History Series / ItAintHalfHotMum

* PromotionToOpeningTitles: The actors listed in the opening titles changes over the course of the series:

After the show finished, it was hardly ever repeated (unlike, say, ''Dad's Army''). There are racist undertones inherent in the way the Indian characters were treated, in addition to which the fact that the most prominent Indian character was played by an English actor in {{Brownface}} has ''not'' aged well. On top of that, there's the torrent of homophobic remarks directed at the performers in general and Gloria in particular by BSM Williams [[note]] although Gloria, for all of his undoubted effeminacy, never actually displays any homosexual tendencies; Jimmy Perry is on record as saying that he's a transvestite, not a homosexual -- although one would hardly expect someone like Williams to make such a distinction [[/note]]. As of 2023, though, in common with many other British sitcoms of the era, the series is now being rescreened in full on the nostalgia channels lower down Freeview; it has reportedly gained a big audience both from those who remember it from the first time around, and from those who are too young to remember it first time around and want to see what all the fuss was about. Either way, political correctness gets a great big "SHUT UP!"

Natives included "bearer" Rangi Ram (Creator/MichaelBates) [[note]] who, although Caucasian, was born in India and could speak fluent Urdu -- a fact often brought out by defenders of the show when it gets criticised for the use of {{Brownface}} in the case of this character [[/note]], a confidante to all; "char wallah" Muhammed (Creator/DinoShafeek), who sold tea from a kettle and later replaced Rangi as bearer following Bates' death; Indian "punkah wallah" Rumzan (Babar Bhatti), who frequently displayed HiddenDepths of intelligence and savvy; and Chinese cook Ah Syn (Andy Ho), who replaced Rumzan in the final series.

Natives included "bearer" Rangi Ram (Creator/MichaelBates) [[note]] who, although Caucasian, was born in India and could speak fluent Urdu -- a fact often brought out by defenders of the show when it gets criticised for the use of {{Brownface}} in the case of this character [[/note]], a confidante to all; "char wallah" Mohammed (Dino Shafeek), who sold tea from a kettle and later replaced Rangi as bearer following Bates' death; Indian "punkah wallah" Rumzan (Babar Bhatti), who frequently displayed HiddenDepths of intelligence and savvy; and Chinese cook Ah Syn (Andy Ho), who replaced Rumzan in the final series.

** The concert party and its officers survive the war and go back to Britain, however they are forced to leave Mohammed behind, though he hopes to be able to join them later and open a restaurant. Rationing means that they cannot enjoy the luxuries they have been looking forward to for so long and their efforts in the war go largely unappreciated by the people they speak to. The officers (particularly Ashwood) almost immediately forget the wartime camaraderie and go back to the "them and us" mentality of the class system. Despite these things, they all part on friendly terms with hopes to make new lives for themselves as civilians.

** Rangi Ram's catchphrases include "You know, there is an old Hindu proverb which say ..." followed by a "proverb" which may or may not be relevant to the current situation, and "Don't be such clever dickie!", his preferred way to chastise Mohammed or Rumzan.

* GrandFinale: Series 8 covers the last weeks of the war in 1945; in the final episode, the characters return to Britain to receive the ration books and complimentary suits of clothes given to all demobilised soldiers, and they discuss what they have planned for their returns to civilian life. Mohammed, meanwhile, writes to Beaumont that he is gearing up to follow them back to England and open a restaurant.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Averted when Creator/GeorgeLayton (Solomons) left and Creator/MichaelBates (Rangi) died. No one was brought in to replace them but Gloria and Mohammed were promoted to Bombardier and Bearer respectively. When the actor playing Rumzan left in the final series, he got a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute in the form of the cook Ah Syn.

* TitleDrop: In the first episode, when Parkin writes to his mother, and the last episode, when Mohammed writes to Beaumont.

* VitriolicBestBuds: Mohammed and Rangi appear to be a Type 1 example, with Mohammed blissfully oblivious when Rangi calls him a "coolie", "ruddy fool" and "damn native".

