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Arthur Smith's show about his father. From Colditz to post-war policeman, an ordinary man in extraordinary times. From 2021.

Arthur Smith's hit Edinburgh Festival show.

Arthur's father Syd was an ordinary man in extraordinary times. Just 17 when he signed up, he fought at El Alamein, was captured and then imprisoned in Colditz and, after the war, joined the Metropolitan Police. He spent the rest of his working life patrolling the streets of London and had possibly the worst arrest rate in the force - having been a prisoner of war he had no desire to subject anyone else to suffer a loss of liberty.

In this funny and tender evocation of post-war Britain, Arthur brings us Syd's diary entries and conjures up the spirit of his father, a man of great integrity and humour.

Recorded in front of a live, socially distanced audience, with assistance from his brother Nick and music from Kirsty Newton.

Producer: Alison Vernon-Smith

A Yada-Yada Audio production for 大象传媒 Radio 4, first broadcast in July 2021.

Available now

28 minutes

On radio

Thu 5 Dec 2024 14:30

Broadcasts

  • Sun 25 Jul 2021 19:15
  • Fri 30 Jul 2021 07:30
  • Fri 30 Jul 2021 17:30
  • Fri 30 Jul 2021 22:00
  • Sat 31 Jul 2021 05:30
  • Thu 23 Sep 2021 18:30
  • Thu 30 Sep 2021 07:30
  • Thu 30 Sep 2021 17:30
  • Thu 30 Sep 2021 22:00
  • Fri 1 Oct 2021 05:30
  • Thu 5 Dec 2024 14:30
  • Thu 5 Dec 2024 20:30
  • Fri 6 Dec 2024 04:30