Dad's Army. Image shows from L to R: Private Godfrey (Arnold Ridley), Lance Corporal Jones (Clive Dunn), Private Walker (James Beck), Captain Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe), Private Frazer (John Laurie), Sergeant Wilson (John Le Mesurier), Private Pike (Ian Lavender)
Dad's Army

Dad's Army

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC One
  • 1968 - 1977
  • 80 episodes (9 series)

Beloved sitcom about the struggles of a Home Guard platoon during World War II who are fighting incompetence, age and pomposity more than Nazis. Stars Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, Clive Dunn, John Laurie, Arnold Ridley and more.

Dad's Army. Image shows from L to R: Lance Corporal Jones (Clive Dunn), Private Pike (Ian Lavender), Captain Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe), Sergeant Wilson (John Le Mesurier), Private Frazer (John Laurie), Private Godfrey (Arnold Ridley). Copyright: BBC

Key details

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
1968 - 1977
Channel
BBC One
Episodes
80 (9 series), plus 4 short inserts
Creator
Jimmy Perry
Stars
Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, Clive Dunn, John Laurie, Arnold Ridley, Ian Lavender, James Beck, Bill Pertwee and more
Writers
Jimmy Perry and David Croft
Directors
David Croft and Bob Spiers
Producer
David Croft
Company

14th May, 1940: With the threat of invasion from Nazi Germany a horrifying reality, a new branch of the military was created out of the men not yet in the regular army. This force, first known as the Local Defence Volunteers, would soon become known as the Home Guard - but due to the vast number of elderly volunteers it also earned the nickname of "Dad's Army".

In Walmington-on-Sea, a town on the south coast of England, the Home Guard platoon is lead by Captain George Mainwaring, the pompous local branch manager of Swallow Bank. Alongside Mainwaring are his public school educated second-in-command and the bank's chief clerk Sergeant Arthur Wilson, and local butcher, old war horse and third-in-command Lance Corporal Jack Jones.

The main body of the platoon is comprised of a number of regular privates. The most notable of these are mummy's boy and bank clerk Frank Pike, pessimistic Scottish undertaker James Frazer, black market spiv Joe Walker and elderly medical orderly Charles Godfrey.

As if the Germans and constant threat of invasion weren't bad enough, the platoon have their own local problems, not least from common greengrocer and despised chief ARP Warden Hodges; Pike's interfering mother Mavis (who has a "relationship" with Wilson); the vicar and verger who run the church hall where the platoon parade; and Mainwaring's terrifying but never-seen wife Elizabeth.

Despite all that age, war, and their own pomposity, infighting and incompetence throws at them, these fine boys make up England's last line of defence against Nazi attack. God save them - and God help us!

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Additional details

Part of

Dad's Army

Also known as
  • The Fighting Tigers (Working title)
Production
Studio
Camera set-up
Multi-camera
Picture
Colour
Soundtrack
Opening theme tune written by Jimmy Perry, composed by Derek Taverner, and sung by Bud Flanagan. The Band of the Coldstream Guards conducted by Captain (later Major) Trevor L. Sharpe play the closing theme music.

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Wednesday 31st July 1968 at 8:20pm on BBC One
Next repeats
  1. Series 4, Episode 4: Today at 2pm on Gold
  2. Series 4, Episode 4: Today at 7:20pm on Gold
  3. Series 4, Episode 5: Today at 8pm on Gold
  4. Series 4, Episode 5: Tomorrow at 2pm on Gold
  5. Series 4, Episode 5: Tomorrow at 7:20pm on Gold
  6. Series 4, Episode 6: Tomorrow at 8pm on Gold
  7. Series 4, Episode 6: Friday at 2pm on Gold
  8. Series 4, Episode 6: Friday at 7:20pm on Gold
  9. Series 4, Episode 7: Friday at 8pm on Gold
Most recent repeats

Recording details

  • BBC Television Centre - Studio sets.
  • Thetford - Location filming.

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