Biography

Jimmy Perry

Jump to

Jimmy Perry was born on September 20, 1923 in Barnes, London, England, UK. He was a writer, known for Dad's Army (1968), Hi-de-Hi! (1980) and Dad's Army (1971). He was married to Gilda Perry. He died on October 23, 2016 in London, England, UK.

He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1978 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to television.
When WWII broke out in 1939, he was too young for the army and volunteered for the local Home Guard. He drew on this experience to create Dad's Army (1968). He was called up in 1941 and sent to Burma, where he was part of a Royal Artillery Concert Party to entertain the troops.
British screenwriter (and occasional actor), usually in collaboration with David Croft with whom he created the classic sitcom Dad's Army (initially titled "The Fighting Tigers").
Following his death, he left £1.3m to his wife Gilda, and £500,000 to Mary Husband, with whom he had a long-term relationship.
Brother-in-law of Diane Holland

[on The Deadly Attachment (1973)] I said to David Croft, we have to have this real. We must get an actor who speaks fluent German. We got Philip (Philip Madoc) and he was marvellous.
What we portrayed in It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1974) was the historical truth. It's a shame that it never gets repeated today as a whole younger generation would be able to enjoy it. It was at the time the only British sitcom to have been set outside of Britain. I've proposed doing a short film to introduce it which would explain how we came from having the biggest Empire in the world to having a multi-racial society. It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1974) helps us understand an important part of our history and the changes which came about.
Many people in the industry will agree with me but can't speak up because they might lose their jobs. I have the advantage of being 90, so I can say what I like. It takes courage to face the past and confront sensitive issues. Sadly, by banning It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1974) from our screens, the BBC is taking the cowardly way out.

Suggest an edit or add missing content