedish and the translated scripts had somehow found their way into archives of YLE in Finland, only to be lost and forgotten for years. Then, in spring 1979 YLE was moving to larger premises. At the same time YLE radio theatre department was desperately looking for some new shows for next autumn. Rauni Ranta, another one of the to-be-MFTM-directors stumbled into these scripts when she was clearing the paper stacks for removal. She found the show funny and feasible for radio production. The 14 scripts were translated into Finnish, the copyrights were checked and sorted out and the show became instant success. More episodes were purchased straight from Edward Taylor over the years and the last two seasons have been written by request of YLE. I bet Edward would let others use them too if there was enough interest ...

Cast Members

Those taking part in Knalli ja sateenvarjo include:
     
Mr Richard Hieronymus Valentino Canterbury LammPekka Autiovuori
Mr Hannibal Herodotos Hamilton-JonesKauko Helovirta
Mr Roland Lennox-BrownHeikki Nousiainen
Miss Mildred MurfinAila Svedberg
Sir Henry Longfellow PitkinYrjö Järvinen
Sir Clive SwiftAntti Pääkkönen
Lord StiltonIsmo Kallio
NewscasterTuomas Mattila
AnnouncerAsko Sarkola
  
ProducerRauni Ranta
DirectorLars Svedberg and Rauni Ranta
TranslatorKersti Juva
MusicJani Uhlenius

Episode List

The following episode list is adapted from the schedule published by YLE. Where known, the corresponding BBC episodes are indicated. (Thanks to Bruno Helenius and Ari Liekola for substantial help with this listing). The serial numbers indicate the Finnish recording sequence, as published by YLE. This sequence often differs from the order in which the episodes were broadcast.

Series 1:   1979-1980

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
1. 12.01.80Hyvin menee 05-01 A Rotten System
2. 26.01.80Kruunujalokivet varmoissa käsissä08-07 Something of Value
3. 15.12.79Päävoitto 07-09 Just the Ticket
4. 08.03.80Mikä taulu 05-02 A Brush With an Old Master
5. 05.04.80Soittakaa enemmän 08-04 Sorry, Wrong Number
6. 09.02.80Keinottelua huonekaluilla 08-05 The Desk Job
7. 22.03.80Sitruunoita 05-04 A Sticky Business
8. 01.07.80Rooli näytelmässä 05-03 All Play and No Work
9. 08.07.80Työryhmä pelastakaa maanviljelys 08-06 Fowl Play
10.22.07.80Vaatimaton pikku viinipullo 05-05 The Home-Brewed Non-Vintage Bomb
11.05.08.80Suuri väestölaskenta 08-08 Taking Leave of Their Census
12.15.07.80Pariisin kokous 08-01 The Conference Trick
13.29.07.80Torpedo arkin alla 08-02 The Night We Crept into the Crypt
14.12.08.80Ihan tavallinen päivä 05-06 The Ship That Wagged Its Tail

Series 2:   1981

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
15.05.07.81Poropeukalot Big Benissä 13-03 Big Big Big Ben Bungle
16.19.07.81Liukkaasti lääkärille 12-06 A Turn for the Nurse
17.26.07.81Taiteellinen hevosenleikki 13-02 Horse Play
18.02.08.81Ministeriö merihädässä 13-04 A Motley Crew
19.09.08.81Ihmeellinen vesitankki 12-01 All Cisterns Go
20.16.08.81Energiakriisi 13-07 Take Your Pick
21.23.08.81Töllötintöppäily 13-05 Not on Your Telly
22.12.07.81Pötsihöttöä ja maksakakkaroita13-01 Mission Inedible

Series 3:   1982

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
23.04.07.82Lamm matkalla maineeseen 13-06 One Way Only
24.11.07.82Pulut pulassa 01-03 Strictly for the Birds
25.18.07.82Pandapaniikkia 13-08 Claws
26.25.07.82Reipas raparperiretki 01-07 The Rhubarb Pirates
27.01.08.82Viimeinen tahto vie miehen läpi harmaan kiven01-12 Problem in the Park
28.05.09.82Alas toitoi 03-02 A Terrifying Weapon
29.22.08.82Joka toiselle kuoppaa kaivaa 02-12 The Hole

