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{{More citations needed|date=August 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox television episode
| series = [[Dad's Army]]
| image =
| caption =
| series_no =
| episode =
| director = [[David Croft (TV producer)|David Croft]]
| story = [[Jimmy Perry]] and David Croft
| producer = David Croft
| airdate = Monday 25 December 1972
| length = 14 minutes
| guests =
| prev = [[Round and Round Went the Great Big Wheel]]
| next = [[Time on My Hands (Dad's Army)|Time on My Hands]]
}}

"'''Broadcast to the Empire'''" is the fourth (and final) ''[[Christmas Night with the Stars]]'' [[sketch comedy|sketch]] of the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[television]] [[comedy series]] ''[[Dad's Army]]''. It was originally transmitted on Monday 25 December 1972.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pertwee|first1=Bill|title=Dad's Army (The Making of a Television Legend)|date=7 September 2009|publisher=Conway|isbn=978-1844861057|page=182}}</ref> A full-length radio version was also made, entitled ''Ten Seconds From Now'', which was the last radio episode to be made.

==Synopsis==
The [[platoon]] are very excited as they have been chosen to take part in the [[BBC Radio]] [[Christmas]] [[Broadcast]] ''To Absent Friends'', in which they are due to perform a short dramatised presentation about their duty as members of the [[Home Guard (United Kingdom)|Home Guard]], just before [[Royal Christmas Message|The King's Christmas Message]].

==Plot==
The platoon are excited by the [[broadcast]], which they will be performing from the [[Church (building)|church]] hall where a microphone and radio speaker have already been set up. There is a great deal of excitement in the platoon, though the typically cynical Chief [[Air Raid Precautions|ARP]] [[Warden Hodges]] bets they will "make a right mess of it"; he then leaves to go and listen on the Verger's [[wireless]].

During a run-through practice of the script, the [[BBC]] producer, Mr. Willerby Troughton-Maxwell (who is heard from [[Broadcasting House]] over the speaker), annoys [[Captain Mainwaring]] by telling him he doesn't sound like an officer, and suggesting that he and [[Sergeant Wilson]] switch parts. Mainwaring points out very firmly "I am the officer and he is the [[sergeant]], and that's the way it's staying!" Meanwhile, Lance [[Corporal Jones]] irritates both Troughton-Maxwell and the BBC [[sound engineer]] present at the broadcast by continually banging on the [[microphone]].

[[Sergeant Wilson]]'s lines have been written to be spoken in a [[Cockney]] accent which doesn't suit him too well. The rest of the men play-up to their usual roles. The BBC [[sound effect]]s team are unable to make it to the broadcast because their van has broken down, and so the platoon are forced to imitate the required coastal noises (namely wind, waves and seagulls, the latter being [[Private Pike]]'s only contribution) themselves.

Later, the platoon is ready and waiting to go on the air, but strangely nothing seems to be happening; not even the BBC engineer knows what is going on. Hodges enters to ask, "What happened to you lot?" and says that the programme is all over; he has just been listening to the King's speech and "''[[Old Mother Riley|Old Mother Riley's]] Christmas Party'' is on now". Troughton-Maxwell apologises, revealing that a preceding broadcast from [[Hong Kong]] overran and the platoon's contribution has had to be dropped, because the BBC could not keep [[George VI|His Majesty]] waiting. The platoon take their revenge by all banging repeatedly on the microphone.

==Notes==
#This sketch exists in the BBC Archives and was released on the [[BBC]] [[DVD]] ''Dad's Army – The Christmas Specials'' and can be found in the "Extras" menu.<ref>{{cite book|title=Dad's Army – The Christmas Specials|date=12 November 2007|publisher=BBC}}</ref> along with the 1969 sketch.
#This was recorded the same day as ''[[A Brush with the Law]]''.
#The sketch reflects BBC practice at the time in which it is set as radio broadcasts were usually scripted rather than participants being able to speak spontaneously.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Cast==
*[[Arthur Lowe]] as [[Captain Mainwaring]]
*[[John Le Mesurier]] as [[Sergeant Wilson]]
*[[Clive Dunn]] as [[Lance Corporal Jones]]
*[[John Laurie]] as [[Private Frazer]]
*[[James Beck]] as [[Private Walker]]
*[[Arnold Ridley]] as [[Private Godfrey]]
*[[Ian Lavender]] as [[Private Pike]]
*[[Bill Pertwee]] as [[List of Dad's Army characters#Chief ARP Warden Hodges|ARP Warden Hodges]]
*[[Roger Gartland]] as BBC Engineer
*[[Frank Thornton (actor)|Frank Thornton]] as Mr Willerby Troughton-Maxwell, BBC Producer

{{Dad's Army}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Broadcast to the Empire}}
[[Category:Dad's Army special episodes]]
[[Category:1972 British television episodes]]

Broadcast to the Empire - Revision history

Kurt at 13:57, 3 February 2023

Kurt at 20:51, 24 October 2022

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