Lads' Army

Lads' Army (known in later series as Bad Lads' Army, Bad Lads' Army: Officer Class and Bad Lads' Army: Extreme) is a reality game show that constitutes a historically derived social experiment. Shown on ITV, the series is based on the premise of subjecting today's delinquent young men to the conditions of conscripts to British Army National Service of the 1950s to see if this could rehabilitate them.

Lads' Army
Also known asBad Lads' Army (2004)
Bad Lads' Army: Officer Class (2005)
Bad Lads' Army: Extreme (2006)
GenreReality Game show
Voices ofKevin Whately (2002)
Dennis Waterman (2004–06)
ComposerDaniel Pemberton
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series4
No. of episodes32
Production
Running time60 minutes (inc. adverts)
Production companyTwenty Twenty
Release
Original networkITV
Original release3 June 2002 (2002-06-03) 
29 August 2006 (2006-08-29)

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 18- to 24-year-old 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 having committed criminal offences, often given the option to undergo the training by courts as an alternative to serving pending sentences, 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. Series 4 raised the maximum age to 26.

The narrator for the first series was Kevin Whately, then Dennis Waterman took over until the show ended in 2006. Within each series a small number of the recruits have either walked out (after a 24-hour cooling off period), 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.

Format

Browndown Training Camp in Hampshire, home of Lads' Army and Bad Lads' Army: Officer Class

The programme format is relatively 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 commander, either Richard Nauyokas or Joe Murray (in series 3 Nauyokas was replaced by Glenn Thomas [who appeared as the Company Sergeant Major in series 2], although he still appeared as a relief corporal). 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, or have been, professional British soldiers.

Each series had a slightly different format to its predecessors, although the theme of 1950s military training is common to all series. The 3rd series (known as Bad Lads' Army: Officer Class) had the volunteers train to become officers while the 4th series (known as Bad Lads' Army Extreme) had the volunteers train to become paratroopers.

Series 1 to 3 had included interviews with celebrities who had completed National Service in the 1950s, including Joss Ackland, Michael Aspel, William Roache, Brian Blessed, Richard Briers, Paul Daniels, Frederick Forsyth, Bernard Manning, Nosher Powell, Andrew Sachs and Brian Sewell. During re-airings of the first series, the interviews were edited out.

Contestants

Series 1 (Lads' Army, 2002)

Waterloo Platoon NCO's and Officers

Rank/Name: Role: Experience:
LCPL Andy Thurgood Platoon Medic Royal Army Medical Corps
CPL Richard Nauyokas 1 Section NCO Royal Army Ordanance Corps
CPL Joe Murray 2 Section NCO Parachute Regiment
CPL Taff Gillingham Q/M NCO Logistics
CPL John Goodwin PTI PTI
CPL Neil Sawell PTI PTI
SGT John Roberts Drill SGT/"3 Section NCO" British Army Infantry
SGT Mark Sullivan Platoon SGT Recruit Instructor
WO2 Colin Coull Company SGT Major Scots Guards
CAPT Richard Owen Platoon Commander Parachute Officer
Padre David Rindell Padre Royal Army Chaplain's Department

Waterloo Platoon recruits

1 Section
CPL Richard Nauyokas
Ages Occupation Status 2 Section
CPL Joe Murray
Ages Occupation Status
Ade Adebayo 21 (1981) University Student PASSED OUT Paul Claydon 20 (1982) Unemployed LEFT
William Bate 19 (1982) Computer Engineer PASSED OUT Steve Daly 21 (1981) Sales Manager PASSED OUT
John Cooke 23 (1979) Construction Site Manager PASSED OUT Paul Eagle 22 (1980) Labourer PASSED OUT
Jodie Copeland 24 (1977) Customer Service Executive PASSED OUT Tony Ellis 22 (1980) Unemployed PASSED OUT
Jamie Dodd 23 (1978) Musician/Pub Cellarman LEFT David Gardner 20 (1981) Gardener PASSED OUT
Matthew Faulkner 22 (1980) University Student PASSED OUT Gordon Hamilton 21 (1981) Club Bouncer PASSED OUT
Michael Honzick 18 (1984) Design Student PASSED OUT Chris Hampson 21 (1981) Genetics Student LEFT
Ross Pitman 21 (1980) Research Executive PASSED OUT Daniel Harrison 24 (1978) Unemployed PASSED OUT
Kenny Poulter 19 (1983) Postman PASSED OUT Nicholas Holbrook 22 (1980) Business Researcher PASSED OUT
Thomas Rossiter 18 (1984) School Student PASSED OUT Alex Kingsy 19 (1983) Law Student PASSED OUT
Nicholas Sandford 23 (1979) Personal Trainer LEFT Aaron Larson 20 (1982) Actor LEFT
John-Paul Watts 24 (1977) Unemployed PASSED OUT Peter Leyland 23 (1978) Mechanical Engineer PASSED OUT
Tom Woolfe 22 (1979) Rugby Coach LEFT Dan Neal 22 (1979) Bartender PASSED OUT
William Wood 22 (1980) University Student LEFT Thomas O' Hanlon 21 (1980) Unemployed PASSED OUT
Lee Wooten 21 (1981) University Student LEFT Adam Spires 20 (1981) Needlecrafter PASSED OUT
James Willingham 20 (1982) University Student PASSED OUT Sam Webb 19 (1983) Unemployed PASSED OUT
Key:
  • PASSED OUT = Recruit was present at the final stages of training, at the Passing Out Parade.
  • LEFT = Recruit quit or was discharged before making it to the final parade.

