His Master's Voice. Image shows from L to R: Archie Andrews (Rob Brydon), Peter Brough (Rob Brydon)
His Master's Voice

His Master's Voice (2014)

  • Radio comedy drama
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2014
  • 1 episode

Comedy drama about the life of ventriloquist Peter Brough and his doll Archie Andrews - both played by Rob Brydon. Stars Rob Brydon, Fenella Woolgar, Michael Bertenshaw, Thomas Williams-Boyle, Stephanie Racine and more.

Key details

Genre
Comedy Drama
Broadcast
2014
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Episodes
1
Stars
Rob Brydon, Fenella Woolgar, Michael Bertenshaw, Thomas Williams-Boyle, Stephanie Racine, James Lailey, Ewan Bailey and Harriet Collings
Writers
James Maw and Tim Sullivan
Director
Jeremy Mortimer
Producer
Jeremy Mortimer

Rob Brydon is ventriloquist Peter Brough, and his doll Archie Andrews, in a new drama that tells the true story behind one of the most successful radio shows of all time.

The 1950s BBC Radio show Educating Archie - with 16 million listeners - catapulted the ventriloquist Peter Brough from suburban obscurity to the heights of high society. The Royal Family were fans. His show introduced the world to Eric Sykes (writer), Tony Hancock (Archie's Tutor), Max Bygraves (another tutor) and Julie Andrews (Archie's girlfriend).

After eight years on radio, Educating Archie transferred to television. And yet, one day in 1961, Peter Brough locked the dummy in a suitcase and left him on the top of a wardrobe for 40 years until, six years after the ventriloquist's death, Archie Andrews was put up for auction.

His Master's Voice tells the true story of what went wrong in the world of Archie Andrews and Peter Brough.

Additional details

Production
Studio

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Saturday 2nd August 2014 at 2:30pm on BBC Radio 4
Episode length
1 hour
Most recent repeats
  • Saturday 30th June 2018 at 3:00am on Radio 4 Extra
  • Friday 29th June 2018 at 3:00pm on Radio 4 Extra
  • Friday 29th June 2018 at 10:00am on Radio 4 Extra