Dad's Army features in top 25 'Classic Put Downs'

You Stupid Boy!


The classic put-down 'You Stupid Boy' has been included in a list of classic television put-down lines prepared by the Radio Times. This story was reported at the end of last month in a number of media publications - the Daily Telegraph published an article on the 27th February and included David Croft's comments on the development of comedy on TV over the years. The article is available here or by clicking on the Telegraph's logo above.

Sky News also reported the story on 26th February but in less detail. Read the article by clicking here or on the Sky News logo. This article also features link to a video interview with Leslie Grantham when he was promoting the stage play last September.

"You stupid boy" only came in at number 25 on the list - although practically every news agency that reported the story led with the 'Stupid Boy' quotation, or included a prominent picture from Dad's Army in their article!

New Dad's Army podcast on-line

Episode 17


Episode 17 of the Dad's Army podcast is now on-line and available to listen to at www.dadsarmy.podomatic.com

This fortnight sees the much delayed discussion of the season 3 classic, Branded. In addition, Tony reviews the stage play after seeing it twice the week the production was in Poole! We also have an update from the Dad's Army Appreciation Society on the Perry and Croft day being held at Bressingham steam museum in May this year. All this and the regular news and feedback features.

Please get in touch with us and let us know what you think of the podcast or anything else Dad's Army related at james@dadsarmypodcast.com

Coventry Coverage

BBC Midland Today interview

The BBC Midland Today programme reported on the stage play whilst the production was at Belgrade Theatre in Coventry last week. Timothy Kightley (Mainwaring), Leslie Grantham (Walker) and Ed O'Driscoll (Producer) all featured and were interviewed in uniform, on the stage at the Theatre. There are also a few seconds coverage of one of the lost episodes, A Stripe for Frazer where Kern Falconer (Frazer) and Tom Richardson (Pike) are caught on film.

The video is available to view on-line by clicking here.

Time on Your Hands?

Your Comments Welcome


We are recording comments on the final episode of series five, 'Time on My Hands' this coming Wednesday evening (26th March) and would very much welcome your views. The discussion will appear on a future podcast (probably Episode 19 or 20) and it would be great to be able to incorporate fans views of the story.

It's notable for a number of reasons - the prolonged scene at the top of the Town Hall, Mr Blewitt (played by Harold Bennet and pictured above) reeling off a number of high quality German products and we see the platoon coming face to face with the Luftwaffe. Well, one of them anyway.

Please send us your comments at james@dadsarmypodcast.com

Leslie Grantham sent to Coventry

Private Walker interviewed


Leslie Grantham has given an interview to BBC Coventry and Warwickshire as part of the publicity surrounding the play as it arrived in Coventry last week. The Beeb have published a text interview available here or by clicking the image of Leslie and interviewer Bob Brolly to your left. You can also hear a five minute audio interview with Grantham by clicking here.

Dad's Army Hotel Blaze

The Anchor Hotel catches fire


One of the hotels used by the cast whilst location filming caught fire last night. Firefighters were called to The Anchor Hotel in Thetford shortly before 6.00pm yesterday evening and EDP reported the story at 9.15pm. The hotel has been boarded up and disused for the last couple of years, but EDP reports two people being rescued by emergency services. No reason has been given for the cause of the fire. You can read the story written by Jon Welch by clicking on the image to your left.

**Updated 21st March**

EDP have updated their story - arson has now been ruled out as a cause. Those rescued from the fire are believed to have lit a fire to keep themselves warm. Fortunately they were not seriously injured. You can read the update by clicking on the EDP logo to your right.

With thanks to Ian Sherwood.

The Stage on the stage...play!

Dads Army features in 'The Stage'


The popular Theatre Magazine 'The Stage' has reviewed the touring stage play. The article is written by Graham Williams who saw the show when it performed at Hackney. It's the only review I have come across so far that discusses Timothy Kightley's portrayal of Mainwaring. You can read the review by clicking on the image to your left.

Make your Mark...

Branded comments wanted


Episode 17 of the Dad's Army Podcast is due for download on the 29th March - and our featured discussion will be about the highly acclaimed series three episode, Branded. This is 'The one where Godfrey is a coward and a hero' as Friends followers might say. The episode has a unusual number of dramatic rather than comedic moments and the actors get to portray traits of their characters that are rarely seen. Not to mention Frazer getting a splinter in his nose.

We would love to know what you think about Branded so we can share your thoughts with other fans by reading out comments on the podcast. Please e-mail what you think of the episode to us at james@dadsarmypodcast.com Thanks you to those who have already e-mailed us about other episodes or anything else Dad's Army.

