Hark at Barker

He would then introduce the main part of the programme, a lecture to be given by Lord Rustless (also Barker) on a different topic each week from his stately home, Chrome Hall.

Helped and hindered by Rustless' secretary (Mildred) Bates, his Butler Badger, his bad-tempered Cook, his incoherent gardener Dithers and (in Series 2) his buxom, near-mute maid Effie, these lectures invariably degenerated into farce, and were frequently interrupted by comic sketches on location or in the studio which also starred Barker in differing roles.

Barker reprised the role of Lord Rustless in the BBC series His Lordship Entertains, and played very similar characters in Futtock's End and the Two Ronnies specials The Picnic and By the Sea.

There were also other occasional sketch contributors during season 1, notably Eric Idle who contributed material to episode 3.

Series 1 (11 April 1969 – 30 May 1969) - Produced in black and white Series 2 (10 July 1970 – 21 August 1970) - Produced in colour All Star Comedy Carnival Christmas Special (25 December 1970) - Produced in black and white due to the ITV Colour Strike All episodes exist on their original 2 inch Quad b&w and PAL colour videotapes bar "Rustless on Law" from series 2, which only exists as a 16 mm b/w telerecording.