Dads Army.

[Caran]

Just watched this (I know I am sad, but I like it) at one point Captain Mannering in his bank manager role says to Mrs Pike, something like, "yes I think the best thing to do is sell your Channel Tunnel shares"
Now I know this programme is set in the forties. I didn't think the Tunnel was in existence then. In fact I can remember vaguely the breakthrough of it on TV.
Was this a big mistake or is it in fact true?

[Svejk]

They've had a few goes at the Chunnel, caran.

[Caran]

Were they trying back in the forties Svejk?

[Prudie]

1802 was the first time it was seriously suggested.

[PankySmooch]

It was first thought of in the early 1800s

[Caran]

Thanks Prudie, I am amazed, didn't know that.

[EDDIE51]

The first proposal for the Channel Tunnel was 1802. They actually got as far as starting boring it from both sides in 1880.
http://www.eurotunnelgroup.com/uk/the-channel-tunnel/history/

[Caran]

Thanks also PankySmooch.

[Svejk]

Certainly in Victorian times. The shares were probably considered a joke like South Sea Bubble or Tulip Bulb shares.

[hc4361]

Thank you for the question, Caran. I am as ignorant as you on the history of the Chunnel but you've prompted me to search and I found this:
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=umajBX1HbQcC&pg=PP54&lpg=PP54&;dq=1940s+channel+tunnel&;source=bl&;ots=zGzun0wQGz&sig=Gz8dysXDr7AnalA9IKFWDl9E6P0&hl=en&sa=X&ei=QhqPVYrvHczWUbGyiIgC&ved=0CFkQ6AEwDA#v=onepage&q=1940s%20channel%20tunnel&f=false

Fascinating to think the idea has been mooted since the days of Napoleon

[jourdain2]

I watched it too, Caran, and I noticed the 'shares' bit. Somewhere, I have a nagging feeling that speculative shares had been sold many years before the actual tunnel. I enjoyed the programme, haven't seen those old ladies for many years! :)

[Caran]

Thank you EDDIE, that was really enlightening.

[Caran]

Thanks hc4361, very interesting.

[anagram]

Nothing to do with the channel tunnel but....isn't Dad's Army great? So much better than today's sitcoms in my opinion.

[zebo]

They were probably a latter-day scam, "Buy your shares in the Channel Tunnel here". When Manchester was bidding for the Olympics for, I think, 1992 we had people round selling shares in the Ship Canal site where the Olympic Park would have been built.

[Arrods]

Caran - please don't regard yourself as sad watching Dad's Army. I'd put you down as one of the more enlightened ones.

[08012006]

or even MAINWARING

[mikey4444]

Caran...you are not remotely sad ! Dad's Army is till funny after all these years, just as Steptoe is, because the comedy is timeless.

By the way, did you know that you can listen to Dad's Army, and Steptoe for that matter, on Radio Four Extra ? In many ways, they are even funnier, and they prove one important thing.....its the quality of the scripts that are always the most crucial aspect of any drama.

[ukbod2015]

isnt there supposed to be a remake coming - they`ll probably spoil all the things that made it endearingly funny.