Marky B

It was forty years ago this month that Dad's Army made its debut on our screens. It has since become a national treasure of British sitcoms,which IMHO,was the best ensemble of comedy acting talent in any series. From the pompous Captain Mainwaring,down to the doddery Private Godfrey who was a slave to his bladder,they were our defence in the event of a Nazi invasion.
A faultless cast and characters,it still remains a favourite after all these years.
Thanks,boys - long may you shine!
Happy birthday,Dad's Army.

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE KIDDING MR. HITLER?

Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

Modular

The series DVDs are among the best to have come out of 2|entertain (largely because they were put together with care by enthusiasts of the show).

Dad's Army is one of those rare beasts I could never grow tired of.

EHV_Emmetts

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Dad's Army star slams current TV

Interesting comments made by Ian Lavender.

Modular

I believe both Ian and Bill Pertwee have made similar comments in the press before. Can't help but agree with them though...

samkydd

For me it's still one of the best series ever made, along with Steptoe & Son and Whatever Happended to the Likely Lads which were my other childhood favourites.

My favourite moments were the interchanges between Mainwaring and Wilson when they were alone, when Public School boy Wilson usually got one over on him; when Wilson was made Bank Manager and got a commission, and also when he became The Honourable Arthur.

The expressions or pure exasperation Mainwaring showed when Lance Corporal Jones went off at a tangent and started wittering away, or when Godfrey interupted with something totally irrelevant were priceless. He was almost like a very patient school master at an infants school.

Ian Lavender's comments about today's programmes are valid, but unfortunately it won't be until terrestrial TV dies on its arse before unimaginative executives and accountants who should be in the supermarket business fall on their swords and creative people are allowed back in to top jobs to hopefully put things right. If you came up with the idea for Dad's Army today it would never get on the screen.

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

DB7

I think it would be very difficult to make a 'Dads Army' style family comedy today. Shows like My Family and Green Green Grass appear to be aimed at family audiences and get very respectable audiences; but they get mauled by the critics.

EHV_Emmetts

As a tribute to the appeal and popularity of Dad's Army the BBC are endlessly repeating them. Switch on your TV to BBC2 on a Saturday in the early evening and it's there - it's as if it's never gone away.

Modular

According to this, there's to be a 40th anniversary show on the BBC, being recorded a week today. I guess it'll be broadcast sometime next month.

EHV_Emmetts

Yes, hosted by Jonathan Ross. I read about this on the BBC website a while ago.

Harleybloke

Sgt Wilson 'Do you think that's wise sir?' Everyone got that it was code for 'You're gonna get it wrong Mate!

And when the beeb ran that 'Greatest TV Comedy' fiasco and Dad's Army came way down the list........we all knew then it had to be a con!

.....You couldn't hear it, if they were shooting at me with howitzers!

penfold

The Beeb have made Ian Lavender's point for him....put quality family-oriented programmes on, eg the revived Doctor Who - and viewers will flock to it. Good to see Clive Dunn looking so well at 87....apparently he was asked at the reunion if he had any plans for the future...he said he was hoping to make it to teatime....well, here's hoping for many more teatimes for him, he's such a part of my childhood, and looking back, such an underrated actor.

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Modular

Eighty-eight even...

Though if I look as good at half that age I'll be doing well!!

EHV_Emmetts

I remember that there was a radio version of Dad's Army, and wasn't there also a stage version?

Harleybloke

The radio version never worked for me, with no Jimmy Beck, the guy standing in for him, for me, just didn't cut it....................

.....You couldn't hear it, if they were shooting at me with howitzers!

Modular

Actually, James Beck was in the first batch of episodes to be recorded (until his untimely death).

I agree, the first replacement of Beck (Graham Stark) wasn't particularly successful - merely adequate.

Larry Martyn took over the role in Series Two, and was (in my opinion) much better.

Personally, I adore the radio series, and it's sequal It Sticks Out Half a Mile.