EVER-POPULAR SERIES DAD'S ARMY CELEBRATES ITS ANNIVERSARY TV heroes march on after 40 years; Remember When A BLAST THE PAST

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), August 2, 2008

Byline: RAY MARSHALL

IT was in the summer of 1968, 40 years ago, that the pilot episode of Dad's Army was screened on the BBC.

They didn't think this quaint look back at the Home Guard during the Second World War, through the bumbling antics of a collection of misfits, would catch on.

But it did and became one of the BBC's most popular productions.

The casting turned out to be inspired, with Captain Mainwearing, the would-be Colonel Blimp-type officer, played by Arthur Lowe, the laidback John Le Mesurier as Sgt Wilson, the brilliant Clive Dunn as Lance Corporal 'they don't like it up 'em' Jones, the old Scotsman John Laurie as Private Frazer, James Beck as the likeable spiv Private Walker, the gentle Arnold Ridley as Godfrey, and the hapless 'youngster' Ian Lavender as Pike.

The title Dad's Army seems an age away from the intended title of The Fighting Tigers, but it adds a brilliant quaintness to the show that pulled in TV audiences of 18 million viewers during the 1970s.

The writer, Jimmy Perry, had himself joined the Home Guard at the age of 15, when it was called the Local Defence Volunteers.

Apparently, just like Private Pike, James' mother didn't like him being out at night, fearing he might catch cold.

Perry had, in fact, written the role of Private Walker, the spiv, with himself in mind.

He gave his first script to David Croft, a producer, while working on his show Hugh and I.

An impressed Croft sent the script on to the BBC head of comedy, Michael Mills.

Their only concern was that the programme might be accused of making fun of the efforts of the Home Guard.

Michael Mills made a number of changes - first the name, from The Fighting Tigers to Dad's Army, he changed the fictional location from Brightsea-on-Sea to Walmington-on-Sea and altered a few names, Private Duck became Frazer, Joe Fish became Walker and Jim Jones became Jack Jones; Mills also made Frazer Scottish.

The humour seems to come from the influence of old comedians Will Hay and Robb Wilton.

The first episode was called 'The Man and the Hour', and was set in 1968, then the present day.

At the time there was a 'I'm backing Britain' campaign and Mainwaring was addressing his old platoon - which means that Dad's Army is one big flashback.

The show spawned dozens of catchphrases.

Captain Mainwaring's "Stupid boy", a reference to Pike must have been uttered in most episodes.

Jones had a number of memorable catchphrases, including "Don't panic", "They don't like it up 'em", "Permission to speak, sir" and the "Fuzzy-Wuzzies".

The programme itself is always near the top of any all-time favourite TV poll. One of the most memorable scenes is when a captured U-boat captain, played by Philip Madoc, appears.

Pike sings: "Whistle while you work, Hitler is a twerp, he's halfbarmy, so's his army, whistle while you work!"

The U-boat Captain, with a list he's compiling for when Germany wins the war, says to Pike: "Your name will also go on the list! What is it?"

Captain Mainwaring shouts: "Don't tell him Pike!" U-boat Captain says, as he writes: "Pike!"

In total there were 80 thirty-minute IN CONTROL: Arthur Lowe as Captain Mainwaring episodes made of Dad's Army, three of which were lost. It ran from 1968 until 1977.

There was a feature film made and a stage production and it was also turned into a radio series.

The original Dad's Army (or Local Defence Volunteers) practically formed themselves, because when war broke out it was the last thing on the Government's mind.

But groups of civilians up and down the country, fearing invasion, started to arm themselves with shotguns and this forced the Government into a rethink about defending Britain.

Dad's Army, more than 30 years since the last episode, still has an enduring place in British hearts.

CAPTION(S):

IN CONTROL: Arthur Lowe as Captain Mainwaring