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.

Press clippings Page 16

James Beck: the Dad's Army star cut off in his prime

James Beck, aka Dad's Army's Private Walker, died 40 years ago today.

Neil Clark, The Telegraph, 7th August 2013

Prepare for a blast of monochrome nostalgia with the first ever episode, The Man and the Hour. It opens in the "present day" (1968) as the aged members of Walmington on Sea's defunct Home Guard gather to support the economy-boosting I'm Backing Britain campaign.

Then the years roll away and we are at the town's bank at the start of the war with pompous manager Mr Wainwaring (Arthur Lowe) preparing for the Nazi onslaught: "They'll be as dead as mutton from Stead and Simpson's to Timothy White's". He's galvanised by Antony Eden's radio appeal for Local Defence Volunteers, and urges Pike to put the word out that there will be a meeting in the church hall. And so it begins...

Alison Graham, Radio Times, 27th July 2013

To support Walmington-on-Sea's Wings for Victory week, Captain Mainwaring has decided the Home Guard are going to restage the battle of St George and the Dragon as a grand finale. He's not letting on his plan to the rest of the parish council, though, which is unfortunate as the wardens are doing something similar.

Naturally Mainwaring is playing the part of St George, borrowing a heavy suit of armour that leads to some wonderfully daft moments as he tries to mount his horse while the dragon, despite being emblazoned with swastikas, is a hilarious pantomime creature that looks more like a drunken centipede than a ferocious beast.

Jane Rackham, Radio Times, 15th June 2013

Dad's Army: Here today, gone tomorrow

Bill Pertwee, who died recently, always cited Dad's Army as his best work. He knew it would endure, he said. And how it has. Always voted in the top two or three of the nation's favourite shows, endlessly repeated, a DVD best-seller.

James Ruddick, The Huffington Post, 28th May 2013

Even Dad's Army had off days. This 1977 episode, "Wake Up, Walmington" has its fair share of duff character notes (Mainwaring calling his nemesis Mister Hodges; the ARP warden himself bursting into tears after being ridiculed). It also contains comedy broader than Norfolk, as the platoon dress as fifth-columnists to wake up the town from its apathy.

But, this being the final season, the cast were all household names and much loved, hence the applause for a mere costume change. It's notable not only for Hodges getting a pasting, but also for Mainwaring taking insufferable old walrus Captain Square down a peg or two. And if you ever wondered where Walmington is, one character at a pub a few miles out of town describes Dover as being 20 miles away!

Mark Braxton, Radio Times, 25th May 2013

From the archive: Arthur Lowe, captain of comedy

Dad's Army scriptwriter Jimmy Perry salutes Arthur Lowe, Captain Mainwaring of the Home Guard, who has died aged 66. This article was originally published on 16 April 1982.

Jimmy Perry, The Guardian, 16th April 2013

Mainwaring has allowed Welsh journalist Mr Cheeseman (Talfryn Thomas) to join the Home Guard in order to help him write an article entitled Captain Mainwaring: Man of Action. "There's no question mark," Mainwaring quickly points out to his troops. And when Pike gets his head stuck in the park railings and a bomb explodes near Walmington, the captain's forced to live up to the headline.

The character of Cheeseman, who was brought in to fill the gap created when James Beck (Private Walker) died, was described as "irritating without being funny" by writer David Croft. However, the "bath permit" scene between Jones and Mr Bluett is one to savour.

Jane Rackham, Radio Times, 2nd March 2013

Some say the same joke isn't funny the 100th time. I beg to differ. Exhibit A: Mainwaring's skewed cap and glasses. But I'm not the only one who thinks so. Despite being 40 years old Dad's Army is still doing solid business for BBC2 - nudging 2 million viewers most weeks. And all that's great about it shines out of this episode, which is the ideal mix of pranks and prattle.

The catchphrases come tumbling (even the lesser-known but still sublime "I was wondering who'd be the first to spot that"), there's all sorts of automotive hi-jinks, a scandal involving the Verger and a lovely micro-moment when Mainwaring realises the rheumatic Godfrey is just trying to do his best.

Mark Braxton, Radio Times, 24th February 2013

Why the coalition cabinet is just like Dad's Army

Michael Gove may have been compared to Young Master Grace, but there's another 70s sitcom that resembles the current government more closely.

John Crace, The Guardian, 17th January 2013

The infamous clock tower caper demonstrates the series' flair for both subtle character comedy and broad-as-a-barn-door physical high jinks. Mainwaring has his tea and (rationed) biscuits interrupted when a German parachutist gets tangled at the top of the Town Hall - an obvious but ingenious set.

The late Clive Dunn takes centre stage as courageous old boy Lance Corporal Jones, and there are some sublimely niggly exchanges between the fey, flippant Wilson and his exasperated captain, whose puffing of the cheeks and "Try and take an interest" will never cease to be funny.

Mark Braxton, Radio Times, 8th December 2012

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