Series 4:   1983

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
30.17.07.83Perästä kuuluu 02-07 A Degrading Business
31.05.06.83Avaruustutkimustiedotuskeskustoimisto01-02 The Big Rocket
32.26.06.83Anteeksi maalaisuuteni 01-04 French Cricket
33.24.07.83Tapio tietää kaiken 02-03 The Trouble with Cecil
34.10.07.83Teillä tietymättömillä 01-13 The End of the Road
35.12.06.83Varsinaiset vaalit 04-05 Up the Poll
36.31.07.83Epäviisas siirto 03-13 A Slight Case of Demolition
37.26.12.83Taikamatto 01-09 The Magic Carpet

Series 5:   1984

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
38.05.08.84Sinä vakooja 01-10 The Spy in Black Pinstripe
39.17.06.84Oikeat saappaat 01-01 The Great Footwear Scandal
40.15.07.84Kaavamainen kaavake 01-08 A Matter of Form
41.29.07.84Jokseenkin tärkeä henkilö 01-06 Moderately Important Person
42.24.06.84Ministeriön miehet villissä lännessä04-08 The Fastest Brolly In The West
43.12.08.84Lammin harharetki 04-09 Lamb Takes a Gambol
44.26.08.84Ministeriön miehet Etelämerellä 01-11 Island in the Sun

Series 6:   1985

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
45.11.06.85Ketjureaktio 11-09 Chain Reaction
46.09.07.85Energiaa etsimässä 11-12 A Sense of Power
47.02.07.85Koneaivo koheltaa 12-05 Penny Wise
48.18.06.85Poissa raiteilta 12-04 Off the Rails
49.16.07.85Villaa ylle 11-05 Wool Over their Eyes
50.25.06.85Karhunpalvelus 12-07 Seal of Office
51.05.08.85Arvaamaton arvonlisävero11-06 This Vat and the Other
52.24.12.85Kirje Joulupukille 03-03 The Post Office Pantomime

Series 7:   1986

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
53.29.07.86Huipulla tuulee 10-07 Sky High
54.22.07.86Vaihtelu virkistää 11-10 All Change
55.15.07.86Päin tähtiä 04-11 Out of this World
56.05.08.86Sotaisa sotku 04-01 The Battle of the River Thames
57.01.07.86Kyyditys New Yorkissa 03-05 Bowler Hats and Submachine Guns
58.08.07.86Perheetön pelikaani 03-10 Getting the Bird
59.24.06.86Kaaos kanavalla 04-06 Waterway to Go
60.21.12.86Enkeli lentää liihottaa04-13 What has Four Wheels and Flies?

Series 8:   1987

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
61.21.07.87Mildredin koettelemukset04-02 The Tubby Submarine
62.18.08.87Laiva on lastattu 03/04 All at Sea
63.14.07.87Itsepäinen ja itsenäinen03-01 Rebel in Regents Park
64.28.07.87Prinssi Abdul 04-03 A Matter of Breeding
65.11.08.87Vankilakundeja 03-06 On the Run
66.04.08.87Roskasakkia 07-02 ? Up Up and Away

Series 9:   1988

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
67.26.06.88Leipää tai sirkushuveja 04-04 The Great Showbiz Fiasco
68.10.07.88Maapallon ympäri 80 sekunnissa03-14 The Fastest Ship in the World
69.24.07.88Kemiallista sodankäyntiä 02-01 Pirates of Lakeview Reservoir
70.07.08.88Sotilasfarssi 02-02 Something About a Soldier
71.03.07.88Paljastuksia puistossa 06-02 Bare Necessities
72.14.08.88Ilmojen valtiaat 02-05 The Man Who Made It Rain
73.17.07.88Myrsky teetonkassa 06-03 Storm in a Tea Urn
74.31.07.88Piinapenkissä 03-09 Customs of the Country

