This film is part of Free

Mrs Mopp's Birthday

Humorous WWII public information film and Persil advert rolled into one, starring the popular radio character Mrs Mopp.

Advert 1942 2 mins

Overview

In this comic wartime public information film-cum-advert, the popular radio character sells both Persil washing powder and the Government’s ‘Make Do and Mend’ campaign. What on Earth can Mrs Mopp do with a pair of silk stockings presented as a birthday present? She can’t wear and take care of them! Or so she thinks. A young girl shows her how to wash and dry them - using Persil, naturally - in such a way as to make them last longer.

Mrs Mopp, a char lady played by Dorothy Summers, was a much loved character in the hugely popular BBC radio comedy series It’s That Man Again, which aired between July 1939 and January 1949. Summers had first appeared on the show during the third series of June-July 1941, but it was during the fourth series of September 1941 to May 1942 where she introduced the Mrs Mopp character, and with her catchphrase of “Can I do you now, sir?” she quickly became one of the show’s most popular figures. Summers remained with the series until 1945.