You have been watching ... genius of Dad’s Army dies at 93
JIMMY Perry, who created many of Britain’s best-loved sitcoms, died yesterday aged 93.
In a 25-year collaboration with David Croft, he devised enduring shows such as Dad’s Army, It Ain’t Half Hot Mum, and Hi-de-Hi!.
The pair based much of their comedy on their own experiences.
Perry, born in Barnes, South West London, in 1923, was too young to join the Army when the Second World War broke out. Instead he served for two years in his local Home Guard and loosely based Dad’s Army’s scarf-wearing mummy’s boy Private Pike – played by Ian Lavender – on himself. In 1941 he joined the Army and was sent to Burma, gaining experiences that would later inspire It Ain’t Half Hot Mum.
Subsequent experience working as a Butlin’s redcoat, to pay for his actor training at Rada, inspired him to create Hi-de-Hi!, set in a Fifties holiday camp.
From the late 1960s to the mid1980s his shows were a fixture on the BBC. Loved for their quirky characters, memorable catchphrases and clean humour, they formed a key part of Saturday evening television for millions of families. The end of each episode was famously signalled with the caption ‘You Have Been Watching ...’.
Dad’s Army, for which Perry also wrote the words to the theme, is considered to be among the finest ever sitcoms. Running for nine years from 1968, it regularly attracted audiences of over 18million.
Another wartime comedy, It Ain’t Half Hot Mum, about an Army concert party in the jungle, was Perry’s favourite even though its jokes and themes are now deemed too politically incorrect to be repeated on the BBC. It ran for eight series from 1974 and drew on both Croft and Perry’s military experiences in India and Burma. Hi-de-Hi! ran for nine series from 1980.
Set in a fictional holiday camp, Maplin’s, it showed how for many of the entertainers, the job was a step down from their previous roles in showbusiness. Perry and Croft – who died five years ago aged 89 – collaborated for one final time on You Rang M’Lord?, from 1990 to 1993. Set in an aristocratic household in the 1920s, it had an Upstairs, Downstairs-style theme. Last night Perry’s agent Tim Hancock said he died at home, surrounded by loved ones. He leaves a wife, Gilda Perry.
Mr Hancock said: ‘I have never met anyone as generous, dignified, funny and with as big a heart as Jimmy. He will be sadly missed.’
Ian Lavender said: ‘I am sorry to hear about Jimmy, he has been a part of my life for such a long time.
‘He was half of one amazing partnership, it is certainly the end of an era and of course brings back so many wonderful memories.
‘There were lots of good times together with much laughter.’
Shane Allen, BBC controller of comedy commissioning, said: ‘Jimmy Perry is a Goliath of British comedy writing. His work will be enjoyed and appreciated for many years to come. Comedy stars paid tribute on social media. Jack Dee said: ‘RIP Jimmy Perry. Amazing contribution to British telly. Watched Dad’s Army only yesterday. Still as funny as when I watched it as a kid.’
David Schneider said: ‘Thanks to Jimmy Perry for the sublime Dad’s Army, the perfect sitcom, and for making me laugh for over 40 years.’
Miranda Hart tweeted: ‘Thank you Jimmy Perry. You made our world a funnier and brighter place.’
Daniel Mays, who played Private Walker in this year’s Dad’s Army movie, said: ‘To contribute to the legacy of Dad’s Army playing Walker on the big screen was unforgettable. RIP to the mighty Jimmy Perry.’
‘Amazing partnership’