A serial play in six parts from Captain Marryat's novel.
Adapted and produced by Naomi Capon.
[Starring] Timothy Bateson as Peter Simple, Thomas Heathcote as Terence O'Brien

(A BBC telerecording of the broadcast on January 20)

Peter was the heir to an earldom, but his wicked uncle was determined to have a son of his own and to get rid of Peter. So he manoeuvred him into the Navy as a midshipman, hoping that he might be killed in battle. Peter was very green; he fell into scrapes all the time. On his first day he met some midshipmen in a tavern ashore who made him drink rum and fight a duel, so his Captain sent him back aboard to keep him out of mischief. He was immediately cheated by the sailor into whose charge he was given. Then he was taken on Press Gang duty ashore and was captured by the landlady of the tavern they were raiding. He was rescued by O'Brien, the master's mate...