Broadcast to the Empire

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Episode of Dad's Army

"Broadcast to the Empire"

Dad's Army episode
Directed by| David Croft
Story by| Jimmy Perry and David Croft
Original air date| 25 December 1972 (1972-12-25)
Running time| 14 minutes
Episode chronology
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"Broadcast to the Empire" is the fourth (and final) Christmas Night with the Stars sketch of the British television comedy series Dad's Army. It was originally transmitted on Monday 25 December 1972.[1] A full-length radio version was also made, entitled Ten Seconds From Now, which was the last radio episode to be made.

## Synopsis

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The platoon are excited as they have been chosen to take part in the BBC Radio Christmas Broadcast To Absent Friends, in which they are due to perform a short dramatised presentation about their duty as members of the Home Guard, just before The King's Christmas Message.

## Plot

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The platoon is excited by the broadcast, which they will be performing from the church hall where a microphone and radio speaker have already been set up. There is a great deal of excitement in the platoon, though the typically cynical Chief ARP Warden Hodges bets they will "make a right mess of it"; he then leaves to go and listen on the Verger's wireless.

During a run-through practice of the script, the BBC producer, Mr. Willerby Troughton-Maxwell (who is heard from Broadcasting House over the speaker), annoys Captain Mainwaring by telling him he "does not sound like an officer", and suggesting that he and Sergeant Wilson switch parts. Mainwaring firmly points out, "I am the officer, and he is the sergeant, and that's the way it's staying!" Meanwhile, Lance Corporal Jones irritates both Troughton-Maxwell and the BBC sound engineer present at the broadcast by continually banging on the microphone.

Sergeant Wilson's lines have been written to be spoken in a Cockney accent which does not suit him too well. The rest of the men play up to their usual roles. The BBC sound effects team are unable to make it to the broadcast because their van has broken down, and so the platoon is forced to imitate the required coastal noises (namely wind, waves and seagulls, the latter being Private Pike's only contribution) themselves.

Later, the platoon is ready and waiting to go on the air, but strangely nothing seems to be happening; not even the BBC engineer knows what is going on. Hodges enters to ask, "What happened to you lot?" and says that the programme is all over; he has just been listening to the King's speech and "Old Mother Riley's Christmas Party is on now". Troughton-Maxwell apologises, revealing that a preceding broadcast from Hong Kong overran and the platoon's contribution has had to be dropped, because the BBC could not keep His Majesty waiting. The platoon takes their revenge by all banging repeatedly on the microphone.

## Notes

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1. This sketch exists in the BBC Archives and was released on the BBC DVD Dad's Army – The Christmas Specials and can be found in the "Extras" menu.[2] along with the 1969 sketch.
2. This was recorded the same day as A Brush with the Law.
3. The sketch reflects BBC practice at the time in which it is set as radio broadcasts were usually scripted rather than participants being able to speak spontaneously.

## References

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1. ^ Pertwee, Bill (7 September 2009). Dad's Army (The Making of a Television Legend). Conway. p. 182\. ISBN 978-1844861057.
2. ^ Dad's Army – The Christmas Specials. BBC. 12 November 2007.

## Cast

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* Arthur Lowe as Captain Mainwaring
* John Le Mesurier as Sergeant Wilson
* Clive Dunn as Lance Corporal Jones
* John Laurie as Private Frazer
* James Beck as Private Walker
* Arnold Ridley as Private Godfrey
* Ian Lavender as Private Pike
* Bill Pertwee as ARP Warden Hodges
* Roger Gartland as BBC Engineer
* Frank Thornton as Mr Willerby Troughton-Maxwell, BBC Producer

* v
* t
* e

Dad's Army

Characters|

* Captain Mainwaring
* Sergeant Wilson
* Lance Corporal Jones
* Private Frazer
* Private Godfrey
* Private Walker
* Private Pike
* Chief ARP Warden Hodges

Episodes|

* Episode list
* Missing episodes
* Radio episodes
* "Present Arms"

Adaptations & spinoffs|

* 1971 film
* 2016 film
* Stage show
* The Rear Guard
* It Sticks Out Half a Mile
* High & Dry

Merchandise|

* Audio releases
* Books and memorabilia

Other articles|

* Blitz and Pieces
* Dad's Army Appreciation Society
* Dad's Army Museum
* Jones's van
* Walmington-on-Sea
* Bressingham Steam and Gardens

Episodes

Series 1|

* "The Man and the Hour"
* "Museum Piece"
* "Command Decision"
* "The Enemy Within the Gates"
* "The Showing Up of Corporal Jones"
* "Shooting Pains"

Series 2|

* "Operation Kilt"
* "The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage"
* "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Walker"†‡
* "Sgt. Wilson's Little Secret"
* "A Stripe for Frazer"†‡
* "Under Fire"†‡

Series 3|

* "The Armoured Might of Lance Corporal Jones"
* "Battle School"
* "The Lion Has 'Phones"
* "The Bullet Is Not for Firing"
* "Something Nasty in the Vault"
* "Room at the Bottom"
* "Big Guns"
* "The Day the Balloon Went Up"
* "War Dance"
* "Menace from the Deep"
* "Branded"
* "Man Hunt"
* "No Spring for Frazer"
* "Sons of the Sea"

Series 4|

* "The Big Parade"
* "Don't Forget the Diver"
* "Boots, Boots, Boots"
* "Sgt – Save My Boy!"
* "Don't Fence Me In"
* "Absent Friends"
* "Put That Light Out!"
* "The Two and a Half Feathers"
* "Mum's Army"
* "The Test"
* "A. Wilson (Manager)?"
* "Uninvited Guests"
* "Fallen Idol"

Series 5|

* "Asleep in the Deep"
* "Keep Young and Beautiful"
* "A Soldier's Farewell"
* "Getting the Bird"
* "The Desperate Drive of Corporal Jones"
* "If the Cap Fits..."
* "The King Was in His Counting House"
* "All is Safely Gathered In"
* "When Did You Last See Your Money?"
* "Brain Versus Brawn"
* "A Brush with the Law"
* "Round and Round Went the Great Big Wheel"
* "Time on My Hands"

Series 6|

* "The Deadly Attachment"
* "My British Buddy"
* "The Royal Train"
* "We Know Our Onions"
* "The Honourable Man"
* "Things that Go Bump in the Night"
* "The Recruit"

Series 7|

* "Everybody's Trucking"
* "A Man of Action"
* "Gorilla Warfare"
* "The Godiva Affair"
* "The Captain's Car"
* "Turkey Dinner"

Series 8|

* "Ring Dem Bells"
* "When You've Got to Go"
* "Is There Honey Still for Tea?"
* "Come In, Your Time Is Up"
* "High Finance"
* "The Face on the Poster"

Series 9|

* "Wake Up Walmington"
* "The Making of Private Pike"
* "Knights of Madness"
* "The Miser's Hoard"
* "Number Engaged"
* "Never Too Old"

000!!Specials|

* "Santa on Patrol"†
* "Resisting the Aggressor Down the Ages"
* "Cornish Floral Dance"†
* "Battle of the Giants!"
* "Broadcast to the Empire"
* "My Brother and I"
* "The Love of Three Oranges"

† Missing episode has been reconstructed using animation. ‡ Missing episode has been recreated with new cast
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