Dad's Army (1968)
Introducing the Walmington-On-Sea home guard. During WW2, in a fictional British seaside town, a ragtag group of Home Guard local defense volunteers prepare for an imminent German invasion.
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0x01 Battle Of The Giants
27 December, 1971 12:00 am
The platoon are challenged by the Eastgate platoon to a test - but Hodges, the vicar and the verger are judges. To begin with, they seem likely to win - but when Jones gets a bad attack of malaria, defeat seems close.
0x02 My Brother and I
26 December, 1975 12:00 am
Mainwaring's drunken brother Barry arrives in Walmington claiming that their father's pocket watch, held by Mainwaring, belongs to him. Mainwaring gives him the pocket watch to assuage him, but he gatecrashes Mainwaring's party for local dignitaries..
0x03 The Love of Three Oranges
26 December, 1976 12:00 am
To raise money for the Comforts For The Troops Fund, the vicar organises a bazaar - each member of the platoon donates something. Hodges the greengrocer donates three oranges, extremely rare due to wartime rationing. Mrs. Mainwaring fails to show, and Captain Mainwaring has only one chance of redemption - get his hands on one of Hodges' oranges..
0x04 Jonathan Ross Salutes Dad's Army
03 August, 2008 12:00 am
In this one-off special to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the classic show, self-confessed Dad's Army fan Jonathan Ross is joined by the show's stars, including Ian Lavender, Clive Dunn, Bill Pertwee and Frank Williams, plus celebrity fans Ronnie Corbett, Jon Culshaw and John Thompson.
There are also plenty of surprises in store for everyone who has watched the much-loved television comedy.
0x05 Comedy Connections - Dad's Army
13 December, 2008 12:00 am
Shown as part of the BBC Comedy Connections series. This episode looks at Dad's Army, the gentle wartime sitcom that became one of the most popular and best-loved series of all time.
Set in wartime Britain, the cast of Dad's Army featured many veterans of stage and screen including Arthur Lowe, John Laurie and Arnold Ridley. As well as creating a template for future ensemble sitcoms, the series established one of British TV's most successful writing partnership - that of Jimmy Perry and David Croft.
But Comedy Connections reveals that neither writer gave Dad's Army its name. Originally called Fighting Tigers, the new title was imposed on the show by the BBC's then Head of Comedy, Michael Mills. Other surprises include John Laurie expressing his disappointment that, at the age of 73 and after a glittering theatre career, he should become most famous for 'this crap', what happened when Ian Lavender asked the show's writers whether his character, Pike, was in fact Wilson's son, and
0x06 A Life on the Box - Arthur Lowe
21 February, 1999 12:00 am
Presented by Terry Wogan this compilation programme celebrates the unique talent of Arthur Lowe, including interviews with those who knew him, together with clips from TV programmes.
0x07 Dad's Army in Colour: Room At The Bottom
13 December, 2008 12:00 am
The episode was originally recorded in colour. However, in the Sixties and Seventies the BBC would sometimes wipe and re-use the master tapes once the programme had been aired. Film copies of the master tapes were often made of programmes prior to being wiped, but the recordings were only made in black and white.
Thanks to the development of new Colour Recovery technology, the preservation team within BBC Archive has been able to bring a new lease of life to specific archive content, and this Dad's Army episode is the first programme to have its colour recovered.
Colour Recovery relies on the particular manner in which these film recordings were made, and hails from the Colour Recovery Working Group, an independent group which has been working on the development of the technology.
Ian Lavender precedes introducing the recovered episode by visiting the archive, summarising the reuse policy, and being shown the technology involved in Colour Recovery.
0x08 Dad's Army (The Movie)
12 March, 1971 12:00 am
Capt. Mainwaring and his men create comedy mayhem when they go on manoeuvres with other military companies under the eye of a real Major-General. The result is disaster after disaster. After the shambles of manoeuvres, the Walmington-on-Sea defenders return home just as a German scout plane crashes near their town. Its crew captures the church hall and holds the vicar and Major as hostages.
