Broadcast to the Empire
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"Broadcast to the Empire" is the fourth (and final) ''
Christmas Night with the Stars ''Christmas Night with the Stars'' is a television show broadcast each Christmas night by the BBC from 1958 to 1972 (with the exception of 1961, 1965 and 1966). The show was hosted each year by a leading star of BBC TV and featured specially made s ...
'' sketch of the British television
comedy series Television comedy is a category of broadcasting that has been present since the early days of entertainment media. While there are several genres of comedy, some of the first ones aired were variety shows. One of the first Television in the United ...
'' Dad's Army''. It was originally transmitted on Monday 25 December 1972. A full-length radio version was also made, entitled ''Ten Seconds From Now'', which was the last radio episode to be made.


Synopsis

The platoon are very excited as they have been chosen to take part in the BBC Radio Christmas
Broadcast Broadcasting is the distribution of audio or video content to a dispersed audience via any electronic mass communications medium, but typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum ( radio waves), in a one-to-many model. Broadcasting began ...
''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

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 Broadcasting House is the headquarters of the BBC, in Portland Place and Langham Place, London. The first radio broadcast from the building was made on 15 March 1932, and the building was officially opened two months later, on 15 May. The main ...
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 points out very firmly "I am the officer, and he is the
sergeant Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...
, 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

#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. along with the 1969 sketch. #This was recorded the same day as ''
A Brush with the Law "A Brush with the Law" is the eleventh episode of the fifth series of the British comedy series ''Dad's Army''. It was originally transmitted on 15 December 1972. Synopsis Mainwaring is charged with showing a light, contrary to blackout rules, a ...
''. #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


Cast

*
Arthur Lowe Arthur Lowe (22 September 1915 – 15 April 1982) was an English actor. His acting career spanned 36 years, including starring roles in numerous theatre and television productions. He played Captain Mainwaring in the British sitcom ''Dad' ...
as Captain Mainwaring * John Le Mesurier as Sergeant Wilson *
Clive Dunn Clive Robert Benjamin Dunn (9 January 19206 November 2012) was an English actor. Although he was only 48 and one of the youngest cast members, he was cast in a role many years his senior, as the elderly Lance Corporal Jones in the BBC sitcom ' ...
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 {{DEFAULTSORT:Broadcast to the Empire Dad's Army special episodes 1972 British television episodes