1 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:07,360 They were known as the Magnificent Seven, 2 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:09,960 an unlikely group of men thrown together, 3 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:14,800 who created one of Britain's best loved comedies, Dad's Army. 4 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:19,960 Don't tell him, Pike. Pike. It appeals to everybody 5 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:24,760 and it was a part of the time where everyone was working together, 6 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:28,200 part of England. You're a stupid boy! 7 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:30,200 Don't panic! 8 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:34,520 Together, they shared a unique camaraderie, 9 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:38,200 but behind the laughs lay stories of sadness... 10 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:41,480 He'd really seen the dark side of the War 11 00:00:41,480 --> 00:00:46,440 and that probably gave a bit of an edge, playing Lance Corporal Jones. 12 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:52,240 ..of bizarre scandals... It was a great relationship, until she 13 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:56,160 found somebody else and we all lived under the same roof. 14 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:58,520 I took the blame of Hattie's marriage, 15 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:02,400 but I didn't take him away. It was the other way round. 16 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:04,760 ..and of hidden rivalries. 17 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:09,160 There was this real tension on set, which they somehow miraculously 18 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:13,040 managed to not bleed into what they were doing, professionally. 19 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:16,840 Through behind the scenes home movies and the stories 20 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:21,600 of those who knew them best, this is the Secret Life Of Dad's Army. 21 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:25,840 They were very naughty boys and getting a lot drunker than 22 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:29,640 they ought to have done and having a wonderful time. 23 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:34,000 We reveal how one of the cast's most loved members fought a long 24 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,920 battle with money... Throughout my childhood, 25 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:41,840 it was very much a hand to mouth existence, constantly worried about 26 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:46,280 whether or not we could pay the gas or electricity bill, or the rent. 27 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,880 ..how a life of excess led to tragedy in the ranks... 28 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:53,520 I knew him quite well, actually. It was very, very sad when he went. 29 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:55,360 Far too young. 30 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,920 ..and how for some, fame was bittersweet. 31 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:04,280 He once said to Jimmy Perry, "You know, Jimmy, 32 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:06,560 "it's an extraordinary thing. 33 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:09,480 "I've played all the great classic roles and now, 34 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:13,680 "I've become a household name doing this old rubbish of yours!" 35 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:25,160 I'm all right, I'm all right... Dad's Army has kept us laughing 36 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,040 for the last 50 years... Whoa! 37 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:32,200 ..with its blend of memorable characters... 38 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:39,000 Are you bringing that gravy, or aren't you? 39 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:43,840 ..and iconic catchphrases. You stupid boy! 40 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:48,080 I think those characters are universal and of course, 41 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:54,960 they've now become totally burnt into our national psyche really. 42 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:59,200 I think that everybody can see their own granddad, 43 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:03,360 their own uncles, their own fathers in there. 44 00:03:05,920 --> 00:03:09,360 They were butchers and they were bakers and they were bank managers. 45 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:12,120 These were sort of ordinary people, 46 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:14,840 doing an extraordinary job. 47 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:25,800 The Dad's Army story started in the summer of 1967. 48 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:30,000 Actor and theatre manager Jimmy Perry was struggling to make 49 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,320 a name for himself on television, 50 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:36,560 so he decided to turn his hand to writing. 51 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:40,800 Jimmy was working primarily as an actor, 52 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:44,440 but he was desperate to write for TV and create a good part for himself. 53 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,960 Perry decided to write a sitcom based on his time 54 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,640 serving in the Home Guard during the War. 55 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,960 Made up of volunteers, their role was to act as a last 56 00:03:59,960 --> 00:04:03,520 line of defence in the event of a Nazi invasion. 57 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:07,600 With resources scarce, the Home Guard were poorly equipped 58 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:11,080 to fight a rearguard action against the Germans. 59 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:15,840 There was no equipment, they had a little armband and they were making 60 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:19,200 their own weapons up, pepper sprays, Molotov cocktails 61 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:22,120 with a bit of petrol in a glass jar. 62 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:26,360 The lack of military equipment led the Home Guard to be dubbed the 63 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:30,960 Broomstick Army and inspired this classic scene in the pilot episode 64 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:35,560 when Captain Mainwaring tries to commandeer Private Godfrey's weapon. 65 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:40,320 Er, excuse me. Mr Mainwaring would rather like to have your rifle. 66 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:42,520 Who would like to have it? Er, Captain Mainwaring. 67 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:43,760 Well, he can't have it. 68 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,440 Now, look here, Godfrey. Hand over that gun at once! 69 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:47,880 I don't see why I should. 70 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:51,160 Are you refusing to obey an order on active service? 71 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:53,760 You realise we could have you shot for this. 72 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:57,360 That'll be a bit tricky, since he's the only one with a gun! 73 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:01,760 However, Dad's Army might never have made it to the screen, 74 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:03,760 but for a fortuitous introduction. 75 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:08,240 Jimmy Perry's agent, Ann Callender, put him 76 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:11,320 up for a role in a sitcom called Beggar My Neighbour, 77 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,840 being produced by her husband, David Croft. 78 00:05:14,840 --> 00:05:17,520 David Croft was a sweetie. 79 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:21,760 He was very quiet, very charming, and he was one of the nicest 80 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:24,720 directors you could have ever worked with. 81 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:27,480 When Jimmy Perry showed David Croft his script, 82 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:29,880 he immediately saw its potential, 83 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:33,840 as Perry explained in this 1989 interview for 84 00:05:33,840 --> 00:05:37,800 the BBC's Daytime Live. I was fortunately on one of David's shows 85 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:41,200 and I chatted it over with him and he was very enthusiastic, unlike 86 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:43,440 a lot of directors, they always put you down and say, 87 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:44,520 "Oh, I don't think so." 88 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:47,680 He was marvellous and he said, "Oh, this is fantastic! Wee!" 89 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:51,000 And we got together and we sold it to the BBC in four days 90 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:55,520 and it's one of those marvellous stories and it all came together. 91 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:58,560 The BBC initially commissioned six episodes, 92 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:02,280 but they didn't like Perry's title, The Fighting Tigers 93 00:06:02,280 --> 00:06:05,400 and insisted it be changed to Dad's Army. 94 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:09,880 In a revealing interview for BBC Two's You Have Been Watching 95 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:13,280 in 2011, Jimmy Perry explained how he 96 00:06:13,280 --> 00:06:17,040 and David Croft went about writing the show. 97 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:21,600 The first series we wrote more or less together 98 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:24,520 and then they got me to write some and he wrote some 99 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:29,520 and a bit of a mess actually, so we finally got to a situation, 100 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:32,680 I said, "Dave, there's only one way to do this. 101 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:34,200 "Face to face." 102 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:38,680 So, we both wrote by hand, with a lovely felt tip pen and then 103 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:42,360 we'd have the rough script and then we'd sit there and then we'd act it. 104 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:46,760 But if Dad's Army was going to be a success, 105 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:49,880 casting the lead parts was crucial. 106 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:54,120 The story of how the Magnificent Seven ended up in their roles 107 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:58,360 is full of surprising twists and turns. 108 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:02,800 I think with most sitcoms, they really arrive on the screen with 109 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:06,440 as much down to luck as judgement and with quite a few of the roles, 110 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:10,680 there was some doubt in terms of who they wanted and who they could get. 111 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:14,760 One of the most critical casting decisions was finding someone 112 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:19,480 to play the part of the platoon's second in command, Sergeant Wilson. 113 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:23,200 The BBC were keen on John Le Mesurier. 114 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:27,040 His son, Robin, says he revelled in his reputation as one 115 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,040 of Britain's busiest character actors. 