19:52 24 October 2016
Jimmy Perry, who created popular TV comedy shows like It Ain’t Half Hot Mum and Dad’s Army, has died aged 93. He was also responsible for Hi-de-Hi and You Rang M’Lord?
He showed his ideas for Dad’s Army to David Croft, who then took it to the BBC.
Dad’s army ran over nine years while Hi-de-Hi ran for eight years.
He drew on his life experiences for his writing, as a young member of the Home Guard during World War Two and as a Butlin’s holiday camp Redcoat. Most of the characters he created were based on the soldiers he met at that time.
Comedians and colleagues paid tribute to Twitter.
Jack Dee tweeted: "RIP Jimmy Perry. Amazing contribution to British telly. Watched Dad's Army only yesterday. Still as funny as when I watched it as a kid."
Richard Osman, from the gameshow Pointless, said: When St. Peter asks for Jimmy Perry's name he's got a great gag lined up #ripjimmyperry
Actress Vicki Michelle tweeted: "So sad we have lost #JimmyPerry a brilliant comedy writer & true gentleman. He leaves us such a legacy."