'Allo 'Allo! (series 8)

The eighth series of the British sitcom series 'Allo 'Allo! contains a Christmas special which aired on 24 December 1991, and seven episodes which first aired between 12 January and 1 March 1992.

Series 8 marks a change in the series. Rather than continuing to tell the story from the end of the seventh series, the first episode picks up the story some two years later. This sees the departure of the two British airmen and Bertorelli from the series. John B. Hobbs became the producer for the show.

In this series the letters in the initial credits were yellow instead of white like all earlier series. Secondly, there was no exclamation mark, when the title "'Allo 'Allo" was shown on screen.

The following episode names are the ones found on the British R2 DVDs with alternate region titles given below them.

Series No.Episode No.Episode titleOriginal UK airdate
Christmas special72A Bun in the Oven24 December 1991[1]
8.0173Arousing Suspicions12 January 1992[2]
8.0274A Woman Never Lies19 January 1992[3]
8.0375Hitler's Last Heil26 January 1992[4]
8.0476Awful Wedded Wife2 February 1992[5]
8.0577Firing Squashed16 February 1992[6]
8.0678A Fishful of Francs23 February 1992[7]
8.0779Swan Song1 March 1992[8]

Christmas Special: A Bun in the Oven
  • Alternative title: Pregnancy (R4)
  • Original airdate: 24 December 1991
  • Written by: Jeremy Lloyd & Paul Adam
  • Directed by: John B. Hobbs
  • Produced by: John B. Hobbs
  • Episode length: 45 minutes

It's 1943, the Italians have withdrawn, and the British Airmen are back in England. The Germans are still in Nouvion, but the war is not going well for them. René is pleased to say that all is back to normal, when Yvette announces to him that she is pregnant. Helga steals the Fallen Madonna from Herr Flick's quarters on behalf of the German officers, but ensures she is not left out of the action.

Arousing Suspicions
  • Alternative titles: Radio free Flamenco (R1), The Radio Station (R4)
  • Original airdate: 12 January 1992
  • Written by: Jeremy Lloyd & Paul Adam
  • Directed by: John B. Hobbs
  • Produced by: John B. Hobbs
  • Episode length: 30 minutes

A tour by a group of Spanish Flamenco dancers provides the ideal cover for René and the cafe staff to search the chateau for radio parts which were erroneously dropped down the chateau's chimneys from an Allied plane.

  • Note: In this episode, Colonel von Strohm erroneously refers to himself as "Erich" (when speaking on the telephone), even though it has been established earlier in the series, that his first name is "Kurt".

A Woman Never Lies
  • Alternative titles: The Great Pay Robbery (R1), Blackmail & Robbery (R4)
  • Original airdate: 19 January 1992
  • Written by: Jeremy Lloyd & Paul Adam
  • Directed by: John B. Hobbs
  • Produced by: John B. Hobbs
  • Episode length: 30 minutes

The Gestapo give Helga a truth serum to extract all the information she has about the paintings. The cafe staff and the Resistance set about making their first propaganda radio broadcast.

Hitler's Last Heil
  • Alternative titles: Blowing up Hitler (R1), Dynamite For Hitler (R4)
  • Original airdate: 26 January 1992
  • Written by: Jeremy Lloyd & Paul Adam
  • Directed by: John B. Hobbs
  • Produced by: John B. Hobbs
  • Episode length: 30 minutes

It's René's birthday, and the cafe staff have a few surprises in store for him. General Von Klinkerhoffen announces that Hitler and Goering are to visit the town on a morale-boosting tour of the coast.

  • Note: This episode reveals that Fanny was born in 1858.
  • Note: Hitler's double is played by David Janson, who would later play Herr Flick in series 9.

Awful Wedded Wife
  • Alternative titles: Lead Shortage (R1), Capturing Hitler (R4)
  • Original airdate: 2 February 1992
  • Written by: Jeremy Lloyd & Paul Adam
  • Directed by: John B. Hobbs
  • Produced by: John B. Hobbs
  • Episode length: 30 minutes

Michelle's plans to assassinate Hitler and Goering are in progress. Helga has a plan to get Herr Flick and Von Smallhousen out of jail. René has to come up with a plan to get out of marrying Edith.

Firing Squashed
  • Alternative titles: Hitler Escapes! (R1), Hitler On The Run (R4)
  • Original airdate: 16 February 1992
  • Written by: Jeremy Lloyd & Paul Adam
  • Directed by: John B. Hobbs
  • Produced by: John B. Hobbs
  • Episode length: 30 minutes

Colonel Von Strom and Lieutenant Gruber, disguised as Hitler and Goering, have been captured by the Communist Resistance. Under the impression that they are the real Hitler and Goering, the Gaullist Resistance plan to capture them, leading to a showdown between the two Resistance groups.

A Fishful of Francs
  • Alternative title: The Fish (R4)
  • Original airdate: 23 February 1992
  • Written by: Jeremy Lloyd & Paul Adam
  • Directed by: John B. Hobbs
  • Produced by: John B. Hobbs
  • Episode length: 30 minutes

Von Strohm and Gruber are hiding in the cafe, but the Communist Resistance are not giving up easily. They manage to escape to the chateau, but General Von Klinkerhoffen decides that Hitler and Goering will be seen to leave the town, to act as bait to lead the Germans to the Communist Resistance. As the doubles are not expected to survive an ambush by the Germans once they are captured by the Communist Resistance, two French peasants will play the parts - whoever fits the uniforms best - which just happens to be René and Edith.

Swan Song
  • Alternative titles: Emigration (R1), Escape To Spain (R4)
  • Original airdate: 1 March 1992
  • Written by: Jeremy Lloyd & Paul Adam
  • Directed by: John B. Hobbs
  • Produced by: John B. Hobbs
  • Episode length: 30 minutes

René and Edith are saved from the firing squad and have to walk back to Nouvion. Meanwhile, the cafe staff and the Resistance believe them to have been shot dead, so take over the running of the cafe themselves. Von Strohm and Gruber make plans to flee to Spain. Yvette learns that she is not pregnant after all.

  • Note: This episode marks the last appearance of Richard Gibson as Herr Otto Flick. In series nine, this character was played by David Janson.

References
  1. "Radio Times listing for original transmission of "A Bun in the Oven", archived at BBC Genome Project".
  2. "Radio Times listing for original transmission of "Arousing Suspicion", archived at BBC Genome Project".
  3. "Radio Times listing for original transmission of "A Woman Never Lies", archived at BBC Genome Project".
  4. "Radio Times listing for original transmission of "Hitler's Last Heil", archived at BBC Genome Project".
  5. "Radio Times listing for original transmission of "Awful Wedded Wife", archived at BBC Genome Project".
  6. "Radio Times listing for original transmission of "Firing Squashed", archived at BBC Genome Project".
  7. "Radio Times listing for original transmission of "A Fistful of Francs", archived at BBC Genome Project".
  8. "Radio Times listing for original transmission of "A Swan Song", archived at BBC Genome Project".
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