Produced in the same vein asBBC Two's previous celebra-
tory dramas, The Road to
Coronation Street (broadcast
in 2010) and An Adventure in
Space and Time (2013), this
film chronicled the troubled
conception of another iconic
British television institution,
namely Dad's Army.
In 1967, actor Jimmy Perry
(1923-2016) submitted a
script (based on his time in
the Home Guard, entitled
Fighting Tigers) to Michael Mills (BBC Head of Comedy). Perry and his
friend David Croft (1922-2011) were commissioned to write a pilot
episode then a full series. Dad's Army launched in July 1968.
Perry and Croft (portrayed here by Paul Ritter and Richard Dormer)
assembled a now legendary ensemble cast - Arthur Lowe (depicted
by John Sessions), John Le Mesurier (Julian Sands), Clive Dunn
namely Dad's Army.
In 1967, actor Jimmy Perry
(1923-2016) submitted a
script (based on his time in
the Home Guard, entitled
Fighting Tigers) to Michael Mills (BBC Head of Comedy). Perry and his
friend David Croft (1922-2011) were commissioned to write a pilot
episode then a full series. Dad's Army launched in July 1968.
Perry and Croft (portrayed here by Paul Ritter and Richard Dormer)
assembled a now legendary ensemble cast - Arthur Lowe (depicted
by John Sessions), John Le Mesurier (Julian Sands), Clive Dunn
(Mark Heap), John Laurie (Ralph Riach), Arnold Ridley (Michael
Cochrane), James Beck (Kevin Bishop), Kieran Hodgson (Ian
Lavender), and Bill Pertwee (Shane Ritchie).
Lavender), and Bill Pertwee (Shane Ritchie).
Dad's Army was watched by over 18 million viewers at its peak and
became one of the best-loved and most successful British sitcoms
became one of the best-loved and most successful British sitcoms
ever. The show endured for nine years, and spawned two films (in
1971 and 2016), a radio series (1974-76), two stage shows (1975
and 2007), a newspaper comic strip (1973), and even a musical
(2004). Presented by Victoria Wood, documentary Don't Panic:
The Dad's Army Story celebrated the writers' legacy in 2000.
UKTV marked the comedy's golden anniversary in July 2018
with Saluting Dad's Army, and the Gold channel (home to
regular repeats) debuted The Lost Episodes last September.
with Saluting Dad's Army, and the Gold channel (home to
regular repeats) debuted The Lost Episodes last September.
Croft and Perry later conceived other hit period pieces, It Ain't
Half Hot Mum (1974-81) and Hi-De-Hi (1980-88). Croft also
collaborated with Jeremy Lloyd and they created Are You Being
Served? (1972 to 1985) and Allo' Allo' (1982-92).
Half Hot Mum (1974-81) and Hi-De-Hi (1980-88). Croft also
collaborated with Jeremy Lloyd and they created Are You Being
Served? (1972 to 1985) and Allo' Allo' (1982-92).
Originally shown in December 2015 (then repeated on BBC2 to
celebrate fifty years of the comedy), We're Doomed! aired again
today - it featured Keith Allen and seven Doctor Who cast alumni:
- Ritchie voiced Drax for Big Finish's Connections (2022)
- Hodgson voiced Findel for Last of the Cybermen, Arin/Dennis for The Red House, Alam and Hilsee for The Isos Network, Bennus for The Innocent (all 2015), Klick Chervain for The Skin of the Sleek and The Thief Who Stole Time (both 2017), and Devon Pryce for Tales from New Earth (2018)
- Cochrane was Charles Cranleigh in Black Orchid and Redvers Fenn-Cooper in Ghost Light, then voiced Lieutenant Colonel Brook for No Man's Land (2006), Murgat for Brotherhood of the Daleks (2008), Colonel Hugh Spindleton for The Trail of the White Worm and The Oseidon Adventure (both 2012), Professor Chivers for The Time Machine (2013), and Geralk for The Fate of Krelos and Return to Telos (both 2015)
- Sessions provided the voice of Gus for Mummy on the Orient Express, and voiced Tannis for Death Comes to Time, Mozart for 100: My Own Private Wolfgang (2007), and Roland for Castle of Fear (2009)
- Heap voiced the Middleman for The Middle (2017)
- Harry Peacock (Mills) was Proper Dave in Silence in the Library and Forest of the Dead
- Roy Hudd (Bud Flanagan) voiced Max Miller for Pier Pressure (2006)
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