The Major-General sends for the Army, the Army sends for the Navy, the Navy sends for the Marines, the Marines call in the police, and the police call the fire brigade. While this is going on, the irrepressible irregulars of Dad's Army hilariously demonstrate that they really can do the job they were organised for...
0x09 Don't Panic! - The Dad's Army Story
28 May, 2000 12:00 am
A celebration of the much-loved British comedy about the Home Guard hosted by Victoria Wood.
0x10 Missing Presumed Wiped
28 December, 2001 12:00 am
Documentary about the missing episodes of season 2.
When the two missing episodes of Dads Army were found: Operation Kilt and The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage, on the night of their showing they showed this documentary before hand. Also, on the Dads Army Series 1 and 2 DVD, this documentary is an extra.
Basically, Terry Wogan announced it and he just went through sitcoms where episodes are no longer in the achieves. Series that have missing episodes are: Hancock's Half Hour, Till Death us do Part, The Likely Lads, Doctor Who and although three episodes have been found, three more episodes of Dads Army remain missing. Also on this documentary, they began talking about Dads Army, where they showed a clip from the abysmal American version of Dads Army.
The three missing episodes of Dads Army are: The Loneliness of the Long Distance Walker, A Stripe for Frazer and Under Fire. Dads Army fans, like myself, live in hope that one day the episodes will be found.
0x11 We are the Boys: Arnold Ridley
01 January, 1970 12:00 am
Documentary from the BBC series 3 DVD release of Dad's Army.
0x12 We are the Boys: Arthur Lowe
01 January, 1970 12:00 am
Documentary from the BBC series 7 DVD release of Dad's Army.
0x13 We are the Boys: James Beck
01 January, 1970 12:00 am
Documentary from the BBC series 4 DVD release of Dad's Army.
0x14 We are the Boys: John Laurie
01 January, 1970 12:00 am
Documentary from the BBC series 5 DVD release of Dad's Army.
0x15 We are the Boys: John Le Mesurier
01 January, 1970 12:00 am
Documentary from the BBC series 6 DVD release of Dad's Army.
0x16 We are the Boys: Arthur Lowe
01 January, 1970 12:00 am
Documentary from the BBC series 7 DVD release of Dad's Army.
0x17 We are the Boys: Clive Dunn
01 January, 1970 12:00 am
Documentary from the BBC series 8 DVD release of Dad's Army.
0x18 We are the Boys: Ian Lavender
01 January, 1970 12:00 am
Documentary from the BBC series 9 DVD release of Dad's Army.
0x19 Selection Box
05 February, 1997 12:00 am
Celebrities choose their favourite moments from Dad's Army.
0x20 Resisting the Aggressor Down the Ages
25 December, 1969 12:00 am
A Christmas Night with the Stars (1969) special: To raise money, the platoon dress up in costumes and act as historical figures in the past that have taken over England.
0x21 Broadcast To Empire
25 December, 1972 12:00 am
A Christmas Night with the Stars (1972) special: The platoon is chosen to take part in a world wide radio broadcast
0x22 The Passing Years
12 November, 2007 12:00 am
A documentary about Dad's Army. Starring
Clive Dunn
Jimmy Perry
David Croft
Ian Lavender
Pamela Cundell
Frank Williams
Philip Madoc
Bill Pertwee
Eric Longworth
0x23 The Cornish Floral Dance
25 December, 1970 12:00 am
The platoon are rehearsing 'The Cornish Floral Dance' alongside the Wardens and some of the ladies of Walmington-on-Sea.
A special for Christmas Night With The Stars (1970), currently believed lost.
0x24 The Coward Revue: A Musical Tribute to Noël Coward
26 December, 1969 12:00 am
Captain Mainwairing, Sergeant Wilson and Lance Corporal Jones perform a musical tribute to Noël Coward.
