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Writer of Dad's Army and Hi-de-Hi! Jimmy Perry dies, aged 93

One of the creators of comedy classics like Dad's Army and Hi-de-Hi!, Jimmy Perry, has died aged 93.

Perry, along with co-writer David Croft, was responsible for many of the most successful sitcoms on TV between the 1960s and 1990s.

Among the other titles he jointly created were It Ain't Half Hot Mum and You Rang M'Lord?

His death was confirmed by his agent, who said he died on Sunday morning at his home.

The British Music Hall Society had earlier tweeted: "With great sadness we announce the passing of Jimmy Perry. RIP."

Many of the series he wrote were based on his own experiences.

At 16 he joined the Home Guard in Watford - a period that was later immortalised in Dad's Army.

Later he was sent to fight in Burma with the Royal Artillery, where he was involved in entertainments to keep the troops happy.

This was later used as the basis for It Ain't Half Hot Mum, about a theatrical troop in the jungles of southeast Asia during the war.

After being demobbed, he trained as an actor and spent his holidays working as a Redcoat at Butlin's holiday camps - from which he gained material for 1980s series Hi-de-Hi!, set in the fictional camp of Maplins.

At their peak, both Dad's Army and Hi-de-Hi! were watched by anything up to 18 million viewers a week.

Repeats made sure Dad's Army, which ran for 80 episodes, remained popular long after it finished filming in 1977.

In 2004, it was voted the fourth best sitcom of all time and came 13th in a British Film Institute list of the 100 greatest British TV programmes of all time voted on by industry professionals.

Because of its lasting popularity, a new film was released in 2016 starring Toby jones, Bill Nighy, Tom Courtney and Michael Gambon among others, the premiere of which was attended by Perry.

Many figures in the entertainment world paid tribute to the writer.

Comedian Jack Dee said on Twitter: "RIP Jimmy Perry. Amazing contribution to British telly. Watched Dad's Army only yesterday. Still as funny as when I watched it as a kid."

Vicki Michelle, who was in the David Croft-created 'Allo 'Allo, said: "So sad we have lost #JimmyPerry a brilliant comedy writer & true gentleman. He leaves us such a legacy."

BBC controller of comedy commissioning Shane Allen said: "Jimmy Perry is a Goliath of British comedy writing. His work will be enjoyed and appreciated for many years to come."