Series 10:   1989

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
75.02.07.89Nauhallista Joulua 09-07 Getting it Taped
76.09.07.89Sirkusta kerrakseen03-08 A Whitehall Circus
77.30.07.89Nainen kuin nainen 09-03 Find the Lady
78.23.07.89Alimittaiset nakit 02-09 Counter Spies
79.16.07.89Kultakuume 11-03 All That Glitters
80.06.08.89Veden vallassa 04-07 Dam Nuisance

Series 11:   1990

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
81.10.06.90Herrahissi 09-12 Monkey Business
82.08.07.90Ylämaan tuulia 02-08 The Butcher of Glensporran
83.24.06.90Tipu tietokoneessa 03-11 The Girl in the Case
84.01.07.90Vaarallinen tehtävä 06-04 The Moving Target
85.03.06.90Hirmu-Harrin taistelu 06-12 Bringing The House Down
86.17.06.90Miinaoppia aloittelijoille03-12 The Thing on the Beach

Series 12:   1991

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
87.04.08.91Iloa elämään 10-09 Health and Deficiency
88.30.06.91Nimetön vihje 03-07 A Gift for Sir Gregory
89.07.07.91Vadelmavuori 06-01 Bye-Bye Mildred
90.21.07.91Kovan onnen ruukku 06-08 Miss Chatterly's Lover
91.14.07.91Porno pois 10-12 In the Picture
92.28.07.91Ministeriön häpeäpilkku10-13 She'll Have To Go

Series 13:   1992

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
93. 19.07.92Putkeen menee 09-10 Flushed with Success
94. 26.07.92Mars Marsiin 02-13 The Day the Martians Came
95. 23.08.92Crum-joen silta 09-04 Bridge Under Troubled Water
96. 12.07.92Suoraan lennosta04-10 Four Men in a Wellington
97. 16.08.92Päivä kuninkaana02-04 Mahboni Lies Over the Ocean
98. 05.07.92Kummitusjuna 02-06 Train of Events
99. 02.08.92Sirkus Papukaija06-11 A Bird in the Hand
100.09.08.92Myrskyn merkit 09-11 Under the Weather

Series 14:   1993

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
101.17.07.93Linturetki 12-03 The Whitehall Castaways
102.03.07.93Pois postin tieltä 11-13 Postal Disorder
103.19.06.93Polskan pyörteissä 11-11 A Merry Dance
104.12.06.93Silppua 11-04 Torn to Shreds
105.10.07.93Kiinalaiset housut 11-07 The Great Trouser Troubles
106.26.06.93Eufrosyne-täti auttaa12-02 A Problem Shared

Series 15:   1994

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
107.06.08.94Puluitta paras 09-01 That's My Pigeon
108.03.09.94Sinisalama 10-01 Plane Madness
109.10.09.94Fyi faarao! 10-04 I Want My Mummy
110.27.08.94Superpuljonki 06-06 The Bigger the Better
111.17.09.94Yötyössä 10-11 They Fry by Night
112.24.09.94Sikamainen ballerina 10-06 Ballet Nuisance
113.13.08.94Sir Henry syö sanansa10-05 One Man's Meat
114.20.08.94Vuoto virastossa 09-08 Safe and Unsound

Series 16:   1995

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
115.22.07.95Oma lehmä ojassa 08-03 How Now, Brown Cow
116.29.07.95Pastalasti 09-09 The Export Caper
117.05.08.95Rapakon takana 06-07 Trouble in the Air
118.12.08.95Kuningas Yrjö yllättää 07-07 Transatlantic Trouble
119.19.08.95Pyssyn suusta 10-03 Great Guns
120.26.08.95Nakkimakkaroita ja kurttupiiraita09-06 Food For Thought

