Perry And Croft: Made In Britain

Jimmy Perry and David Croft wrote some of Britain's finest comedies, and gave us a rich study of the British character, and how that has evolved into who we are today.

Looking at Dad's Army, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Hi-De-Hi! and You Rang, M'Lord? - alongside rare archive film footage, this series is a televisual tapestry of Britain in the 20th Century.

Perry and Croft wrote with attention to historical accuracy, and based on their own experiences. The firm foundation in reality, and the beauty of writing for an ensemble cast, allows a subtlety and depth of appreciation of what makes us human, without tipping into caricature.

Each of their series is set in a time of hardship and social change - in fear of invasion by the Germans (Dad's Army), after the end of the war and the twilight of the British Empire (It Ain't Half Hot Mum), the "You've Never Had It So Good" generation (Hi-De-Hi!) and the aftermath of the Great War, and the slow descent into the Depression of the '30s (You Rang, M'Lord?).

All of the eras depicted draw on the collective experience of the writers and the viewers - and are often in sharp contrast to the time of broadcast. Filtered through the consciousness of the then zeitgeist, each series looks back with nostalgia at the times that proved our finest hours, rich in experience and character.

With Croft and Perry themselves as the epicentre of each programme, talking about their craft in their own words through a variety of archive interviews, Perry And Croft: Made In Britain examines the layers to their writing - the reality of what is being portrayed, the time in which it's being written, and the sitcom itself - all of which have shaped, and reflect upon, how we see ourselves as Brits today.