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I watched it as a schoolboy. After the series all I wanted was to join the Navy which I did in 1979. Served 34 years, that series charged my life.

I’m amazed at the US Navy’s decision to allow a man with appendicitis to remain onboard for all that time. In times of war I could understand the decision, but as a nurse and knowing what happens when the appendix bursts I feel it was downright cruel to allow that sailor to get to the point where his burst and sepsis followed. It was inevitable and he should’ve been removed for surgery at first diagnosis. Where I live we have many submarines and warships train and it’s not uncommon for sailors to be medevaced off and flown to Faslane or to a local hospital for treatment. The ship’s surgeon in this episode was superb and the navy was lucky to have such a guy in their service.

Master at Arms was such a lovely soul.

Poor sailor being stuck waiting for his baby to arrive knowing he has to be back onboard shortly. My CPO(D) was with me in 1999 when I had mine and I’m grateful for that!

That Powel is such a bullshit artist - I had his number the first time he appeared - I'm not saying he's any worse than anybody else - we all have a foibles ! Fantastic documentary , must have been tough to edit . I was 8 when this was made and it's quite sobering to realise that a lot of the guys we see will have left us by now .

What a wonderful series!!

What a touch - getting so many to read from their personal letters - even the captain . Very clever the way they made Wilf fit for broadcast without spoiling the atmosphere of the show - those Officers loved it ! Fantastically well made documentary . The BBC used to be good (apart from the sexual predators) .

Awesome series!

So many different characters on board - if you want to see diversity , look no further .

Diamond Lills had many a runashore there as a bootneck. That aircrew officer became a Vice Admiral.

24:42 bet they didn't realise their guests lifestyle!

I'm ex Royal Navy 85/92 and this is the navy I remember. I served on hms intrepid 86/89. Not as many jacks as the ark but we had 550 sailors and 120 bootnecks as ships company, so a total of 670 piss heads on board and as we also were part of young officers training ( Dartmouth training squadron) we did a lot of jollys. In my first 18 months on board as a 17 year old we visited Naples, Egypt, Cyprus,Crete,Djibouti, las Palmas, Norway, Iceland, Bremen and a couple of others. Oh and of course Gib about 6 times. To charlies ,hope in the wall bar. They were great times. Until I met my wife that is and left. FFS. 😂😂

We have now got Big Lizzie and she is even bigger than the Ark Royal

Something interesting to note about the ship being scrapped... When _Ark Royal_ arrived for scrapping, her sister ship _Eagle_ had not yet been completely broken up. There is, somewhere in my office, a photograph of the ships side by side for the final time. And another thing - when she was towed out for the yard up in Scotland, some of her final crew were there as part of the towing party and burnt oily rags and some fuel to make it look as if she was steaming out one last time under her own power even if it was a dead tow with only the emergency genny going for limited power for the pumps

All the years of watching this, and its only with a pair of headphones that I notice Powell's step-father call him Colin

I attended an event where now Admiral Parry was the guest. When given the chance to ask him a question, i used it wisely and asked him if th RN still used Mayfair to teach sailors descriptive prose

Always have wondered who "the Passenger" was - one of the documentary crew?

lucky job at the right period of history. scouts for grown ups.

when Britain was Great

the queen can sleep soundly knowing she carried great power meekly. god bless the former queen.

26:58 lets rub willies...

Remember getting this on V H S for my birthday in 1990s

Great docu saw me old mate from Yeovilton (Soapy Watson).

LSAH Powel! The biggest WANKER the RN ever had!

A brilliant series . I was young when it was first shown but I remember my Dad who was a stern policeman laughing loudly at the banter and scrapes and I think it made me appreciate the services greatly hence why I went on to serve in the RAF. The best job I've ever had.

He joined navy in 72. This was filmed in 76. Would those timings work?

Thanks to the Royal Navy this sailor was saved because the US Navy tried to treat a RUPTURED APPENDIX aboard a flipping submarine....even the Royal navy doctor at 0:35 said the man could die.

Can See Mr Wilkinson visibly upset at the end to see her scrapped. The ship was great part of his life and he put so much into the running of her and the welfare of her crew. It is bound to mean so much to him. I totally understand why he feels and reacts the way he does.

So professional. The Royal Navy is a fantastic branch of the armed forces. Steeped in history, tradition, bravery and fantastic episodes of history. This series is a wonderful insight into a life of service and the attributes and desired qualities of servicemen.

I used to look after a fella who served on this ship. He was lovely fella he really was. Told us some great stories. He'd had a stroke. Passed away a few years ago. RIP David.

I was there in 78 aged 17. A four month deployment, including 3 weeks in Mayport. Happy days in the RN. I’ve been back several times.

Brave lads, it all looks a fun job but being torpedoed, drowning or eaten by sharks is not a great way to go. Respect to everyone who served.

My old dad PO Furniss directing that Buc on to the catapult!

I thought this series was brilliant when I first watched it in the mid seventies. I wold love love to know what happened to the main characters.Sadly a lot will have died but the survivors, I am sure, will look back on their service as their best years. certainly my memorable years were in the seventies/eighties.

im on your roger.

21:43 this is me beaten up by rishi sunaks social policies.

Didn't realise received pronunciation was in such common use back then. You really hear it now.

chief Withell, who did the rescue is my dad❤

I was only 8 when I watched this but I have always remembered it as it was unique

Jimmy saville on board if they only new😂

I didn’t know Peter Sutcliffe served on Ark Royal?!

My husband served on the ark royal nineteen seventy six so enjoying finding these videos loved hearing ships company singing sailing especially when he was on his way back to me and our two boys good to see what life was all about on board l was a serving wren beforehand but so appreciated it was far from Easton board fifty years married we still love chatting l out our navel life mrs g Russell

So as a 9 year old at the time I couldn't recall this series but I suspect my Mother probably wouldn't have let me watch it; and back then you either saw the program when it aired or you didn't. So having watched the whole series now my thoughts are what a marvellous record of life in the mid to end 70's. The reason I found the series now was because of a Greek F4 Phantom at the RIAT 2023 and remembering my Dinky Toys Royal Navy blue (not grey) F4 Phantom toy and thinking "Did we really operate Phantom's from a UK carrier?". I really wonder how our present day carriers compare in terms of crew and characters. My thanks to all who made this series possible and all the men and women who serve and have served in the Royal Navy.

That version of Blackbird Bye Bye killed me laughing. Would never get away with that these days lol

McLaughlin’s Hickey getting sent up to Captain’s Table 😅

7.04 Bill, coming on board slighty the worse for wear. Some years later i knew him as a Petty officer on HMS Invincible, great bloke.

Served on the last ark 2006-2008 brings back a lot of good memories. CDR’s defaulters, remember it well !!!

Astonishing how much this still gets under your skin after so many years. Doesn't matter Top Gun 1 and 2. This is still best.

Dumping the garbage overboard . That would be a No No today.

Was all the incidental music replacement done by the BBC? Some of this sounds too hi-fi to have been included on the original broadcast...