Jimmy Perry (right) and David Croft (left) in 1969.

David Croft and Jimmy Perry

It was in 1967 that the idea, for what was to become known as, 'Dad's Army', first came to Jimmy Perry. Like all great ideas it was pure serendipity combined with a creative and talented mind that set the 'ball rolling'. I'll let Jimmy take up the story, for surely his words are better than mine in describing the genesis of his creation?

'During the summer of 1967, I was walking through St James's Park (London) and in the distance I could hear the bands playing for the changing of the guard. The red tunics made a brave sight - what a difference from the drab khaki battledress of the war years, when the home guard had a spell of duty at the Palace. I thought back to the time, when as a boy, I had been a member of the Home Guard at Watford. Who remembered the Home Guard now? Nobody. I walked quickly to the Westminster Public Library and looked through the shelves; not a single book on it. I asked a young library assistant if she could help me. Never heard of it', she said.

That evening I was sitting on the train on my way out to Stratford, where I was working with Joan Littlewood's company as an actor, when it suddenly hit me! The Home Guard - what an idea for a television comedy series. I quickly made a few notes, and the next morning started on the first script. In three days it was finished. The question was what to do next. I realised that I could not possibly tackle a series like this on my own. I needed someone to work with, but who? A few weeks later fate intervened in the person of David Croft. I was playing a part in a comedy series which he was producing at the BBC, and I gave him the script to read. His reaction was instantaneous, 'What a terrific idea!' said David. 'Then what about writing it with me?' said I. We shook hands and it was the start of a great partnership.

The rest is history. Within two weeks the BBC had commissioned the show, and since then David and I have written over seventy episodes together.' (written in 1975) [italics are my clarifications] 1.