The names David Croft and Jimmy Perry are synonymous with such enduring classics as Are You Being Served?, Hi De Hi, Dad’s Army and the lesser-known but still very much loved, Grace and Favour. Like many people of a certain age, I grew up watching these shows and made sure I never missed an episode of any of them if I could help it. I was delighted then, to discover that there is a podcast devoted to all things Croft and Perry, appropriately named The Croft and Perry Podcast.
Sadly David Croft and Jimmy Perry, like many of the leading stars, are no longer with us, but the Podcast has managed to interview a surprising number of actors who appeared in their shows over the years, as well as people who worked behind the scenes. Recently, in episode 53, Joanne Heywood, who played the feisty miss Jessica Lovelock in Grace and Favour (brilliantly, I must add), recalls her time working on the show. She talks about how she got the part, what it was like working with the cast – in particular Frank Thornton, with whom she shared a good deal of screen time – and some of the challenges that the role involved. There are some amusing anecdotes here and she clearly relished the part. It makes fascinating listening and nicely complements my interview with Joanne on this blog. I only wish it could have been longer but, that said, I could listen to it all day!
You can listen to the podcast here:
The Croft & Perry Podcast – Podcast – Podtail
The Croft & Perry Podcast | Free Podcasts | Podomatic
Also available on Spotify and Itunes.
Fans of Grace and Favour will no doubt be pleased to hear that the Podcast has since interviewed Fleur Bennet, who played Mavis Moultered,, which I’m eagerly looking forward to.
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