116 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:34,440 There was no question of, you know, earning lots of money. It was that 117 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:36,520 John liked to be working, 118 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:38,880 basically take any work that was offered to him. 119 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:46,160 But according to Le Mesurier's third wife, Joan, initially, 120 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:48,640 he was lukewarm on the part. 121 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:52,400 He didn't see the point in it. It seemed rather dull. 122 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:54,840 He just thought it was going to be a boring old thing 123 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:56,520 and it wouldn't last. 124 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:58,880 He thought it was going to be a flop. 125 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:04,280 His agent negotiated a higher fee and Le Mesurier eventually agreed. 126 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:07,840 Croft and Perry gave him free rein to make the role his own 127 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:10,480 and the rest is comedy history. 128 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:12,840 You've got all that? Yes, I have. 129 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:14,720 Right, stand by. All right. 130 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:16,080 Standing by. Fire! 131 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,600 GUNFIRE 132 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:21,000 All right, Sergeant. It's all over. 133 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:24,440 Sergeant! 134 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:25,880 Exciting, wasn't it? 135 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:29,040 Yes, I suppose, if you like that sort of thing, yes. 136 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:32,560 There's no need to snatch it like that. Don't snatch. 137 00:08:32,560 --> 00:08:35,960 He turned to Jimmy Perry and said, "James, how would you like me 138 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:39,680 "to play this part?" And Jimmy Perry said, "Well, just play it like you." 139 00:08:39,680 --> 00:08:41,440 And that's what happened. 140 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:45,120 There was something so refined and suave about him. 141 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:48,080 He used to have the buttons slightly undone on his dress shirt 142 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:49,680 and he used to have his sleeves 143 00:08:49,680 --> 00:08:52,720 slightly turned up and every time he gave an order, 144 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:56,720 it was sort of like an invitation, as if he was at a drinks party. 145 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:01,000 And he generally assumed this sort of wonderful, 146 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:06,880 benign air of helplessness, which was absolute perfection. 147 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,480 But just as he was beginning his time 148 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:15,720 in Dad's Army, John Le Mesurier was enduring one of the most 149 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:19,120 painful periods of his extraordinarily turbulent life. 150 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:26,680 Joan had embarked on an affair with comedy legend Tony Hancock, Le 151 00:09:26,680 --> 00:09:32,160 Mesurier's close friend and one of the biggest TV stars of the 1960s. 152 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:34,040 He never got angry. 153 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:38,040 When I had an affair with Tony Hancock, 154 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:44,600 he understood totally because he was a friend of Tony Hancock's 155 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:49,320 and he loved him and I can't ever remember him being cross, 156 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:52,160 except once in a pub. 157 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:58,760 Somebody called me a tart because I had been with Tony Hancock 158 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:04,360 and John, for the first time in his life, stood up and gave this 159 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:11,240 man a really rousting of, "How dare you talk to my wife like that!" 160 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:14,440 And I was very proud of him. 161 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:19,480 Incredibly, it wasn't the first time Le Mesurier had been forced 162 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:22,240 to take a backseat in his own marriage. 163 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:25,520 His second wife was Hattie Jacques, 164 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:28,880 famous for appearing in the Carry On films, 165 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:32,240 often as a no nonsense matron, as seen in this memorable 166 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:34,960 encounter with Kenneth Williams in Carry On Doctor. 167 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:42,520 Matron, please! I'm not that kind of doctor! 168 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:46,040 Don't deny yourself, Kenneth. We've wasted so many years. 169 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:50,440 This is our moment of fulfilment. I don't want to feel full. Full feel. 170 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:52,960 I... I mean, you don't understand. 171 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:57,000 In real life, Hattie Jacques had embarked on a passionate 172 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:58,960 extramarital affair 173 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:03,960 with a car salesman. John Le Mesurier was a very stoical man. 174 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:08,680 When he discovered she was having an affair with a younger 175 00:11:08,680 --> 00:11:13,560 and very handsome man, he just tried to put up with it. 176 00:11:13,560 --> 00:11:18,120 There were no tantrums, there were no rows, there were no clashes, 177 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:22,800 he just got on with his work and left her to get on with hers. 178 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,880 Astonishingly, Le Mesurier even let the other man 179 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:30,600 move into the family home, while he moved into the spare room. 180 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:32,640 Their son Robin became accustomed 181 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:36,640 to the unconventional domestic arrangements. 182 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:42,000 It was a great relationship until she found somebody else, 183 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,200 who became kind of like a second father to us 184 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:48,680 and we all lived under the same roof, which was kind of... 185 00:11:48,680 --> 00:11:51,720 Some people can't understand how that could work, 186 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:53,920 but it did, somehow. 187 00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:58,840 When Hattie Jacques was chosen as the subject 188 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:03,080 of one of the BBC's most popular shows, This Is Your Life, Le 189 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:06,880 Mesurier glossed over their private arrangement with a public tribute. 190 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,520 So there's never a dull moment with Hattie, in fact? No. 191 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:11,440 No, there isn't, really. 192 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:15,280 I would like to... I would like to say that I... 193 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:20,840 I am eternally grateful to the way she runs the home, 194 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:24,440 looks after the children, looks after me. 195 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:27,920 Home comes first really, I think I'm right in saying. 196 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:30,720 I mean, when he was saying that, 197 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:35,320 my mother's lover at the time was staying at the house and in fact, 198 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:39,840 he even drove her to Shepherd's Bush Empire, where I think it was shot. 199 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:41,640 Thank you, John Le Mesurier. 200 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:48,960 In another stranger than fiction twist to their story, 201 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:52,520 Le Mesurier found love again with one of Hattie Jacques' best friends. 202 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:54,560 When Jacques and Le Mesurier divorced, 203 00:12:54,560 --> 00:12:58,160 he showed the gentlemanly qualities he was known for on screen. 204 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:05,240 He agreed to be named the adulterer to protect Hattie's career 205 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:08,960 and image, but in the eyes of the public, new love, Joan, 206 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:10,760 was the home wrecker. 207 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:15,320 I took the blame of Hattie's marriage, 208 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:20,520 that I had taken John away from his family. 209 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:22,520 But it was not true... 210 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,120 ..I was very good friends with her. 211 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:29,400 But I didn't take him away from her. 212 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:31,320 It was the other way round. 213 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:36,000 When it looked liked Le Mesurier's marriage to Joan was also 214 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:40,720 destined to fail, he was determined it would succeed. 215 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:45,240 In June 1968, just a month before Dad's Army was due to air 216 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:50,200 for the first time, a tragic series of events led to a reconciliation. 217 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:53,880 Joan was patient and waited, and waited and waited. 218 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:58,080 And then after Handcock committed suicide in Australia... 219 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:01,480 Joanie went back to John. 220 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:04,840 Coming up, the onset differences that were kept 221 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:07,560 a closely-guarded secret. 222 00:14:07,560 --> 00:14:11,760 The thing that is so fascinating about the Arthur Lowe 223 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:13,560 and Clive Dunn relationship, 224 00:14:13,560 --> 00:14:17,920 was that Arthur Lowe was a signed-up Tory, 225 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:21,320 and Clive Dunn was an avowed socialist. 226 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:24,840 And a cast member with a reputation for being as pompous 227 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:26,920 as his on-screen character. 228 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:29,960 A lot of people came out asking for autographs and somebody said, 229 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:33,420 "No good asking him, he's a miserable old toad, he is." 230 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:38,680 More than 50 years since it first appeared on our screens, 231 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:43,000 Dad's Army remains one of Britain's most-loved sitcoms. 232 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:46,200 Put that gun down and listen to me. 233 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:47,800 LAUGHTER 234 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:56,800 In early 1968, most of the so-called Magnificent Seven 235 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:58,480 still hadn't been cast. 236 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:03,480 While John Le Mesurier, who'd been chosen to play Sergeant Wilson, 237 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:08,040 was seen as natural BBC material, Jimmy Perry's pick for the role 238 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:12,440 of Captain Mannering, Arthur Lowe, was tainted by his association 239 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:15,160 with ITV's Coronation Street. 