Two former soldiers, recently returned to civilian life, find themselves employed at the Imperial, a run-down gentleman’s club in London where they continue their lifelong battle of wits and incompetence. A hugely successful spin-off from the military sitcom The Army Game, this series proved that its central duo possessed a chemistry that transcended their original army setting. Alfie Bass and Bill Fraser are superb as the perpetual underdog and the pompous, self-appointed superior, respectively.
The humor relies on the claustrophobic friction of the class system, bolstered by Clive Dunn’s memorable turn as the ancient, tottering handyman. A brief 1974 revival attempted to recapture the magic, but the original black-and-white era remains the definitive version of this classic double act.
Production Details
UK / ITV - Granada / 104x30 Minute Episodes / 1960-1974
Created by: Barry Took, Marty Feldman
Producer: Bill Podmore (1974 revival)
Main Cast
Alfie Bass as Bootsie Bisley
Bill Fraser as Claude Snudge
Robert Dorning as Hesketh Pendleton
Clive Dunn as Old Johnson