0x25 The Pelican Crossing
01 January, 1970 12:00 am
A public information advert featuring the cast of Dad's Army, created to inform the public of how to use a pelican crossing. The crossing was temporarily installed for filming on a dead-end service road in Woodley, Berkshire, itself now pedestrianised. A follow-up film featured just Bill Pertwee (ARP Warden Hodges) and Edward Sinclair (as the verger) in Hodges' van, attempting to subvert the Highway Code, with unfortunate consequences.
0x26 Nationwide preview of Dad's Army: The Stage Show
10 October, 1975 12:00 am
Dad's Army: A Nostalgic Music and Laughter Show of Britain’s Finest Hour was a 1975 stage adaptation of the BBC sitcom Dad's Army. Following the success of the television programme, the stage show was commissioned by Bernard Delfont in the spring of 1975.
Jimmy Perry and David Croft adapted material from the original scripts, making changes to allow for the absence of location filming. The show was in the style of a revue, with songs, familiar scenes from the show, and individual turns for cast members. It was produced by Roger Redfarn, who shared the same agent as the writers.
0x27 On Tour With The Cast
01 January, 1970 12:00 am
On tour with the cast of the Dad's Army stage show. Filmed and narrated by Frank Williams with his 8mm cine camera.
0x28 Blue Peter Art Competition
22 February, 1973 12:00 am
0x29 Blue Peter Item On Jones' Van
29 April, 1974 12:00 am
0x30 The Cornish Floral Dance (Royal Variety Performance 1975)
16 November, 1975 12:00 am
The Christmas Night With The Stars special from 1970, believed lost, is recreated live at The Royal Variety Performance in 1975.
0x31 John Le Mesurier - It's All Been Rather Lovely
27 April, 2012 12:00 am
Michael Palin, Clive Dunn and Ian Lavender are among those who contribute to this candid portrait of actor John Le Mesurier, from his turbulent marriage to Hattie Jacques to his life-changing role as Sergeant Wilson in Dad's Army.
0x32 Clive Dunn - A Tribute
15 December, 2012 12:00 am
0x33 Dad's Army Theme Tune
01 January, 1970 12:00 am
0x34 We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story
22 December, 2015 12:00 am
60-minute scripted comedy drama about how the legendary creators of Dad's Army - Jimmy Perry and David Croft - overcame BBC management scepticism, focus groups and cast constipation to get the much-loved legend onto air.
Running from Perry's initial idea in 1967 until the transmission of the first episode in 1968, this affectionate and witty film shows the beginnings of Perry and Croft's writing partnership and the casting woes, personal clashes and production difficulties that put the show's very existence in jeopardy. It reveals to fans and newcomers alike what went on behind the scenes in the making of the classic sitcom Dad's Army and is a true love letter to British creativity.
0x35 Dad's Army: The Missing Episodes - A Stripe for Frazer
20 November, 2023 12:00 am
When Captain Bailey informs Mainwaring that he can make up another Lance Corporal, Frazer is chosen. Jones and Frazer both try desperately to impress Mainwaring into making them a Corporal, and Frazer issues many charge sheets. The episode ends with Frazer breaking into the office with a boat-hook in his biceps.
0x36 Dad's Army (2016 Movie)
05 February, 2016 12:00 am
Near the end of World War II, the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard platoon deals with a female journalist and a German spy.
0x37 Dad's Army Audio Episodes
01 January, 1970 12:00 am
0x38 Jimmy Perry's Favourite Episode - Branded
01 January, 2008 12:00 am
Jimmy Perry introduces his favourite episode from Dad's Army. He chose 'Branded' from series 3, where Godfrey is betrayed as a coward, played brilliantly by Arnold Ridley.
There's trouble in the ranks of the Home Guard when the bravery of the gentle and well-mannered Private Godfrey is called into question.
