Jimmy Perry was born in Barnes, London in 1924. Aged 16 during the Second World War, he joined the Home Guard and then served with the Royal Artillery as a sergeant, also setting up a concert party as entertainment for the troops. After the war he trained as an actor. His writing partnership with David Croft began in 1968, and between them they created such hit shows as Dad's Army, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Hi-de-Hi and You Rang, M'Lord?