Series 17:   1996

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
121.27.07.96Moderni ministeriö 07-03 Thoroughly Modern Ministry
122.03.08.96Teekö terveellistä 07-13 Gone to Pot
123.10.08.96Rasvainen juttu 06-05 Oil Well That Ends Well
124.17.08.96Juustovaahtovanukkaan seikkailut06-09 The Pudding From Outer Space
125.06.01.96Käyttövarma torvi 07-05 The Fool-Proof Fool
126.24.08.96Kadonneiden puntien arvoitus 07-08 The Finger Of Suspicion

Series 18:   1997

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
127.07.06.97Koirankujeita 05-06 The Ship that Wagged its Tail
128.05.07.97Piikkipaniikki 09-02 Don't Let Them Needle You
129.14.06.97Vettä väkevämpää 06-10 A Little Of What You Fancy
130.06.09.97Potut pottuina 06-13 Fair Exchange
131.21.06.97Ryhmätyö ja ystävyys09-13 Cheesed Off
132.12.07.97Kuka tahansa erehtyy07-04 We All Make Mistakes

Series 19:   1998

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
133.28.11.98Öljykriisi 10-10 Big Deal
134.31.10.98Älä mainosta! 02-10 A Question of Dundancy
135.14.11.98Julistejupakka 06-14 Bill Stickers is Innocent
136.07.11.98Saarivaltakunta 01-05 The War with the Isle of Wight
137.21.11.98Tapaus psykiatri 12-08 Birmingham is Revolting
138.24.10.98Sori, Shakespeare02-11 A Back-Dated Problem

Series 20:   2000

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
139.01.01.00Uuden vuosituhannen airut"The Millenium Misadventure"
140.05.08.00Uusi lentokenttä 09-05 A Private Affair
141.12.08.00Lamm lasaretissa 10-08 A Break for Sir Gregory
142.19.08.00Murha ministeriössä "Murder at The Ministry"
143.26.08.00Kiinteistökieputus "The Property Jungle"
144.02.09.00Joukkojensiirtoruljanssi 07-06 Rotten to the Corps

Series 21:   2001

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
145.04.08.01Vahtimestari vauhdissa "Mathews On The Move"
146.11.08.01Vapaaehtoiset "Volunteers"
147.18.08.01Kummitusjuttu "The Whitehall Ghost"
148.25.08.01Kirjailijan kivinen tie "Writer's Cramp"
149.01.09.01Autoilun uusi aika "Road Rage"
150.08.09.01Ensirakastajan ensiaskeleet"The Reluctant Romeo"

Series 22:   2002

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
151.18.05.02Tilaa huipulla "Room at the Top"
152.25.05.02Hampaasta miestä "Nothing But the Tooth"
153.01.06.02Kasvihuoneilmiö "A Test Of Initiative"
154.08.06.02Maalaisilmaa "Country Matters"
155.15.06.02Kuntoiluintoilua "Fitness Freaks"
156.22.06.02Leikkipuiston kohtalonhetket"A Chapter of Accidents"

Series 23:   2005

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
157.25.06.05Kukkona Tunkiolla "Rooster at Garbage Heap"
158.02.07.05Sorrettujen ystävä "Friend of the Oppressed"
159.09.07.05Talvinen Tarina "Winter Story"
160.16.07.05Myllystä allikkoon "Marley Millionaires"
162.23.07.05Riita poikki "End that Argue"
161.30.07.05Siivekkäät ystävämme"Feathered Friends"

Series 24:   2006

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
163.06.01.07Hei me lennetään "Look we are Flying"
164.13.01.07Terveenä töihin "Healthy at Work"
165.20.01.07Helunan tähtihetki"Star Moment"
166.27.01.07Outo vieras "Strange Visitor"

Series 25:   2008

No. Broadcast Finnish Title English Title
167.05.01.08Pikkuvieras "Little Visitor"
168.12.01.08Outoa ystävällisyyttä"Strangly Friendly"
169.19.01.08Tositarinoita "True Stories"
170.26.01.08Lehdistön mahti "Power of the Press"

 

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Compiled by Gary Schajer gary@schajer.com based on information published by YLE and Simo Sjöblom. Further details kindly provided by Bruno Helenius, Ari Liekola, Pilvi Salonen and Mika Kähkönen.