Dad's Army

Veteran calls Dad's Army a 'total injustice'

A 91-year-old World War II veteran has called both the Dad's Army TV series and films a "total injustice" to the almost 1.5 million men who served in the UK's real-life Home Guard.

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.

Dad's Army was a strikingly accurate portrayal

In his 1974 book The Real Dad's Army, the historian Norman Longmate used the memories of ordinary people to document the impact of extraordinary events.

Extraordinary bravery of the real-life Dad's Army

Documents have revealed the heroics of the 'real-life Dad's Army' in stark contrast to the television comedy's hapless soldiers.

Dad's Army soldiers on: it's still a sitcom masterclass

It has an antiquated look and Arthur Lowe may occasionally fluff his lines, but the historical setting of Dad's Army has helped it endure, and rank as some of the finest British farce.

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.

The real war horrors Arnold Ridley endured

While conscientious objector Pte Godfrey could not hurt a fly, Arnold Ridley endured horrific hand to hand combat in the trenches at the Somme in 1916.

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.

Radio Times review

A popular 1970 episode. The captain's doughty dependables rally round when the ARP wardens challenge the platoon to a game of cricket. Jones offers to keep wicket, Walker the spiv provides reconditioned balls and even Frazer will have a go "if someone will explain the principle of the thing".

There's plenty of cheating (demon bowler Fred Trueman plays a ringer), some epic excuse-making from a shown-up Mainwaring, and a rousing last-ditch effort from an unlikely source. A greater role than usual, too, for the late Bill Pertwee, who selflessly played chief hate-figure Hodges for nine years.

Radio Times review

BBC sensitivity was such that for years we were deprived of this triumphant episode. It was off our screens for 42 years until 2012, its IRA subplot deemed too controversial. But the Irish question is very much an aside to an instalment so packed with gags, misunderstandings and drama that it fairly takes the breath away.

Contrasting phone manner offers a lot of initial fun: Wilson's hilariously fey "Hullo?"; a submissive Mainwaring deafened by his wife's receiver slamming. Soon the platoon teeters on the brink of mutiny (over a pub darts match, but there is real acrimony), Jones comes to regret his under-the-counter offer to the captain and Hodges muscles in on Mavis Pike. Is Wilson too much the gentleman to intervene?

You'll laugh, you'll be tense, you'll worry about 74-year-old Arnold Ridley getting roughed up by a burly henchman.