When Dad’s Army came to Newcastle
MUCH-LOVED SERIES WAS FIRST SHOWN ON THIS DAY 50 YEARS AGO
IT’S a classic of television comedy and it was first shown on this day 50 years ago. Starting at 8.20pm on BBC1, and slotted between The Virginian and The News, Dad’s Army made a low-key Wednesday night debut.
The Radio Times informed us the first episode was titled The Man And The Hour. It said: “Written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft. Starring Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier and Clive Dunn. In which our hero forms a platoon of Local Defence Volunteers to defend our island home.“
The new series was based on the wartime exploits of the real-life Home Guard, the hastily assembled, initially ill-equipped band of willing veterans who would have to face up to the might of Hitler’s stormtroopers should Germany invade Britain, as was deeply feared at the beginning of the war.
In July 1968, however, there was some unease within the corridors of power at the BBC that the new show might be received in bad taste, little more than 20 years after then end of World War II. Was it really a fitting subject for comedy? They needn’t have worried.
Since then, Dad’s Army with its brilliant characterization, distinctive theme tune sung by wartime entertainer Bud Flanagan, and memorable catchphrases has woven its way into the nation’s affections as quite possibly our most beloved sitcom.
Which of us has not chortled to the exploits of Captain Mainwaring, Sgt Wilson, Lance Corporal Jones and co, or its oft-repeated lines?
There was Jones’ “They don’t like it up ‘em”, Mainwaring’s “You stupid boy”, Godfrey’s “May I be excused”, Frazer’s “We’re doomed”, and more.
The show ran until November 1977, when the aging cast finally called it a day. There had been a feature film in
1971 (and there would be a remake in 2016, starring modern actors).
What might be forgotten now is how the classic Dad’s Army cast headed to Newcastle in June 1976 for a two-week run at the Theatre Royal.
You’ll recognise all the familiar faces from the show in our main picture, although Jack Haig was called in to play Lance Cpl Jones after Clive Dunn was unavailable.
(Haig had starred in the One O’Clock Show which was shown every weekday in the Tyne Tees area in the 1960s. He usually appeared in sketches as ‘Wacky Jackie’, generally playing the fool in a music hall comedy style).
Meanwhile, James Beck who played the spivish Pte Walker had died in 1973, aged just 44.
One of the regulars who did appear in Newcastle was Bill Pertwee, who played the irascible Air Raid Warden, Mr Hodges, Captain Mainwaring’s archrival.
Unlike his grumpy TV character, a charming Pertwee told the Chronicle: “May I take this opportunity to say what a delight it always is to play the Theatre Royal and accept the wonderful recognition from the Tyneside audiences.
“And your countryside and coastline are some of the finest in Britain.”
Perhaps surprisingly the 1976 Theatre Royal show attracted mixed reviews, with our sister paper The Journal reporting: “The show was bitty and only kept alive by some hilarious sketches involving the great team of Arthur Lowe, Ian Lavender, John Le Mesurier, Bill Pertwee and Arnold Ridley.”
The review did concede though: “All in all a very pleasurable two hours, highlighted by some hilarious antics.
“Dad’s Army should stay in our lives for a long time to come.”
Fifty years on, it’s fair to say they were often bumbling, but always brave.