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.
- The Love Of Three Oranges, Christmas Special repeated Wednesday at 2:20pm on Gold
Key details
- Genre
- Sitcom
- Broadcast
- 1968 - 1977
- Channels
- 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
- Companies
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!
Additional details
- Part of
- 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
- BBC Comedy Guide
An article about the history of the show from the BBC. - The Dad's Army Museum
A museum dedicated to the show is located in Thetford, where the live-action scenes filmed. - Dadsarmy.tv
Yet another online guide to the wartime comedy. - Behind The Scenes On 'Dad's Army'
A collection of photos behind the scenes on Dad's Army - Dad's Army At 40
Comprehensive collection of photographs, documents and related Dad's Army materials from the BBC Archive. - IMDb
- Wikipedia
Broadcast details
- First broadcast
- Wednesday 31st July 1968 at 8:20pm on BBC One
- Last new broadcast
- Sunday 13th November 1977 at 8:10pm on BBC One
- Next repeats
-
- The Love Of Three Oranges, Christmas Special: Wednesday at 2:20pm on Gold
- The Love Of Three Oranges, Christmas Special: Thursday at 2:15pm on Gold
- Battle Of The Giants!, Christmas Special: Thursday at 2:55pm on Gold
- Battle Of The Giants!, Christmas Special: Friday at 1:10pm on Gold
- Series 4, Episode 12: Sunday at 6:50pm on Gold
- Series 4, Episode 12: Monday 13th December at 6:05pm on Gold
- The Love Of Three Oranges, Christmas Special: Monday 13th December at 7pm on Gold
- The Love Of Three Oranges, Christmas Special: Tuesday 14th December at 3:35pm on Gold
- Series 7, Episode 6: Thursday 16th December at 7:20pm on Gold
- Most recent repeats
-
- Monday 6th December 2021 at 3:45pm on Gold - Battle Of The Giants!, Christmas Special
- Monday 6th December 2021 at 3:05pm on Gold - Series 7, Episode 6
- Sunday 5th December 2021 at 6:40pm on Gold - Battle Of The Giants!, Christmas Special
Recording details
- BBC Television Centre - Studio sets.
- Thetford - Location filming.