240 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:18,920 However, the popular soap had allowed him to display his talent 241 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:22,320 for playing officious characters with a variety of accents, 242 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:25,480 as seen in this stand off with legendary Corrie character, 243 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:26,920 Ina Sharples. 244 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:29,480 The committee feels that it is unseemly for the caretaker 245 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:32,560 of the Glad Tidings Hall to be seen entering licensed premises. 246 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:33,960 What? 247 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:39,120 They started to hire what was called at that time, regional actors. 248 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:42,600 And of course, Arthur was from Lancashire and he got the part 249 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:46,280 of Leonard Swindley, the Draper, and played some immense 250 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:47,840 number of episodes. 251 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:50,560 Arthur Lowe's Swindley went on to have his own 252 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:53,800 Coronation Street spin-off, Pardon The Expression, 253 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:57,080 and his co-star was John Le Mesurier. 254 00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:00,480 But unlike the future Home Guard, John's character was clearly 255 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:01,880 the one in charge. 256 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:03,680 I don't think I know Mr Clauson, sir. 257 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:06,520 I think you'd know him if you saw him, he's a little bit eccentric 258 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:09,920 for my point of view, and he twitters a bit from time to time. 259 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:13,680 This scene from 1966 shows the natural on-screen rapport 260 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:16,480 between the two future Dad's Army stalwarts. 261 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:18,840 I think he'll be back in a moment, sir. 262 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:21,440 Back from where? From the rear entrance, sir. 263 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:23,760 I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid there's been a little 264 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,240 misunderstanding, I regret to say that I've just had ejected 265 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:29,120 from the premises. Swindley, I think I've been doing you an injustice. 266 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:32,360 I never believed all the things the Brigadier told me about you, 267 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:34,240 but by heavens, I believe them now. 268 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:35,640 That very nice of him... 269 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:41,480 In fact, the BBC's preferred option for Captain Mannering 270 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:45,160 was John Pertwee, now best known as the third Doctor Who. 271 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:47,880 But when he turned it down, Arthur Lowe was finally 272 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:49,680 offered the role. 273 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,560 I think it actually came down to availability in the end. 274 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:55,040 It's funny how these things happen. 275 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:58,520 And so John Le Mesurier and Arthur Lowe were reunited, 276 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:01,160 but now, with the roles reversed. 277 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:05,720 One of the most famous comedy double acts in history was born. 278 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:08,600 In view of the fact that your platoon was the first 279 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:11,040 to be formed in this area, you have been chosen 280 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:12,720 to act as the Guard of Honour. 281 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:14,920 Oh, that's wonderful, sir, that's wonderful news. 282 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:18,640 You see, in the end, real leadership will always be recognised, Wilson. 283 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:21,680 Yes. Excuse me, sir, it says here, that we have been chosen 284 00:17:21,680 --> 00:17:26,440 because we were the first platoon to be formed in the area, you see. 285 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:28,360 That will be all, Wilson, thank you. 286 00:17:28,360 --> 00:17:32,080 Mannering always feels slightly... 287 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:36,840 ..inferior to his Sergeant. 288 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:41,680 His Sergeant...better educated and has got this very plummy voice. 289 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:49,280 So mentoring always can lord it over Wilson through his rank. 290 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:54,960 But Wilson, obviously can lord it over Mannering just with kind 291 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:57,320 of a perfectly crafted aside. 292 00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:59,520 I don't want to take up too much of your time. 293 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:01,960 After all, you're a very important man. 294 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:04,160 Oh, I wouldn't say I was all that important. 295 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:05,440 LAUGHTER 296 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:07,320 Would you, Wilson? 297 00:18:11,120 --> 00:18:13,120 No, I don't think so. 298 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:20,240 With the two linchpins of the cast in place, attention turned 299 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:22,160 to the rest of the ensemble. 300 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:25,800 Experienced, Shakespearean actor, John Laurie, was approached 301 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:30,200 to play dour, wild-eyed Scotsman, Private Frazer. 302 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:33,880 However, when he first saw the script, he wasn't impressed. 303 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:37,640 His reaction was apparently the inspiration for his character's 304 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:40,080 most famous catchphrase. 305 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:41,640 We're doomed. 306 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:43,360 Doomed. 307 00:18:43,360 --> 00:18:47,320 The very first script meeting that the actors had, 308 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:50,800 John Laurie was going around to the writers saying, 309 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:52,240 "This is a load of rubbish. 310 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:54,720 "This is not going to get past a first series." 311 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:58,360 And that sense of being doomed, they just built that into Frazer. 312 00:18:58,360 --> 00:19:01,080 And as a result, it really built up the part. 313 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:04,400 The role of Lance Corporal Jones went to Clive Dunn. 314 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:09,520 At just 48, he'd already made a career of playing doddery old men. 315 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:12,680 I remember one make-up lady, you know, she said, "I'm saving 316 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:15,280 "ever such a lot of money on Clive Dunn, because he's getting 317 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:18,200 "older and older, I don't have to use quite so much 318 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:19,800 "make-up on him." 319 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:23,120 He was also very good at physical comedy. 320 00:19:23,120 --> 00:19:26,240 He loved music hall and he loved slapstick. 321 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:31,080 But Clive Dunn nearly didn't end up playing Corporal Jones at all. 322 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:33,400 He didn't really want to do it. 323 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,640 But John Le Mesurier, he also didn't want to do it unless 324 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:39,440 Clive Dunn did it, and Clive Dunn didn't want to do it 325 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:41,800 unless John Le Mesurier did it. 326 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:46,320 27-year-old David Jason was lined up as a potential replacement. 327 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:52,480 In this appearance on BBC One's long running chat show, Wogan, 328 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:56,800 Clive Dunn revealed how he came around to accepting the part. 329 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:59,920 Did you say yes to that part immediately? 330 00:19:59,920 --> 00:20:02,920 I'd just been in a show that I wasn't very good in, and I thought, 331 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:06,360 "I don't want to go on another show I'm not very good in." 332 00:20:06,360 --> 00:20:09,120 So I waited a minute and asked me wife, because she tells me 333 00:20:09,120 --> 00:20:12,040 what to do, and then I asked John Le Mesurier, and he said, 334 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:13,720 "I think I'm going to do it." 335 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:17,120 And when he said he'd do it, I did it, and we all done it. 336 00:20:17,120 --> 00:20:21,680 With the addition of a baby faced Ian Lavender as Private Pike, 337 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:25,120 Arnold Ridley as Godfrey... 338 00:20:25,120 --> 00:20:30,160 and James Beck as Walker, the Magnificent Seven were complete. 339 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:33,560 Bill Pertwee was also added to the cast as Captain Manning's 340 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:35,520 nemesis, Warden Hodges. 341 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:37,760 If you're not careful, I'll requisition this hall for 342 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:39,680 military purposes. You're too late, mate. 343 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:42,600 It's already been requisitioned for the Civil Defence for my purposes, 344 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:44,800 so get this lot out, so I can carry on with my lecture. 345 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:46,280 Are you asking the army to retreat? 346 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:49,040 Why not? You've had plenty of practice lately. 347 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:54,800 Bill Pertwee, in real life was a really pleasant, amiable, 348 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:59,240 engaging sort of individual, a real cheerer-upper, which was one 349 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:02,000 of the reasons he was brought into the cast in the first place. 350 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:05,480 And he wasn't really anything like Hodges. 351 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:08,560 The first series of Dad's Army was shot over the course 352 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:11,880 of just a few weeks between April and May 1968. 353 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:18,880 But the BBC still had last-minute reservations about its prospects. 