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