Series overview

David Gardner received the "Best Recruit" award, James Willingham was awarded the platoons "Most Improved Recruit". 2 Section won "Best Section".

During the series, Tom Woolfe was dishonourably discharged/back squadded from the camp. Paul Claydon, Lee Wooten, and Chris Hampson chose the leave voluntarily. Nicholas Sandford deserted the base and never returned to camp. Jamie Dodd and Aaron Larson were medically discharged from the camp. William Wood's exit is unknown as his exit never aired.

After William Wood and Paul Clayden left, William Bate and Paul Eagle were drafted in as replacement recruits.

Captain Richard Owen, Waterloo Platoon's CO, died after the filming of the series in 2014, at age 48. He is said to have died from cancer.[1]

The main filming location for series one was Browndown Training Camp at Lee-on-Solent.

Series 2 (Bad Lads' Army, 2004)

Montgomery Platoon NCO's and Officers

Rank/Name: Role: Experience:
CPL Richard Nauyokas 1 Section NCO Royal Army Ordanance Corps
CPL Joe Murray 2 Section NCO Parachute Regiment
CPL Taff Gillingham Q/M NCO Logistics
CPL Mark Sheridan PTI PTI
CPL John Goodwin PTI PTI
CPL Kevin Smith Platoon Medic Royal Army Medical Corps
CPL Timothy Dean Provost CPL Military Police
CPL James Lance Provost CPL Military Police
CPL Taff Gillingham Q/M NCO Logistics
SGT Jeff Edwards Provost SGT Military Police
SGT Allistar Rae Platoon SGT Training Instructor
SGT Mark Sullivan Drill SGT Recruit Instructor
WO2 Glen Thomas Company SGT Major Sandhurst Officer
CAPT Henry Dodds Platoon Commander Royal Engineers
Padre David Rindell Padre Royal Army Chaplain's Department

Montgomery Platoon recruits

1 Section
CPL Richard Nauyokas
Ages Occupation Status 2 Section
CPL Joe Murray
Ages Occupation Status
Tjobbe Andrew 22 (1982) Website Designer PASSED OUT Chris Andrew 21 (1982) Unemployed PASSED OUT
Marcus Birks 23 (1981) Unemployed PASSED OUT Michael Blackham 19 (1985) Unemployed PASSED OUT
David Butler 21 (1983) Joiner PASSED OUT Alan Brown 23 (1981) Unemployed LEFT
Shaun Carr 18 (1986) Student PASSED OUT Luke Brown 23 (1981) Unemployed LEFT
Peter Cray 23 (1980) Actor PASSED OUT Chris Davis 18 (1986) Student PASSED OUT
Ashley Cummings 18 (1986) Student LEFT Damien Ellis 23 (1980) Graduate PASSED OUT
Matthew Gilks 21 (1982) Builder PASSED OUT Daniel Kett 21 (1982) Civil Engineer LEFT
Robert Grundy 19 (1984) Unemployed PASSED OUT Michael Lowes 22 (1982) Salesperson PASSED OUT
Chris Harkin 18 (1986) Unemployed PASSED OUT Alex Rennie 24 (1979) Unemployed PASSED OUT
John Kyprianou 23 (1980) Barman PASSED OUT Shingi Sekerama 19 (1985) Unemployed PASSED OUT
Mark Lamont 20 (1985) Unemployed PASSED OUT Robert Shutler 22 (1983) Student PASSED OUT
Ashley Morton 21 (1983) Landscape Gardener LEFT Scott Simpson 18 (1986) Unemployed LEFT
Wil Moynihan 20 (1983) Barman PASSED OUT Wayne Spiller 24 (1980) Student PASSED OUT
Hassan Murtada 24 (1979) Scaffolder PASSED OUT Christopher Townsend 20 (1983) Barman/Student LEFT
Robert Pembrook 19 (1984) Unemployed PASSED OUT Richard Weaver 20 (1984) Cinema Team Leader PASSED OUT
N/A N/A N/A N/A Stilianos Xidakis 18 (1985) High School Student PASSED OUT
Key
  • PASSED OUT = Recruit was present at the final stages of training, at the Passing Out Parade.
  • LEFT = Recruit quit or was discharged before making it to the final parade.

