Dad's Army

Even Dad's Army had off days. This 1977 episode, "Wake Up, Walmington" has its fair share of duff character notes (Mainwaring calling his nemesis Mister Hodges; the ARP warden himself bursting into tears after being ridiculed). It also contains comedy broader than Norfolk, as the platoon dress as fifth-columnists to wake up the town from its apathy.

But, this being the final season, the cast were all household names and much loved, hence the applause for a mere costume change. It's notable not only for Hodges getting a pasting, but also for Mainwaring taking insufferable old walrus Captain Square down a peg or two. And if you ever wondered where Walmington is, one character at a pub a few miles out of town describes Dover as being 20 miles away!

From the archive: Arthur Lowe, captain of comedy

Dad's Army scriptwriter Jimmy Perry salutes Arthur Lowe, Captain Mainwaring of the Home Guard, who has died aged 66. This article was originally published on 16 April 1982.

Mainwaring has allowed Welsh journalist Mr Cheeseman (Talfryn Thomas) to join the Home Guard in order to help him write an article entitled Captain Mainwaring: Man of Action. "There's no question mark," Mainwaring quickly points out to his troops. And when Pike gets his head stuck in the park railings and a bomb explodes near Walmington, the captain's forced to live up to the headline.

The character of Cheeseman, who was brought in to fill the gap created when James Beck (Private Walker) died, was described as "irritating without being funny" by writer David Croft. However, the "bath permit" scene between Jones and Mr Bluett is one to savour.

Some say the same joke isn't funny the 100th time. I beg to differ. Exhibit A: Mainwaring's skewed cap and glasses. But I'm not the only one who thinks so. Despite being 40 years old Dad's Army is still doing solid business for BBC2 - nudging 2 million viewers most weeks. And all that's great about it shines out of this episode, which is the ideal mix of pranks and prattle.

The catchphrases come tumbling (even the lesser-known but still sublime "I was wondering who'd be the first to spot that"), there's all sorts of automotive hi-jinks, a scandal involving the Verger and a lovely micro-moment when Mainwaring realises the rheumatic Godfrey is just trying to do his best.

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The infamous clock tower caper demonstrates the series' flair for both subtle character comedy and broad-as-a-barn-door physical high jinks. Mainwaring has his tea and (rationed) biscuits interrupted when a German parachutist gets tangled at the top of the Town Hall - an obvious but ingenious set.

The late Clive Dunn takes centre stage as courageous old boy Lance Corporal Jones, and there are some sublimely niggly exchanges between the fey, flippant Wilson and his exasperated captain, whose puffing of the cheeks and "Try and take an interest" will never cease to be funny.

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