0x39 Battle Of The Giants - Tower View
01 January, 1970 12:00 am
These pictures are from the final scene in 'Battle of the Giants' in which Jones is seen climbing onto a flagpole. The background was shot on location at Elveden Hall in Norfolk, whilst Jones and the flagpole were recorded in front of the studio audience in London. The two pictures were electronically combined using 'colour separation overlay'.
0x40 Saluting Dad's Army - Episode 1
06 November, 2018 12:00 am
Alexander Armstrong begins a 50th anniversary celebration of Dad's Army by looking at the inspiration for the show and how it made it to the screen. Alongside fascinating and entertaining archive material, the show features interviews with actors from the very earliest episodes, members of the production team who were there when it all started and a veteran of the real Home Guard.
0x41 Saluting Dad's Army - Episode 2
13 November, 2018 12:00 am
Alexander Armstrong continues this 50th anniversary celebration of Dad's Army by looking at the heyday of the show. He meets Dad's Army vicar Frank Williams, explores the impact of the show on the lives of its stars and we hear from Hugh Dennis, Jon Culshaw and other comedy stars of today who grew up loving Dad's Army.
0x42 Saluting Dad's Army - Episode 3
20 November, 2018 12:00 am
Alexander goes behind the scenes to discover just how Dad's Army was made. He meets locals from the Norfolk town of Thetford, which stood in for Walmington-on-Sea, and we hear from the expert professionals who brought Jimmy Perry and David Croft's ambitious ideas to the screen.
0x43 Saluting Dad's Army - Episode 4
27 November, 2018 12:00 am
Alexander Armstrong looks at how the show transferred to the radio and to the stage before finally coming to an end on television - only to live on in the hearts of its millions of fans.
0x44 Dad's Army: Britain's Best Sitcom
20 March, 2004 12:00 am
An episode of Britain's Best Sitcom. This Dad's Army documentary features interviews with cast and crew including Clive Dunn, Jimmy Perry and David Croft.
0x45 The Lost Episodes - The Loneliness of the Long Distance Walker
25 August, 2019 12:00 am
Britain is facing invasion by Hitler and his Nazi hordes - and the men of the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard are facing a crisis of their own. Private Walker, source of their supplies of whisky, cigarettes and other essential black market goods, has been called up to the army. Captain Mainwaring decides to use all his standing as an officer and a bank manager to have Walker excused from military service. Meanwhile, Jones and co try to ensure that Walker fails his army medical. (Gold recreates three episodes of Dad's Army that haven't been seen on television since they were first broadcast in 1969.)
0x46 The Lost Episodes - A Stripe for Frazer
26 August, 2019 12:00 am
When he's told he can make a member of the platoon a Corporal, Captain Mainwaring instigates a competition between Frazer and Jones to see who deserves the promotion. Both candidates do their best to impress him, particularly during a demonstration on how to face down a Nazi stormtrooper, but things go awry when a power-crazed Frazer charges the other men with court-martial offences. (Gold recreates three episodes of Dad's Army that haven't been seen on television since they were first broadcast in 1969.)
0x47 The Lost Episodes - Under Fire
27 August, 2019 12:00 am
Tipped off by Frazer and Godfrey, Captain Mainwaring and Sergeant Wilson investigate a house from where they believe someone may have been signalling to enemy aircraft. They take the suspect back to the church hall, but chaos ensues when an incendiary bomb comes through the roof and the platoon desperately battles the blaze. (Gold recreates three episodes of Dad's Army that haven't been seen on television since they were first broadcast in 1969.)
0x48 Where Are They Now?
09 September, 1988 12:00 am
A Dad's Army retrospective formed part of BBC2's evening line up in 1998. Here, writer David Croft appeals to vintage VCR owners to return any old recordings they may have. Also includes trails for "Maximum Bob" and an evening of programmes surrounding a screening of Schindler's List.
