Seasons & episodes

Series charting the history of the best of British comedy looks at David Croft and Jimmy Perry's 1970s British Army-based sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum.

Whispering Grass was a 1975 UK Number 1 single by Windsor Davies and Don Estelle, performed in character, remaining at the top of the British charts for three weeks from 7 June 1975. The track is a comic version of The Ink Spots' 1940 recording.

S1 · E1Meet the Gang 1974-01-03 · 30 min＋

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.

S1 · E2My Lovely Boy 1974-01-10 · 30 min＋

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.

S1 · E3The Mutiny of the Punka Wallahs 1974-01-17 · 30 min＋

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

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

S1 · E5The Jungle Patrol 1974-01-31 · 30 min＋

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.

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

S1 · E7The Road to Bannu 1974-02-14 · 30 min＋

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'.

S1 · E8The Inspector Calls 1974-02-21 · 30 min＋

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.

S2 · E1Showing the Flag 1975-01-02 · 30 min＋

The Sergeant Major tries to train the concert party to lower the flag at sunset.

S2 · E2Down in the Jungle 1975-01-09 · 30 min＋

The concert party's plane makes a crash landing, and the men realise they could be behind enemy lines.

S2 · E3The Natives are Revolting 1975-01-16 · 30 min＋

The Sergeant Major is determined to find out who replaced the camp's Union Jack with an Indian flag.

S2 · E4Cabaret Time 1975-01-23 · 30 min＋

A performance in the Kama Sutra Club gets the concert party and the Battery Sergeant Major into trouble.

S2 · E5The Curse of the Sadhu 1975-01-30 · 30 min＋

Sergeant Williams tempts the wrath of the gods by ejecting a revered holy man from the parade ground.

S2 · E6Forbidden Fruits 1975-02-06 · 30 min＋

When the army runs out of "that stuff they put in our tea" the men cannot stop thinking about women. Colonel Reynolds tries to see Mrs Waddilove-Evans when her husband is not home.

S2 · E7Has Anyone Seen My Cobra? 1975-02-13 · 30 min＋

A snake-charmer's cobra goes missing and is found in the Sergeant Major's quarters.

S2 · E8The Night of the Thugs 1975-02-20 · 30 min＋

The concert party take refuge from a rainstorm in a ruined temple and fall victim to a fanatical native sect.

S3 · E1The Supremo Show 1976-01-02 · 30 min＋

While the officers are out of the way in hospital, Williams takes the opportunity to post the concert party up the jungle but is forced to bring them back to stage a special performance.

S3 · E2Mind My Maharajah 1976-01-09 · 30 min＋

The concert party is sent to the palace of the Maharajah of Bharatpur to protect him.

S3 · E3Bang Goes the Maharajah 1976-01-16 · 30 min＋

The concert party try to stop the attempts on the life of the Maharajah of Bharatpur.

S3 · E4The Grand Illusion 1976-01-23 · 30 min＋

Sergeant Major Williams finds that bragging about his troops can get him into trouble.

S3 · E5Pale Hands I Love 1976-01-30 · 30 min＋

The sergeant major falls in love and gets into trouble with the Tongs.

S3 · E6Don't Take the Micky 1976-02-06 · 30 min＋

Sergeant Major Williams tries to break up the concert party by promoting Gunner Graham.