The Men From The Ministry

Series 9 (1973) Opening and Closing Announcements The episodes of The Men From The Ministry were given titles in the Radio Times, but not on-air. The following transcripts of opening and closing announcements are provided to assist with identification of undated recordings. The transcripts are incomplete because some recordings are missing or truncated. Where not available from recordings, the names of the actors are reproduced from the original Radio Times listings, and written [in brackets]. The author would appreciate being informed of any errors or additions, or the availability of recordings of non-listed episodes.

Clive Dunn, guest star on 3.4.73

 

9/1 That's My Pigeon (6.3.73)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. You're invited once again to walk the Whitehall way, with Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham and The Men From The Ministry, Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Ministry men have to be constantly alert, and in the General Assistance Department they must have a wealth of information at their fingertips, ready to answer any queries that may arise.

Ends: Getting the bird as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley and John Graham. The programme was written by Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

9/2 Don't Let Them Needle You (13.3.73)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. We're off once again for a whiz around Whitehall, with Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, Joan Sanderson, John Graham and The Men From The Ministry, Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Unkind people often joke about the amount of paper in Government offices. Reports in duplicate, forms in triplicate, memos and breakdowns, schedules and lists. But in the General Assistance Department at least all these papers serve a useful purpose.

Ends: Up the flue as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, Joan Sanderson and John Graham. The programme was written by Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

9/3 Find The Lady (20.3.73)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. Welcome to another ministerial mishap with Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, Patricia Hayes, John Graham, Alexandra Dane and The Men From The Ministry, Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. In Government service, there's a strong sense of comradeship. If a problem comes up, busy executives know they are all in the same boat and they are always ready to help each other out of it. So when a colleague seems to be flagging, discreet enquires are made.

Ends: Muddling through as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham, Alexandra Dane and Patricia Hayes as Lily. The programme was written by Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

9/4 Bridge over Troubled Waters (27.3.73)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. Join us now for another canter down the corridors of power, with Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham, Hilary Pritchard and the Men From The Ministry Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Ministry men know that planning is the key to success. Every job must conform to it's blueprint and nothing can be left to chance. In the General Assistance Department, dedicated men are even now tackling problems of economic growth.

Ends: Providing the missing link as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham and Hilary Pritchard. The programme was written by Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

9/5 A Private Affair (3.4.73)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. Join us now as we take our one hundredth ride on the Whitehall roundabout, with Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham, guest star Clive Dunn and The Men From The Ministry, Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Ministry men tackle a wide range of jobs and bring to each a degree of enthusiasm not far short of indifference. In the General Assistance Department top executives are at this moment grappling with the distribution of essential supplies.

Variant (spliced from 9/1): Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. You're invited once again to walk the Whitehall way, with Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham and The Men From The Ministry, Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Ministry men tackle a wide range of jobs and bring to each a degree of enthusiasm not far short of indifference. In the General Assistance Department, top executives are at this moment grappling with the distribution of essential supplies.

Ends: Topping their ton as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham and guest star Clive Dunn as Percy Hardstaff. The programme was written by Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

9/6 Food For Thought (10.4.73)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. You're invited once again to take your seats at the Whitehall spectacular with Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham and The Men From The Ministry, Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. In Government work it's important to preserve detachment, to avoid becoming emotionally involved, but sometimes when one is confronted with a really appalling outrage, it's hard to suppress one's feelings.

Ends: Sampling life as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley and John Graham. The programme was written by Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

9/7 Getting It Taped (17.4.73)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. Join us now for another canter down the corridors of power, with Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham, Hilary Pritchard and The Men From The Ministry, Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Ministry men work at such pressure that the strain sometimes begins to show. Their devoted secretaries watch carefully for those tell-tale little signs that mean all is not well.

Ends: Getting things taped as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham and Hilary Pritchard. The programme was written by Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

9/8 Safe And Unsound (24.4.73)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. We're off for another spin in Government circles with Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, Patricia Hayes, John Graham and The Men From The Ministry, Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. In the General Assistance Department, top executives grapple with a wide range of Government problems, and they look to their junior staff for keenness and reliability, for that quiet steady efficiency that keeps the machines running smoothly. Well, that's what they look for, but what do they get.

Ends: Muddling through as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham and Patricia Hayes as Mrs. Bunting. The programme was written by Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

9/9 The Export Caper (1.5.73)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. You're invited once again to jump aboard the Ministry bandwagon with Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham and The Men From The Ministry, Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Ministry men must be bright and efficient and nowhere is this more true than in the General Assistance Department where top executives are always ready to cope with the problems of Government. Yet they also have a capacity for self-examination, a readiness to ask questions about themselves.

Ends: Rocking Europe as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley and John Graham. The programme was written by Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

9/10 Flushed With Success (8.5.73)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. We're off once again for a whiz around Whitehall, with Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham and The Men From The Ministry, Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. In Government service, a lot of work is bound to be routine but top executives must also be ready with fresh schemes and bold new plans. In the General Assistance Department for instance, original ideas breed like newts in a water butt.

Ends: Flushed with success as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley and John Graham. The programme was written by Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

9/11 Under The Weather (15.5.73)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. Join us for another canter down the corridors of power, with Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham and The Men From The Ministry, Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. In Government Service, dedicated men spend long hours grappling with the crises of the modern world.

Ends: Under the weather as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley and John Graham. The programme was written by Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

9/12 Monkey Business (22.5.73)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. Join us now for more Ministerial mishaps, with Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham and The Men From The Ministry, Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. For Ministry staff hard work alone is not enough. They realise the importance of public relations and a good image. For they know that all too often people judge an office by the voice they hear when they first ring up.

Ends: Muddling through as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley and John Graham. The programme was written by Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

9/13 Cheesed Off (29.5.73)

Starts: Time to meet The Men From The Ministry. We're all set once again for a quick sprint down the corridors of power with Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley, John Graham and The Men From The Ministry, Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. This programme is a tribute to those special people who work in Government offices and to the many others who just spend their days there. Their life is built on comradeship, executives and secretaries working together for a common goal. And friendships quickly blossom.

Ends: Gone to the dogs as The Men From The Ministry were Richard Murdoch and Deryck Guyler. Also featured were Norma Ronald, Ronald Baddiley and John Graham. The programme was written by Edward Taylor and John Graham, and produced by Edward Taylor.

 

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This page was compiled by Gary Schajer, Vancouver, Canada. gary@schajer.com