BBC to release Dad's Army documents

chris

The BBC is releasing documents never seen before by the public to mark the 40th anniversary of Dad's Army.

The BBC Archive's collection of letters and pictures lifts the lid on one of the UK's most-loved comedy series, about a platoon of the Home Guard in the Second World War.

The title sequence was said by the BBC to have initially created some debate as some people thought the title Dad's Army would not take off, though it went on to become a household name.

Among the collection is a letter from Michael Grade, who was then a theatrical agent, dated March 1968 on behalf of actor Clive Dunn, about the names on the billing. It reads: "It is understood and agreed that Clive Dunn will be billed third after Arthur Lowe and John Le Mesurier over the title in the same size."

The collection also includes an audition letter from Lowe, who played irascible platoon leader Captain Mainwaring.

Viewers met a group of elderly soldiers and a "stupid boy" (young Private Pike, played by Ian Lavender) for the very first time on July 31 1968.

The BBC said the collection includes candid post-war letters from the actors as they began their careers and internal BBC memos that show just how popular the series was right from the start. A photo gallery also looks at the stars of the show from the first episode to the last, as well as taking a peek behind the scenes.

The Dad's Army collection launches at bbc.co.uk/archive/dadsarmy.

The BBC will also be marking the anniversary with a one-off special - Jonathan Ross Salutes Dad's Army - on BBC One on Sunday at 7pm. There will also be a night of Dad's Army on BBC Two on Saturday.

The show was initially made in black and white but later in colour and ran until 1977.



Source:The Press Association