HI-DE-HI! stars and fans are reminiscing on their favourite parts of the show as part of the series' 45th anniversary celebrations.
The comedy classic was set in the fictional holiday camp of Maplins, inspired by the large Butlins camps in the Tendring district at the time.
Written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, who also wrote Dad's Army, the show was filmed at the former Warners Holiday Park in Dovercourt
Its first episode aired at the start of 1981 and ran for nine series, coming to an end in 1988.
It was a smash hit, winning a Bafta in 1984 for Best Comedy Series and running for eight years and 58 episodes.
The Harwich and Manningtree Standard spoke to Jeffrey Holland who played Spike Dixon, the Yellow Coat who shared a chalet with Ted Bovis, played by the late Paul Shane.
Jeffrey said: "Hi-de-Hi! still means a huge amount to me - of course it does. It means everything to me!
"The show put me on the map, it gave my face a name and my name a face.
"For 14 years before Hi-de-Hi! I was struggling to make a living as an actor bringing up a young family."
David Croft created Spike with Jeffrey’s Brummy upbringing in mind.
Jeffrey said: “They gave Spike a Brummy accent because I grew up in Walsall.
“Before, I had trained to lose my accent and was surprised to hear that my first role of significance would need it!
“A Brummy accent is very hard to interpret so I made it more mild.”
Jeffrey often reminisces on his time filming the show and continues to appreciate every happy camper who continues to watch.
“Spike has never left me - of course he hasn’t," he said.
“I still get amazed when people recognise me and say Hi-de-Hi to me.
“I have white hair, my face has drooped and I’m an old man now, for goodness sake.
“Despite this, people still recognise me and say that I don’t look any different.
“To that I say - I think you need to go to Specsavers.
“People often ask me if I get sick of people saying Hi-de-Hi to me. No, I don’t, I’m very proud of it!
“They only say it because they love the show and, like me, remember it with love and affection to this day.”
Mary Freeman, a resident of Dovercourt, said: "The Harwich Museum hosts a Hi-de-Hi event every year.
"This year Su Pollard, David Webb and Jeffrey Holland were there.
"It was great fun and I highly recommended attending for fans of the show. There is also a permanent exhibition of memorabilia."
Share