354 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:23,200 When the pilot episode was shown to a test audience, 355 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:26,960 the feedback was largely negative. 356 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:33,200 As accurately captured in BBC drama, We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story. 357 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:35,160 I thought it was just daft. 358 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:37,040 I didn't really follow it from the start. 359 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:38,680 Was that supposed to now? 360 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:40,160 I didn't laugh out loud once. 361 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:41,880 I thought it was rubbish. 362 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:45,560 I quite liked it. 363 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:47,160 I think it'll be a hit. 364 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:51,400 Some thought that a group of old men or primarily older men in a comedy 365 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:55,200 series, would it really attract a big audience? 366 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:58,080 The BBC top brass also had other worries. 367 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:03,680 There was a little bit of hesitancy at the BBC as to whether the series 368 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:06,000 would be a success. 369 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:08,680 Some people felt that perhaps it was taking the mickey 370 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:10,560 out of Britain's finest hour. 371 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:13,320 The BBC were worried that people would interpret 372 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:16,680 it as the efforts of the Home Guard being 373 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:19,080 laughed at or derided. 374 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:25,520 Despite the concerns, on July 31st 1968, 375 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:29,040 the first episode was broadcast, including the now 376 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:32,960 instantly recognisable theme tune, sung by popular wartime 377 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:35,640 entertainer Bud Flanagan. 378 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:39,320 LAUGHTER 379 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:47,600 In the opening few episodes, 380 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:51,840 the on-screen rapport between the cast was immediately evident, 381 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:55,840 as shown in this classic scene where Clive Dunn's Corporal Jones 382 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:58,320 is seen handing out uniforms. 383 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:00,320 A small one, please. 384 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:02,800 There we are, Mr Godfrey. Which side you put them on? 385 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:05,600 You put them on the right side, like, you see. 386 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:07,800 Yeah, does it suit me. 387 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:10,280 Well, if you're retreating, you've got it on back to front. 388 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:14,360 You don't expect me to that thing on my head, do you? 389 00:23:14,360 --> 00:23:16,560 You can stick it where you like. 390 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:18,720 I'm just the man that gives them out, see. 391 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:20,280 Right, gather round. 392 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:25,800 But while the cast was gelling on screen behind the scenes, 393 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:29,080 there were rumours of personality clashes. 394 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:33,520 There was this real tension on set which they somehow miraculously 395 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:37,880 managed to not bleed into what they were doing professionally. 396 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:41,760 Bumbling Lance Corporal Jones often found himself the target 397 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:43,800 of Captain Manning's impatience. 398 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:46,960 So on the ground strip off, we all strip off together, right? 399 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:49,240 Permission to speak, sir. What's the problem? 400 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:52,240 It's a bit chilly out here, couldn't we strip off inside, sir? 401 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:53,560 Certainly not. 402 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:55,960 If you're cold, start running on the spot. Yes, sir. 403 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:57,880 Right...Strip. 404 00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:01,560 In real life, Arthur Lowe and Clive Dunn also 405 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:03,800 had their differences. 406 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:08,400 The thing that is so fascinating about the Arthur Lowe 407 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:13,560 and Clive Dunn relationship, was that Arthur Lowe was a signed-up 408 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:17,320 Tory and Clive Dunn was an avowed socialist. 409 00:24:19,280 --> 00:24:22,640 Arthur was very political and very right wing. 410 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:27,800 He had been introduced to Ted Heath and introduced to Margaret Thatcher. 411 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:30,000 These are things he was massively proud of. 412 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:33,000 Where other members of the cast, of course, did not necessarily 413 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:34,680 share his politics. 414 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:38,640 In fact, Clive Dunn was as left wing, as Arthur was right wing. 415 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:42,200 The two men avoided talking about politics on set, 416 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:46,200 but when Clive Dunn was awarded an OBE in 1975, 417 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:48,880 Lowe felt personally snubbed. 418 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:51,760 I think he was absolutely furious that Clive Dunn 419 00:24:51,760 --> 00:24:54,560 got an OBE and he didn't. 420 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:58,200 I would think he was absolutely crushed by that. 421 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:06,800 Arthur Lowe and Clive Dunn weren't the only members 422 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:10,040 of the Magnificent Seven with their differences. 423 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:15,480 John Laurie had a reputation for occasionally being as prickly 424 00:25:15,480 --> 00:25:17,640 as his on screen character. 425 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:20,160 John Laurie was a lot like Frazer. 426 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:22,200 He was cantankerous. 427 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:24,960 He was rather mischievous. 428 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:31,040 He was someone who enjoyed playing a kind of professional pessimist. 429 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:33,240 I used to be a dab hand at this stuff when I was a boy. 430 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:35,240 Yes, that's rather a long time ago, Frazer. 431 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:38,080 But sir, I just hit my target just know at 100 yards. 432 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:41,200 Belisha beacon, smashed to smithereens. 433 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:44,640 Well, keep the thing out of sight, you'll be using conkers next. 434 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:47,520 Did I hear you say, sir, we'll be getting our weapons soon? 435 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:49,280 I hope so, Frazer, I hope so. 436 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:51,720 Oh, thank God for that. 437 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:55,360 Laurie and Arnold Ridley, who played Private Godfrey, 438 00:25:55,360 --> 00:25:58,040 were very different characters. 439 00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:02,440 There was a bit of rivalry between them, because John Laurie 440 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:03,760 was very fit. 441 00:26:05,120 --> 00:26:08,800 If he ever saw Arnold Ridley sit down, he would rush off and try 442 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:12,440 and pick something up and lug it past Ridley saying, 443 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:16,520 "Don't you worry, son, you just sit there, I'll get on with this." 444 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:19,560 But Arnold Ridley's son, Nicholas, thinks they learned 445 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:21,200 to tolerate each other. 446 00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:28,000 I think they had very different attitudes to being older. 447 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:30,600 I think that John Laurie probably had a little bit of fun 448 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:33,120 at my father's expense, and my father didn't worry 449 00:26:33,120 --> 00:26:34,960 about that at all. 450 00:26:40,360 --> 00:26:46,120 By September 1968, the first series of Dad's Army had come to an end. 451 00:26:46,120 --> 00:26:49,960 Around eight million people had tuned in each week, a hit 452 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:52,560 by today's standards, but merely respectable viewing 453 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:54,560 figures for the time. 454 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:58,920 However, the BBC had already commissioned a second series. 455 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:02,880 If you were able to get into the BBC and make a series, unlike today, 456 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:08,200 where ratings are everything, it was very likely that you would 457 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:12,920 make a minimum of two or three series which allowed 458 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:15,000 stuff to bed in. 459 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:18,960 The BBC's decision to stick with Dad's Army proved wise. 460 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:23,360 During series two, ratings climbed to around 14 million viewers, 461 00:27:23,360 --> 00:27:27,240 and the characters had become firm favourites with the public. 462 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:29,560 Croft and Perry were absolute geniuses. 463 00:27:29,560 --> 00:27:34,840 They absolutely nailed it, they got every aspect of it right. 464 00:27:34,840 --> 00:27:37,520 They got the characters right, but more importantly than that, 465 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:42,240 they got the right actors to play the right character. 466 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:47,280 There isn't a single person playing a character in Dad's Army 467 00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:48,960 that is miscast. 468 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:53,960 After the BBC's initial reluctance to use Arthur Lowe, 469 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:57,480 he had proven himself perfect for the role. 470 00:27:57,480 --> 00:28:02,840 Like the other senior cast members, he'd served in the Second World War. 471 00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:07,280 He also adopted a regimental approach to his personal life. 472 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:11,440 Arthur Lowe in real life was probably... 473 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:16,560 ..as naturally pompous as Captain Mannering. 474 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:19,160 And, you know, writers aren't stupid. 