Major David John Croft, OBE (born 7 September 1922 in Sandbanks, Dorset, England as David John Sharland) is an English writer, producer and actor. He is particularly noted for producing and co-writing a string of hit BBC sitcoms including You Rang, M'lord?, Dad's Army, Are You Being Served?, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Hi-de-Hi! and Allo 'Allo!.
Croft was born into a showbiz family: his mother, Annie Croft, was a famous stage actress and his father, Reginald Sharland, had a successful career as a radio actor in Hollywood. David married theatrical agent Ann Callender on 29 June 1952, and they have seven children.His first public appearance was at age 7, when he was seen in a commercial which aired in cinemas.After that, his acting career in films "began and ended" with his uncredited appearance as Perkins in the 1939 film Goodbye, Mr. Chips.
Croft graduated from Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1942, and immediately entered the British Army. He served during World War II in North Africa, India and Singapore, rising to the rank of Major. When his military service ended he began working in the entertainment industry, as an actor, singer and writer, eventually settling as a TV producer.
Croft relocated to the North East to work at Tyne Tees Television, where he produced many editions of the variety show The One O'Clock Show. For Tyne Tees, Croft also directed and produced the admagsNed's Shed and Mary Goes to Market , as well as producing his first sitcom, Under New Management, set in a derelict pub in the North of England.
Croft became an Officer of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire with Jimmy Perry in 1978 for services to television. He also received the 1981 Desmond Davis award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, for his outstanding contributions to the industry.
Croft's awards include:
(BAFTA awards): Best Light EntertainmentNominated: 1970 Dad's ArmyBest Light Entertainment Production'1971 Dad's Army (With Team)Nominated: 1971 Up Pompeii!Best Situation Comedy Series'Nominated: 1973 Dad's ArmyNominated: 1974 Dad's ArmyBest Situation Comedy' Nominated: 1975 Dad's ArmyNominated: 1977 Are You Being Served?Desmond Davis Award'1982 Lifetime Achievement AwardBest Comedy SeriesNominated: 1982 Hi-de-Hi!Nominated: 1983 Hi-de-Hi!Nominated: 1985 Hi-de-Hi!Nominated: 1986 Allo 'Allo!Nominated: 1987 Allo 'Allo!Nominated: 1988 Allo 'Allo!Nominated: 1989 Allo 'Allo!
(British Comedy Awards): 2003 Lifetime Achievement AwardWriters' Guild of Great Britain 1969 Best Comedy Script Dad's Army 1970 Best Comedy Script Dad's Army 1971 Best Comedy Script Dad's Army
He is best known for writing (in collaboration) and producing British sitcoms such as Dad's Army, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Hi-de-Hi!, Allo 'Allo!, You Rang, M'Lord?, and Are You Being Served? Annie introduced him to then actor Jimmy Perry in the mid-1960s. It was Perry who originally had the idea for a comedy based on the Home Guard during World War II, and the pair ended up co-writing Dad's Army.
His co-writers were most often Jeremy Lloyd and Jimmy Perry, and later Richard Spendlove. With Perry proved he created and co-wrote It Ain't Half Hot Mum and Hi-de-Hi!. He also wrote Birds in the Bush.
As a producer, his trademark was to signal the end of an episode with the caption You Have Been Watching, followed by vignettes of the main cast.
Croft wrote a television pilot entitled Here Comes The Queen with Are You Being Served co-creator Jeremy Lloyd. It is a sitcom starring Wendy Richard and Les Dennis. A pilot was filmed in 2007.
Jeremy Lloyd, David Croft and Michael Knowles wrote:
"Cold Comfort" (21 March 1974)
"Big Brother" (4 April 1974)
"Shoulder to Shoulder" (10 April 1975)
"New Look" (17 April 1975)
Jeremy Lloyd and John Chapman wrote:
"Christmas Crackers" (22 December 1975)
Jeremy Lloyd wrote series 9 and 10 on his own because Croft had had a heart attack. Nonetheless, when the episodes are broadcast they are credited "By Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft", with an end credit stating "Script by Jeremy Lloyd".
Allo 'Allo!
John Chapman and Ian Davidson wrote:
"Wedding Bloss" (11 February 1989)
Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney wrote:
"Down the Drain" (18 February 1989)
Jeremy Lloyd and Paul Adam wrote Allo 'Allo! series 7—9 because Croft had left the show.
