The Motorway Men

This comedy starred James Beck and Bill Pertwee, along with Milo O'Shea, Richard Davies, Anthony Sagar and Richard Caldicot as workers of a company who built motorways in Britain in the early 1970's. Supporting the cast were Peter Stephens as a very camp surveyor, who seemed to only really get laughs on catchphrases that would be unsuitable to today's listening audience, and Amanda Murray played the canteen manageress, Gladys.

James Beck's character was a young, slightly naive cockney lad called Steve who was often lead atsray by his Irish and Welsh colleagues, 'Irish' Shaughnessy O'Connell and Randy Morris. Steve lives with his mum still, and he is keen on Gladys.

Bill Pertwee's character of the foreman, Reg Ponsonby, is often the butt of the three main character's jokes and schemes. He's a largely incompetent man who prefers to reminisce about his war days than get work done. He usually ends up in hot water with the booses, Hanson and Fairfax, due to the three lead characters trying to pull a fiddle.

The characters in this comedy are largely very sterotypical, and the writing is somewhat dated, with a general lacking of good comedy moments. But the series is still interesting as it starred two of Dad's Army's core cast, and was made at the same time as Dad's Army.

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Episode Guide
Note: True episode titles are unknown. Dave Homewood has created the episode titles here for recognition purposes

Pilot

Coal - Pilot
(Broadcast 23rd January 1971)
Number 9 Gang discovers a seam of coal next to the new section of motorway. They decide to excavate the coal and sell it on the side, but because they are neglecting their work and nowhere to be found, Mr Hanson suspends the foreman Reg Ponsonby from his job. When No. 9 Gang hears this, they go on strike, and use the time off to continue their coal extraction. On the Sunday, they set up a coal shop in Hanson’s site office, but get caught by Mr Fairfax.
Starring: James Beck, Milo O’Shea, Richard Davies, Bill Pertwee, Richard Caldicot, Anthony Sagar, Peter Stephens, Amanda Murray
Guests: None

Notes: This pilot aired in a series of comedy pilots called Comedy Parade. This was the same Comedy parade series that Parsley Sidings debuted in.

 

Series One

Cement - Episode One
(Broadcast 2nd February 1972)
When a load of chalk has been used to build a flyover by mistake instead of cement, the unused cement itself must be gotten rid of before No 9 Gang are found out. So they sell it to Gladys’s uncle to build a swimming pool.
Starring: James Beck, Milo O’Shea, Richard Davies, Bill Pertwee, Richard Caldicot, Anthony Sagar, Peter Stephens, Amanda Murray
Guests: Nigel Graham (as the Minister),
Written by Peter Childs and Peter Matthews

Bulldozers - Episode Two
(Broadcast 9th February 1972)
The gang loan out one of their bulldozers to a local for a bit of extra cash on the side, but then when there’s a flap on they have to do some swift talking and tricky moves so the bosses don’t realize an entire bulldozer is missing for a few days.
Starring: James Beck, Milo O’Shea, Richard Davies, Bill Pertwee, Richard Caldicot, Anthony Sagar, Peter Stephens, Amanda Murray
Guests: None

 

Archeology - Episode Three
(Broadcast 16th February 1972)
No 9 Gang uncover an ancient Roman ruin whilst digging a new motorway section.
Starring: James Beck, Milo O’Shea, Richard Davies, Bill Pertwee, Richard Caldicot, Anthony Sagar, Peter Stephens, Amanda Murray
Guests: none known

 

The New Foreman - Episode Four
(Broadcast 23rd February 1972)
When Ponsonby gets confused over the plans for a new link road, and Steve is buried up to his neck in a mishap, Hanson decides to demote Ponsonby and he makes Irish the foreman. But when Irish arranges a social club and a big party for the crews, Fairfax goes berserk.
Starring: James Beck, Milo O’Shea, Richard Davies, Bill Pertwee, Richard Caldicot, Anthony Sagar, Peter Stephens, Amanda Murray
Guests: Greta Gurieŕ (as Victoria Cooper, Gladys’s sister), James Beck  (as ‘Sambo’)

 

Farmer Barrett - Episode Five
(Broadcast 1st March 1972)
A new road the gang is creating cuts across a farm, and the farmer is not pleased at all with the situation. The lads have been promised a bonus if they get the job done on time, but Farmer Barrett and his animals cause them more trouble than the job is worth.
Starring: James Beck, Milo O’Shea, Richard Davies, Bill Pertwee, Richard Caldicot, Anthony Sagar, Peter Stephens, Amanda Murray
Guests:Alan Thompson (as Farmer Barrett), Amanda Murray (?) (as Mrs Barrett),
James Beck (as West Indian Barman)
           

 

The Chinese Observer - Episode Six
(Broadcast: 8th March 1972)
A group of Chinese engineers are visiting to see how the British construct their motorways. But the gang find out they are in line for being sent to China themselves. Plus No 9 Gang are trying to hide the fact that hey have nicked and sold a load of barriers for scrap from their female Chinese observer.
Starring: James Beck, Milo O’Shea, Richard Davies, Bill Pertwee, Richard Caldicot, Anthony Sagar, Peter Stephens, Amanda Murray
Guests: Amanda Murray (?) as (Su Li Chun), Bill Pertwee (as Bert Noggins),
James Beck (as West Indian driver)

 

London Airport - Episode Seven
(Broadcast 15th March 1972)
No. 9 Gang is tasked with extending the runway at London Airport.
Starring: James Beck, Milo O’Shea, Richard Davies, Bill Pertwee, Richard Caldicot, Anthony Sagar, Peter Stephens, Amanda Murray
Guests:

 

Title/Theme Unknown - Episode Eight
(Broadcast 22nd March 1972)
Plot Unknown
Starring: James Beck, Milo O’Shea, Richard Davies, Bill Pertwee, Richard Caldicot, Anthony Sagar, Peter Stephens, Amanda Murray
Guests:

 

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