Doctor Who, Dad's Army and Dispatches

Sci-fi Genius and Home Front Sitcom on British TV

Jul 18, 2009

A selection of the most important and influential British TV programmes beginning with the letter D.

This series of articles lists a handful of those historic and groundbreaking ventures of British TV now focussing on the forth entry to the English alphabet: D. This article contains the universe’s most famous Doctor…Who travels in time, comedy on the Home Front in Dad’s Army, inventors begging for money off rich investors going under the guise of Dragons, solid investigative journalism from the Dispatches team and The Day Today giving broadcast news a much needed satirical bashing.

Gold old Doctor Who. What began in 1963 as a quirky adventure became the longest running and most popular sci-fi show in British TV history. Not bad for a drama series about an alien (Time Lord) who ventures through time and space in a police box called the TARDIS. The changing of the lead role has been made into a plot device as The Doctor regenerates when dying, 10 actors have took up the mantle so far with Matt Smith waiting in the wings to be number 11.

Still going incredibly strong today in the Russell T Davies era and finding a new generation of loyal fans, Doctor Who is the quintessential Saturday night family show in that it’s entertaining, gripping, well written and suitably dark in places. Long may it continue.

World War II, a seaside town, a group of old men; doesn’t sound like the recipe for a fantastic sitcom that became an instant hit, watched by millions and spawned a host of phrases. Dad’s Army came from a time when comedy was the centrepiece of the TV schedules rather than relegated to a graveyard slot on BBC Three. Like most comedies from its era it stays in the public eye through endless and much welcome repeats on BBC and GOLD.

The series was about the normal men who made up the Home Guard during the war and all the bizarre situations they frequently found themselves in. Dad’s Army is often regarded as one of the best British sitcoms ever produced and places highly when one of those greatest comedies ever lists turns up, probably behind The Office and Animals Say The Stupidest Things.

Okay, maybe like The Apprentice this doesn’t really count as British due to being a version of a Japanese show but it’s a good example of a niche investment programme that managed to find a huge audience and currently in its seventh series.

On face value Dragons’ Den typifies all that is wrong with the world of business as wannabe tycoons and bonkers inventors beg horrible rich sods for money but usually get mocked and humiliated on the way. Yet it is compelling viewing as some of the contestants (as that is what they are) are genuinely likeable and have useful inventions. When the focus is on them it works, when it’s on the boring, egotistical rich guys it doesn’t.

Channel 4’s long-running investigative journalism documentary Dispatches has over the years tackled the subjects of changing British society, health, religion, failing schools and London Mayor Boris Johnson. The serious tone and easy to follow presentation has placed it as the top exploration show on TV, even ahead of the Beeb’s Panorama.

The infamous Undercover Mosque episode, which found that some Islamic preachers incited violence and hatred, caused controversy when broadcast as West Midlands Police claimed it was inaccurate and misled the public but a later court case found in favour of Dispatches and justified the important work they has done in exposing extremists.

Essentially a TV version of the equally brilliant and hilarious radio series On The Hour, The Day Today took the concept of a sensational and exploitative news show and turned up to 11. The Day Today not only had one of the best ensemble teams of writers and comedians (Chris Morris, Steve Coogan, Armando Iannucci, Doon Mackichan among others) but also introduced a TV audience to the comedy characters of Christopher Morris and Alan Partridge.

The power of The Day Today was to look accurate yet overblown while satirising news organisations of its day. In one episode the anchor even sparked a war between Australia and Hong Kong just so his team could report about it. However, in the age of 24-hour news channels broadcasting celebrity funerals live on air suddenly The Day Today doesn’t look so preposterous.

The copyright of the article Doctor Who, Dad's Army and Dispatches in British TV is owned by Steven Cookson. Permission to republish Doctor Who, Dad's Army and Dispatches in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.