Bad Lads Army

Infobox Television
show_name = Bad Lads Army


caption =
genre = Reality
runtime = 60 minutes
creator =
starring =
network = ITV
country = UK
first_aired = 2002
last_aired = 2006
num_series = 4 series, 32 episodes
producer = Twenty Twenty Television, distributed by RDF Media |

"Bad Lads Army" is a British reality TV programme, specifically of the kind that constitutes a historically derived social experiment - other examples being "The 1900 House" and "The Frontier House". Shown on ITV, "Bad Lads Army" is based on the premise of subjecting delinquent individuals to the conditions of British National Service of the 1950s in order to see if this could rehabilitate them.

The programme was derived from an earlier one called simply "Lads Army" (a play on "Dad's Army") in which a number of volunteers underwent four weeks of basic training for 1950s National Service. Unlike the three sequel series (the ones whose titles began with "Bad"), the original programme's experiment was merely to see if members of the modern British public could cope with the 1950s training, and how they compared to the public of that period. The success of the original series led to the experiment being repeated with the recruits being petty criminals, often given the option to undergo the training by courts as an alternative to serving pending sentences, in order to explore the proposition that it would be beneficial to reinstate National Service for petty criminals and delinquents as an alternative to more conventional sentences.

The programme format is simple. The recruits are issued period uniforms and equipment and fed, quartered and trained according to the standards of the era. Their free time is limited to visits to the NAAFI with period refreshments and facilities. The recruits form a single platoon made up of two sections, each under the care of a section leader. During training the sections compete against each other, building a sense of competition but also of teamwork and loyalty. Success brings modest rewards. Praise is given for whole-hearted attempts at tasks. The NCOs and Officers running the training are all professional British soldiers.

Each series had a slightly different format to its predecessors, although the theme of 1950s military training is common to all. The show is now in its fourth series "Bad Lads Army: Extreme".

Within each series a small number of recruits have either walked out (after a 24 hour cooling off period, generally in the guard house), or been ejected. The majority of the remainder claim some benefit from the experience and some have chosen the British Army as a career at the end of it.

The narrator for "Lads Army" was Kevin Whately. The three Bad Lads Army series have been narrated by Dennis Waterman. Extra material was shown on the digital only channel ITV2 as "Privates Exposed" hosted by Lord "Charlie" Brocket. The music for all four series was composed by Daniel Pemberton.

eries

"Lads Army" (2002)

:(10 episodes)The first series, known as "Lads Army" was filmed in Browndown Camp near Gosport. The "recruits" were not 'bad lads', but ordinary young men. They were trained using 1950s British Army techniques culminating in a passing out parade to mark its completion. This series featured interviews with celebrities who had done National Service themselves in the 1950s.

"Bad Lads Army" (2004)

:(8 episodes)The "recruits" in the second series were now not merely young men but self-professed delinquents - 'Bad Lads'. The format of this series was similar to the first in all other respects. The series was filmed in RAF New Zealand Farm Camp near Salisbury Plain and also featured interviews with celebrities who had done National Service themselves in the 1950s.

"Bad Lads Army: Officer Class" (2005)

:(7 episodes)The "recruits" are trained as National Servicemen who were identified as possible officer material would have been. This includes deportment as well as developing leadership skills. The former tested by a visit to an old people's home for tea and cakes with the female residents.

"Bad Lads Army: Extreme" (2006)

:(7 episodes)The "recruits" are trained as paratroopers. One section will make a proper jump at the end of the series. The series was filmed at the former Royal Navy Cordite Factory, Holton Heath in Dorset.

Training focuses on the qualities expected; "courage" in particular. Activities include high ropeway exercises and cross-country runs.

Nine of the recruits each made a 3,500 foot jump, with one of the recruits needing to use his reserve chute.

The series was intended to be eight episodes, but was re-edited due to scheduling changes caused by two episodes losing their slots to football matches.

taff (2006)

*Section leaders: Corporal Richard Nauyokas, Corporal Joe Murray
*Platoon Sergeant: Sergeant Alastair Rae
*The Officer: Captain (later Major) Henry Dodds, Captain Harry Lort-Phillips
*Provost Sergeant Tim Weston
*PTI Jack Goodwin

Future

It is unknown whether the series will return after the latest series delivered low ratings of 2.9 million viewers. It was reported in the "News of the World" on 20 May 2007 that "Bad Lads Army", along with "Holiday Showdown" and "Ladette to Lady", had been axed. But as the same article said that ITV may bid for the rights to "Neighbours", two days after it was announced Five had won them, this article's reliability is in question especially as "Holiday Showdown" returned to ITV in 2007, and "Ladette to Lady" returned in January 2008.

The show has recently been repeated on digital channel, ITV4.

There have been rumours about a "Bad Lads Army: Commando" series where recruits undergo 1950s style Royal Marines Commando and the series will start in the year 2010.

ee also

*"Brat Camp"
*"That'll Teach 'Em" - 1950s education

External links

*itv.com|id=badladsarmy|title="Bad Lads Army"
* [http://www.ladsarmy.info "Bad Lads Army"] Fansite
* [http://www.danielpemberton.com "Bad Lads Army"] Music from the series
* [http://www.timweston.co.uk "Bad Lads Army - Provo Sgt Weston"] Provo Sgt Weston's official website