John Le Mesurier

The Wrong Arm Of The Law, Blu-ray review

The restoration for Blu-ray is stunning, with an incredibly crisp and sharp black and white print belying its six decades of age.

Robin Le Mesurier obituary

Obituary of Robin Le Mesurier, musician and son of Hattie Jacques and John Le Mesurier, whose boyhood antics inspired an episode of Sykes.

The story of Joan Le Mesurier's love triangle

Married to one of television's best-known actors - John Le Mesurier, the beloved Sergeant Wilson of Dad's Army - Joan caused a scandal when she plunged into an affair with her husband's closest friend and Britain's most famous comic, Tony Hancock.

The Life & Times of John Le Mesurier review

Dutton is an excellent mimic and exudes the charm and easy, genial style of his subject. In so doing, he pulls off a clever trick, showing us a man who is essentially pathetic and alcoholic whist never ruining our fond memory of Le Mesurier as the helpless and hugely funny Sergeant Wilson.

Dad's Army at 50: sitcom celebrates half-century

BBC's classic Second World War comedy centred around pompous Captain Mainwaring's attempts to instil strict discipline into ageing band of brothers.

Dad's Army at 50: the history of 'comedy's finest hour'

The leads hated the script and the BBC was terrified of offending veterans. But Dad's Army became a TV phenomenon. We reveal how the Walmington warriors seized victory.

Julian Dutton to play John Le Mesurier in new show

Impressionist and comedian Julian Dutton is to play comic legend John Le Mesurier in a new show.

Why Dad's Army has never been beaten in British comedy

They wouldn't get away with it today. No black faces, nor any character remotely ethnic other than John Laurie's tetchy Scotsman. Women only in subsidiary roles. And certainly no suggestion of sexual ambiguity beyond a wet clergyman. The BBC's modern cultural commissars wouldn't give the pilot script a second glance. White. Middle class. Home Counties. Show him the door, Doris.

Radio Times review

This nigh-on perfect episode is The Arthur Lowe Show in all but name. A training weekend for the platoon enables Lowe to run through his sublime Mainwarisms: the "throat-clutching choke", the "skewed cap and glasses", and the rare but wonderful "trying desperately not to appear drunk". (Almost as funny is Sergeant Wilson's teddy-bear hiding - an Embarrassment Masterclass from John Le Mesurier.)

It all comes about as a result of Captain "What! What!" Square and a bunch of whisky-swilling officers leading Mainwaring astray, to the scowling disenchantment of Frazer and co. And it takes a genuine crisis to restore him in the eyes of his men...

"Fallen Idol" is delicious to the last drop, when an "Iris Out" homage to the silent era provides the show's best-ever sign-off.

Radio Times review

If you've ever wondered why there's such percolating ill feeling between Mainwaring and Wilson, it's all here in an eye-opening first act. The captain turns puce and looks set to explode ("Judas!") when he learns that his supercilious subordinate is going up in the world, as both bank manager and second lieutenant in neighbouring Eastgate. All the petty jealousy and class resentment come pouring out, and Mainwaring's knee-jerk response is an office/platoon reshuffle.

It's brilliantly acted, but if that sounds a bit intense and uncomfortable, don't worry. There's some fruity role-playing as members of the platoon get ideas above their station and a sizeable innuendo from the Vicar. But the episode is owned by Wilson, and John Le Mesurier. You'll find it hard to swallow after the very last scene.