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{{Short description|1994 British television series pilot}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox television
{{Infobox television
| name = Which Way to the War
| image = Which Way to the War.jpg
| image_size =
| image = Which Way to the War.jpg
| image_upright =
| runtime = 30 minutes
| image_alt =
⚫
| creator = [[Jeremy Lloyd]]<br />[[David Croft (TV producer)|David Croft]]
| caption = Series title card
| writer = Jeremy Lloyd<br />David Croft
| genre = [[Sitcom]]<ref name="Lewisohn, p.816">{{cite book |last=Lewisohn |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Lewisohn |date=2003 |title=Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy |url= |location=[[London]] |publisher=[[BBC Worldwide]] |page=816 |isbn=0563487550}}</ref>
⚫
| director = Roy Gould
| based_on = an idea by [[Roger Mirams]]
⚫
| starring = William Tapley<br />[[Simon Baker Denny]]<br />Terry John<br />[[Robert Hands]]
⚫
| writer = [[Jeremy Lloyd]]<br>[[David Croft (TV producer)|David Croft]]
⚫
| country = [[United Kingdom|Britain]]
⚫
| director = Roy Gould
| network = [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] [[ITV Yorkshire|Yorkshire Television]]
⚫
| starring = <!-- Organized by broadcast credit order, with new main cast added to the end of the list -->William Tapley<br>[[Simon Baker|Simon Baker Denny]]<br>Terry John<br>[[Robert Hands]]
⚫
| first_aired = {{start date|1994|8|19|df=y}}
| theme_music_composer =
⚫
| last_aired =
| music =
| open_theme =
| end_theme =
| composer =
⚫
| country = [[United Kingdom]]
| language = English
| num_series =
| num_episodes = 1 (pilot)
| executive_producer = Don Reynolds
| producer = David Croft
| location = <!-- Nation the series was primarily filmed in, if different from the nation of origin. -->
| cinematography =
| editor = <!-- Film editors -->
| camera = <!-- Either Single-camera or Multi-camera -->Multi-camera
| runtime = <!-- Reliable source required -->30 minutes<ref name="Lewisohn, p.816" />
| company = [[Yorkshire Television]]<br>[[Reg Grundy Organisation|Reg Grundy Productions]]
| network = [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
⚫
| first_aired = {{Start date|1994|08|19|df=yes}}
⚫
| last_aired =
}}
}}


'''''Which Way to the War''''' is a failed pilot for a planned [[Great Britain|British]] [[television]] [[sitcom]], which was written by [[David Croft (TV producer)|David Croft]] and [[Jeremy Lloyd]]. The pilot episode originally aired on 19 August 1994. It was also Croft and Lloyd's only [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] sitcom and Croft's last [[World War II]] sitcom.
'''''Which Way to the War''''' is a British television [[sitcom]] [[Television pilot|pilot episode]] that was broadcast on 19 August 1994 on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]. It starred William Tapley, [[Simon Baker Denny]], Terry John and [[Robert Hands]], and was written by [[Jeremy Lloyd]] and [[David Croft (TV producer)|David Croft]].<ref name="Lewisohn, p.816" />


==Plot==
==Plot==
In the Western Desert of World War Two, a party of British "Desert Rats" soldiers and a party of Australian soldiers are holed up in a remote building, when an ambulance of Italian "nurses" arrive.
Set in [[Libya]] in October 1942, during the [[Western Desert campaign]], a party of [[United Kingdom|British]] "[[7th Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|Desert Rat]]" soldiers and a party of [[Australia]]n soldiers are holed up in a remote building, when an ambulance of [[Italy|Italian]] "nurses" arrive.

The pilot was badly received and was never developed into a series. The pilot was directed by Roy Gould who had worked for David Croft at the BBC.


==Cast==
==Cast==
* William Tapley as Cpl. Roy Muller
* William Tapley as Corporal Roy Muller
* [[Simon Baker Denny]] as Pte. Stan Hawke
* [[Simon Baker Denny]] as Private Stan Hawke
* Terry John as Cpl. Tony Genaro
* Terry John as Corporal Tony Genaro
* [[Robert Hands]] as Pte. Jock Stewart
* [[Robert Hands]] as Private Jock Stewart

* [[Sarah Payne (actress)|Sarah Payne]] as Mara
Also featured were [[Sarah Payne (actress)|Sarah Payne]] as Mara, [[Nadia Sawalha]] as Lucia, Elisabeth Bolognini as Little Anna, Valeria Fabbri as Carla, Amanda Weston as Theresa, Jason Hall as Captain Gregory Swift and Martin Sadler as Able One Charlie.<ref>{{cite web |date= |title=Which Way to the War cast and crew credits |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/which_way_to_the_war/cast_crew/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019232554/https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/which_way_to_the_war/cast_crew/ |archive-date=19 October 2023 |access-date=15 October 2023 |website=[[British Comedy Guide]]}}</ref>
* [[Nadia Sawalha]] as Lucia