Natives included "bearer" Rangi Ram (Michael Bates) [[note]] who, although Caucasian, was born in India and could speak fluent Urdu -- a fact often brought out by defenders of the show when it gets criticised for the use of {{Brownface}} in the case of this character [[/note]], a confidante to all; "char wallah" Mohammed (Dino Shafeek), who sold tea from a kettle and later replaced Rangi as bearer following Bates' death; Indian "punkah wallah" Rumzan (Babar Bhatti), who frequently displayed HiddenDepths of intelligence and savvy; and Chinese cook Ah Syn (Andy Ho), who replaced Rumzan in the final series.

* BoomerangBigot: Rangi dismisses the other Indians as 'ignorant natives' and uses phrases like 'we British' when talking to the crew. Michael Bates based this aspect of the character on similar encounters he'd had with social-climbing Indians in British India.

* {{Brownface}}: Rangi was played by the white (though Indian-born) Michael Bates.

** Rangi Ram disappears without mention after series 5 due to actor Michael Bates death.

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: Michael Bates death after series 5 caused bearer Rangi Ram to be absent from the show from series 6 onwards.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Averted when Creator/GeorgeLayton (Solomons) left and Michael Bates (Rangi) died. No one was brought in to replace them but Gloria and Mohammed were promoted to Bombardier and Bearer respectively. When the actor playing Rumzan left in the final series, he got a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute in the form of the cook Ah Syn.

The performers included Jewish Bombardier[[note]] Equivalent to a corporal.[[/note]] "Solly" Solomons (Creator/GeorgeLayton), the resident leading man; effeminate Gunner/Bombardier "Gloria" Beaumont (Creator/MelvynHayes), the resident leading lady; comically short and fat Gunner Harold "Lofty" Sugden (Creator/DonEstelle), who possessed a remarkable singing voice; inept but eager ventriloquist Gunner Nigel "Parky" Parkin (Creator/ChristopherMitchell), whom Williams suspects might be his son as he had a romantic affair with Parkin's mother years earlier; upper-class, university-educated pianist Gunner Jonathan "Paderewski" Graham (Creator/JohnClegg); tough Scottish strongman Gunner "Atlas" Mackintosh (Creator/StuartMcGugan); bird caller and later Music/GeorgeFormby impersonator Gunner "Nobby" Clark (Kenneth [=MacDonald=]); and the perpetually eating paper tearer Gunner "Nosher" Evans (Mike Kinsey).

Yet another vintage BBC sitcom from before the days of political correctness. ''It Ain't Half Hot, Mum'' was written Jimmy Perry and David Croft, the creators of ''Series/DadsArmy''. The show, which broadcast between 1974 and 1981, was about the adventures of a Royal Artillery Concert Party stationed in India (later Burma) during World War II.

The performers included Jewish Bombardier[[note]] Equivalent to a corporal.[[/note]] "Solly" Solomons (Creator/GeorgeLayton), the resident leading man; effeminate Gunner/Bombardier "Gloria" Beaumont (Creator/MelvynHayes), the resident leading lady; comically short and fat Gunner Harold "Lofty" Sugden (Creator/DonEstelle), who possessed a remarkable singing voice; inept but eager ventriloquist Gunner Nigel "Parky" Parkins (Creator/ChristopherMitchell), whom Williams suspects might be his son as he had a romantic affair with Parkins' mother years earlier; upper-class, university-educated pianist Gunner Jonathan "Paderewski" Graham (John Clegg); tough Scottish strongman Gunner "Atlas" Mackintosh (Creator/StuartMcGugan); bird caller and later Music/GeorgeFormby impersonator Gunner "Nobby" Clark (Kenneth [=MacDonald=]); and the perpetually eating paper tearer Gunner "Nosher" Evans (Mike Kinsey).

Common plot devices included conflict with the Indian locals, Sergeant Major's belief that Gunner Parkins might be his son, and his attempts to have the Concert Party "posted up the jungle". Eventually he was successful, and from the fifth series onwards the action relocated to Burma. The Concert Party would usually perform a musical number OnceAnEpisode.

