This program was watched by millions of regular viewers when aired between 28/09/70 - 18/12/70. Nine series was produced with 80 episodes being shown.
I remember watching this program (on re-runs of course) in my younger years at my grans. They were mad for this program and kept on saying "I remember doing that" or "to think what we didn't get then" used to make me chuckle a little, until you remember what this country must have gone through before the war was won.

Characters

If you have never seen Dad's Army then I'll spend a little bit of time telling you about the characters.
You have the pompous Captain Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe) who runs the local Martins Bank as the Bank Manager. Saying "You stupid boy" at Pike and "I think you're going in to the realms of fantasy here Jones" to his Corporal.

Sergeant Wilson (John Le Mesurier) is Captain Mainwaring's Platoon Sergeant as well as his Chief Clerk at the Bank. He is a gentle man and winds Mainwaring up becomes he had a boys school education, and asks his platoon to do something instead of barking his orders at them.

Corporal Jones (Clive Dunn) is the platoons Corporal and the towns Butcher. His usual cry "Don't Panic" and the "They don't like it up 'em" made the program famous. An older soldier who fought in previous campaigns and has a fatherly approach to his privates.....

Private Jock Frazer (John Laurie) is a miserable old Scotsman who is the towns funeral director whose favourite saying is "We're doomed!". He is the eternal thorn in Captain Mainwaring's side, always trying to upset the cart.

Private Frank Pike (Ian Lavender) is the clerk at the Bank and always calls Sgt Wilson as "Uncle" due to the Sergeants long standing relationship with Pike's mother. Mrs Pike (Janet Davies) is overly protective of Frank, always wrapping him up in a scarf to the annoyance of Captain Mainwaring.

Private Charles Godfrey (Arnold Ridley) is the platoons medic and is a gentle man who is always being asked to be excused (to go to the loo).

Then outside the platoon.

The Reverend Timothy Farthing (Frank Williams) whose office is being used by the Captain as his company HQ. Who is always trying to sort out who has the Church hall, between Mainwaring and Hodges, as they usually share the hall through the week, but sometimes they clash.

The Verger Maurice Yeatman (Edward Sinclair) who seems to follow the vicar around all day long and says "His reverence isn't going to like that"

The Air Raid Warden Hodges (Bill Pertwee) who is the towns Greengrocer and constantly battles against "Napoleon" (Captain Mainwaring)

The episodes....

The Big Parade

The Platoon are getting ready for the 'Spitfire Week' and part of the festivities is a march, involving all of the services. The Home guard is not left out and Mainwaring starts to make preparations in readiness, which involves the Platoon getting a 'Mascot'. The fun really starts when Walker tells Mainwaring that he can get one. The bog day arrives and the 'Mascot' is unveiled. Mainwaring has a fit, when he discovers it's a goat.....
Excellent episode and one which you will laugh along with. Excellent performances with Walker and Mainwaring.

Don't Forget The Diver

The platoon have been given the task of taking over a windmill, which represents the enemies base, in a Military manoeuvre, which is being controlled by Captain Squares platoon from East gate. The windmill is in the centre of a field on a slight hill. Captain Mainwaring comes up with an ingenious plan to over run the enemy base, all with the aid of a pantomime costume (tree) and a diver costume, and an alarm clock??!
Watch the platoon as the plan unfolds, can Mainwaring get the bomb in to the base, and thereby win the exercise??
This is another classic episode and one the casts favourites. Great performance from Jones is this episode.

Boots, Boots, Boots

Mainwaring decides that to take on the German army, the Home Guard needs tougher feet. He therefore starts a series of long route marches to do this and his platoon quickly becomes unhappy, until they hatch the perfect plan. If they get a new pair of boots for Mainwaring he will suffer so much that he will cease the marches. A great plan, until another member of the platoon thinks of the same idea. Watch the platoon making the mistakes and paying for them in this popular episode.
Particularly good performance from Pike and Jones, a very good episode.

Sgt, Save My Boy!

Pike goes on to a Beach and ends up being entangled in the barbed wire. As he finds him stuck fast and the light going, he summons the help of his platoon. Things take a turn for the worst when they realise that the beach is mined and the tide is coming in fast.
Mrs Pike arrives to add to the problems and calls upon Arthur (Sgt Wilson) to do the right thing and save her boy. Mainwaring calls for the bomb disposal squad and then the rescue starts.
Will Pike ever get out? You'll have to watch and find out.
Excellent episode although not as funny as the others. Good performance from Pike, Sgt Wilson and Godfrey.

Don't Fence Me In

Mainwaring is informed that the regular troops at the nearest prisoner-of-war camp, need relieving for the weekend and orders the Home guard to watch the prisoners within. Mainwaring excited and honoured to be asked takes the orders readily and they march on the camp.
Mainwaring soon becomes disheartened when he discovers that the troops have left the prisoners (Italians) on their own and gone off on leave early.
Meanwhile, Walker takes this piece of good fortune and makes plans to use the prisoners as cheap labour, and uses an old tunnel in the hut to get then past the guards.
All appears well until the Army decide to pay an impromptu visit and everything is left to Jones to help Mainwaring out. Jones comes up with an ingenious plan, and has the same prisoners run past the General, until they reach the right amount. It works - or does it?
Another funny episode and with a great performance by all.