* Elisabeth Bolognini as Little Anna
==Production==
* Valeria Fabbri as Carla
The pilot episode, written with the intention of developing a full series,<ref name="Lewisohn, p.816" /> was [[Jeremy Lloyd]] and [[David Croft (TV producer)|David Croft]]'s final sitcom set during [[World War II|wartime]], and their only sitcom produced by the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV network]].<ref>{{cite web |date=28 March 2021 |title=Which Way to the War? |url=https://www.britishclassiccomedy.co.uk/which-way-to-the-war |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102081547/https://www.britishclassiccomedy.co.uk/which-way-to-the-war |archive-date=2 November 2023 |access-date=23 October 2023 |website=British Classic Comedy}}</ref> It had a working title of ''Mammary Mia''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Rees |first=Jasper |author-link=Jasper Rees |date=19 August 1994 |title=REVIEW / Oh, what a terrible war... once again |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/review-oh-what-a-terrible-war-once-again-1377493.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908015210/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/review-oh-what-a-terrible-war-once-again-1377493.html |archive-date=8 September 2024 |access-date=22 September 2024 |website=[[The Independent]]}}</ref>
* Amanda Weston as Theresa

* Jason Hall as Capt. Gregory Swift
The pilot was based on an idea by [[Roger Mirams]], who was a producer with [[Reg Grundy Organisation|Reg Grundy Productions]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Grundy |first=Reg |author-link=Reg Grundy |date=2010 |title=Reg Grundy |location=[[New South Wales]] |publisher=[[Murdoch Books|Pier 9 Books]] |page=271 |isbn=9781742660349}}</ref> The pilot's director, Roy Gould, had worked for Croft and Lloyd previously at the [[BBC]] on programmes ''[[Are You Being Served?]]'', ''[[Hi-de-Hi!]]'', ''[['Allo 'Allo!]]'' and ''[[Oh, Doctor Beeching!]]''.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |date= |title=Roy Gould – In Conversation |url=https://www.beyondthetitle.co.uk/portfolio/roy-gould/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521030831/https://www.beyondthetitle.co.uk/portfolio/roy-gould/ |archive-date=21 May 2024 |access-date=23 October 2023 |website=Beyond the Title}}</ref> Terry John, who portrayed Corporal Genaro, would later appear as Percy in Croft's final television series, ''[[Oh, Doctor Beeching!]]'', from 1995 to 1997.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Terry John |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/terry_john/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418094519/https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/terry_john/ |archive-date=18 April 2024 |access-date=22 September 2024 |website=[[British Comedy Guide]] |language=en}}</ref>
* Martin Sadler as Able One Charlie

==Reception==
The pilot was poorly received, and thus a series was not commissioned.<ref>{{cite web |date= |title=David Croft: Pilot – Which way to the War |url=https://davidcroft.co.uk/Which-Way-To-The-War/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422151950/http://davidcroft.co.uk/Which-Way-To-The-War/ |archive-date=22 April 2024 |access-date=23 October 2023 |website=David Croft Official Website}}</ref> Memorable TV described the pilot as a "typical" show by the writers, but noted that it was broadcast when the writers' style of comedy was "somewhat out of favour".<ref>{{Cite web |last=James |first=Alastair |date=23 November 2018 |title=Which Way To The War (ITV 1994, Simon Baker, William Tapley) |url=https://www.memorabletv.com/tv/which-way-to-the-war-itv-1994-simon-baker-william-tapley/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417081800/https://www.memorabletv.com/tv/which-way-to-the-war-itv-1994-simon-baker-william-tapley/ |archive-date=17 April 2024 |access-date=17 April 2024 |website=Memorable TV |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[Jasper Rees]], writing in ''[[The Independent]]'', criticised the racial stereotyping of the characters, particularly the Italian prostitutes, and the predictability of their being a "houseproud homosexual" character, Private Jock Stewart, in a Croft and Perry series. Rees felt that certain "promising" moments in the episode were not properly capitalised on in order to reach "the point of maximum comic potential" and believed that the overall humour was cheap and vulgar.<ref name=":1" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
⚫
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031012180851/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/w/whichwaytothewar_1299003330.shtml BBC Comedy Guide: Which Way To The War]