* ABNegative: In the episode "It's a Wise Child", Rangi steals Williams and Parkins' medical records, and the Concert Party discover that Parkins has Type O blood while Williams has Type AB blood, meaning he cannot be Parkins' father. However, since this would remove Williams' reason to keep Parkins from being posted up the jungle, throwing the door open to the rest of them being likewise posted, they doctor Parkins' record to list his blood type as AB before Williams can see it.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Sergeant Major Williams may be loud and blustery, but he'll defend those he cares about to the death, especially Parkins (whose mother is a former girlfriend of his).
** A letter written to Parkins and meant to be opened only when Williams is dead reveals that the Sergeant-Major is only being so "hard on the men" because he is trying to turn them into soldiers, and he actually thinks "they're all grand lads, especially little Lofty". Reading this brings "Gloria" Beaumont to the verge of tears. (Moments later, they discover evidence that proves Williams innocent of the theft they suspected him of, and Gloria does indeed collapse howling.)

* MamasBabyPapasMaybe: Parkins' mother, Edith, was simultaneously involved with both Williams and the man she ended up marrying when Parkins was conceived, leading Williams to think he might be Parkins' father. Parkins is horrified by the idea (and even Williams isn't that thrilled as he witnesses Parkins' incompetence at everything he tries to do), and is relieved when a look at their medical records in "It's a Wise Child"[[note]] As in, "It's a wise child who knows his own father."[[/note]] reveals that his father probably is his mother's husband after all.

* ShotgunWedding: Parkins' parents are implied to have had one of these, as he was born barely nine months after they were married.

* TitleDrop: In the first episode, when Parkins writes to his mother, and the last episode, when Mohammed writes to Beaumont.

* WelcomeEpisode: "Meet the Gang", the first episode of the first series, includes the addition to the Concert Party of the newly-arrived Gunner Parkins, who is the latest of many soldiers to be billeted at the camp for a few days before being posted up the jungle.

The performers included Jewish Bombardier[[note]] Equivalent to a corporal.[[/note]] "Solly" Solomons (Creator/GeorgeLayton), the resident leading man; effeminate Gunner/Bombardier "Gloria" Beaumont (Creator/MelvynHayes), the resident leading lady; comically short and fat Gunner Harold "Lofty" Sugden (Creator/DonEstelle), who possessed a remarkable singing voice; inept but eager ventriloquist Gunner Nigel "Parky" Parkins (Christopher Mitchell), whom Williams suspects might be his son as he had a romantic affair with Parkins' mother years earlier; upper-class, university-educated pianist Gunner Jonathan "Paderewski" Graham (John Clegg); tough Scottish strongman Gunner "Atlas" Mackintosh (Creator/StuartMcGugan); bird caller and later Music/GeorgeFormby impersonator Gunner "Nobby" Clark (Kenneth [=MacDonald=]); and the perpetually eating paper tearer Gunner "Nosher" Evans (Mike Kinsey).

The performers included Jewish Bombardier[[note]] Equivalent to a corporal.[[/note]] "Solly" Solomons (George Layton), the resident leading man; effeminate Gunner/Bombardier "Gloria" Beaumont (Creator/MelvynHayes), the resident leading lady; comically short and fat Gunner Harold "Lofty" Sugden (Creator/DonEstelle), who possessed a remarkable singing voice; inept but eager ventriloquist Gunner Nigel "Parky" Parkins (Christopher Mitchell), whom Williams suspects might be his son as he had a romantic affair with Parkins' mother years earlier; upper-class, university-educated pianist Gunner Jonathan "Paderewski" Graham (John Clegg); tough Scottish strongman Gunner "Atlas" Mackintosh (Creator/StuartMcGugan); bird caller and later Music/GeorgeFormby impersonator Gunner "Nobby" Clark (Kenneth [=MacDonald=]); and the perpetually eating paper tearer Gunner "Nosher" Evans (Mike Kinsey).

* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Averted when George Layton (Solomons) left and Michael Bates (Rangi) died. No one was brought in to replace them but Gloria and Mohammed were promoted to Bombardier and Bearer respectively. When the actor playing Rumzan left in the final series, he got a SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute in the form of the cook Ah Syn.