Comrade Dad

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Comrade Dad
Comrade Dad Opening
Written by	Ian Davidson Peter Vincent
Directed by	John Kilby
Starring	See Below
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of episodes	8
Production
Producer	John Kilby
Running time	8x30mins
Release
Original network	BBC2
Original release	17 December 1984 (1984-12-17) – 24 February 1986 (1986-02-24)

Comrade Dad was a 1986 BBC satirical sitcom set in 1999 in Londongrad, the capital of the USSR-GB. The UK has been invaded by the Soviet Union and turned into a Communist state. The programme centred on the Dudgeon family (starring George Cole as Reg Dudgeon) and their attempts to adapt to the new order.

History[]

Pilot[]

The pilot episode explains how the Soviets have managed a remarkable bloodless coup - the revolution took place on 27 June 1989, when, upon learning that thousands of Russian missiles were approaching, the government and all the other 'important' members of British society took refuge in nuclear-fallout shelters. But the 'missiles' turned out to be aeroplanes full of paratroopers who parachuted to land and calmly sealed off the entrances to the shelters, so removing all the powerful people from the picture at a single stroke and enabling the Russians to take control. (This explanatory pilot was remade as the opening episode of the series which began just over a year later, with slight changes in the cast and format).

Series[]

The series is about Reg Dudgeon, a working-class man who thinks that the Soviet takeover is wonderful, and tries to champion the work of his rulers and party line. Unfortunately, his beliefs are tested as the excesses of life under the communists - food shortages, long queues, low wages - begin to take their toll. Undeterred, Reg manages to keep his faith, despite even discovering that there exists another side of the USSR-GB where elaborate garden parties take place, attended by a few privileged party members.^[1]

Cast[]

• George Cole - Reg Dudgeon (Dad)
• Colette O'Neil - Treen Dudgeon (Mum) (pilot only)
• Barbara Ewing - Treen Dudgeon (Mum) (series)
• Anna Wing - Gran (pilot only)
• Doris Hare - Gran (series)
• Claire Toeman - Zo Dudgeon
• David Garlick - Bob Dudgeon

Transmission details[]

Number of episodes: 8 Length: 30 minutes

Pilot[]

Broadcast on Monday 17 December 1984 BBC2 8pm

Series one[]

All episodes were broadcast on BBC2 at 9pm

• Episode 1: 'Londongrad 1999' 13 January 1986
• Episode 2: 'Don't Feel Bad, Dad' 21 January 1986
• Episode 3: 'The Lost Domain' 28 January 1986
• Episode 4: 'Of Gods and Heroes' 3 February 1986
• Episode 5: 'Dangerous Connections' 10 February 1986
• Episode 6: 'My Vegetable Love' 17 February 1986
• Episode 7: 'Cars That Pass In The Night' 24 February 1986

References[]