Absent Friends

Captain Mainwaring is away from the platoon for a short while and leaves the Platoon in the capable hands of his second in command, Sgt Wilson. The Platoon members take advantage of this and decide to play a game of darts in the pub, against the Air Raid Wardens. Mainwaring discovers this and goes to the pub and orders them back to the Church Hall and 'fall in'. The guys disregard Mainwaring and carry on. Mainwaring, enraged by this considers the charge of 'Mutiny', but finds himself dealing with a suspected IRA Terrorist.
Does the platoon get charged and placed for a court martial? Not the funniest of episodes, but still very good.

Put That Light Out

The Platoon decide to expand their patrol zone and place a couple of scouts in the top of the disused lighthouse. They are rowed across and climb the steps to the top, to keep an eye out for an invasion fleet. All is going well until Jones accidentally starts the light up and light of the tower 'lights up' Walmington On Sea. Hodges can't believe his eyes at this turn of events and threatens Mainwaring over the matter. At this point the German Air Force decides to appear. Mainwaring decides to put a stop to it and tries to blow up the nearby power substation, not realising that the portable generator in the tower will kick in. He decides that there may be nothing else for it, but to shoot out the light and possibly injure or kill one or more of his platoon. Can Mainwaring stop the chaos, kill the light and prevent a loss in his platoon?
An excellent episode and well performed by Mainwaring, Jones and Fraser.

The Two And A Half Feathers

A new recruit a Private Clarke joins the platoon and reveals that he served with Jones in the Sudan and states that Jones is not as he appears to be. He reveals a deeply covered secret and his platoon become suspicious of Jones. Jones refuses to explain and leaves the platoon.
After a while he returns and reveals all to the platoon and all is as it was.
In this episode the 'story' given by Jones is re-enacted by the platoon playing the various parts in Jones account, a very funny episode and with good performances from all.

Mum's Army

Mainwaring decides that the women of Walmington On Sea, might come in handy and decides that the platoon could be expanded to incorporate women recruits. However, one of the recruits, Mrs Gray becomes very personal to Mainwaring and they get closer as time goes on. Then on one evening the lady recruit doesn't come in and he discovers that she is leaving Walmington On Sea. Can Mainwaring stop her?, does he leave Mrs Mainwaring?
An excellent script in this episode depicting the very harsh elements of war, loneliness and desperation to seek solace and love with another. A great performance by Mainwaring and Mrs Gray (played by Carmen Silvera)

The Test

The platoon are challenged by the ARP to a cricket match and they soon realise that things are not as they seem as Hodges has a 'ringer'. Things don't go well for Mainwaring, who had appointed himself as the Captain, until Sgt Wilson and Godfrey save the day.
An excellent episode and will no doubt be enjoyed by those people who love cricket. The guest star and professional Cricketer is Freddie Truman.

A. Wilson (Manager)?

This is perhaps the saddest of all the episodes of Dad's Army for me, you can actually feel sorry for poor old Wilson.......

Arthur Wilson (Sgt Wilson) is finally given the rank of Manager at Martins Bank and told to take over at the East gate branch. He is also given a commission much to the disgust of Mainwaring. As a result he gives Pike the temporary rank of Chief Clerk and tells him to get Jones. Jones is brought to Mainwarings office and told that he is being promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Jones asks for this in writing and Mainwaring asks Pike to send a copy of his memo to inform the rest of the platoon. However, Pike gets the wrong end of the stick and copies the letter to Jones to each of the platoon. Everyone realises later when everyone appears with their Sergeants stripes on!!!!!.
Mrs Pike asks Mainwaring to stop 'her Arthur' leaving to go to East gate, and Mainwaring tries to comfort her. Sometime later, at East gate, Sgt Wilson is left alone by the Regional Manager to get on with things. That night however the Bank is bombed and is totally destroyed. Sgt Wilson returns to his old job. Will Mainwaring rub the salt in?
Great performance by Wilson.

Uninvited Guests

The ARP headquarters is burnt down and there is no where else for them to go but the Church hall, a situation Captain Mainwaring is very unhappy about. He is informed that the soonest they can move out will be at least a week. Meanwhile Hodges and Mainwaring battle it out. Until they receive a call stating that the Church Hall is on fire. Will they get it together and put the fire out???
Not the best of episodes but nevertheless a good one.

Fallen Idol

The platoon join in a weekend course / manoeuvre, and Captain Square talks Mainwaring in to having a drink in the Officers' mess, much to the annoyance of his men. Mainwaring returns late and drunk and wakes up in the morning with a large hangover and a lot of making up to do. Meanwhile he saves Jones life and all appears well. A good episode.

Features
Documentary - We Are The Boys - with James Beck (Walker)
Talking about his memories of the cast and experiences of filming Dad's Army.

Photo Gallery

Running time 387mins
Colour
Region 2 + 4
Cert U