
7 October 1914
The German advance is just being held 60 miles north east of Paris, on the day Mickey Bliss arrives at war. By Michael Chaplin.
by Michael Chaplin.
Series created by Jonathan Ruffle.
Meticulously based on unit war diaries and eye-witness accounts, each episode of TOMMIES traces one real day at war, exactly 100 years ago.
And through it all, we'll follow the fortunes of Mickey Bliss and his fellow signallers, from the Lahore Division of the British Indian Army. They are the cogs in an immense machine, one which connects situations across the whole theatre of the war, over four long years.
Indira Varma, Lee Ross and Alex Wyndham star in this story, based on events in the valley of the Aisne, on October 7th, 1914. The German advance is just being held 60 miles north-east of Paris, on the day Mickey Bliss arrives at war.
Producers: David Hunter, Jonquil Panting, Jonathan Ruffle
Director: David Hunter.
Last on
![]()
Trench warfare
How did so many soldiers survive the trenches?
![]()
Explore more WW1 Guides
Discover a host of new iWonder guides from the BBC
![]()
Indian soldiers – WW1 At Home
Brighton Pavilion – the Indian hospital
![]()
More WW1 At Home stories
WW1 at Home: a growing collection of stories about life on the WW1 Home Front
![]()
Jonathan Ruffle talks about the approach to sound in Tommies
TOMMIES has the authentic sounds of the Western Front
![]()
The authentic sound of a shell, 100 years on
BBC producer Jonathan Ruffle describes how he managed to recreate the sounds of WW1
Clip
![]()
Lee Ross talks about playing Mickey Bliss in Tommies
Duration: 03:21
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Mickey Bliss | Lee Ross |
| Commentator | Indira Varma |
| Walter Oddy | Tony Pitts |
| Horace Greenwood | Mark Edel-Hunt |
| Maberley Dunster | Alex Wyndham |
| Catherine O'Neill | Anneika Rose |
| Billy Seymour | Matthew Wenham |
| Alphonse Minet | Michael Bertenshaw |
| Producer | David Hunter |
| Producer | Jonquil Panting |
| Producer | Jonathan Ruffle |
| Director | David Hunter |
| Writer | Michael Chaplin |
Broadcasts
- Tue 7 Oct 201414:15BBC Radio 4
- Fri 17 Apr 201511:15BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Fri 17 Apr 201521:15BBC Radio 4 Extra
- Sat 2 Jun 201821:00BBC Radio 4