Series overview

Tjobbe Andrews, Matthew Gilks and Robert Shutler were given Officer Recommendations. This would be the goal of the following series. John Kyprianou received the Platoon's Top Shot (the highest score in the shooting range). Marcus Birks received the Best Recruit award at the Pass Out Parade, with Robert Pembrook receiving the Most Improved award. 2 Section won Best Section. With 2 Section winning best section, CPL Murray was promoted to SGT at the Passing Out Parade.

Luke Brown and Ashley Morton were dishonourably discharged. Morton was the only recruit to be dishonourably discharged for committing a criminal offence, namely an unprovoked assault on John Kyprianou, who decided not to press charges. Scott Simpson, Daniel Kett and Chris Townsend chose to leave voluntarily. Ashley Cummings and Alan Brown's status' are unknown, as how they were discharged was never specified. Alan Brown also did not turn up on the first day due to a scheduled court appearance; he received a conditional discharge in connection with a fight that he had previously been involved in, with the requirement that he complete National Service.

After Scott Simpson quit before even being issued a single item of kit or his uniform, Alex Rennie was drafted in as a replacement recruit. At the time of the series release, there was speculation that Tom Woolfe from the first series who was back squadded was set to return but never did for unknown reasons. This is heavily suspected, as there was no replacement for 1 Section after Ashley Cummings left and Woolfe was in 1 Section during the first series, however, to this date, nothing has been confirmed.

After the filming of the series, Michael Lowes suffered from clinical depression after facing indecent exposure charges, and was found dead in his home from an apparent suicide in 2010, at age 28.[2] SGT Alistair Rae, the platoon sergeant for Montgomery, Churchill and Pegasus Platoons, died in November 2020 due to complications from COVID-19,[3] as did contestant Marcus Birks in 2021, at the age of 40.[4]

The main filming location for series two was at New Zealand Farm Camp on Salisbury Plain.

Series 3 (Bad Lads' Army: Officer Class, 2005)

Churchill Platoon NCO's and Officers

Rank/Name: Role: Experience:
CPL Glenn Thomas 1 Section NCO Sandhurst Officer
CPL Joe Murray 2 Section NCO Parachute Regiment
CPL Taff Gillingham Q/M NCO Logistics
CPL Richard Nauyokas Relief NCO Royal Army Ordnance Corps
CPL John Goodwin PTI PTI
CPL Gary Nash PTI PTI
CPL Joseph Hoodless Platoon Admin Royal Marines
CPL Kevin Smith Platoon Medic Royal Army Medical Corps
CPL Timothy Dean Provost CPL Military Police
CPL James Lance Provost CPL Military Police
CPL Taff Gillingham Q/M NCO Logistics
SGT Timothy Weston Provost SGT Grenadier Guards
SGT Allistar Rae Platoon SGT Training Instructor
WO2 Julian Whatley Company SGT Major Regimental SGT Major
CAPT Harry Lort Phillips Platoon Commander Officer
MAJ Henry Dodds Company Commander Royal Engineers
Padre David Rindell Padre Royal Army Chaplain's Department

