BBC Television had Tony Hancock and ITV, Arthur Haynes.
In 1956 after appearing in the ATV variety show ‘Strike a new note’ the powers that be decided Arthur could have his own show, not surprisingly called ‘The Arthur Haynes show‘
Running for Fourteen series between 1957 and 1966 this show for ATV was consistently the most popular comedy programme on British Television.
Over that period they produced 95 thirty-minute shows, 62 thirty-five-minute shows and one fifty-minute show.
 The series was written by 'Alf Garnet' creator Johnny Speight.
 Arthur’s most popular characters were the tramp who constantly told people how he had fought for his country whilst being 'up to my neck in muck and bullets.'  the fastidious burglar and the working-class man with a shambling, pretentious style that was underplayed  but never a soft touch.

Listing in the 'TV Times' for Wednesday January 2nd 1957 The First Edition of 'The Arthur Haynes Show'

 Each week he was accompanied by his small team of fellow players, namely Nicholas Parsons, Leslie Noyes and later joined by Dermot Kelly (playing a fellow tramp referred to as Irish)  Patricia Hayes( often playing is tramp spouse sometimes called Yvonne) and battle axe Rita Webb who would often play Dermot’s wife.
The programme showcased many top musical acts of the time, ‘Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen’  ‘Joe brown and his Bruvers’ and Joe ‘Piano’ Henderson  were regulars but the show also boasted appearances from top acts of the time such as ‘The Rolling Stones’ and’ The Dave Clark Five’
Even a young Michael Caine appeared in a sketch, playing a young burglar with Arthur as the more accomplished housebreaker.

 
 
 
 
The ATV Show Book featuring Arthur Haynes
 

The BBC also got a slice of the Haynes talent, with many of the sketches being transcribed for the light programme under the same programme title; it ran for four series between 1962 - 65.

arthur haynes at the bbc


Arthur Haynes on the BBC Light Programme

LONDON LIGHTS

 Sunday 6-30pm April 1 to June 3 1962

featured Arthur Haynes and Nicholas Parsons (with Johnny Speight scripts originally performed on television)

ARTHUR AGAIN

 Monday 9-00pm June 18 1962

with Arthur Haynes, Nicholas Parsons, Quartetto Italiano

(script: Johnny Speight)

THE ARTHUR HAYNES SHOW

Series 1:

 Monday 9-00pm October 22 1962 to January 14 1963

with Nicholas Parsons, The Temperance Seven

(script: Johnny Speight)

Series 2: 

Sunday 2-00pm June 23 to September 15 and Wednesday December 25 1963

with Nicholas Parsons, Graham Stark, Leslie Noyes

(script: Johnny Speight)

Series 3: 

 Tuesday 8-00pm April 28 to July 21 1964

with Nicholas Parsons, Graham Stark, Patricia Hayes, Leslie Noyes

(script: George Evans & Derek Collyer, Alastair Foot and Eric Davidson)

Series 4: 

Thursday 8-00pm July 15 to October 7 1965

with Tony Fayne, Warren Mitchell, Patricia Hayes, Leslie Noyes

(script: Allan Scott and Chris Bryant)


Arthur had a good singing voice, and in 1962 he released a single on the HMV label called ‘Not To Worry’. 
The B side ‘Looking Around’ he was accompanied with show regular Leslie Noyes.
hmv not to worry label
hmv looking around label
Script and publicity material about the Television show
 
 
 
 
 
Arthur Haynes

The interaction between Parsons, who normally portrayed the figure of authority, a Vicar or a senior civil servant, against Hayne’s inquisitorial nuisance character worked well, and proved popular with the audience. However in Late 1965 (Series thirteen) Arthur decided to drop Nicholas Parsons, replacing him with Tony Fayne, who he had used in previous series when Parsons had not been available. 
The ratings declined, and this was also reflected in ticket sales for the seaside summer season that year. 
After that Arthur and the troupe up sticks and travelled  across the pond to try out American television guesting  on the much acclaimed 'Ed Sullivan show’.
Appearing no less than seven times on the show, he proved a hit with Amerian audience.

TX Dates of 'The Ed Sullivan Show'
April 4th1965
June 20th 1965
March 6th 1966
March 27th 1966
April 3th 1966
October 30th 1966
November 6th 1966
 
Morecambe and Wise did the same, but with a disappointing outcome.

On returning to the UK, rehearsals started for the next series, at the same time Arthur started complaining about chest pains and soon after suffered a fatal heart attack.
Prematurely ending his life and career at the age of 52.
the arthur haynes show

Series 1: ATV Wednesdays 9-30pm fortnightly January 2 to June 5 1957 (12 shows)

Series 2: ATV Wednesdays 10-00pm fortnightly September 18 to December 11 1957 (7 Shows)

Series 3: ATV Fridays 10-15pm December 12 and 19 1958

Series 4: ATV Fridays 10-15pm March 6 to June 19 1959 (16 Shows)

Series 5: ATV Mondays 8-00pm September 14 to October 19 1959 (6 Shows)

Series 6: ATV Mondays 8-00pm March 21 to April 25, June 13 and 20 1960 (8 Shows)

Series 7: ATV Thursdays 8-00pm September 15 to December 29 1960 (16 Shows)

Special: Arthur Entertains ATV Saturday 11-00pm February 18 1961 (10 min)

Special: ATV Saturday 7-40pm March 16 1961 (50 min)

Series 8: ATV Thursday 8-00pm March 30 to May 4 1961 (6 Shows)

Series 9: ATV Saturdays 9-30pm fortnightly September 16 to November 25 1961 (6 Shows)

Series 10: ATV Saturday 7-30pm February 3 to May 19 1962 (16 Shows)

Series 11: ATV Saturday 8-25pm December 8 1962 to April 27 1963 (21 Shows)

Series 12: ATV Saturday 8-25pm January 4 to March 28 1964 (13 Shows)

Series 13: ATV Saturday 8-25pm October 10 1964 to January 2 1965 (13 Shows)

Series 14: ATV Saturday 8-25pm November 20 1965 to January 15 1966 (9 Shows)

Series 15: ATV Saturday 8-35pm March 26 to April 30 1966 (6 Shows)

The Main Arthur Haynes show support cast

Nicholas Parsons appeared in Series 1 to 9, and 11 to 13), 

Tony Fayne replaced him in Series 10, 14 and 15, 

Ken Morris (series 1 to 3, 6, 7, 9 and 10), 

Freddie Frinton (Series 4 and 5), 

Leslie Noyes (Series 6 to 15), 

Dermot Kelly (Series 11 to 15), 

Patricia Hayes (Series 13 to 15)

Rita Webb (series 13 to 15)

 
 
Listing in the 'TV Times' for Saturday 30th April 1966 The Last Edition of 'The Arthur Haynes Show'
TV listing for arthur haynes shoe 30 april 1966
Never repeated on television, it looked as if this work of geniuses would be lost forever.
The original 2’’ master tapes have long since been erased, but thanks to sales of the programme to an overseas broadcasters, Austrailian, ABC Television,  it has been possible to retrieve the 16mm film recorded versions. 
Not totally complete, some editions have gone missing altogether, and the original 35 minute show where cut down to 30 minutes as ABC required a half hour slot. Done usually by losing a musical item rather than a sketch.
Now available in seven volumes from Network, we can at last appreciate the genius of Arthur Haynes, and if you have never seen him at work I would recommend giving him a go.