British Comedy Guide
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.

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Series 4, Episode 12 - Uninvited Guests

After Walmington-on-Sea's ARP HQ is bombed, Mainwaring is forced to share the church hall with Hodges. Problems soon arise after the church hall's chimney is set on fire.

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 11th December 1970
Time
8pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
30 minutes
Recorded
  • Friday 4th December 1970 at BBC Television Centre

Cast & crew

Cast
Arthur Lowe Captain Mainwaring
John Le Mesurier Sergeant Wilson
Clive Dunn Lance Corporal Jones
John Laurie Private Frazer
Arnold Ridley Private Godfrey
Ian Lavender Private Pike
James Beck Private Walker
Bill Pertwee Chief A.R.P. Warden Hodges
Edward Sinclair The Verger
Frank Williams The Vicar
Guest cast
Don Estelle Gerald (2nd ARP Warden)
Rose Hill Mrs. Cole (Elderly Female Warden)
Writing team
Jimmy Perry Writer
David Croft Writer
Production team
David Croft Director
David Croft Producer
Paul Joel Production Designer
Bud Flanagan Theme Tune Vocals

Press

Radio Times review

Self-important Mainwaring and bull-in-a-china-shop Hodges have never shied away from airing their differences. But in this episode the boundary lines are drawn - in chalk. A bombed ARP HQ forces the wardens and Home Guard to share the village hall - the expected jostlings ensue.

It's a resolutely low-fi outing - the painted backdrop to the Verger's hedge-clipping scenes are as amateur- hour as some of the slapstick - but, as ever, there's great fun to be had. Clive Dunn looks like he's trying not to laugh at making a chicken noise from a tin and some string (well, who wouldn't?), there's a stunt that will be familiar to Porridge fans, and Frazer gets almost too carried away with one of his shaggy dog stories.

Mark Braxton, Radio Times, 26th January 2016

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