Churchill Platoon recruits

1 Section (Blue)
NCO – CPL Glen Thomas
Ages Occupation Officer Potential 2 Section (Red)
NCO – CPL Joe Murray
Ages Occupation Officer Potential
Tim Bailey 22 (1983) Unemployed YES Darren Adams 19 (1986) Student NO
Carl Bedford 20 (1985) Unemployed NO Ross Barrett 20 (1984) Unemployed Novelist/Barman NO
Chris Danns 24 (1981) Unemployed NO Steven Bedford 20 (1984) Unemployed LEFT
Aaron Groom 23 (1981) Unemployed NO Ben Hains 21 (1984) Painter Decorator NO
Les Harvey 18 (1987) Royal Marine Dropout/Stock Taker NO Darren Hardman 22 (1982) Unemployed YES
Jack Kendall 21 (1984) Scaffolder NO Rifat Hassan 22 (1982) Security Guard YES
Simon Magil 22 (1982) Unemployed YES David Johnstone 24 (1980) Web Designer NO
Garry Miller 20 (1985) Office Junior YES Jonathan McDade 18 (1987) Student YES
Adam Oakley 19 (1986) Royal Mail Sorter LEFT Simon Pietkewitz 23 (1983) Unemployed YES
Robert Page 20 (1984) Drivers Mate YES Benjamin Priestman 22 (1982) Unemployed NO
Simon Pinkney 23 (1981) Actor/Dancer LEFT Matthew Rawlings 24 (1980) Boxer NO
James Roberts 20 (1984) Tyre Fitter YES Haydn Russell 21 (1984) Sales Temp NO
Robert Schofield 21 (1983) Unemployed NO Rocco Scalercio 20 (1985) Unemployed NO
Dale Tate 22 (1983) Unemployed LEFT Taisen Coree-Smith 24 (1981) Unemployed NO
Matthew Tate 24 (1980) Unemployed LEFT Adrian Turton 24 (1980) Technician LEFT
Wesley Worrall 21 (1983) Unemployed LEFT Kirk Woodend 21 (1984) Stripper/Porn Actor LEFT
Key
  • YES = Recruit was selected for officer training.
  • NO = Recruit was not selected for officer training.
  • LEFT = Recruit left the series, either voluntarily, due to being dishonourably discharged or a medical discharge.

Series overview

The Passing Out Parade never stated who received "Best Recruit", or "Most Improved Recruit", as well as which Section were the winners overall. This is the only season that had no contestants born in the 1970s.

Wesley Worrall, Steven Bedford, and Matthew Tate were dishonourably discharged from the camp, Kirk Woodend chose to leave voluntarily and Adam Oakley was medically discharged. Dale Tate (Matthew Tate's brother) deserted the section and never returned to the Platoon; his brother deserted with him, but later returned. Simon Pinkney and Adrian Turton left the camp, however their exits were never aired.

After Wesley Worrall and Steven Bedford were discharged, Chris Danns and Matthew Rawlings were drafted in, as replacement recruits.

Robert Page initially was selected for officer training but quit before training began and was forced to return to unit.

At the end of the final episode, the narrator stated that 11 of 24 who passed out had subsequently applied to join the regular British Army.

Robert Page died after the filming of the series in 2020 at age 36. His cause is unknown.

The main filming location for series three was again at Browndown Training Camp at Lee-on-Solent.

Series 4 (Bad Lads' Army: Extreme, 2006)

Pegasus Platoon NCO's and Officers

Rank/Name: Role: Experience:
LCPL Susan Tucker Company Clerk Royal Army Ordnance Corps
LCPL JJ Adams Assistant Medic Royal Air Force
CPL Richard Nauyokas 1 Section NCO Royal Army Ordnance Corps
CPL Joe Murray 2 Section NCO Parachute Regiment
SGT Taff Gillingham Q/M NCO Logistics
CPL John Newton PTI Parachute Regiment
CPL Jim Bush PTI Parachute Regiment
CPL Alex Bohanna Platoon Medic Royal Army Medical Corps
CPL Kevin Smith Assistant Medic Royal Army Medical Corps
CPL Timothy Dean Provost CPL Military Police
CPL James Lance Provost CPL Military Police
SGT Taff Gillingham Q/M NCO Logistics
SGT Timothy Weston Provost SGT Grenadier Guards
SGT Allistar Rae Platoon SGT Training Instructor
WO2 Julian Whatley Company SGT Major Regimental SGT Major
CAPT Henry Dodds Platoon Commander Royal Engineers