* {{IMDb title|id=tt1059857}}
⚫
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031012180851/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/w/whichwaytothewar_1299003330.shtml BBC Comedy Guide: Which Way To The War]
{{Jeremy Lloyd}}
{{David Croft}}
{{David Croft}}


[[Category:ITV sitcoms]]
[[Category:ITV sitcoms]]
[[Category:David Croft sitcoms]]
[[Category:World War II television comedy series]]
[[Category:World War II television comedy series]]
[[Category:1994 television films]]
[[Category:British English-language television shows]]
[[Category:1994 films]]
[[Category:1994 television specials]]
[[Category:English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Military comedy television series]]
[[Category:Military comedy television series]]
[[Category:Television series by Yorkshire Television]]
[[Category:Television series by Yorkshire Television]]
[[Category:Television pilots not picked up as a series]]
[[Category:Television pilots not picked up as a series]]
[[Category:Television series created by David Croft (TV producer)]]
[[Category:Television series created by Jeremy Lloyd]]




Latest revision as of 00:48, 6 October 2024

Which Way to the War
Series title card
GenreSitcom[1]
Based onan idea by Roger Mirams
Written byJeremy Lloyd
David Croft
Directed byRoy Gould
StarringWilliam Tapley
Simon Baker Denny
Terry John
Robert Hands
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes1 (pilot)
Production
Executive producerDon Reynolds
ProducerDavid Croft
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time30 minutes[1]
Production companiesYorkshire Television
Reg Grundy Productions
Original release
NetworkITV
Release19 August 1994 (1994-08-19)

Which Way to the War is a British television sitcom pilot episode that was broadcast on 19 August 1994 on ITV. It starred William Tapley, Simon Baker Denny, Terry John and Robert Hands, and was written by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft.[1]

Plot

[edit]

Set in Libya in October 1942, during the Western Desert campaign, a party of British "Desert Rat" soldiers and a party of Australian soldiers are holed up in a remote building, when an ambulance of Italian "nurses" arrive.

Cast

[edit]
  • William Tapley as Corporal Roy Muller
  • Simon Baker Denny as Private Stan Hawke
  • Terry John as Corporal Tony Genaro
  • Robert Hands as Private Jock Stewart

Also featured were Sarah Payne as Mara, Nadia Sawalha as Lucia, Elisabeth Bolognini as Little Anna, Valeria Fabbri as Carla, Amanda Weston as Theresa, Jason Hall as Captain Gregory Swift and Martin Sadler as Able One Charlie.[2]

Production

[edit]

The pilot episode, written with the intention of developing a full series,[1] was Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft's final sitcom set during wartime, and their only sitcom produced by the ITV network.[3] It had a working title of Mammary Mia.[4]

The pilot was based on an idea by Roger Mirams, who was a producer with Reg Grundy Productions.[5] The pilot's director, Roy Gould, had worked for Croft and Lloyd previously at the BBC on programmes Are You Being Served?, Hi-de-Hi!, 'Allo 'Allo! and Oh, Doctor Beeching!.[6] Terry John, who portrayed Corporal Genaro, would later appear as Percy in Croft's final television series, Oh, Doctor Beeching!, from 1995 to 1997.[6][7]

Reception

[edit]

The pilot was poorly received, and thus a series was not commissioned.[8] Memorable TV described the pilot as a "typical" show by the writers, but noted that it was broadcast when the writers' style of comedy was "somewhat out of favour".[9]

Jasper Rees, writing in The Independent, criticised the racial stereotyping of the characters, particularly the Italian prostitutes, and the predictability of their being a "houseproud homosexual" character, Private Jock Stewart, in a Croft and Perry series. Rees felt that certain "promising" moments in the episode were not properly capitalised on in order to reach "the point of maximum comic potential" and believed that the overall humour was cheap and vulgar.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Lewisohn, Mark (2003). Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy. London: BBC Worldwide. p. 816. ISBN 0563487550.
  2. ^ "Which Way to the War cast and crew credits". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Which Way to the War?". British Classic Comedy. 28 March 2021. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b Rees, Jasper (19 August 1994). "REVIEW / Oh, what a terrible war... once again". The Independent. Archived from the original on 8 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  5. ^ Grundy, Reg (2010). Reg Grundy. New South Wales: Pier 9 Books. p. 271. ISBN 9781742660349.
  6. ^ a b "Roy Gould – In Conversation". Beyond the Title. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Terry John". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  8. ^ "David Croft: Pilot – Which way to the War". David Croft Official Website. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  9. ^ James, Alastair (23 November 2018). "Which Way To The War (ITV 1994, Simon Baker, William Tapley)". Memorable TV. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
[edit]


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