British Naval officer Humphrey Fairweather (David Tomlinson) has an uncontrollable passion for building guided missiles that are constantly going off at the wrong time and causing considerable damage to the naval bases he keeps getting bounced between.
Unfortunately, the Navy can’t get rid of him because of his family connections (he is related to the First Sea Lord) and so in desperation, the Admiralty gives him command of the ancient destroyer HMS Berkeley – the oldest member of the “Mothball Fleet” which has been without a commanding officer in the wilds of Suffolk for nearly two years.
It turns out the skeleton crew of the rusty old destroyer – led by wily CPO Doherty (Peter Sellers) – is running a highly profitable but illegal money-making scheme with the local villagers. “Berkeley Enterprises Ltd” runs a one-day laundry service and sells eggs (hatched by chickens kept on the bridge), pork, rum, cigarettes, sheets, bakery goodies and government-supplied paint at cut-price rates.
A sequel – Further Up The Creek – quickly followed.
Lt. Humphrey Fairweather
David Tomlinson
CPO Doherty
Peter Sellers
Admiral Foley
Wilfrid Hyde-White
Lily
Vera Day
Susanne
Liliane Sottane
Flag Lieutenant
Tom Gill
Nelson
Michael Goodliffe
Perkins
Lionel Murton
Cooky
John Warren
Steady Barker
Lionel Jeffries
Bunts
Howard Williams
Chippie
Peter Collingwood
Webster
Barry Lowe
Bennett
Edwin Richfield
Scouse
David Lodge
Lofty
Max Butterfield
Bates
Sam Kydd
Coombes
Basil Dignam
Cmdr. Price
Peter Coke
Regulating Petty Officer
Jack McNaughton
Commander
Patrick Cargill
Director
Val Guest
