Father Christmas exists! (Updated 5 December 2008)

'Lost' audios found

The podcast has received early reports that an audio version of the 1968 Dad's Army 'A Christmas Night with the Stars' sketch has been found and returned to the BBC. This special sketch is one of two previously 'lost' sketches recorded for festive celebratory programme - the other being the Cornish Floral Dance sketch. The re-discovered audio of the 1968 special has no official title, but features members of the platoon arriving at the Church Hall dressed as Father Christmas giving various different reasons for their attire. **UPDATE 5 DECEMBER 2008** This story has now been confirmed by the BBC!! Great news!

Rumour also has it that a new, high quality audio version of the television version of a Stripe for Frazer has also made its way back to the BBC. dadsarmy.tv reports the story.

The podcast will bring you further details when the these two stories have been confirmed. **UPDATE 4 December 2008** The Dad's Army Appreciation Society have now confirmed that a recording of A Stripe for Frazer has been found and returned to the BBC.

'Mini' Dad's Army night in December

The BBC have announced that they are screening the newly colourised version of the season three episode Room at the Bottom as part of another evening dedicated to Dad's Army. The broadcast date is currently Saturday 13 December and the scheduled to begin at 7:10pm on BBC2. The new version of the episode is also being shown as part of the BFI's Dad's Army 'Oddities and Rarities' night later in December (see blog posting Sunday 16 November)

Latest news

Dad’s Army: Oddities and Rarities

The British Film Institute in London is joining in the 40th Anniversary Celebrations on Monday 22 December 2008 by screening a number of rarely seen pieces of footage including home movies, interviews and rumour has it, a brand new colourised version of season three’s Room at the Bottom. The evening promises to be one to remember. Tickets are under a tenner each but are selling like hot cakes – be quick to nab one at http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/dads_army_oddities_and_rarities_0

Podcast 29

The latest Dad’s Army podcast is now on line and available to download or listen to at www.dadsarmy.podomatic.com This episode is another live commentary, this time of season five’s The King was in his Counting House. This alternate format is developing and this time around we go through the vast amount of feedback we’ve received over the last few weeks. The commentary version of the podcast is not a permanent format – episode 30 will return to the tried and tested format and will cover all the latest Dad’s Army news and events of last few months. As always, feel free to contact me at james@dadsarmypodcast.com, comments are always welcome and are usually read out on a future podcast.

Pte. Godfrey in the papers!

Ridley's war

Chris Hastings of The Telegraph has written a comprehensive article about Arnold Ridley's wartime experiences. Many aspects of Ridley's life were seemingly mirrored through Godfrey's adventures on screen in Dad's Army. Ridley was a fascinating man and lived and fought through both world wars. Take a read of Hasting's article - amongst those whom he discusses Arnold's life with is Nicholas Ridley - Arnold's son, who is planning to visit the battlefield where his father sustained a crippling bayonet wound that troubled him for the remainder of his life. It's a great article and not a little touching. Read it here.

Dad's Marches on!!

New Dad's Army Stage Play tour in 2009

Following the success of the 2008/09 tour, Calibre productions have announced that four more episodes will be adapted for a new tour in 2009. Very little additional information is available at the moment - but as soon as we have it, it'll be on the blog!! Click here to see the announcement on Calibre's site, and for a short video of this year's tour.

The new episodes have yet to be chosen by Calibre - why not have your say?! Which episodes would you like to see on stage? Just click on 'comments' below this post and make your suggestion!

Eric Longworth's obituary

Telegraph publish obituary for Eric Longworth

An obituary for Eric Longworth appeared in the Daily Telegraph on the 22nd September 2008 and is available to read here.

New podcast imminent (updated 18 September 2008)

Episode 27

The first new episode of the Dad's Army podcast for over a month will be on-line this evening. In a last minute change to the content, Paul Carpenter and Tony Tarran take over the featured episode segment and provide inside information on Is There Honey Still For Tea?

In addition, there is my review of the recent Jonathan Ross and Comedy Connections programmes that formed part of the 40th anniversary celebrations.

You will be able to listen to the new podcast at http://www.dadsarmy.podomatic.com/, through iTunes or on our myspace page.

**UPDATED 18 SEPTEMBER 2008**

Episode 27 is now on-line. Have you not listened to it yet?!

Dad's Army Podcast round-up

New podcast coming soon

Despite my earlier message about my taking a break from producing podcasts (Podcast on Hiatus on Friday 8 August), I am planning to record a new episode at some point over the next week or two. Work on our bathroom has finally finished (barring torpedoes) and my wife has just over a month to go if she delivers according to schedule - so I should have plenty of time to record a short podcast over the next few days. Once again, it is likely that James will join me (yes I know it's confusing having two James' on the show) and we'll be discussing one of the first episodes of Dad's Army I ever saw - series four's Don't Forget the Diver. Please feel free to send in your thoughts about this episode to james@dadsarmypodcast.com

Podcast tops the chart!!

Yes, thanks to all our listeners out there, the Dad's Army Podcast was number one in podOmatic's Television and Film category for twenty four hours after podcast 26 was uploaded a few weeks ago. This really is a milestone for the podcast and I would like to thank everyone who has supported the podcast by listening to the show, and especially to those who get involved in sending in feedback and MP3s to us. The increase in listeners is probably due in part to the coverage Dad's Army attracted over it's 40th anniversary - but whatever the reason, it's great to see the numbers increase significantly. Thank you!

Series one poll results

The podcast's poll for your favourite episode from series has now closed - and the very first episode, The Man and The Hour has come top of your list with 31% of the vote. The Showing up of Corporal Jones was second, attracting 23% of your vote. Watch out for the next poll coming soon - which will ask you to vote for your favourite episode from series two.