It Ain't Half Hot Mum

David Croft would be 'turning in his grave' at remakes

Sitcom legend Melvyn Hayes has gone to war on the Dad's Army film and Are You Being Served? re-make, saying they would have creator David Croft "turning in his grave".

The star, who played Bombardier "Gloria" Beaumont in It Ain't Half Hot Mum - another of the writer's hits - demanded they "let old TV series lie".

Melvyn Hayes: 'BBC is too PC, so no repeat fees for me'

Actor Melvyn Hayes has enjoyed a long screen career but he can't understand the BBC's refusal to repeat the show that made him famous.

Banning It Ain't Half Hot Mum from TV is a 'shame'

Banning this generation from watching It Ain't Half Hot Mum is a "shame", the show's creator Jimmy Perry has said, as he argues parts that fall foul of modern sensibilities are just "historical truth".

It Ain't Half Hot Mum star Layton to be in EastEnders

It Ain't Half Hot Mum star George Layton is marching into EastEnders - as Janine's estranged Uncle Norman.

It Ain't Half Hot Mum's Donald Hewlett dies at 90

Donald Hewlett, who was best known for his role in the 1970s BBC sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum, has died aged 90.

The actor, who played Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Reynolds in the show, had been ill for some time, his wife told the BBC.

Jimmy Perry and David Croft interview

The creative forces behind Dad's Army and You Rang M'Lord are octogenarians Jimmy Perry and David Croft.

Clearly trying to do another Dad's Army, Jimmy Perry and David Croft have come up with something called It Ain't Half Hot, Mum. [...] The whole thing is calculated to yield mirth in plenty. Unfortunately the air of calculation is precisely what comes over strongest. Windsor Davies, however, playing a neurotic sar'-major with imperialistic convictions, was very funny straight away. Judgment reserved.

This pain-wracked (I hope) pair write "Dad's Army" (BBC1) and "It Ain't Half Hot, Mum" (BBC1) which is about the misadventures of an army concert party in India is, I think, funnier. I particularly recommend the performance of Windsor Davies as the Sergeant Major.