Celebrating 40 years since much loved sitcom ‘Allo, Allo’ hit screens

(left to right) Francesca Gonshaw, Gordon Kaye and Vicki Michelle of British sitcom 'Allo 'Allo! (photo: Getty Images)

Rich in innuendo and slapstick, ’Allo ’Allo! was much criticised for its alleged bad taste, although it always claimed to be poking fun at over the top wartime dramas and not at the cruelty of war itself.

Nonetheless, it was a sitcom that ran for nine series across ten years, still fondly remembered by its legions of fans.

Now, 40 years after the show debuted, Steve Cain celebrates one of the nation’s favourite sitcoms.

Famed for the use of stereotypical accents to convey the different nationalities of its characters, who cannot recall French Resistance leader Michelle Dubois hissing “Leesten very carefully, I shall say this only wance” or café-owner René Artois exasperatedly admonishing his wife “You stupid woman!”

Canadian-born actress Carmen Silvera with Gorden Kaye, her co-star in the BBC TV sitcom ''Allo 'Allo' (photo: Getty Images)

‘Allo ‘Allo! ran from 1982 to '92 and a total of 85 episodes were made, including two 45-minute Christmas specials.

Set in occupied France during the Second World War, the story focused on René, a reluctant member of the town’s resistance cell, and his misadventures.

René struggled through the war, treading a dangerous line between the French Resistance, the Communist Resistance and the occupying German forces, in order to keep his business afloat and himself out of a coffin.

Not to mention keeping his affairs with each of his two waitresses hidden from the other – and, certainly, from his wife!

Actor Gordon Kaye and Sue Hodge of British sitcom 'Allo 'Allo! (photo: Getty Images)

The sitcom was the brainchild of Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, the concept parodying BBC wartime drama Secret Army. Ironically, some actors from Secret Army, including Richard Marner, Guy Siner, John D Collins and Hilary Minster, also played characters in 'Allo 'Allo!

Much the same as previous sitcoms penned by Croft and Lloyd, the programme utilised notable elements such as memorable catchphrases, cultural clichés, physical humour and visual gags.

However, ‘Allo ‘Allo! differed from other Croft sitcoms, such as Are You Being Served?, Hi-de-Hi! and You Rang, M’Lord? by featuring overarching plot lines rather than simple stand-alone stories.

This meant that viewers were often required to follow the series episode by episode in order to fully understand the plot.

Vicki Michelle who played Yvette Carte-Blanche in Allo Allo (photo: Getty Images)

Consequently, it was felt necessary to include a comical “As you may remember …” device at the opening of each episode. This would involve René breaking the fourth wall to provide the viewer with a brief summary of previous events.

Although ‘Allo ‘Allo! was the third sitcom in David Croft’s Second World War trilogy, which also included Dad’s Army and It Ain’t Half Hot Mum, he was not on board for the entire run.

After series six, he decided to hand over writing duties, Lloyd subsequently teaming up with little-known writer Paul Adam for series seven to nine.

One of the hallmarks of 'Allo 'Allo! was its fine ensemble cast, the show making celebrities of the actors who appeared in it. One such actor was Kim Hartman, who played the formidable Private Helga Geerhart.

Famed for plaits piled high upon her head, bright red lipstick, penchant for saucy lingerie and her unrequited passion for Herr Otto Flick, Helga was one of the most popular characters in the much-loved sitcom.

“To play such a funny and iconic character as Helga was just the best,” said Kim. “I could hardly have had a better part than that.”

She remembers her time in the show with great affection.

“It was just the best job ever,” she recalled. “When we started, we had no idea that we would end up working together for ten years. Originally, we hoped we’d get one or two series out of it, but it just ran and ran.”