0x49 We Love Dad's Army
06 December, 2020 12:00 am
The story behind one of the best loved British sitcoms ever made, from humble beginnings to smash hit. This show celebrates all of Dad's Army's iconic catchphrases, the hilarious stunts, and goes behind the scenes to discover what happened when the cameras stopped rolling. Former cast member Ian Lavender reflects on the show, and there are also contributions from Jonathan Ross, John Thomson, Al Murray, Eamonn Holmes, Kelly Holmes and many others.
0x50 Dad's Army - Secret Lives and Scandal
21 August, 2021 12:00 am
Behind the scenes of the comedy, revealing what the cast was like in real life and telling the stories of some of their heroic efforts. Featuring interviews with some of the original cast and their wives and children.
0x51 Poles Apart
25 December, 1968 12:00 am
Captain Mainwaring calls the platoon together to parade on Christmas night as GHQ has come up with an idea of using telegraph poles as a means of exercise and Mainwaring runs through the instructions with his men and as usual, forgets the age of some of them, especially when he shouts 'jump' to the aged Private Godfrey.
A special for Christmas Night With The Stars (1968), currently believed lost.
Poles Apart is officially untitled but AKA Present Arms, Santa on Patrol.
0x52 Missing in Action
27 November, 2023 12:00 am
A new making-of documentary, looking at the production of the new animated epidodes of 'Dad's Army'.
0x53 Clive Dunn in 'Don't Panic!'
01 January, 1970 12:00 am
An unusually lengthy (9 minute) public information film by Camden Borough Council, much in the vein of 'The Pelican Crossing' COI film but featuring a council representative and Clive Dunn; just about enough 'in character' to be recognised as a version of Jones but not so far as to get in trouble with the BBC...
0x54 Dad’s Army at the BBC
06 May, 2025 12:00 am
Ever since the first episode was broadcast in 1968, Dad’s Army has been one of the most familiar programmes on British television – much-loved and shown repeatedly, thanks to the affection it is held in by viewers of all generations. But despite its seemingly constant presence on screen, lots of Dad's Army moments have remained unseen inside the BBC’s archives – until now.
Narrator Toby Jones – who himself played Captain Mainwaring in the 2016 Dad’s Army film – shares a selection of classic clips that feature everyone’s favourite Home Guard platoon in appearances that took them beyond the confines of Walmington-on-Sea. Amongst the many delights are Mainwaring dancing and sparring with Morecambe and Wise, the whole cast defending Buckingham Palace at the 1970 Royal Gala, Private Pike invading the Lulu Show, and a special song and dance tribute to Noel Coward – all must-see moments for fans of the show.
0x55 Dad's Army: The Missing Episodes - The Loneliness of the Long Distance Walker
06 November, 2023 12:00 am
Private Walker is called up into the army and Captain Mainwaring does all he can to appeal the decision.
0x56 Dad's Army: The Missing Episodes - Under Fire
13 November, 2023 12:00 am
The platoon arrests a suspect agent, who insists on being a British citizen, despite his accent, and the fact that he has a dog called Fritz. He attempts to help them put out a fire in the church hall, and is then found to be Warden Hodges' uncle. He comments that he doesn't know how Britain will win the war, and Wilson agrees.
0x57 Dad's Army: The Missing Episodes - Poles Apart & The Cornish Floral Dance
27 November, 2023 12:00 am
Special festive sketches from Christmas Night With The Stars (1968 & 1970).
Poles Apart*: GHQ have come up with an idea of using telegraph poles as a means of exercise and Mainwaring runs through the instructions with his men and as usual, forgets the age of some of them, especially when he shouts 'jump' to the aged Private Godfrey.
The Cornish Floral Dance: The platoon, air raid wardens and a number of local ladies congregate in the church hall to rehearse for a performance of 1911 song The Cornish Floral Dance. They do not get off to a smooth start...
*Officially untitled but AKA Present Arms, Santa on Patrol.
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