Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Drama on 4

Drama

Drama from BBC Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra.

BBC Radio 4 Extra

BBC Radio 4 FM

Afternoon Drama

Anton Lesser

Robert Daws

Kenny Ireland

James Lance

Mark Addis

Roy Smiles

Liz Anstee

Drama on 4: Roy Smiles - Dear Arthur, Love John

Dear Arthur, Love John

07/05/2012

Roy Smiles - Dear Arthur, Love John

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Roy Smiles - Dear Arthur, Love John

Comedy drama about John Le Mesurier, Arthur Lowe and the making of Dad's Army.

4 Extra Debut. How making Dad's Army brought John Le Mesurier and Arthur Lowe fame, fortune and a very odd friendship. Stars Anton Lesser.

A comedy drama by Roy Smiles, writer of previous Afternoon Dramas Ying Tong, Good Evening and Pythonesque.

It's often assumed that it was Dad's Army that made John Le Mesurier and Arthur Lowe well known. This is not so. Arthur Lowe had come to national attention, after a long apprenticeship in theatre, as the uptight church warden Mr Swindley in Coronation Street. John had made many films and found success as the diffident Colonel in the popular sitcom George And The Dragon. But it was Dad's Army, late in their lives, that brought them fame, fortune and the oddest of friendships.

For these were strange bedfellows: Arthur was a grammar school boy made good, John a public schoolboy who'd shamed his family by going into showbusiness; Arthur was a high Tory, John a life-long fluffy liberal; Arthur had a happy and stable marriage, John notoriously difficult ones - his first wife (Hattie Jacques) had left him for a shifty car-dealer, his second wife (Joan) had left him for doomed comedian Tony Hancock.

In 1982 John writes to Arthur to say how much he misses him and, as he does, we flashback to Dad's Army: the first read through; the reaction to getting 21 million viewers; Lowe's hatred of being recognised by the public; the rivalry between John Laurie and Arnold Ridley; Lowe's hostility to Clive Dunn and socialism; the affection Le Mesurier had for them all, particularly Jimmy Beck; and how, after initial snobbery about the show, the cast came to realise it was the best time of their lives.

Producer: Liz Anstee
A CPL Production for BBC Radio 4.

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Drama on 4

Roy Smiles - Dear Arthur, Love John

Contributors

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4