This program was watched by millions of regular viewers when aired between 06/10/72 - 29/12/72. 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....

Asleep In The Deep

Some of Mainwaring's men who were posted in the local Water pumping station are in danger as the station receives a direct hit. As Mainwarings Platoon arrives they discover that they are alive but trapped in a room with the water rising. Can Mainwaring save the day?
A great episode and has lots of laughs in it.

Keep Young And Beautiful

The Government announces the plan to take the older members of the Home Guard and swap them with some of the younger members of the ARP. Understandably, both the Home Guard and the ARP don't want this, so for the first time ever, Mainwaring joins forces with Hodges to defeat the plan.
Watch out for an excellent performance from Fraser and Godfrey in this hilarious episode

Getting The Bird

Jones is feeling the pinch of meat rations and so Walker jumps in to help him out. The same weekend 250 pigeons go missing from Trafalgar Square in London, all of a sudden Jones realises where they've come from. Meanwhile, Wilson is seen around the town with a young Blond woman half his age. Tongues have started to waggle and Mainwaring aims to put a stop to the gossip. Who is she?
A great episode, but I found that it wasn't as funny as other episodes have been.

A Soldier's Farewell

The Platoon fails to stand to attention at the end of a film at the Cinema to the National Anthem, so Mainwaring goes mad. Not too mention their behaviour on the bus on the way home. Mainwaring takes action to stem the bad behaviour.
As Mainwaring drops off to sleep he suddenly finds himself playing Napoleon, is this for real or is it the Cheese he ate?
Excellent script and the battle of the English versus the French is fantastic.

The Desperate Drive Of Corporal Jones

The Platoon on Manoeuvres find themselves in a barn. Due to poor map reading the Platoon do not realise that this barn is ear marked as a target for Artillery practice. The only man who can save them is Corporal Jones. Can he save them in time??
Again another funny episode and a great performance by Jones.

If The Cap Fits

Fraser becomes a handful and so Mainwaring decides to follow the Officers hand book, which suggests that the best way of handling these people is to let them command the platoon. So Mainwaring decides to promote Fraser for the day. Captain Fraser soon has the Platoon talking as he makes his own personal changes to the ranks. However a visit from Headquarters leads to confusion and the Officer believing that Fraser is Captain Mainwaring and so invites him to headquarters to 'pipe in the Haggis' using Scottish Bag pipes of course. At the end of the exercise Mainwaring takes over and doesn't allow Fraser to talk so Fraser cannot tell Mainwaring of the requirement to play the pipes...... What will Mainwaring do?
A good well written episode, again with excellent performances by Mainwaring and Fraser.

The King Was In His Counting House

The Bank is hit and it is up to Mainwaring and his unit tom protect the cash that was in the fault at the Bank. The Platoon takes the cash to the hall where they guard it ready for the transfer to the nearest Branch.
See the antics that occur, and the efforts they go to ensure the safe keeping of the cash. A good episode all round.

All Safely Gathered In

Godfrey brings to the attention of Mainwaring, that his very close friend Mrs Prentice, who owns a farm, needs help to gather in the Harvest, and so thinking of the struggle that his Country is currently experiencing he sets about enlisting the help of his Platoon to bring the crops in. Can they do it?
This was an episode that brought a real laugh to the cast, as described in a recent Dad's Army documentary. They had been filming all day in the Countryside and the cast enjoyed every minute of it.

When Did You Last See Your Money?

Corporal Jones (The Butcher) calls in to the Bank to pay in £500 cash in to his account to realise that all he has is Sausages....Where is the £500 cash. Jones is beside himself with worry and the whole Platoon tries to help him find the missing cash.
An excellent performance by Jones and a very funny episode.

Brain Versus Braun

The Platoon is challenged to plant a dummy bomb at a made up HQ. The Platoon decides to dress up as a Firemen and everything goes according to plan until they are called to a real Fire.....
An Excellent episode and is full of laughs

A Brush With The Law

Hodges has Mainwaring prosecuted for leaving the office light on in the Church Hall. Mainwaring decides to hold his own defence and goes 'not guilty' and is alarmed to discover that the Magistrate is Captain Square from the nearby town's Home Guard. Is he doomed?
A great performance by Hodges and Mainwaring in another quality episode.

Round And Round Went The Great Big Wheel

Mainwaring's Platoon are picked by HQ to attend an Airbase to a test facility where a Top Secret weapon is being tested, unfortunately the weapon - a giant Catherine wheel which is radio controlled is activated and goes out of control and heads straight for Walmington - On - Sea. Can Mainwaring and his platoon stop the wheel, without blowing anything up??
Excellent performances from Jones and a great episode

Time On My Hands

The Platoon is notified that there is a German paratrooper hanging of the town hall clock. The Platoon quickly rise to the challenge and ascend the tower to capture the trooper and get him down of the clock hands. Whilst trying to do this the ladders leading to the tower are accidentally destroyed by Jones, and inadvertently sets off the clock.
This has to be the funniest episode on the disc and is absolutely hilarious.

Features
Documentary - We Are The Boys - with John Laurie
Talking about his memories of the cast and experiences of filming Dad's Army.

Photo Gallery

Running time 407mins
Colour
Region 2 + 4