475 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:23,840 They will see a person and they will see what they are like, 476 00:28:23,840 --> 00:28:27,080 and they will write to type. 477 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:31,280 This behind-the-scenes home footage was shot by a member of the public 478 00:28:31,280 --> 00:28:33,720 during location filming in Norfolk. 479 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:38,160 While the rest of the cast happily signed autographs for the locals, 480 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:41,280 Frank Williams, who played the vicar, recalls 481 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:43,520 Arthur Lowe, refusing. 482 00:28:43,520 --> 00:28:46,280 A lot of people came out asking for autographs, 483 00:28:46,280 --> 00:28:49,120 and Arthur would say, "No, no, I don't do that sort of thing, 484 00:28:49,120 --> 00:28:50,800 "not while I'm working." 485 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:53,400 Well in the afternoon, a lot of other people came out asking 486 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:56,080 for autographs, and somebody who'd been in the morning said, 487 00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:59,280 "No good asking him, he's a miserable old toad, he is." 488 00:28:59,280 --> 00:29:03,480 Even Arthur Lowe son, Stephen, saw this self-important side 489 00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:05,520 of his father's personality. 490 00:29:05,520 --> 00:29:08,520 I'd like to be able to say... 491 00:29:08,520 --> 00:29:13,240 ..Arthur was a character actor and he created the characters 492 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:19,080 and he was himself, an empty shell at home, you know, 493 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:21,840 waiting for a new character to be poured into him. 494 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:23,600 But this is not true. 495 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:25,800 He had a little bit of a pompous side. 496 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:29,640 I mean, there are certain aspects of Dad's character 497 00:29:29,640 --> 00:29:33,440 that are definitely in the Mannering character. 498 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:36,720 Every great sitcom has at its heart, 499 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:41,480 a character that has a fatal flaw. 500 00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:47,120 And everybody that watches Dad's Army knows how absolutely useless 501 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:50,760 in a leader capacity, Captain Mannering is. 502 00:29:50,760 --> 00:29:52,960 And that underpins everything. 503 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:56,120 Coming up, the secret clause that Arthur Lowe insisted 504 00:29:56,120 --> 00:29:57,800 was in his contract. 505 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:00,120 There was just one thing that Dad said, 506 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:02,200 "No, I don't take my trousers off. 507 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:05,320 "I just don't do those sorts of jokes." 508 00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:08,280 And the real life wartime story of one of 509 00:30:08,280 --> 00:30:10,200 the cast's best-loved actors. 510 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:11,640 Must have been awful, 511 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:15,880 but he always used to say that going to public school 512 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:19,320 was the most perfect training for being a prisoner of war. 513 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:24,640 When Dad's Army first appeared on our screens in the late 1960s, 514 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:28,360 it emerged from a golden age for British comedy. 515 00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:33,200 Shows like Hancock's Half Hour had helped launch the careers 516 00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:35,840 of several of Dad's Army's stars. 517 00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:40,040 John Le Mesurier and Clive Dunn were both in Hancock's Half Hour, 518 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:43,240 and that was a comedy about a man 519 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:47,280 who craved this acceptance to be middle class, 520 00:30:47,280 --> 00:30:50,040 and we saw some of that was creeping into Dad's Army 521 00:30:50,040 --> 00:30:51,600 when it came along as well, 522 00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:55,080 with that relationship between Wilson and Mainwaring. 523 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:58,480 Dad's Army seemed to have a lot of the BBC values in there. 524 00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:02,840 If you kind of think of the BBC as being quite middle class, 525 00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:09,160 quite gentle, sophisticated and intelligent humour. 526 00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:10,880 Over on ITV, 527 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:14,080 it was sort of much more smutty. 528 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:16,360 You know, you had On The Buses, 529 00:31:16,360 --> 00:31:20,960 Butler always chasing the birds and giving the hapless Blakey 530 00:31:20,960 --> 00:31:22,640 a hard time over there. 531 00:31:22,640 --> 00:31:25,320 That was very much more slapsticky. 532 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:28,880 But the TV comedy landscape was changing fast. 533 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:33,120 It was quite an interesting time, because obviously you've got 534 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:35,600 Monty Python, you have this new wave 535 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:40,320 of sort of edgy, Oxbridge educated comedians who were all coming up. 536 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:45,080 You had The Likely Lads, which was sort of very current 537 00:31:45,080 --> 00:31:47,480 and rough around the edges, 538 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:50,800 and then sitting slap bang in the middle of it 539 00:31:50,800 --> 00:31:52,160 is Dad's Army? 540 00:31:56,560 --> 00:32:00,880 By 1969, the BBC had largely switched to colour. 541 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:04,440 Dad's Army, now into its third series, followed suit 542 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:07,040 and it breathed new life into the show. 543 00:32:08,760 --> 00:32:12,120 Corporal, stay where you are. They're taking this net off. 544 00:32:12,120 --> 00:32:15,960 Don't worry, I won't let it beat me. Stay where you are. 545 00:32:21,800 --> 00:32:25,800 Clive Dunn's Lance Corporal Jones had become one of the most important 546 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:31,040 characters, and he'd been given the show's most iconic catchphrase. 547 00:32:31,040 --> 00:32:32,920 All right, don't panic. Don't panic. 548 00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:36,120 Where are they? I'll get them. I'll get them. 549 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:37,840 Don't panic. Don't panic. 550 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:44,800 While Jones was the very opposite of soldierly efficiency, 551 00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:49,440 in real life, Clive Dunn had a distinguished war record. 552 00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:51,840 When fighting in southern Europe, 553 00:32:51,840 --> 00:32:55,600 he was captured by the Nazis and spent four years in labour camps, 554 00:32:55,600 --> 00:32:57,840 as his wife Priscilla recalls. 555 00:32:59,560 --> 00:33:03,000 He was caught actually in Greece. 556 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:06,200 They were hoping to get to the south 557 00:33:06,200 --> 00:33:09,240 and be picked up by a British boat, 558 00:33:09,240 --> 00:33:11,840 but it never happened. 559 00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:13,320 It must have been awful, 560 00:33:13,320 --> 00:33:17,560 but he always used to say that going to public school 561 00:33:17,560 --> 00:33:20,840 was the most perfect training for being a prisoner of war. 562 00:33:22,840 --> 00:33:25,880 Dunn had become a committed pacifist. 563 00:33:25,880 --> 00:33:29,160 His portrayal of Corporal Jones may have been influenced 564 00:33:29,160 --> 00:33:33,000 by his wartime suffering at the hands of the Germans. 565 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:36,600 It was very tough, sometimes very harrowing, 566 00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:40,280 and he had many bitter memories, really, of wartime. 567 00:33:41,520 --> 00:33:47,040 And that gave a bit of an edge when it came to his playing 568 00:33:47,040 --> 00:33:51,760 of Lance Corporal Jones, because he'd really seen the dark side 569 00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:53,840 of the war. 570 00:33:53,840 --> 00:33:57,640 As one of only three members of the Magnificent Seven under 50, 571 00:33:57,640 --> 00:33:59,520 the writers, Croft and Perry, 572 00:33:59,520 --> 00:34:02,680 made the most of Clive Dunn's relatively young age. 573 00:34:04,040 --> 00:34:05,240 Go get some help. 574 00:34:05,240 --> 00:34:07,280 Yes, I will, sir. I will. 575 00:34:07,280 --> 00:34:10,640 Don't panic, don't panic, don't panic. 576 00:34:10,640 --> 00:34:12,320 You're all right. 577 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:16,120 One of the stipulations before he accepted the role 578 00:34:16,120 --> 00:34:18,800 was to say he wanted all of the Joey Joeys, 579 00:34:18,800 --> 00:34:21,680 which meant all of the slapstick, all of the pratfalls. 580 00:34:21,680 --> 00:34:25,920 All of the physical comedy, he wanted to monopolise. 581 00:34:25,920 --> 00:34:29,160 And Croft and Perry were quite happy to let him do that 582 00:34:29,160 --> 00:34:32,160 because they realised that he was very good at it. 583 00:34:32,160 --> 00:34:34,680 Clive was great fun. 584 00:34:34,680 --> 00:34:37,040 He was in for anything, would do anything. 585 00:34:37,040 --> 00:34:38,600 He was happy to do it. 586 00:34:38,600 --> 00:34:40,440 "I should like to do that, sir." 587 00:34:40,440 --> 00:34:43,440 And he would volunteer, literally, 588 00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:47,800 so we had to write a lot of stuff for Clive. Extra stuff. 589 00:34:52,640 --> 00:34:56,200 While shooting the 1971 Dad's Army feature film, 590 00:34:56,200 --> 00:35:00,200 Clive Dunn's comic gifts were called on again. 591 00:35:00,200 --> 00:35:03,600 Priscilla remembers one scene that would have had today's 592 00:35:03,600 --> 00:35:05,840 health and safety inspectors sweating. 593 00:35:05,840 --> 00:35:09,160 Hold on, Jones! We're coming. I am holding on, Captain Mainwaring. 594 00:35:09,160 --> 00:35:10,600 I am holding on. 595 00:35:10,600 --> 00:35:15,640 He was on a horse that was on a raft going down the river 596 00:35:15,640 --> 00:35:18,600 and the horse kept backing up. 597 00:35:18,600 --> 00:35:21,680 It'd never been on a raft on a river 598 00:35:21,680 --> 00:35:24,600 and he was terrified it was going to back up. 599 00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:27,920 But luckily an overhanging branch was there 600 00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:31,160 and Clive grabbed it and got off the horse 601 00:35:31,160 --> 00:35:33,320 and that was kept in the film. 602 00:35:39,400 --> 00:35:42,320 I got the branch but didn't seem to stop the boat, sir. 603 00:35:42,320 --> 00:35:45,520 I'll catch you up later, sir. We'll meet you further down the back. 604 00:35:45,520 --> 00:35:50,760 I just can't imagine anybody else would have brought to that part 605 00:35:50,760 --> 00:35:53,800 what Clive Dunn was able to do. 606 00:35:53,800 --> 00:35:59,040 And it is an absolute masterclass in comedy character acting. 607 00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:05,080 While Clive Dunn was cementing his reputation as the cast's resident 608 00:36:05,080 --> 00:36:08,800 stuntman, during shooting for the film, Arthur Lowe 609 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:12,880 pushed his reputation for self-importance to new heights. 610 00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:16,840 At his insistence, a clause was inserted in his contract 611 00:36:16,840 --> 00:36:22,040 that specified he would never have to appear without his trousers. 612 00:36:22,040 --> 00:36:24,280 There was just one thing that Dad said, 613 00:36:24,280 --> 00:36:26,360 "No, I don't take my trousers off. 614 00:36:26,360 --> 00:36:28,680 "I just don't do those sorts of jokes." 615 00:36:28,680 --> 00:36:32,680 To the point where he actually had it written into the contract. 