Jimmy Perry

James "Jimmy" Perry, OBE (20 September 1923 – 23 October 2016) was an English actor and scriptwriter, best known for devising and co-writing the BBC sitcoms Dad's Army (1968–1977), It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1974–1981),Hi-De-Hi (1980–1988) and You Rang M'Lord? (1988–1993), all with David Croft.

Early life

Perry was born in Barnes, Surrey. His father, Arthur, was an antiques dealer and he was educated at two independent schools: at Colet Courtand St Paul's School, which at the time were both based in Hammersmith in West London (now in Barnes).

Life and career

Perry is credited with the original idea for Dad's Army, which was based on his experiences in the Home Guard during World War II. He also collaborated with Croft on It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Hi-de-Hi! and You Rang, M'Lord?

Sitcoms

Many of the sitcoms Perry co-wrote with Croft drew heavily on his personal experience: at 16 he joined the Watford Home Guard (Dad's Army); two years later he was called up into the full-time forces, and was sent to Burmawith the Royal Artillery, where he joined the Royal Artillery Concert Party and reached the rank of sergeant. Demobbed and back in the UK, he trained as an actor at RADA, spending his holidays working as a Redcoat in Butlin's Holiday Camps.

The Dad's Army mummy's boy character Private Pike was partly based upon the teenage Jimmy Perry,[2] who said, "She didn't go so far as making me wear a scarf, but she came pretty near". In an interview with the journalist Neil Clark, Perry said: "It amazes me. I think it’s because it’s the thing that all British people savour: we were on our own at that time and we didn’t turn away. Dad’s Army reminds us of our finest hour." The two men continued their collaboration with It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1974–81), inspired by Perry's wartime experience in the Royal Artillery Concert Party, and Hi-de-Hi! (1980–88), using his time working as a Butlin's Redcoat as an inspiration.

A solo effort, Room Service, written without Croft for Thames Television in 1979, and High Street Blues (1989), co-written with Robin Carr, according to John Oliver writing for the BFI Screenonline website, "remain contenders for the title of worst British sitcom". At the end of the 1970s, Perry became involved as presenter in a BBC series called Turns, dedicated to films of nearly forgotten music hall acts of the 1930s and 1940s. In the sixth episode of the first series of Dad's Army, "Shooting Pains", Perry makes a cameo appearance as the entertainer Charlie Cheeseman.

You Rang, M'Lord? (1990–93) was his last collaboration with David Croft. Perry's grandfather had worked as a butler, and he heard many anecdotes about life "below stairs".

Music and theatre

Although best known for his comedy writing, Perry has also experienced musical success, composing the signature tunes to all of the above comedy series. The best known of these, the theme tune for Dad's Army, "Who Do You Think You Are Kidding, Mr Hitler?", won the Ivor Novello Award in 1971 for Best TV Signature Tune.

During the early 1960s, Perry was actor-manager at the Watford Repertory Theatre, a role (perhaps intentionally) emphasised by his penchant for heavy checked tweeds, Inverness cape and deerstalker cap.

Perry received the OBE in 1978.

Books

Perry's memoir, A Stupid Boy, was published in 2002.

Death

Perry died on 23 October 2016 after a short illness, aged 93.

Personal life

In 1953, he married the actress Gilda Neeltje, sister of the actress Diane Holland. They had no children. He was survived by his partner, the costume designer Mary Husband