Ep 4. On with the Motley

Hi-de-Hi! was a British sitcom that aired on BBC1 from 1980-1988. It followed the antics of the staff and guests at a fictional holiday camp in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The show was created and written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, who also wrote other popular shows such as Dad’s Army and Are You Being Served?

In season 2 episode 4, titled “On with the Motley,” the staff at Maplin's Holiday Camp are preparing for a fancy dress party. The entertainment manager, Jeffrey Fairbrother, has decided on a "historic" theme and wants everyone to dress up as famous historical figures. However, the staff are not very enthusiastic about the idea and are struggling to come up with costume ideas.

The episode opens with Ted Bovis, the camp’s resident comedian, trying to persuade the staff to participate in the fancy dress party. Ted is dressed as Napoleon Bonaparte and urges the other staff members to embrace the theme. However, most of them are less than enthusiastic. Spike Dixon, the camp’s odd-job man, is particularly uninterested in the party and would rather spend the night watching television in his caravan.

Meanwhile, the chief yellowcoat, Gladys Pugh, is busy designing her costume. She has decided to dress up as Marie Antoinette but is struggling to find the right wig. Gladys is also trying to win the favor of Jeffrey, with whom she has a crush. She hopes that her costume will impress him and help her get closer to him.

As the day of the party approaches, tension rises among the staff as they all struggle to put together their costumes. Ted and Spike end up stealing costumes from a local theater company, while Gladys finally finds the perfect wig for her Marie Antoinette costume. However, when she shows it off to Jeffrey, she accidentally spills ketchup on it, ruining it completely.

Despite the setbacks, the party goes ahead as planned. The staff members arrive in their costumes, some more impressive than others. Gladys has improvised a new costume, and Jeffrey, dressed as William Shakespeare, is impressed with her ingenuity. The evening is filled with music, dancing, and laughter, and even Spike seems to be enjoying himself.

Despite the camp’s many quirks and mishaps, the staff and guests at Maplin's Holiday Camp always manage to have a good time. In this episode, they learn the importance of embracing new experiences and stepping outside of their comfort zones, even if it means dressing up as historical figures for a fancy dress party.