616 00:36:32,680 --> 00:36:36,200 He just said, "You don't need to get a cheap laugh that way." 617 00:36:38,080 --> 00:36:40,440 There's a scene where they're marching down the road 618 00:36:40,440 --> 00:36:42,440 and you see them changing from their civvies 619 00:36:42,440 --> 00:36:45,200 into their Home Guard uniforms. 620 00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:49,080 But in between, it shows you the platoon basically in their 621 00:36:49,080 --> 00:36:51,240 long johns and their vests. 622 00:36:51,240 --> 00:36:53,920 Mainwaring is missing from that. 623 00:36:56,320 --> 00:36:59,160 The Dad's Army film was a hit, 624 00:36:59,160 --> 00:37:04,160 and by 1972, the TV series was still attracting huge audiences. 625 00:37:04,160 --> 00:37:08,360 The Magnificent Seven had become household names. 626 00:37:08,360 --> 00:37:10,560 For one member of the cast, 627 00:37:10,560 --> 00:37:13,440 the show's success rescued him from a lifetime 628 00:37:13,440 --> 00:37:15,440 of financial hardship. 629 00:37:15,440 --> 00:37:19,320 Arnold Ridley brought a kindly air to his portrayal 630 00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:22,160 of retired shop assistant Godfrey. 631 00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:25,240 Mr Godfrey's waking up. Ah. 632 00:37:26,560 --> 00:37:28,520 Oh, hello. 633 00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:32,960 I must have dozed off for a moment. 634 00:37:32,960 --> 00:37:37,160 Ridley's son Nicholas remembers the years before Dad's Army 635 00:37:37,160 --> 00:37:38,360 being a struggle. 636 00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:42,600 He was a hugely successful playwright. 637 00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:47,360 He made a great deal of money as a playwright and managed to lose 638 00:37:47,360 --> 00:37:52,440 it all, which was, I think, unfortunate, to say the least. 639 00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:57,240 Ridley's best-known play, The Ghost Train, 640 00:37:57,240 --> 00:38:02,080 about a haunted railway station, was a huge hit in London's West End, 641 00:38:02,080 --> 00:38:06,280 but then he made a disastrous decision to go 642 00:38:06,280 --> 00:38:08,480 into the film business. 643 00:38:08,480 --> 00:38:11,480 He became very interested in the movies 644 00:38:11,480 --> 00:38:13,960 and set up his own film company. 645 00:38:15,520 --> 00:38:20,840 Unfortunately, his backers went bust and he found that he was ruined. 646 00:38:20,840 --> 00:38:22,960 He had no money at all. 647 00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:26,880 Arnold Ridley was forced to sell off the rights 648 00:38:26,880 --> 00:38:30,520 to some of his work to pay his debts. 649 00:38:30,520 --> 00:38:34,760 Throughout my childhood, it was very much a hand-to-mouth existence, 650 00:38:34,760 --> 00:38:37,880 constantly worried about whether or not we could pay 651 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:41,080 the gas or electricity bill or the rent. 652 00:38:43,400 --> 00:38:47,200 Ridley's financial problems meant he had to keep working well 653 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:51,160 into old age, despite still suffering from injuries he received 654 00:38:51,160 --> 00:38:53,760 fighting in the First World War. 655 00:38:53,760 --> 00:38:58,040 I think everybody had a terrible time on the western front. 656 00:38:58,040 --> 00:39:03,880 I think it was horrific, really beyond words. 657 00:39:03,880 --> 00:39:07,000 He didn't talk about it very much. 658 00:39:07,000 --> 00:39:08,520 Very little, in fact. 659 00:39:10,120 --> 00:39:12,000 At the Battle of the Somme, 660 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:15,600 he was wounded three times in hand-to-hand combat. 661 00:39:15,600 --> 00:39:17,800 He had a bayonet in the groin, 662 00:39:17,800 --> 00:39:21,800 he had a wound to his left hand, which meant that he could never use 663 00:39:21,800 --> 00:39:24,600 three fingers of his left hand, 664 00:39:24,600 --> 00:39:28,560 and he had shrapnel in his back, 665 00:39:28,560 --> 00:39:31,640 which troubled him all his life. 666 00:39:33,240 --> 00:39:37,760 When he auditioned for the part of Private Godfrey at the age of 72, 667 00:39:37,760 --> 00:39:41,600 producer David Croft was worried the rigours of filming 668 00:39:41,600 --> 00:39:43,520 might prove too strenuous. 669 00:39:43,520 --> 00:39:45,440 David said to him, 670 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:48,800 "Well, you do know that this show will involve 671 00:39:48,800 --> 00:39:51,120 "quite a lot of trotting about. 672 00:39:51,120 --> 00:39:54,440 "Do you think you'll be up to trotting about?" 673 00:39:54,440 --> 00:39:57,800 And my father said, "Well, I've survived two world wars. 674 00:39:57,800 --> 00:40:01,600 "I think I can probably survive a television series." 675 00:40:01,600 --> 00:40:05,160 Despite Croft's reservations, Ridley got the part, 676 00:40:05,160 --> 00:40:10,000 but allowances for his age were written into the script. 677 00:40:10,000 --> 00:40:14,040 He was excused carrying a rifle and made the platoon's medic, 678 00:40:14,040 --> 00:40:17,280 as this episode from series three shows. 679 00:40:17,280 --> 00:40:20,320 I never doubted you for a single minute. 680 00:40:20,320 --> 00:40:23,480 Perhaps Godfrey could be our future medical orderly. 681 00:40:23,480 --> 00:40:26,240 What a good idea, Wilson. Thank you. 682 00:40:26,240 --> 00:40:28,680 He didn't take full part in some 683 00:40:28,680 --> 00:40:30,760 of the more physical activities. 684 00:40:30,760 --> 00:40:35,720 It was after the episode Branded that he was excused 685 00:40:35,720 --> 00:40:39,960 the duty of carrying a rifle and was made first aid orderly, 686 00:40:39,960 --> 00:40:42,600 which was, I think, exceptionally kind 687 00:40:42,600 --> 00:40:44,800 and made life a lot easier on set. 688 00:40:45,920 --> 00:40:50,120 The money he earned from Dad's Army also made life a lot easier 689 00:40:50,120 --> 00:40:52,560 for Ridley and his family. 690 00:40:52,560 --> 00:40:56,040 It was very tough and it's very tough, I think, as a child, 691 00:40:56,040 --> 00:41:00,640 to see your parents always anxious about money, 692 00:41:00,640 --> 00:41:03,640 which was very much my experience, 693 00:41:03,640 --> 00:41:07,880 and that to some extent came to an end with Dad's Army, 694 00:41:07,880 --> 00:41:11,680 not that it was brilliantly well paid or anything like that, 695 00:41:11,680 --> 00:41:15,400 but finally they had something like a regular income 696 00:41:15,400 --> 00:41:18,720 and that made a huge difference to their lives. 697 00:41:18,720 --> 00:41:22,640 And I think Dad's Army restored his self-confidence. 698 00:41:22,640 --> 00:41:26,000 Coming up, the secrets of the Magnificent Seven's 699 00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:27,680 nights of partying. 700 00:41:27,680 --> 00:41:32,240 They were very naughty boys and getting a lot drunker than 701 00:41:32,240 --> 00:41:35,040 they ought to have done and having a wonderful time. 702 00:41:36,200 --> 00:41:39,640 And how Ian Lavender became the young star of the show 703 00:41:39,640 --> 00:41:43,840 and nailed one of Dad's Army's greatest ever scenes, eventually. 704 00:41:43,840 --> 00:41:45,840 Don't tell him, Pike! Pike. 705 00:41:45,840 --> 00:41:48,160 It's a very difficult job, that, 706 00:41:48,160 --> 00:41:51,760 to play someone stupid but not be stupid yourself. 707 00:41:51,760 --> 00:41:55,350 You've got to tread a very fine line and he did that very well. 708 00:41:58,200 --> 00:42:02,680 In the summer of 1972, the cast and crew of Dad's Army 709 00:42:02,680 --> 00:42:06,880 made their regular trip to Norfolk to film the outdoor shots 710 00:42:06,880 --> 00:42:08,080 for series five. 711 00:42:08,080 --> 00:42:12,280 As this behind the scenes home movie footage shows, 712 00:42:12,280 --> 00:42:14,840 everyone was in a holiday mood. 713 00:42:14,840 --> 00:42:18,000 There would be two buses going from Television Centre 714 00:42:18,000 --> 00:42:22,320 and then also obviously the caravans for make-up and wardrobe 715 00:42:22,320 --> 00:42:23,680 for on-location. 716 00:42:23,680 --> 00:42:28,720 Sometimes we wives were invited to go, but they loved it. 717 00:42:30,440 --> 00:42:34,880 We were all friends, it was like a family and it was great fun. 718 00:42:37,240 --> 00:42:40,320 The scenes being shot here were for an episode 719 00:42:40,320 --> 00:42:45,040 titled Brain Versus Brawn, which got Dads Army's highest ever ratings 720 00:42:45,040 --> 00:42:47,800 of over 18.5 million viewers. 721 00:42:49,720 --> 00:42:53,320 There we are, that's it. Let's go and help. 722 00:42:53,320 --> 00:42:55,480 No sign of any foreign body there. 723 00:42:55,480 --> 00:42:56,800 Turn the valve on, Frazer! 724 00:43:07,440 --> 00:43:11,280 Occasionally, extras were needed for a scene, so a call went out 725 00:43:11,280 --> 00:43:13,360 to the local drama society. 726 00:43:13,360 --> 00:43:16,520 As its chairman, Keith Eldred was in charge 727 00:43:16,520 --> 00:43:19,480 of rounding up people keen to take part. 728 00:43:19,480 --> 00:43:22,960 I was incredibly popular because I think anybody in the town 729 00:43:22,960 --> 00:43:25,640 would like to have been in the show. 730 00:43:25,640 --> 00:43:27,320 They did it for free to start off with, 731 00:43:27,320 --> 00:43:31,720 but I think by the time we'd gone colour, they'd persuaded the BBC 732 00:43:31,720 --> 00:43:34,000 to give them a small fee. 733 00:43:34,000 --> 00:43:37,240 Away from set, the locals also enjoyed mixing 734 00:43:37,240 --> 00:43:39,120 with the Dad's Army cast. 735 00:43:39,120 --> 00:43:42,080 John Le Mesurier was particularly popular. 736 00:43:43,160 --> 00:43:46,480 Drove him to a village and he got out of the 737 00:43:46,480 --> 00:43:50,720 car and suddenly a front door opened and a lady shouted, 738 00:43:50,720 --> 00:43:52,960 "John, John, come and have a drink," you see. 739 00:43:52,960 --> 00:43:56,480 Well, John shot off to this house 740 00:43:56,480 --> 00:44:00,160 and wasn't seen for about another hour or so. 741 00:44:01,360 --> 00:44:05,600 Le Mesurier wasn't the only Dad's Army star who enjoyed a drink. 742 00:44:05,600 --> 00:44:09,840 After filming, the whole cast usually retired to the hotel bar, 743 00:44:09,840 --> 00:44:14,000 a chance to cement friendships and put aside any rivalries. 744 00:44:15,200 --> 00:44:17,680 Oh, of course, they all drank. 745 00:44:17,680 --> 00:44:22,200 They used to meet in the bar when they were rehearsing 746 00:44:22,200 --> 00:44:24,840 and always had a good drink... 747 00:44:24,840 --> 00:44:28,440 A good drink and a good evening together. 748 00:44:30,440 --> 00:44:34,680 They were very naughty boys and getting a lot drunker 749 00:44:34,680 --> 00:44:38,920 than they ought to have done, and having a wonderful time. 750 00:44:38,920 --> 00:44:42,120 Keith Eldred remembers one late night party 751 00:44:42,120 --> 00:44:44,120 that ended up in his house. 752 00:44:45,320 --> 00:44:47,720 John Le Mesurier decided to play the piano, 753 00:44:47,720 --> 00:44:50,920 which was a bit unfortunate because it was a very old piano 754 00:44:50,920 --> 00:44:53,960 and he was very cross because it was out of tune. 755 00:44:53,960 --> 00:44:56,680 So I had to ply him with gin and tonics to keep him happy. 756 00:44:56,680 --> 00:44:59,960 The trouble was, they all drank quite a lot. 757 00:44:59,960 --> 00:45:04,200 We very quickly ran out of drink and had to sort of send people off 758 00:45:04,200 --> 00:45:08,360 to the pub or wherever it was to provide more drinks for the party. 759 00:45:14,280 --> 00:45:17,240 1973 and the beginning of series six 760 00:45:17,240 --> 00:45:20,600 saw the most famous scene in Dad's Army history, 761 00:45:20,600 --> 00:45:25,040 when the platoon have to guard the crew of a sunken German U-boat 762 00:45:25,040 --> 00:45:27,400 with hilarious consequences. 763 00:45:28,440 --> 00:45:31,840 It was also the making of the youngest of the seven - 764 00:45:31,840 --> 00:45:35,760 27-year-old theatre school graduate, Ian Lavender. 765 00:45:35,760 --> 00:45:40,120 And when we win the war, you will be brought to account. 766 00:45:40,120 --> 00:45:42,360 Write what you like, you're not going to win this war. 767 00:45:42,360 --> 00:45:44,000 Oh, yes, we are. Oh, no, you're not. 768 00:45:44,000 --> 00:45:45,760 Oh, yes, we are. 769 00:45:45,760 --> 00:45:48,000 # Whistle while you work 770 00:45:48,000 --> 00:45:49,280 # Hitler is a twerp 771 00:45:49,280 --> 00:45:52,320 # He's half barmy, so's his army 772 00:45:52,320 --> 00:45:57,040 # Whistle while you work. # Your name will also go on the list. 773 00:45:57,040 --> 00:45:59,440 What is it? Don't tell him, Pike. 774 00:45:59,440 --> 00:46:00,600 Pike. 775 00:46:00,600 --> 00:46:05,600 Half a century since it was filmed, Ian Lavender still remembers 776 00:46:05,600 --> 00:46:09,520 how difficult it was to keep a straight face when shooting the scene. 