You can listen to the podcast directly from our main website by clicking here, on iTunes or at our MySpace site www.myspace.com/dadsarmypodcast

Croft's Craft

David Croft Interviewed


Jeremy Miles of The Daily Echo has interviewed David Croft about his writing career as part of the publicity surrounding the stage play's arrival in Poole. David also discusses the circumstances that left three episodes of Dads Army missing from the BBC archives. You can read the article by clicking on the image of David to your left. Unfortunately, the Echo refers to the co-writer as Jimmy Croft on one occasion - but remainder of the content is good stuff.

Getting the Bird.....back!

Seagull Prop finally returned to owner

The ongoing saga of the missing Seagull (as reported on Permission to Write on 2nd and 4th March) has finally reached it's conclusion. The unidentified thief sent the stuffed bird to The London Paper offices who in turn passed the prop back to Ed O'Driscoll of Calibre Productions. Sid was unharmed and is due to make his return to the stage at the Poole Lighthouse theatre this week.

Until I can find an on-line version of the story, the blurred, scanned image of the London Paper article is below. Please feel free to e-mail me at james@dadsarmypodcast.com if you find the story on the net before me!

The man from Walmington on Sea? He says...can I be excused?!

Brian Jackson interview


An interview with Brian Jackson - the original man from Del Monte and currently starring as Pte. Charles Godfrey in the touring stage show, features in the Bridport News as part of the promotion of the production's arrival in Poole this week. Brian speaks candidly about his career and his part in the play. You can read the interview by clicking on the image of Brian to your left, or by clicking here.

New Dad's Army Podcast on-line

Episode 16

Episode 16 of the Dad's Army Podcast is now on-line and available to download, or listen to, at www.dadsarmy.podomatic.com - or click on the image to your left. This week we cover all the recent Dad's Army news and discuss the feedback we've received from listeners.


We also feature part 2 of our discussion about the extras on the Christmas Specials DVD released last year.

Don't forget to tell us what you think - and to make sure you enter the prize draw by nominating your favourite episode. You can do both by e-mailing us at james@dadsarmypodcast.com

Recent stage play media coverage

Dad's Army arrives in Blackpool

The touring stage play arrived in Blackpool this week, and has received several mentions in regional media. The Blackpool Gazzette covered the opening night, and interviewed Leslie Grantham - who now has lead billing following Peter Martin's departure. You can read the article by clicking here or on the image to the left.

Robin Duke from the Lancashire Evening Post has also covered the production's arrival in Blackpool. Duke's article is more of a general piece about the play. You can take a look at the story by clicking here or on the logo to the right.

Daily Mail Coverage

The play was reviewed in a number of national dailies when the 2008 leg of the tour kicked off in Hackney last month. The Daily Mail covered the story - although not particularly comprehensively in terms of words - but did publish some great photos of the cast. You can take a look at the pictures by clicking on the image of the cast below.

Stolen Seagull Saga continues....

Ransom note received

The Evening Standard and its associate free paper the London Lite reported last night that the seagull-napper has been in contact - and had sent in a ransom note. Those holding the stuffed bird hostage demanded that pigeons in Trafalgar Square be fed before any release can be considered. The story can be read by clicking on the image of the criminal to your left.

Despite making a rather silly demand of the show's producers (feeding pigeons in Trafalgar Square is now illegal thanks to Red Ken) the story does give more publicity to the touring play which is a good thing. I only hope those behind the theft are enjoying themselves - I am sure that they will be cutting out these news articles and showing them to the grandkids with a strange sense of pride - although surely the automatic reaction would be, "haven't you got anything better to do Grandad?!"

The play has now reached Grand Theatre in Blackpool, and is moving onto the Poole Lighthouse next week. Check out the remainder of the tour dates by clicking here.

Touring stage play in the media

A couple of news articles appeared in the national press over the last week or so.

One of our....birds is missing

The first one appeared on the This is London website last week - for quite a surprising reason! One member of the audience decided to pinch the model seagull used as a prop! You can read the article by clicking on Sid the Seagull to your left.

Souveniers are great I know, but I think is going a little too far! Anyway, if you've seen this seagull - or it turns up on e-bay in a few months time, you now know what it looks like. The Producer of the play gave chase and caught the alleged middle-aged seagull-napper - by which time there was no sign of the stuffed bird - perhaps having being passed on to another member of the organised crime-ring behind the heinous plot.


Hackney Review

The Times delivered a more traditional review of the play available to read by clicking on the Times Online logo. Don't forget to check out the Stage Play Special Podcasts available to listen to on our website by clicking on the link below



More soon,

James