❉ 50 years since the first ever episode was first broadcast, Gold salutes the classic British comedy.
At 8.20pm on 31 July 1968, BBC One showed the first episode of a sitcom based on Perry’s early life in the Watford Home Guard during World War II. Dad’s Army would run for a further nine years and 80 episodes, and became a British comedy classic.
Now, for its 50th anniversary, Gold is showing the very first episode at the exact time and on the exact date it was first broadcast in 1968.
1940. Britain is on the alert for an imminent Nazi invasion. With full-time troops occupied overseas, the coastal defences are left to a handful of veteran soldiers – The Home Guard. And in Walmington-on-Sea, one inept, feeble and inadequately armed platoon is very keen to do its bit.
Dad’s Army was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, who went on to write other classic comedies such as It Ain’t Half Hot Mum and Hi-de-Hi. David also teamed up with Jeremy Lloyd for ‘Allo, ‘Allo! and Are You Being Served? The cast included such great character actors as Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, Clive Dunn and Bill Pertwee.
Although the very first episode is being broadcast at the same time as it was back in 1968, classic eps and related content litter the Gold schedule throughout the week:
❉ Monday 30th August, 7.15pm: We’re Doomed: The Dad’s Army Story: Comedy drama about how the creators of Dad’s Army overcame BBC management scepticism, focus groups and cast constipation to get the much-loved show to air.
❉ Tuesday 31st July, 8.20pm: S1E1: The Man And The Hour: In the very first episode of the series, Captain Mainwaring assumes command of the Local Defence Volunteers, an assumption others are not so eager to make.
❉ Wednesday 1st August, 8pm: 1976 Christmas Special: The Love Of Three Oranges: The vicar organises a bazaar to which each member of the platoon donates something. Hodges, the greengrocer, donates three rare oranges. Mainwaring is determined to buy one of the oranges for his wife.
❉ Thursday 2nd August, 8pm: S5E9: Mum’s Army: Captain Mainwaring discusses with Sergeant Wilson a scheme to recruit female members into the platoon in order for them to take on some noncombatant activities.
❉ Friday 3rd August, 8.40pm: S1E5: The Showing Up of Corporal Jones: Major Regan from area headquarters decides that Jones is too old to be in the Home Guard, and announces that unless Jones can complete the assault course in fifteen minutes, he will be removed from the platoon.
❉ Watch Dad’s Army “The Man and the Hour” on Tuesday 31st July at 8.20pm. Gold: Sky 110/810 (HD),Virgin 124,BT & TalkTalk 310
❉ News source: UKTV Press Office.
❉ We Are Cult is not responsible for the content of this news release.
