It Ain't Half Hot Mum

1974 - 1981

Meet the Gang

3rd January 1974

Episode 1

Gunner Solomons is trying to run a Concert Party rehearsal and he's finding it difficult without Gunner Graham, the pianist, who's been put on jankers by Sergeant Major Williams. The Sergeant Major is determined that Graham will spend his time painting stones white rather than playing the piano for a 'bunch of puffs'. Solly decides to appeal to a higher authority, so he sends the Bearer off to deliver a note to the Colonel. As a result, Graham is excused jankers and allowed to join the rest of the Concert Party in rehearsal. That evening, the Concert Party performance is interrupted when a large mob of locals stage an anti-British protest outside the camp gates. The Sergeant Major finds himself 'annointed' with the dung of a sacred animal - all over his best tunic.

My Lovely Boy

10th January 1974

Episode 2

Rangi Ram notices that Gunner Parkins and the Sergeant Major both have a photograph of the same woman next to their beds. It's Parky's mother and the only woman the Sergeant Major ever loved. Rangi tells the Sergeant Major, who jumps to the conclusion that Parky is his son. Gunner Parkins is about to be posted 'up the jungle'. Williams tries to think of a way of preventing this from happening. He decides to arrange for Parky to become a member of the Concert Party, as a ventriloquist. News of the German surrender and the end of the war in Europe reaches the camp.

The Mutiny of the Punka Wallahs

17th January 1974

Episode 3

It's decided that all of the Punkah Wallahs in the camp should be replaced with electric fans. When the Punkah Wallahs hear about this, they all go on strike. The local electricity workers walk out in sympathy, so the camp is suddenly without power. Then the workers at the telephone exchange go on strike. Gunner Solomons comes up with a plan to settle the dispute and reinstate the Punkah Wallahs

A Star is Born

24th January 1974

Episode 4

Gunner Parkin is "removed" from the concert party. The Sergeant Major plots to have the rest of the gang sent "up the jungle".

The Jungle Patrol

31st January 1974

Episode 5

Sergeant Major Williams talks the Colonel into letting him take the men from the Concert Party on a jungle survival course. The Sergeant Major thinks everyone is going without food and water, but Solly has arranged for Rangi Ram and the Char Wallah to follow behind with hot tea and food. While the Sergeant Major suffers from hunger and thirst, the men from the Concert Party keep sneaking off to eat and drink.

It's a Wise Child

7th February 1974

Episode 6

Attempts are made to find out whether or not RSM Williams really IS Parky's father

The Road to Bannu

14th February 1974

Episode 7

The Concert Party are on their way to put on a show for the troops at Bannu, on the Northwest Frontier. After a long, hot train journey, they set off by road on the last leg of the journey. The truck breaks down and the men are stranded. They find themselves surrounded by hostile tribesmen. Solly has to pose as Bing Crosby and put on a show for the tribesmen in order to pacify them. When Gloria appears as Dorothy Lamour, the leader of the tribesmen wants to buy 'her'.

The Inspector Calls

21st February 1974

Episode 8

The Sergeant Major wants the men from the Concert Party to do guard duty and drill. The Colonel points out that they all have different uniforms, so they wouldn't look right on guard. The Sergeant Major plans to get the gang to dress up in similar uniforms by persuading them to include a 'military' number in the show. Solly manages to get hold of some uniforms and begins to rehearse 'The Road To Mandalay'. The General pays a visit to inspect the camp. He complains about the fact that the men in the camp all seem to be wearing different uniforms. Then he sees the Sergeant Major drilling the Concert Party, all dressed in similar uniforms, and insists on inspecting them.

Top Cast

Windsor Davies•Melvyn Hayes•Don Estelle

Comedy War & Politics

The comic adventures of a group of misfits who form an extremely bad concert party touring the hot and steamy jungles of Burma entertaining the troops during World War II.

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Full Cast

Windsor Davies Image

Windsor Davies

Battery Sergeant-Major 'Shut Up' Williams

Melvyn Hayes Image

Melvyn Hayes

Bombardier 'Gloria' Beaumont

Don Estelle Image

Don Estelle

Gunner 'Lofty' Sugden

Donald Hewlett Image

Donald Hewlett

Colonel Charles Reynolds

Michael Knowles

Captain Jonathan Ashwood

John Clegg Image

John Clegg

Gunner 'Padoruski' Graham

Dino Shafeek

Char Wallah Muhammed

Mike Kinsey

Gunner 'Nosher' Evans

Kenneth MacDonald Image

Kenneth MacDonald

Gunner 'Nobby' Clark

Stuart McGugan

Gunner 'Atlas' Mackintosh

Michael Bates Image

Michael Bates

Rangi Ram

Christopher Mitchell

Gunner 'Parky' Parkin

George Layton Image

George Layton

Bombardier 'Solly' Solomons

Full Crew

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