Dad's Army News - December 2002

Radio Days Relived on BBC7

Digital Radio Station BBC7 was launched at 8pm on Sunday 15th December. Focusing on entertainment for young and old BBC7 is featuring a wealth of archive material on its broadcasting schedule including the Dad's Army radio series originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4 between 1974 and 1976.

This is surely good news for all Dad's Army fans. The series has never had a full repeat on radio except for occasional episodes in the 80's and 90's on Radio 2 and the BBC World Service.

Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles adapted 64 of Jimmy Perry and David Croft's TV Scripts for radio between 1973 and 1975 and most of the original Dad's Army cast featured in the shows.

Dad's Army begins with the very first episode "The Man and The Hour " on Monday 16th December at 14.30 hrs and 21.30 hrs.

Jonathan's Surprise Cheque

Actor Jonathan Cecil has been pleasantly surprised recently by a cheque for a recent repeats fee for an appearance he made in Dad's Army back in 1973.

The Daily Mail reported in their Wicked Whispers column on December 12th 2002…

'Veteran character actor Jonathan Cecil, Peter Ustinov's sidekick in the Hercule Poirot films, is celebrating a festive windfall from a long forgotten appearance in one episode of Dad's Army. 'I was paid about £40 originally,' he tells me, adding with not a little glee, 'and I've received a lovely cheque for over a £1,000 for a repeat fee.'

Jonathan was a very familiar face and voice on Television and Radio back in the early 1970's, he had already appeared in the second radio series of "All Gas & Gaiters" as Derek Nimmo's character Reverend Noote, when Nimmo couldn't record the series due to other commitments.

In 1973 he was invited to play Captain Cadbury in the Dad's Army episode "Things That Go Bump In The Night", which turned out to be Jimmy Beck's final TV broadcast episode as Private Walker. Jonathan would later take the lead in Jimmy's ITV show "Romany Jones" before embarking on many celebrated roles on TV, Film and Stage.

Bill goes Round The Horne Again This Christmas

Bill Pertwee AKA ARP Warden Hodges hosts a tribute to the late comedy writer Barry Took this Christmas season on BBC Radio 2.

Three classic episodes of the popular sixties radio series featuring Bill along with Kenneth Williams, Betty Marsden, Hugh Pagett and Kenneth Horne will be broadcast each day on BBC Radio 2 at midday on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and December 27th.

Dad's Army News Written & Compiled by Andy Howells