British Comedy Guide
Hi-De-Hi!. Image shows from L to R: Gladys Pugh (Ruth Madoc), Jeffrey Fairbrother (Simon Cadell), Ted Bovis (Paul Shane), Spike Dixon (Jeffrey Holland). Copyright: BBC
Hi-De-Hi!

Hi-De-Hi!

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC One
  • 1980 - 1988
  • 58 episodes (8 series)

Fun and frolics at a branch of Maplin's Holiday Camp where the guests are the last thing on the mind of the staff. Stars Simon Cadell, Paul Shane, Ruth Madoc, Jeffrey Holland, Su Pollard and more.

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Hi-De-Hi!. Image shows from L to R: Sqdn-Ldr Clive Dempster DFC (David Griffin), Gladys Pugh (Ruth Madoc), Fred Quilly (Felix Bowness), Spike Dixon (Jeffrey Holland), Ted Bovis (Paul Shane), April Wingate (Linda Regan), Stanley Matthews (David Webb), Barry Stuart-Hargreaves (Barry Howard), Sylvia Garnsey (Nikki Kelly), Yvonne Stuart-Hargreaves (Diane Holland), Bruce Matthews (Tony Webb), Peggy Ollerenshaw (Su Pollard), Gary Bolton (Chris Andrews), Dawn Freshwater (Laura Jackson). Copyright: BBC

Key details

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
1980 - 1988
Channel
BBC 1
Episodes
58 (1 pilot + 8 series)
Stars
Simon Cadell, Paul Shane, Ruth Madoc, Jeffrey Holland, Su Pollard, David Griffin, Leslie Dwyer, Kenneth Connor and more
Writers
Jimmy Perry and David Croft
Directors
John Kilby, David Croft, Robin Carr and Mike Stephens
Producers
David Croft, John Kilby and Mike Stephens
Company

Welcome to Maplin's, Britain's favourite holiday camp, where the sun-drenched summer never ends.

Here we find our heroic Yellowcoats involved in all kinds of jolly japes and comic capers; in the chalets, in the Hawaiian Ballroom, and all around the Olympic-sized swimming pool. So roll up your trousers and get those knobbly knees out, it's time for a holiday season of fun and frolics - come on campers, Hi-De-Hi!

As the 1959 holiday season opens, company boss Joe Maplin has appointed a new Entertainments Manager to one camp: former Cambridge archaeology professor Jeffrey Fairbrother. His wife having left him and accused him of being deathly boring, he's determined to prove to everyone - not least himself - that he isn't.

Jeffrey quickly attracts the amorous attentions of Valleys-girl Gladys Pugh, the camp's sports organiser and voice of Radio Maplin's. Meanwhile, Camp Host Ted Bovis is really running the show, often with an eye to making a quick buck for himself, much to the chagrin of new Camp Comic Spike, who does not feel at all comfortable with Ted's dishonesty.

Meanwhile, the camp's entertainment team - the Yellowcoats - are none too keen to allow aspiring performer and Chalet Maid Peggy join their ranks; ballroom dancers Yvonne and Barry Stuart-Hargreaves are often at each others' throats; and former professional jockey Fred Quilley attempts to keep equine activities under hand.

Come the 1960 season, and there's a big change: Gladys is heartbroken by Jeffrey's departure, but is eventually won round by his smooth-talking replacement, the Honourable Clive Dempster, DFC.

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Additional details

Production
Studio
Camera set-up
Multi-camera
Picture
Colour
Soundtrack
The theme tune, Hi-De-Hi! (Holiday Rock), was written by Jimmy Perry and sung by Ken Barrie.

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Tuesday 1st January 1980 at 7:30pm on BBC One
Most recent repeats

Recording details

  • Dovercourt - Filmed on location at a Warners holiday camp

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