Big Finish will be bringing the British comedy classic Dad’s Army to listeners on 16th January. A live recording of the stage production of three classic Dad’s Army episodes titled Dad’s Army – The Radio Show will arrive in the Big Finish catalogue.
Between 1973 and 1975, Jimmy Perry and David Croft’s original television scripts were adapted for radio by Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles and was voiced by the beloved cast (which included Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier and John Laurie). However, 13 episodes were never adapted for radio transmission at the time. Now, three of those episodes have been adapted for audio and performed in the style of the original team by Benson and Lane. These three never-before-heard adaptations are:
- When You’ve Got To Go – In this episode, young Pike receives his call up papers and the platoon decides to give him a good send off. In the meantime, Captain Mainwaring and Warden Hodges compete to see who can win the Town Clerk’s blood donor certificate.
- My Brother And I – After Captain Mainwaring gives the platoon a firm talking to regarding the subject of getting drunk he is shocked when he receives a visit from his brother. Much to the delight of Private Frazer, Mainwaring’s brother enjoys a good drinking session when he gets the chance.
- Never Too Old – Corporal Jones, the local butcher and possibly the oldest member of the platoon, is in love but will the love of his life accept his proposal? This was the last episode of Dad’s Army’s ninth series.
The Dad’s Army – The Radio Show also includes a 30 minute section of behind-the-scenes interviews and other extras.
Big Finish chairman Jason Haigh-Ellery said: “Dad’s Army is one of Britain’s most-loved comedies, and we are absolutely delighted to bring these adaptations of television episodes to life on audio at Big Finish, with the superb David Benson and Jack Lane perfectly capturing each of the characters we all know and love.”
Actor David Benson added: “Both Jack and I love Dad’s Army every bit as much as the audiences who come to see us. We are not trying to send it up, to modernise it or to muck about with it in any way. We just want to give the audience as authentic and accurate a performance as we can – to be as true to the character and tone of the original as possible. For us, the greatest compliment of all was when Penny Croft and the Croft family gave us their firm approval after coming to see the show on tour. We revere the work of their father so greatly, so when she said, ‘Dad would have loved what you are doing with his and Jimmy’s writing,’ we were deeply moved and honoured.”
Dad’s Army – The Radio Show is available to pre-order now from the Big Finish website as a collector’s edition double CD for £15.99 (digital download included), or as the digital download only for £12.99.
