Gold is celebrating the anniversary of Dad’s Army. On the fiftieth anniversary of the show’s very first episode, the UKTV owned and operated channel has ordered Saluting Dad’s Army, a four episode retrospective series that is being fronted by Pointless host Alexander Armstrong.
Saluting Dad’s Army will cover the colourful history of Dad’s Army, from the very first conversation and the true stories that inspired the series, through to its long-standing legacy. Using archive footage and newly captured interviews, the series will offer a true insight into how Dad’s Army became not just a hit, but an institution.
“I’m thrilled to be involved in marking the 50th anniversary of the phenomenon that is Dad’s Army”, host Alexander Armstrong (picture above, right) said in a statement. “I’ve spent a lifetime enjoying the brilliance of Jimmy Perry, David Croft and the extraordinary cast. Now I get to explore everything from the birth of the show to its wonderful legacy and aim to bring fans new insights into the show we all loved so much.”
The series is being produced for UKTV by Mercury Productions and was commissioned by UKTV’s Senior Commissioning Editor Iain Coyle and ordered by UKTV’s Director of Commissioning Richard Watsham and Genre General Manager for Comedy and Entertainment Steve North. Simon Joslin is the producer and director, while Mercury Productions’ Tom Webber serves as executive producer. Saluting Dad’s Army will air later this year. To mark the 50th anniversary of Dad’s Army, Gold will also air the first episode tonight (Tuesday July 31st) at 8:20pm, with the rest of the first season airing throughout the rest of the week.
Saluting Dad’s Army marks the third comedy retrospective commission for Gold this year, after the channel previously ordered Dinnerladies Diaries and How The Young Ones Changed Comedy. “On Gold, we’re carving out a growing and unique vein of high quality retrospectives”, said UKTV’s Richard Watsham. “Dad’s Army is one of Britain’s best loved comedies and has been missing from our collection for too long. So, I’m very pleased that Alexander Armstrong has agreed to lead us through this revealing story, sharing fascinating archive that the talented team at Mercury Productions have uncovered. It will be a fitting tribute to help mark Dad’s Army’s 50th anniversary.”