777 00:46:09,520 --> 00:46:13,760 We never knew that was going to go into the sort of folklore, 778 00:46:13,760 --> 00:46:17,400 to sit on top of that stepladder and try and keep my face straight, 779 00:46:17,400 --> 00:46:21,080 because even after a week's rehearsal and a day in the studio 780 00:46:21,080 --> 00:46:24,440 and asking David, "Please, David, can you go somewhere else 781 00:46:24,440 --> 00:46:26,640 "for the reaction shot?" 782 00:46:26,640 --> 00:46:31,480 And David said to me, "Ian, if I can go somewhere else, I will, 783 00:46:31,480 --> 00:46:34,880 "but you'll have to tell me where it is, so any ideas?" 784 00:46:34,880 --> 00:46:37,200 And I said, "No, I will do my best." 785 00:46:37,200 --> 00:46:42,360 And he cuts away just as my face starts to go into a terrible rictus 786 00:46:42,360 --> 00:46:44,000 of a smile. 787 00:46:44,000 --> 00:46:47,080 And I had to bite the inside of my mouth and drew blood 788 00:46:47,080 --> 00:46:49,800 to try not to laugh because Arthur 789 00:46:49,800 --> 00:46:53,320 and Philip just made me laugh every time they did it. 790 00:46:55,240 --> 00:46:59,080 It's a very difficult job, that, to play someone stupid, 791 00:46:59,080 --> 00:47:01,080 but not be stupid yourself. 792 00:47:01,080 --> 00:47:05,640 You've got to tread a very fine line and he did that very well. 793 00:47:05,640 --> 00:47:10,040 Dad's Army creator Jimmy Perry originally based the character 794 00:47:10,040 --> 00:47:14,640 of mollycoddled teenager Pike on himself and his wartime experience 795 00:47:14,640 --> 00:47:16,480 in the Home Guard. 796 00:47:16,480 --> 00:47:21,440 Jimmy Perry started out in the Home Guard as a teenager, 797 00:47:21,440 --> 00:47:25,280 and his mother sent him out each evening with a scarf 798 00:47:25,280 --> 00:47:27,760 and usually with some hot soup. 799 00:47:27,760 --> 00:47:32,320 And one of the memories that Jimmy Perry used to write 800 00:47:32,320 --> 00:47:34,800 the characters was really of himself. 801 00:47:34,800 --> 00:47:37,640 While the other members of the Magnificent Seven 802 00:47:37,640 --> 00:47:39,880 had long acting careers behind them, 803 00:47:39,880 --> 00:47:44,360 Ian Lavender was a relative newcomer when he was picked as Private Pike. 804 00:47:46,760 --> 00:47:50,080 As the youngest member of the cast, he relied on old hands 805 00:47:50,080 --> 00:47:53,960 like Arthur Lowe for advice, as he revealed to Channel Five 806 00:47:53,960 --> 00:47:56,160 chat show, 5's Company. 807 00:47:56,160 --> 00:47:59,800 So I hadn't got much to do in the first couple of series 808 00:47:59,800 --> 00:48:03,080 and I remember Arthur saying to me at the end, 809 00:48:03,080 --> 00:48:06,160 end of the second series, "Don't worry..." 810 00:48:06,160 --> 00:48:07,680 I can't do his voice. 811 00:48:07,680 --> 00:48:09,080 "Don't worry about the words. 812 00:48:09,080 --> 00:48:13,440 "They'll come, just get yourself a funny costume and stand near me." 813 00:48:13,440 --> 00:48:18,880 Ian Lavender was the new boy and they accepted him because, 814 00:48:18,880 --> 00:48:22,360 I mean, they had all got careers behind them, hadn't they? 815 00:48:22,360 --> 00:48:24,240 And he said he learnt a lot from them 816 00:48:24,240 --> 00:48:26,440 and he was quite close to John Laurie. 817 00:48:26,440 --> 00:48:29,720 They used to sit together and John would tell him all about his, 818 00:48:29,720 --> 00:48:32,640 you know, Shakespearean roles and everything, 819 00:48:32,640 --> 00:48:34,760 and Ian would lap it up. 820 00:48:36,320 --> 00:48:41,080 Coming up, cigarettes and alcohol - the dark side of Dad's Army 821 00:48:41,080 --> 00:48:45,280 and how tragedy threatened to bring it to a premature end. 822 00:48:45,280 --> 00:48:47,200 We didn't think we'd get over it. 823 00:48:47,200 --> 00:48:51,200 We were very unsure about doing the next series without him. 824 00:48:57,040 --> 00:49:01,360 In July 1973, filming series six of Dad's Army 825 00:49:01,360 --> 00:49:07,000 was close to being completed when tragedy suddenly struck the cast. 826 00:49:07,000 --> 00:49:11,480 James Beck, who played Private Walker, was taken seriously ill 827 00:49:11,480 --> 00:49:13,480 after opening a school fete. 828 00:49:14,640 --> 00:49:17,680 That was a terrible blow to the company 829 00:49:17,680 --> 00:49:22,120 because the character was such a wonderful character, 830 00:49:22,120 --> 00:49:24,320 a lovely, cheeky charm and so on. 831 00:49:24,320 --> 00:49:28,680 Private Walker was the quintessential World War II spiv. 832 00:49:28,680 --> 00:49:32,000 He regularly got himself into trouble with Captain Mainwaring 833 00:49:32,000 --> 00:49:34,360 for supplying black market goods. 834 00:49:35,480 --> 00:49:37,720 Oi. I've got your cheese. 835 00:49:37,720 --> 00:49:42,120 Got what? I've got your cheese. Oh, yes. 836 00:49:42,120 --> 00:49:44,840 It isn't for me, of course. 837 00:49:44,840 --> 00:49:47,560 No, no, of course not. You know I don't approve of that sort of thing. 838 00:49:47,560 --> 00:49:49,320 In that case I'll take it back. 839 00:49:50,760 --> 00:49:54,040 Jimmy Perry had originally written Dad's Army 840 00:49:54,040 --> 00:49:57,040 and the part of Walker to give himself a role 841 00:49:57,040 --> 00:49:59,360 when he was struggling to get work. 842 00:49:59,360 --> 00:50:02,960 Jimmy wanted to play the part of Walker the spiv. 843 00:50:02,960 --> 00:50:06,560 But unfortunately, David Croft didn't agree. 844 00:50:06,560 --> 00:50:10,360 David wanted his co-writer to be in the production box, 845 00:50:10,360 --> 00:50:11,880 the control room with him. 846 00:50:11,880 --> 00:50:15,960 He was furious when he was told by the BBC bosses 847 00:50:15,960 --> 00:50:21,400 that he couldn't play Walker because there would be too much resentment 848 00:50:21,400 --> 00:50:22,520 by the other actors, 849 00:50:22,520 --> 00:50:25,480 it was claimed, who they'd think he was giving 850 00:50:25,480 --> 00:50:27,320 the best lines to himself. 851 00:50:27,320 --> 00:50:31,400 David Croft turned to James Beck, who'd ironically made a name 852 00:50:31,400 --> 00:50:36,480 for himself playing police officers in Z Cars and Coronation Street. 853 00:50:36,480 --> 00:50:40,200 James Beck had that charm about him 854 00:50:40,200 --> 00:50:46,040 and a certain kind of mischievous quality that David Croft recognised 855 00:50:46,040 --> 00:50:49,880 and thought that he'd be ideal to play the spiv, Private Walker. 856 00:50:49,880 --> 00:50:54,360 Beck made the part of wheeler dealer Walker his own, 857 00:50:54,360 --> 00:50:57,640 as this classic clip shows. 858 00:50:57,640 --> 00:51:01,480 Close the door, Pike. No, no, don't do that. Hang on. 859 00:51:03,640 --> 00:51:06,080 Get hold of that one, will you? 860 00:51:06,080 --> 00:51:09,640 Are you at the bottom of this, Walker? Yes, sir. 861 00:51:09,640 --> 00:51:11,800 You see, this friend of mine was a pigeon fancier, 862 00:51:11,800 --> 00:51:14,160 only he don't fancy them no more. 863 00:51:14,160 --> 00:51:17,120 I thought you might be able to train them to take messages. 864 00:51:17,120 --> 00:51:19,600 Where are they coming from? The boiler house next door. 865 00:51:22,840 --> 00:51:27,680 Off screen, father of three Beck lived life to excess. 866 00:51:27,680 --> 00:51:32,240 on screen, he was a silver tongued charmer, as shown in this clip 867 00:51:32,240 --> 00:51:34,520 with a young Wendy Richard. 868 00:51:34,520 --> 00:51:37,760 You going to give me a kiss or not? 869 00:51:39,560 --> 00:51:43,720 Oh, yeah, well, I suppose so. I mean, I'm sitting here, ain't I? 870 00:51:45,320 --> 00:51:47,800 James Beck was also a heavy drinker 871 00:51:47,800 --> 00:51:51,520 and found a kindred spirit in John Le Mesurier. 872 00:51:51,520 --> 00:51:54,520 They were renowned for going off and being big boozers 873 00:51:54,520 --> 00:51:57,840 and they'd go and hang out at Ronnie Scott's 874 00:51:57,840 --> 00:52:01,760 and live the life and head into Soho, 875 00:52:01,760 --> 00:52:04,600 famous, famous '60s Soho, 876 00:52:04,600 --> 00:52:09,520 and quite frankly have the time of their lives. 877 00:52:09,520 --> 00:52:13,840 John and him used to come home from work every night 878 00:52:13,840 --> 00:52:16,840 and sit at the table 879 00:52:16,840 --> 00:52:18,280 and have a lovely evening. 880 00:52:18,280 --> 00:52:22,680 They were great friends and he was a very naughty boy. 881 00:52:22,680 --> 00:52:26,440 But James Beck's lifestyle eventually caught up with him. 882 00:52:26,440 --> 00:52:29,400 After being taken ill, he was rushed to hospital 883 00:52:29,400 --> 00:52:32,120 where he was diagnosed with pancreatitis. 884 00:52:32,120 --> 00:52:36,360 As Beck fought for his life, his character, Private Walker, 885 00:52:36,360 --> 00:52:39,600 had to be written out of the final episode of the series. 886 00:52:39,600 --> 00:52:44,000 This scene is an example of a moment of great comic acting, 887 00:52:44,000 --> 00:52:47,000 hiding the sadness of the entire cast. 888 00:52:47,000 --> 00:52:51,240 It's one of the... Oh, what can I say, sad, poignant. 889 00:52:51,240 --> 00:52:53,040 It's a sort of "oh..." moment. 890 00:52:55,200 --> 00:52:57,360 There's a letter on the floor. 891 00:52:57,360 --> 00:52:58,800 "Dear Cap..." 892 00:52:58,800 --> 00:53:01,440 "Thanks for letting me off. 893 00:53:04,280 --> 00:53:08,520 "Had to go up to the smoke for a few days to do a deal." 894 00:53:08,520 --> 00:53:12,480 They'd done a quick rewrite saying he's gone up to the smoke, 895 00:53:12,480 --> 00:53:13,920 meaning to London. 896 00:53:13,920 --> 00:53:16,000 Got some business to do up there. 897 00:53:16,000 --> 00:53:18,560 "On the other hand, I may cop it for a bit under the odds, 898 00:53:18,560 --> 00:53:21,000 "in which case I'll have to sweeten him with a monkey." 899 00:53:21,000 --> 00:53:26,320 And I can remember seeing Clive's face just standing there. 900 00:53:26,320 --> 00:53:29,200 He suddenly wasn't Corporal Jones at all, 901 00:53:29,200 --> 00:53:31,880 where everyone was absolutely so upset. 902 00:53:33,000 --> 00:53:35,000 How dare he try to bribe me? 903 00:53:37,360 --> 00:53:40,400 Just three weeks after he was taken ill, 904 00:53:40,400 --> 00:53:42,600 James Beck passed away. 905 00:53:42,600 --> 00:53:47,240 At the age of just 44, he was the second youngest member of the cast. 906 00:53:47,240 --> 00:53:49,200 I knew him quite well, actually. 907 00:53:49,200 --> 00:53:52,760 It was very, very sad when he went. Far too young. 908 00:53:52,760 --> 00:53:57,760 James Beck's premature death put the future of Dad's Army in doubt. 909 00:53:57,760 --> 00:54:00,720 There were sad times along the way. 910 00:54:00,720 --> 00:54:05,600 The saddest, obviously, was the death of Jimmy. Jimmy Beck. 911 00:54:05,600 --> 00:54:08,400 And we didn't think we'd get over that, quite honestly. 912 00:54:08,400 --> 00:54:12,640 We were very unsure about doing the next series without him. 913 00:54:16,440 --> 00:54:20,000 But Dad's Army did go on for another three series, 914 00:54:20,000 --> 00:54:25,200 which included some of its most well known and loved episodes. 915 00:54:25,200 --> 00:54:28,280 No alcoholic beverages will be sold without my permission. 916 00:54:28,280 --> 00:54:30,080 Uh-uh! Ah, no, no. 917 00:54:30,080 --> 00:54:32,440 That is undemocratic. 918 00:54:32,440 --> 00:54:35,400 You, Frazer, will be in charge of all liquor permits. 919 00:54:35,400 --> 00:54:37,200 I'm right behind you, captain. 920 00:54:38,440 --> 00:54:40,960 The Magnificent Seven were down to six 921 00:54:40,960 --> 00:54:43,440 and most were now well into old age. 922 00:54:47,120 --> 00:54:50,240 They don't like it up 'em, sir. They don't like it up 'em. 923 00:54:50,240 --> 00:54:53,400 Worth a try, sir. After all, what have we got to lose? 924 00:54:56,600 --> 00:55:01,080 For John Laurie, who played irascible undertaker Private Frazer, 925 00:55:01,080 --> 00:55:04,600 achieving fame in his twilight years was bittersweet. 926 00:55:05,960 --> 00:55:09,760 He once said to Jimmy Perry, "You know, Jimmy, 927 00:55:09,760 --> 00:55:12,080 "it's an extraordinary thing. 928 00:55:12,080 --> 00:55:17,080 "I played all the great classic roles of Stratford between the wars, 929 00:55:17,080 --> 00:55:22,440 "and now I've become a household name doing this rubbish..." 930 00:55:25,200 --> 00:55:27,680 Like the other older members of the cast, 931 00:55:27,680 --> 00:55:32,200 Laurie had seen real life-military, service spending World War I 932 00:55:32,200 --> 00:55:36,240 as a member of the Honourable Artillery Company. 933 00:55:36,240 --> 00:55:40,840 In the 1920s, he became a prolific Shakespearean actor. 934 00:55:40,840 --> 00:55:44,600 His roles included a critically acclaimed performance as Hamlet. 935 00:55:47,280 --> 00:55:51,560 His daughter Veronica says his passion was being on stage. 