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News Archive - 2003

Jimmy Perry and David Croft Win Lifetime Achievement Award

Jimmy Perry and David Croft have received a lifetime achievement award at the 2003 British Comedy Awards. on 10th December.

Colin Bean’s Autobiography Re-Published

Colin Bean’s autobiography Who do you think you are kidding? has been re-released by publishers Edward & George. Colin Bean played Private Sponge in 48 episodes of Dad’s Army in addition to appearing in the feature film. Pt Sponge started out as one of the silent-soldiers of the back row but quickly became an ‘occasional’ speaking part.

The new version of the book has extra materials and photographs and is available direct from the publishers at the bargain price of £9.99 plus £1.50 P&P. More details from

Edward & George Publishers, 7 Pinnacle View, Cowling, BD22 0DR. Telephone 01535 636129

It Sticks Out Half a Mile on BBC7

News Flash the never-broadcast ‘first’ pilot starring Arthur Lowe will be played on BBC Radio 4 on Saturday 1st Nov at 20:00 to 21:00 GMT on The Archive Hour programme. We are not clear yet whether this will be a full broadcast or just extracts.

Hot on the heels of Parsley Sidings BBC7 are to broadcast episodes of It Sticks Out Half a Mile - the early 80s Dad’s Army radio-only sequel. This show starred Bill Pertwee, John le Mesurier and Ian Lavender reprising their roles of Wilson, Pike and Hodges, intent on restoring the dilapidated Frambourne Pier. It Sticks Out Half a Mile can be heard on Tuesdays at 14:30 and 21:30 (UK time) on BBC7.

Now that BBC7 have the It Sticks Out.. bit between their teeth we believe they should air the never-broadcast first pilot episode which starred Arthur Lowe, made shortly before his death, and was recently returned to the BBC archive.

Please contact BBC7 to lobby them to play this unique piece of radio history for the first time

Don Estelle Dies Aged 70

Don Estelle, who played a number of small parts in episodes of Dad’s Army died on 2nd August. The diminutive actor became a household name when he joined the cast of Perry and Croft’s It Ain’t Half Hot Mum as Gunner ‘Lofty’ Sugden - and briefly became a major recording artist when he and Windsor Davies recorded Whispering Grass,  a hit single in 1975.

Don joined the Dad’s Army cast in the episode Big Guns, playing a Pickford’s van driver - having worked as an extra in Coronation Street in his native Manchester he was recommended by Arthur Lowe to write to David Croft - and was successful in securing the part. He went on to appear in five episodes in total, generally as an ARP warden.

After It Ain’t Half Hot Mum finished he concentrated on singing and ran his own music publishing company

Read The Guardian’s obituary

Don Estelle died in Rochdale Infirmary following a long illness

Parsley Sidings on BBC7

Digital radio station BBC7 is broadcasting episodes of Dad’s Army spin-off Parsley Sidings. Commencing on 31st August at 12.30 and 19.30 episodes will be broadcast at the same times each Thursday.

Parsley Sidings was the first script written by Jim Eldridge who has gone on to write over 200 scripts for the BBC including the excellent King Street Junior.

Arthur Lowe and Ian Lavender from Dad’s Army were the mainstays of the cast along with Kenneth Connor (from the Carry On team) and Liz Fraser (from both the Carry Ons and the Dad’s Army feature film). Lowe and Lavender play roles not dissimilar to their Dad’s Army characters, this time as a father and son team running the sleepy railway station of Parsley Sidings somewhere in the English midlands.

For much, much more information on this lovely programme see the Dad’s Army Appreciation Society (New Zealand) branch’s excellent coverage.

Save Our Coastal Defences

English Heritage are seeking to identify the best of our coastal defences for protection. Most WW2 pillboxes and tank traps have been lost over the past 60 years, being thought to have no value. However nostalgia and an appreciation of their historical worth has forced a rethink. The best of these defensive structures will be scheduled as part of the monuments protection programme.

Read the Independent’s report here.

Operation Kilt and The Battle of Godfrey’s Cottage on TV

UK viewers will get their second chance to see the recently recovered episodes from series two Operation Kilt and The Battle of Godfrey’s Cottage again on BBC2. This will be only the second screening in the UK since their recovery in 2001. Both episodes can be seen on 5th May 2003 on BBC2. Operation Kilt will be screened at 22:30 and The Battle of Godfrey’s Cottage at 23.50.

Dad’s Army Radio Series One to be Released on CD

BBC are currently trailing the release of a a new Dad’s Army CD release from the BBC. This box set contains all 21 episodes from the first radio series of Dad's Army, first transmitted on BBC Radio 4 from 28/1/74 to 10/6/74. Also included is the Christmas Special of 25/12/74. The 11 CDs are accompanied by full track listings, cast biographies and a history of the series.

The set is priced at £79.99 at Amazon and is due for release on 2nd June.

Update: The complete second series is due for release in a similar format in October 2003 - more details here once we get them

Highlights of 2003

A tranche of Dad’s Army related events have been announced for 2003. Dad’s Army Appreciation Society (UK) members are well catered for with two locations tours, another Street Party event and a 10th Anniversary Convention.

Anyone who saw A Tribute to Dad’s Army at the Court Theatre, Tring will be delighted to hear that they will once again be performing two full Dad’s Army scripts - this time from the ‘lost’ second series.

The Bressingham Steam Museum will be repeating their popular Dad’s Army Day again this year - a great opportunity to meet some of the cast ,see the original vehicles, and generally immerse yourself in the world of Walmington-on-Sea.

Details of all events can be found at the event calendar.

Classic Comedy from the BBC

The BBC has announced the launch of a new national radio station which will specialise in classic comedy, drama, books and children’s programming. BBC 7 is the last of five new BBC digital radio stations which will be broadcast in the UK on Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) via digital television and world-wide on the internet - but you will not be able to receive it on an ordinary analogue radio.

Update: BBC 7 is broadcasting a regular Dad’s Army slot on Mondays at 14.30 and 21.30 (GMT).

Announcing the new station editor Mary Kalemkerian said “BBC 7 gives us a tremendous opportunity to bring new listeners to speech radio through a range of wonderful programmes and the latest technology."

The new station promises to daily give listeners a full seven hours of comedy from the BBC archives, in addition to five hours of drama, two hours of book readings and a regular two hour slot of children’s programmes.

Fans of classic comedy will be well catered for with Tony Hancock, The Goons and I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue amongst promised output, alongside contemporary comedy such as Dead Ringers.

We are not sure if Dad’s Army fans can expect to catch episodes from the radio adaptation on the new station, but the teaser currently being broadcast certainly contains clips from The Deadly Attachment. You can hear the BBC 7 teaser by clicking here (RealOne or Realplayer needed). You can visit the station’s website by clicking on the BBC 7 logo above, or see the programme schedule here.

BBC 7 will be launched on 15th December 2002 with an ‘on air’ party featuring Hancock's Happy Christmas, Dr Who and I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue.

Last Updated 01 Feb, 2005