David Croft (TV producer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Major David Croft OBE
Croft in May 2011
Born	David John Andrew Sharland (1922-09-07)7 September 1922 Sandbanks, Poole, Dorset, England
Died	27 September 2011(2011-09-27) (aged 89) Tavira, Portugal
Other names	David John Croft
Occupation	Writer producer director actor
Years active	1939–2011
Spouse(s)	Ann Callender ​ ​ (m. 1952)​
Children	7
Parent(s)	Reginald Sharland Annie Croft
Relatives	Simon Cadell (son-in-law)
Awards	British Comedy Awards 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award Writers' 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 Desmond Davies award (1981)

Major David John Croft (born David John Andrew Sharland; 7 September 1922 – 27 September 2011) was a famous English television writer, producer, and director. He created many popular TV shows for the BBC with his writing partners Jimmy Perry and Jeremy Lloyd. Some of his most well-known comedies include Dad's Army, Are You Being Served?, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Hi-de-Hi!, and 'Allo 'Allo!. He was also awarded an OBE for his work.

Early Life and First Steps in Show Business

David Croft was born on September 7, 1922, into a family already involved in show business. His father, Reginald Sharland, was a successful actor on the radio in Hollywood. His mother, Annie Croft, was a famous stage actress. She even starred in a silent film called On With The Dance in 1927. She was also the first woman to own her own theatre company in London's West End.

David first appeared in public at age seven in a cinema commercial. His acting career in films was very short. He had a small, uncredited role in the movie Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939).

The family lived in Poole, Dorset. David went to two private schools: St John's Wood prep school in London and then Rugby School in Warwickshire.

Military Service During World War II

In 1942, David Croft joined the Royal Artillery during World War II. He served in North Africa, India, and Singapore. After getting sick in North Africa, he was sent home to get better. Then, he trained to become an officer at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

Croft was sent to India as the war in Europe was ending. He joined the Essex Regiment and became a Major. After his time in the military, he started working in entertainment as an actor, singer, and writer.

A Career in Comedy and Television

After the war, David Croft met Freddie Carpenter, who produced many pantomimes. Croft began writing scripts for these shows, like Aladdin and Cinderella. He also wrote scripts and songs for a series of Beatrix Potter stories released on records. Famous actors like Vivien Leigh narrated them. David Croft even played some characters himself!

Later, Croft moved to the Northeast of England to work at Tyne Tees Television. There, he produced many episodes of a variety show. He also directed and produced his first sitcom, Under New Management.

In the mid-1960s, Croft moved to the BBC. He produced several sitcoms there. While working on one show, Hugh and I, he met an actor named Jimmy Perry. Jimmy gave him a script about the British Home Guard during World War II. Croft loved the idea. They worked together to write nine series of the show, which became the hugely popular Dad's Army. They also made a movie and a stage show based on it.

While Dad's Army was still on TV, Croft started writing another show, Are You Being Served?, with Jeremy Lloyd. He continued to work with both Jimmy Perry and Jeremy Lloyd on many other hit series. These included It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Hi-de-Hi!, and You Rang, M'Lord? with Perry, and 'Allo 'Allo! with Lloyd. His last full series was Oh, Doctor Beeching!, which he wrote with Richard Spendlove.

David Croft had a special way of ending his TV shows. At the end of each episode, a message would appear saying, "You have been watching...", followed by pictures of the main actors.

Personal Life

David Croft married Ann Callender, who was a theatrical agent, on June 2, 1952. They had seven children and sixteen grandchildren. In 1986, one of their daughters, Rebecca, married Simon Cadell, an actor who starred in Croft's comedy Hi-de-Hi!.

David Croft was featured on the TV show This Is Your Life on December 20, 1995. He was surprised by the host, Michael Aspel, outside the BBC Television Centre.

David Croft passed away peacefully at his home in Portugal on September 27, 2011. He was 89 years old. His wife, Ann, died in 2016.

Awards and Honours

David Croft received many awards for his amazing work in television.

• In 1978, he was made an Officer of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) along with Jimmy Perry. This award was for their great contributions to television.
• In 1982, he received the Desmond Davis award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). This award recognized his outstanding career.
• He also won the British Comedy Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003.
• The Writers' Guild of Great Britain gave him awards for Best Comedy Script for Dad's Army in 1969, 1970, and 1971.

Shows Written and Produced by David Croft

Besides writing most of the episodes for these TV series, David Croft also worked as a producer, director, and later, an executive producer.

Written with Jimmy Perry

• 1968–1977 Dad's Army
• 1974–1981 It Ain't Half Hot Mum
• 1980–1988 Hi-de-Hi!
• 1988–1993 You Rang, M'Lord?

Written with Jeremy Lloyd

• 1972–1985 Are You Being Served?
• 1977–1978 Come Back Mrs. Noah
• 1980 Oh Happy Band!
• 1982–1992 'Allo 'Allo! (Series 1–6)
• 1992–1993 Grace & Favour
• 1994 Which Way to the War
• 2007 Here Comes the Queen

Written with Richard Spendlove

• 1995–1997 Oh, Doctor Beeching!

Written by himself

• 1972 Birds in the Bush