936 00:55:53,760 --> 00:55:59,280 He was, I suppose, very fortunate to get onto the roster 937 00:55:59,280 --> 00:56:02,240 at the Stratford Shakespeare Company, 938 00:56:02,240 --> 00:56:05,600 and he certainly did enjoy it 939 00:56:05,600 --> 00:56:09,600 because it was a chance to play so many great parts 940 00:56:09,600 --> 00:56:14,000 and he really had developed a great love of Shakespeare. 941 00:56:15,560 --> 00:56:18,040 I think theatre was his great love. 942 00:56:20,240 --> 00:56:22,920 Laurie also worked with some of the greatest names 943 00:56:22,920 --> 00:56:24,120 in British film. 944 00:56:26,080 --> 00:56:30,360 Alfred Hitchcock cast him as a miserly crofter in his landmark 945 00:56:30,360 --> 00:56:33,400 1935 movie, The 39 Steps. 946 00:56:35,240 --> 00:56:38,560 He brought out a dourness in the character that hinted 947 00:56:38,560 --> 00:56:41,800 at how he would play Private Frazer in Dad's Army. 948 00:56:43,520 --> 00:56:45,440 Hurry up, don't let them catch you. 949 00:56:45,440 --> 00:56:47,600 All right. I'll never forget you for doing this for me. 950 00:56:47,600 --> 00:56:49,760 Which way do I go? I'll show you. 951 00:56:49,760 --> 00:56:52,640 Aye. I might've known. 952 00:56:53,920 --> 00:56:56,200 Making love behind my back. 953 00:56:59,680 --> 00:57:01,920 Get out. Just a minute... Aye, and you too. 954 00:57:01,920 --> 00:57:04,080 Get out of my house before... Aye, go, go. 955 00:57:04,080 --> 00:57:05,960 And leave you like this? No fear. 956 00:57:05,960 --> 00:57:09,680 VERONICA LAURIE: I think he was a great admirer of Hitchcock, 957 00:57:09,680 --> 00:57:13,840 who he regarded as a genius, in a way. 958 00:57:14,880 --> 00:57:18,960 During World War II, Laurie served in the real Home Guard. 959 00:57:18,960 --> 00:57:22,840 Perfect preparation for his role in Dad's Army. 960 00:57:22,840 --> 00:57:26,720 But when Croft and Perry offered him the part of Private Frazer, 961 00:57:26,720 --> 00:57:29,080 he was worried it would spell the end of his career 962 00:57:29,080 --> 00:57:30,760 as a serious actor. 963 00:57:32,480 --> 00:57:35,800 When he was first approached and told about it, he said, 964 00:57:35,800 --> 00:57:38,520 "Oh, no, that'll never go. 965 00:57:38,520 --> 00:57:40,760 "No, I don't want to get involved in something that's 966 00:57:40,760 --> 00:57:45,080 "never going to take off," and was fairly downbeat 967 00:57:45,080 --> 00:57:48,520 about the possibility of the whole thing being a success. 968 00:57:48,520 --> 00:57:52,760 But I think his agent persuaded him to take it. 969 00:57:55,080 --> 00:57:59,080 Laurie finally accepted the part and became known for his famously 970 00:57:59,080 --> 00:58:03,880 pessimistic catchphrase, as shown in this classic 1972 episode 971 00:58:05,120 --> 00:58:06,800 We're trapped. 972 00:58:06,800 --> 00:58:09,600 Aye. We're doomed! 973 00:58:09,600 --> 00:58:11,120 Doomed! 974 00:58:11,120 --> 00:58:15,040 Everybody would always go, "We're doomed! We're doomed!" 975 00:58:15,040 --> 00:58:16,600 But he was great. 976 00:58:16,600 --> 00:58:21,600 He had the most fantastic face that sort of looked as if it was hewn 977 00:58:21,600 --> 00:58:24,320 from Scottish granite. 978 00:58:24,320 --> 00:58:26,600 You could smell the heather on him. 979 00:58:26,600 --> 00:58:28,360 He was absolutely brilliant. 980 00:58:30,360 --> 00:58:35,440 In 1975, John Laurie was one of the few original cast members 981 00:58:35,440 --> 00:58:38,760 not to take part in a stage show version of Dad's Army. 982 00:58:40,280 --> 00:58:45,680 One day we were all summoned to Jimmy Perry's room 983 00:58:45,680 --> 00:58:50,000 and he said, "Well, I've got some good news for you all. 984 00:58:50,000 --> 00:58:53,160 "We're going to do a stage show." 985 00:58:55,400 --> 00:58:57,800 This rare behind-the-scenes footage 986 00:58:57,800 --> 00:59:00,200 shows the cast were all in high spirits. 987 00:59:02,240 --> 00:59:05,240 When they did their stage show, when they were on tour, 988 00:59:05,240 --> 00:59:08,640 it was really pretty much like it was on location. 989 00:59:08,640 --> 00:59:10,600 It was one big family. 990 00:59:10,600 --> 00:59:13,920 They tended to socialise together, have meals together. 991 00:59:16,560 --> 00:59:19,640 In this touching and little seen footage of the show, 992 00:59:19,640 --> 00:59:22,560 John Le Mesurier demonstrates his talents as a singer. 993 00:59:24,280 --> 00:59:28,520 # The streets of town were paved with stars... # 994 00:59:28,520 --> 00:59:33,200 They all enjoyed it enormously, and during the season 995 00:59:33,200 --> 00:59:36,960 that he was there doing it, he had to sing 996 00:59:36,960 --> 00:59:41,200 A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square 997 00:59:41,200 --> 00:59:44,280 and there was never a dry eye in the theatre. 998 00:59:46,000 --> 00:59:48,560 And as we kissed 999 00:59:48,560 --> 00:59:51,440 And said goodnight 1000 00:59:51,440 --> 00:59:56,440 A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square... 1001 00:59:56,440 --> 00:59:58,600 He loved doing it. 1002 00:59:58,600 --> 01:00:00,640 He was a happy man then. 1003 01:00:00,640 --> 01:00:05,360 Coming up, as the cast of Dad's Army grew ever more frail, 1004 01:00:05,360 --> 01:00:07,560 the end was in sight. 1005 01:00:07,560 --> 01:00:12,040 Everybody got really drunk and they all stood up and spoke 1006 01:00:12,040 --> 01:00:16,800 their minds about it and moaned and groaned and had a laugh. 1007 01:00:16,800 --> 01:00:20,360 And everybody staggered out drunk as skunks 1008 01:00:20,360 --> 01:00:22,480 and that was the end of Dad's Army. 1009 01:00:26,040 --> 01:00:29,560 After nine series and 80 episodes, 1010 01:00:29,560 --> 01:00:33,760 in November 1977, the final instalment of Dad's Army 1011 01:00:33,760 --> 01:00:36,240 aired on BBC One. 1012 01:00:36,240 --> 01:00:40,120 Croft and Perry wanted to pay tribute to those who volunteered 1013 01:00:40,120 --> 01:00:42,760 for the Home Guard during the war, 1014 01:00:42,760 --> 01:00:45,560 so they took the decision to have the cast speak 1015 01:00:45,560 --> 01:00:47,040 directly to camera. 1016 01:00:47,040 --> 01:00:48,640 It worked perfectly. 1017 01:00:48,640 --> 01:00:51,120 Men who stand together when their country needs them. 1018 01:00:51,120 --> 01:00:53,800 Excuse me, sir, don't you think it might be a nice idea 1019 01:00:53,800 --> 01:00:55,920 if we were to pay tribute to them? 1020 01:00:57,160 --> 01:00:59,520 For once, Wilson, I agree with you. 1021 01:00:59,520 --> 01:01:01,280 To Britain's Home Guard. 1022 01:01:03,880 --> 01:01:06,360 ALL: To Britain's Home Guard. 1023 01:01:06,360 --> 01:01:09,160 I think when they hold up their drinks and they toast 1024 01:01:09,160 --> 01:01:11,120 the real Home Guards, it's a great moment. 1025 01:01:11,120 --> 01:01:14,080 It's poignant 1026 01:01:14,080 --> 01:01:16,240 and it feels pitch perfect. 1027 01:01:16,240 --> 01:01:17,400 Love that. 1028 01:01:19,240 --> 01:01:21,680 Shortly after filming the final episode, 1029 01:01:21,680 --> 01:01:24,760 the cast assembled for a gala dinner. 1030 01:01:24,760 --> 01:01:29,760 Priscilla Dunn, wife of Clive, remembers the evening well. 1031 01:01:29,760 --> 01:01:33,320 When the company were finally gathered together 1032 01:01:33,320 --> 01:01:40,200 and told that was the last series, that's it, we're not doing any more, 1033 01:01:40,200 --> 01:01:43,640 and we're all having a lovely drink and rejoicing 1034 01:01:43,640 --> 01:01:48,360 on what a wonderful success it has all been. 1035 01:01:49,840 --> 01:01:56,480 And John Laurie stood up and said, "A minute here. Can I say something? 1036 01:01:56,480 --> 01:01:58,720 "Can I say something? And they said, "Yes." 1037 01:01:58,720 --> 01:02:02,760 He said, "We've been brought here to be told we're out of work. 1038 01:02:02,760 --> 01:02:05,600 "I don't see what we're celebrating." 1039 01:02:05,600 --> 01:02:09,840 And all the other actors all laughed and laughed. 1040 01:02:09,840 --> 01:02:14,400 Everybody got really drunk and they all stood up and spoke 1041 01:02:14,400 --> 01:02:19,200 their minds about it and moaned and groaned and had a laugh. 1042 01:02:19,200 --> 01:02:23,040 And everybody staggered out drunk as skunks. 1043 01:02:23,040 --> 01:02:25,160 And that was the end of Dad's Army. 1044 01:02:32,480 --> 01:02:34,800 The evening marked the end of an era 1045 01:02:34,800 --> 01:02:38,760 and, inevitably, time was catching up with the elderly cast. 1046 01:02:40,600 --> 01:02:44,920 Just three years later, John Laurie passed away at the age of 83. 1047 01:02:46,480 --> 01:02:50,760 Arthur Lowe and Arnold Ridley would follow in the next few years. 1048 01:02:52,160 --> 01:02:54,120 My father used to read The Daily Telegraph, 1049 01:02:54,120 --> 01:02:56,280 he said, for three reasons. 1050 01:02:56,280 --> 01:02:58,640 One was the sports coverage, 1051 01:02:58,640 --> 01:03:02,400 the second was theatre reviews, and the third was obituaries. 1052 01:03:02,400 --> 01:03:05,360 And he used to say, "I always read the obituaries first 1053 01:03:05,360 --> 01:03:07,720 "to see if I'm dead or not." 1054 01:03:07,720 --> 01:03:11,720 By the early 1980s, John Le Mesurier was also increasingly plagued 1055 01:03:11,720 --> 01:03:13,360 by ill health. 1056 01:03:13,360 --> 01:03:17,920 His heavy drinking had led to him developing cirrhosis of the liver. 1057 01:03:17,920 --> 01:03:20,880 He was a sick man, but he realised he had... 1058 01:03:20,880 --> 01:03:22,880 SHE LAUGHS 1059 01:03:22,880 --> 01:03:27,360 ..he had brought it on himself, if you don't mind saying so. 1060 01:03:27,360 --> 01:03:32,240 In fact...his last words were, 1061 01:03:32,240 --> 01:03:35,680 "I'm fed up of it now." 1062 01:03:35,680 --> 01:03:37,600 And he died that night. 1063 01:03:40,200 --> 01:03:44,920 Dad's Army's incredible success inspired a whole new generation 1064 01:03:44,920 --> 01:03:48,880 of ensemble sitcoms, including two more iconic series 1065 01:03:48,880 --> 01:03:50,920 written Croft and Perry - 1066 01:03:50,920 --> 01:03:53,440 It Ain't Half Hot, Mum and Hi-de-Hi. 1067 01:03:54,680 --> 01:04:00,080 The partnership between David Croft and Jimmy Perry was something 1068 01:04:00,080 --> 01:04:02,600 that just got stronger and stronger. 1069 01:04:02,600 --> 01:04:06,800 If you look at Dad's Army and then It Ain't Half Hot, Mum 1070 01:04:06,800 --> 01:04:08,440 and then Hi-de-Hi, 1071 01:04:08,440 --> 01:04:11,200 they were semiautobiographical, 1072 01:04:11,200 --> 01:04:13,720 that they did know about the Home Guard, 1073 01:04:13,720 --> 01:04:16,240 that they did serve in the war in India, 1074 01:04:16,240 --> 01:04:19,960 and then after the war, they did both work in terms 1075 01:04:19,960 --> 01:04:24,000 of seaside coastal clubs. 1076 01:04:26,040 --> 01:04:29,160 Today, Ian Lavender is the only surviving member 1077 01:04:29,160 --> 01:04:31,360 of the Magnificent Seven. 1078 01:04:31,360 --> 01:04:34,360 He's enjoyed a long career on stage and screen, 1079 01:04:34,360 --> 01:04:38,600 including a stint as Derek Harkinson on EastEnders. 1080 01:04:38,600 --> 01:04:43,760 I haven't stopped working until I reached the age 1081 01:04:43,760 --> 01:04:47,280 that John Laurie and Arnold Ridley had reached 1082 01:04:47,280 --> 01:04:50,320 when they started in Dad's Army. 1083 01:04:50,320 --> 01:04:53,000 It was all a bit of fun at the time, and we loved it. 1084 01:04:55,280 --> 01:04:58,480 50 years since it first hit our screens, 1085 01:04:58,480 --> 01:05:02,320 Dad's Army is as loved as ever by the British public. 1086 01:05:02,320 --> 01:05:06,560 There's a brilliance there which is unsurpassed, 1087 01:05:06,560 --> 01:05:09,600 and that, combined with the situation 1088 01:05:09,600 --> 01:05:12,040 and with the range of characters 1089 01:05:12,040 --> 01:05:16,280 and with the comic spirit that's there, 1090 01:05:16,280 --> 01:05:18,640 I think it's the reason why this show 1091 01:05:18,640 --> 01:05:24,520 remains such a remarkable example of great entertainment. 1092 01:05:24,520 --> 01:05:28,440 For the cast and crew who worked on it for so many years, 1093 01:05:28,440 --> 01:05:31,240 Dad's Army changed their lives. 1094 01:05:31,240 --> 01:05:34,080 If I go back to that first morning 1095 01:05:34,080 --> 01:05:37,080 at Television Centre in Wood Lane 1096 01:05:37,080 --> 01:05:39,720 and you'd said that all this was going to happen, 1097 01:05:39,720 --> 01:05:41,280 that all this had happened to me, 1098 01:05:41,280 --> 01:05:44,600 that my life had happened because of it, it's not been bad. 1099 01:05:44,600 --> 01:05:48,600 The mug's more than half full all the way along. 1100 01:05:48,600 --> 01:05:53,760 I feel very proud, really, really very proud. 1101 01:05:53,760 --> 01:05:56,640 Everybody that worked on it felt very proud. 1102 01:05:56,640 --> 01:05:58,360 It appeals to everybody, 1103 01:05:58,360 --> 01:06:05,240 and it was a part of the time where everyone was working together, 1104 01:06:05,240 --> 01:06:07,160 a part of England. 1105 01:06:37,160 --> 01:06:41,160 Subtitles by Red Bee Media