Pegasus Platoon recruits

Blue Section
NCO – CPL Richard Nauyokus
Ages Occupation Final Jump Selection Red Section
NCO – CPL Joe Murray
Ages Occupation Final Jump Selection
Jamie Brooks 21 (1984) NO James Bourne 23 (1983) Unemployed YES
Samuel Bruce Angland 21 (1984) Security Guard NO Chris Coad 22 (1984) Unemployed NO
Keith Burke 19 (1987) Unemployed LEFT Aiden Chaffe 18 (1988) Unemployed NO
Colin Elliot 23 (1983) Unemployed LEFT Andrew Findley 24 (1981) Teaching Assistant NO
Mark Grimes 26 (1979) Unemployed NO Luke Howard 18 (1987) LEFT
Sebastian Judd 21 (1985) YES Kyle Jensen 22 (1983) Roofer YES
Raymond Impey 21 (1985) Unemployed LEFT Andrew Jimson 25 (1981) Unemployed LEFT
Phillip Lee-Hodgeson 20 (1985) NO Darren McDonald 26 (1980) Fitness Instructor LEFT
Adam Mercer 25 (1981) Unemployed LEFT Sean Morris 24 (1981) YES
Luke Moyes 19 (1986) LEFT Shaz Nawaz 23 (1982) Security Guard YES
Joe Peto 18 (1988) YES Jerry Reilly 25 (1980) NO
Matthew Reed 18 (1988) University Student/Riot Leader LEFT Joe Renwick 19 (1986) NO
Giles Walker 25 (1980) LEFT Leon Thompson 20 (1986) LEFT
Steven Walker 22 (1983) YES Jamie Smeadly 21 (1984) Plasterer NO
Gavin Woodhouse 21 (1985) Unemployed YES Robin Woodfourth 22 (1983) Unemployed YES
Joel Whittaker 24 (1982) LEFT Tyrone Walsh 26 (1979) NO
Key
  • YES = Recruit was selected for the Final Parachute Jump
  • NO = Recruit was not selected for Final Parachute Jump.
  • LEFT = Recruit left the series, either voluntarily, due to being dishonourably discharged or a medical discharge.

Series overview

The Passing Out Parade never stated who received "Best Recruit", or "Most Improved Recruit". Blue Section was the winning section.

Colin Elliot was Dishonourably Discharged from the camp. Keith Burke, Adam Mercer, Joel Whittaker, and Andrew Jimson were dismissed on Bin Day, just before the interrogation phase. Giles Walker, Leon Thompson, Luke Howard, Matthew Reed, Raymond Impey, Darren McDonald, and Luke Moyes were all dismissed from the camp but their exits never aired. This series features a high amount of unusual dismissals, with 12 exits total.

After Colin Elliot and Giles Walker were discharged, Joe Peto and Steven Walker were drafted in, as replacement recruits. This was the first time that both replacement recruits went into the same section.

Aiden Chaffe died on 22 October 2018 at the age of 31 following a skydiving accident.[5]

Series four was filmed at the Royal Navy Cordite Factory, Holton Heath, in Dorset. However, for the series, it was named 'Sandford Army Camp'.

Transmissions

SeriesStart dateEnd dateEpisodes
13 June 20025 July 200210
28 July 200426 August 20048
328 July 20058 September 20057
411 July 200629 August 20067

Ratings

Official episode viewing figures are from BARB.[6]

Series 1

Episode
no.
AirdateViewers
(millions)
ITV weekly
ranking
13 June 2002 (2002-06-03)
25 June 2002 (2002-06-05)6.1415
310 June 2002 (2002-06-10)6.2714
414 June 2002 (2002-06-14)5.4718
517 June 2002 (2002-06-17)5.2823
621 June 2002 (2002-06-21)
724 June 2002 (2002-06-24)5.9814
825 June 2002 (2002-06-25)5.1916
928 June 2002 (2002-06-28)4.9318
105 July 2002 (2002-07-05)5.4218

Series 2

Episode
no.
AirdateViewers
(millions)
ITV weekly
ranking
18 July 2004 (2004-07-08)6.4815
215 July 2004 (2004-07-15)6.5813
322 July 2004 (2004-07-22)6.2315
429 July 2004 (2004-07-29)5.4517
55 August 2004 (2004-08-05)5.6416
612 August 2004 (2004-08-12)5.4117
719 August 2004 (2004-08-19)5.4416
826 August 2004 (2004-08-26)4.7216

Series 3

Episode
no.
AirdateViewers
(millions)
ITV weekly
ranking
128 July 2005 (2005-07-28)5.1315
24 August 2005 (2005-08-04)5.2415
311 August 2005 (2005-08-11)5.2315
418 August 2005 (2005-08-18)4.6718
525 August 2005 (2005-08-25)5.0515
61 September 2005 (2005-09-01)5.0915
78 September 2005 (2005-09-08)5.4018

Series 4

Episode
no.
AirdateViewers
(millions)
ITV weekly
ranking
111 July 2006 (2006-07-11)3.8719
218 July 2006 (2006-07-18)3.3121
325 July 2006 (2006-07-25)3.1421
41 August 2006 (2006-08-01)3.3125
515 August 2006 (2006-08-15)
622 August 2006 (2006-08-22)
729 August 2006 (2006-08-29)

International versions

The TV format has been exported in Italy and aired in 2021.

Country Title TV channel Seasons Distribution
 Italy La caserma Rai 2 1 27 January 2021 – 10 March 2021

References

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