'Allo 'Allo! | |
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![]() 'Allo 'Allo! intertitle of "Puddings Can Go Off" | |
Genre | Sitcom |
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Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 9 |
No. of episodes | 85 (list of episodes) |
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Running time | Appx 25–45 mins |
Production company | BBC |
Original release | |
Network | BBC1 |
Release | 30 December 1982 14 December 1992 | –
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'Allo 'Allo! is a British sitcom television series, created by David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd,[1] starring Gorden Kaye, Carmen Silvera, Guy Siner and Richard Gibson. Originally broadcast on BBC1,[2] the series focuses on the life of a French café owner in the town of Nouvion,[2] during the German occupation of France in World War II, in which he deals with problems from a dishonest German officer, local French Resistance, the handling of a stolen painting and a pair of trapped British airmen, all while concealing from his wife the affairs he is having with his waitresses.[3]
Croft and Lloyd devised the concept as a parody of BBC wartime drama Secret Army and initially launched the programme with a pilot on 30 December 1982.[4] The sitcom was eventually commissioned following the success of the pilot and ran for nine series between 7 September 1984 until its conclusion on 14 December 1992.[5] Both Lloyd and Croft wrote the scripts for the first six series, while the remainder were handled by Lloyd and Paul Adam.[6] Much like previous sitcoms created by Croft and Lloyd, the programme employed notable elements such as memorable catchphrases and ending credits, cultural clichés, physical humour and visual gags.[7] However, 'Allo 'Allo! differed from these other sitcoms by featuring overarching plot lines rather than simple stand-alone stories, as well as the device of having actors speaking English but with theatrical foreign accents to distinguish each character's nationality.[7]
The sitcom gained respectable ratings during its run, with its success leading to it receiving stage show reproductions.[8] A special entitled The Return of 'Allo 'Allo!, aired on 22 March 2007, featured cast members returning to reprise their original roles to perform in a special story after the conclusion of the programme. It was accompanied by a documentary about the sitcom, including a highlight reel of episodes and interviews with the cast, production team and fans.[9]