Vale: Jimmy Perry
Veteran UK writer best known as the creator of Dad's Army, has died aged 93.
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Veteran UK writer Jimmy Perry, best known as the creator of Dad’s Army, has died aged 93.
He died at his home on Sunday after a short illness.
Perry (pictured left) enjoyed a 25-year partnership with writer David Croft (right), also creating It Ain’t Half Hot Mum, Hi-de-Hi and You Rang M’Lord?
But it was Dad’s Army, which ran from 1968 for 80 episodes over nine years that was his best known creation. The character Private Pike was based on Perry himself, who had served in the Home Guard during World War Two and as a Redcoat at Butlin’s holiday camp.
Ian Lavender, who played Private Pike said Perry’s death was “the end of an era”.
“He has been a part of my life for such a long time, half of an amazing partnership,” he added.
Shane Allen, BBC controller of comedy commissioning, said Perry’s shows would be remembered for many years to come.
He said: “Jimmy Perry is a Goliath of British comedy writing. He was behind some of the longest running and most loved sitcoms on British television spanning the 60s, 70s and 80s.”
As well as co-writing the script, Perry wrote the lyrics for the opening song, Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr Hitler, which he persuaded his great music hall idol, Bud Flanagan, to perform.
In 2003 Perry and Croft received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Comedy Awards.
Source: BBC
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3 Responses
Jimmy wrote the funniest lines ever heard in a sitcom. Pte. Pike, perched on a ladder, sings a song ridiculing Hitler to a group of Nazi prisoners. Their leader, played by Welshman Phil Madoc, is insulted.
Nazi: “Your name will go on ze list. What is it?”
Mainwaring: “Don’t tell him Pike”
Nazi: “Pike”
Ian Lavender is right. It is the end of an era,
If you watch that scene very closely you can see Ian Lavender biting the side of his mouth trying to not to laugh.
We can all make tributes to him and the cast but I think the greatest tribute is that Dad’s Army in the UK is still being shown on the BBC to this day.
British comedy is far superior to any in the world. Speaking of Phil Madoc, do you remember him as Mr. Williams in “Porridge” telling the others about the mating habits of frogs?
Williams “When the frog and his mate, mate, he’s at it for 28 days non-stop.”
Godber “28 days?”
Williams “Non stop”
Fletcher “No wonder his eyes bulge out”.
Classic comedy, brilliantly played!