Hi-de-Hi! (Part 2) - British Sitcom History Podcast

In part 2 of our review of Hi-de-Hi!, we have a look at some of the supporting actors, consider the changes that came in the later series, and ask the usual question of, "is it healthy to watch 60 episodes of a show in three weeks?"
Get in touch:
/ britcompod
/ britcompod

[@philipellis7039]

I don’t really remember the theme choon as a single but I was delighted to read that they performed it on Cheggers Plays Pop. Great cultural moment that must have been.

[@moedge63]

When you were talking about how some episodes ended a bit strange, i always thought the same with some of the Dad's Army episodes Love these podcasts 🙂👍

[@jamesatkinsonja]

When Arthur Brough who played Mr Granger on 'Are You Being Served?' died after season 5 they filled the 'senior salesman' slot with 4 different actors [including Alfie Bass] until eventually taking the hint giving the senior male salesman to Mr Humphrey's. It feels like for both 'Served' and Hi De Hi it would have been better to streamline the cast in the later episodes [drop parts where actors had left/weren't getting much to do] and beef up the material given to the strongest characters.

[@paulsawtell3991]

I was MD on a panto with Su Pollard; I can tell you she was the same loveable nut off stage as on. She had not an ounce of pretence and was a great laugh throughout, with us backstage as well as with the audience.

[@anthonygreen7063]

The Africa Pathe News clip is possibly concerned with the famous 'Winds of Change' in Africa speech, though this was made by Macmillan rather than Hume, in Cape Town, Feb' 1960. Hume would likely have been with Macmillan on this trip, and the timing would seem to fit.

[@bodysuitguy]

Hi di hi was absolute genius. The characters were so funny and so British.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

39:41 Subsequent shows David Croft worked on, 'You Rang M' Lord' and 'Grace and Favour' also had continuing plot lines. I can only assume that after building 'Allo 'Allo [which ran parallel to 'Hi De Hi'] around serialisation, it bled into his other writing.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

Great start to the new series, very entertaining.

[@leehallam9365]

I had forgotten Kenneth Connor was in it, which backs up your view on characters not being used as it went on. I think though they had to keep Fred, the extra yellow coats and replace Barry and Mr Partridge. The situation demanded it, you couldnt have an entertainments team without them. They were scenery effectively, though it does seem a waste of Connor.

[@MrKaywyn]

My favourite Yellow Coat is Tracey played by Susan Beagley.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

47:42 Trevor Bannister recalled dropping out of Are you Being Served as the next series clashed with a tour of a play where he claimed he was earning '20 times' more money!

[@britcompod]

Great for raising the profile though.

[@galesito1733]

I was born in 1969 and the series started in 1980. For the first couple of seasons I loved it, but then I felt it seemed too old-fashioned, especially after The Young Ones and The Comic Strip had come along. By the time of You Rang, M'lord? their comedy seemed incredibly dated. Contrast this show with Steptoe and Son, which hasn't dated at all, IMHO.