Barbara says that she has never heard of P.C.49! How very dare she!
Created specifically for radio by Alan Stranks, PC 49 (Police Constable Archibald Berkeley-Willoughby) was an ordinary bobby on the beat, solving crime in the late 40s and early 50s. He worked for ‘Q’ Division of the Metropolitan Police.
The series featured Brian Reece as PC 49, Joy Shelton as his girlfriend Joan Carr (see picture above), Leslie Perrins as Detective Inspector Wilson and Eric Phillips as Detective Sergeant Wright. The producer was Vernon Harris.
A combination of light comedy and sleuthing in a character who also appeared in comic strips and films as spin-offs. The series began in 1947 and lasted until 1953. 112 episodes were made but only two are known to have survived in the BBC Archives.
Dickieboy............ 
CANNOT believe that !!!!!!!!
Bill
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 14:25:18 +0000 To: bilbowart@hotmail.co.uk
Well, in fairness, she was not even ONE when the series ended! Strewth!
I recently managed to attain some full and part ‘PC 49’ radio episodes from America!!! Great additions although not all great quality. BBC also have more in their archive although not available in the public domain. I have discovered….at least three that I know of.that would make it 115 definite episodes in their archive.
‘PC 49’; was an old Edwardian music hall song composed by J.W.Rickaby around 1912 and writer / music composer Alan Stranks brought him to life again and up to date in 1947 for the BBC Light Programme and at his peek ‘PC49’ Archie had around 12 million listeners a week. Strom Gould. Alfred Siddall and lastly but most lovingly John Worsley thankfully brought him to strip cartoon life in the ‘EAGLE’ comic with a few annuals also.
Thanks for bringing him to light again …”OH MY SUNDAY HELMET!”
Thanks very much. Very interesting.
A bit of an error in my last post dickiebo…the three I know of are part of the 112 in the BBC archive but are not in the public domain and not in addition to the 112 episodes.
Thank you.