Hi-de-Hi!
Created by Jimmy Perry, David Croft
On BBC One
A warmly affectionate British workplace sitcom set in a 1950s holiday camp, built on ensemble camaraderie and gentle character comedy rather than cynicism or high stakes.
Hi-de-Hi! is a British sitcom set in Maplins, a fictional holiday camp, during 1959 and 1960, and was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, who also wrote Dad's Army and It Ain't Half Hot Mum amongst others. It aired on the BBC from 1980 to 1988. The series revolved around the lives of the camp's management and entertainers, most of them struggling actors or has-beens. The inspiration was the experience of writers Perry and Croft: after being demobilised from the army, Perry was a Redcoat at Butlin's, Pwllheli during the holiday season. The series gained large audiences and won a BAFTA as Best Comedy Series in 1984. In 2004, it came 40th in Britain's Best Sitcom and in a 2008 poll on Channel 4, 'Hi-de-Hi!" was voted the 35th most popular comedy catchphrase.
Clusters
Genres
Questions people ask
Is Hi-de-Hi! easy watching? Yes, very. More comforting than 97% of series.
Is Hi-de-Hi! scary? No. Less frightening than 92% of series.
Is Hi-de-Hi! violent? Barely. Less violent than 89% of series.
Is Hi-de-Hi! sad? Barely. Less sad than 75% of series.
Does Hi-de-Hi! leave you hopeful? Somewhat. More hopeful than 69% of series.
These describe how the series comes across across its whole run, compared with other well-known series. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked episode by episode, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Cinnamon Score
How much this series gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
You have seen this shape before.
How unlike any other series this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Like Hi-de-Hi!
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as Hi-de-Hi!
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like Hi-de-Hi!, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like Hi-de-Hi!, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like Hi-de-Hi!, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
