E P I S O D E    G U I D E S   

Period sitcom. Exploits of a group of bumbling elderly Home Guardsmen during World War II in the coastal town of Walmington-On-Sea. The cast made three appearances in character as part of Christmas Night With the Stars-1968, 1970 & 1972. There was a feature film version released in 1971. Also there was a radio sequel called It Sticks Out a Mile on Radio 2 in 1983, this followed Wilson, Pike and Hodges as they ran a pier. Probably British Televisions most loved sitcom.

Macanak contributed the following about the finding of missing episodes.

"Gather around men, I have some exciting news," Captain Mainwaring announced.Sergeant Wilson looked up at the ceiling. He had heard something like this before -- maybe they were going to get a day's leave! Mainwaring caught his gaze and sighed: "No need to look like that, Wilson," he said, "this IS big news."
"Really, sir?"
"Yes, really, Wilson," and if you could be so kind as to treat my announcements with a bit more interest and respect it would be appreciated," Mainwaring continued "Now then, pay attention everyone...."

BBC's recent appeal for old material has struck gold! After some 30 years, two classic missing episodes of Dad's Army have amazingly come to light.
A man in his eighties saw the BBC's appeal and contacted the corporation with the news that he had 19 film cans, passed on to him by a friend. Apparently, according to a National London newspaper, the daughter had insisted the friend get rid of the cans which, as an employee, he had rescued from an Elstree Studio skip in the early 1970s and stored ever since.

Discovery of these episodes (first broadcast in March 1969) -- Operation Kilt and The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage -- has understandably delighted BBC Information and Archives' head Paul Fiander, who intends to preserve them for future generations. "This is all we hoped for and more, " Paul enthused.
The film, containing the stories in which Mainwaring's men compete against a Highland Regiment and the one where they mistakenly think the Germans have invaded, was found to be in good condition. There is even a book about the missing episodes!
Dad’s Army -- re-run summer 2001 on BBC 2 on Tuesday evenings -- still proves popular today. The escapades of the sometimes blundering, beleaguered platoon are a thoroughly entertaining way of winding down the evening before, should I say, "putting that light out!"
Finding two missing episodes proves once more that there are, indeed, programmes somewhere out there just waiting to be unearthed!

(Report based on a London newspaper cutting, with due respect to all those involved with Dad's Army).

REGULAR CAST

ARTHUR LOWE as Captain George Mainwaring (pronounced Mannering) /  JOHN LE MESURIER as Sergeant Wilson / CLIVE DUNN as Lance Corporal Jones / JOHN LAURIE as Private Fraser / ARNOLD RIDLEY as Private Godfrey / JAMES BECK as Private Joe Walker (Until season 7) / IAN LAVENDER as Private Pike / BILL PERTWEE as Chief Warden Hodges / FRANK WILLIAMS as The Vicar / EDWARD SINCLAIR as The Verger 

Writers: Jimmy Perry, David Croft / Theme Music sung by Bud Flanagan / Producer: David Croft 

UK / BBC1 / 77x30m-e 1x35m-e 1x40m-e 1x60m-e 1x10m-e / 1968-77 

SEASON ONE

6 episodes / 31 July - 11 September 1968

1. THE MAN AND THE HOUR

When the second world war breaks out bank manager George Mainwaring decides to put himself in charge of the forming of the platoon of Local Defence Volunteers, better known as the Home Guard, in the small coastal town of Walmington-On-Sea, his less than sprightly men included Jones the Butcher, Fraser the town undertaker, naive young Pike a  clerk at his bank, Wilson under Mainwaring at the bank but his social superior and the spiv Joe Walker.

With:- JOHN RINGHAM as Bracewell / JANET DAVIES as Mrs Pike / CAROLINE DOWDESWELL as Janet King

2. MUSEUM PIECE

The Platoon set about getting the equipment necessary to transform themselves into a deadly fighting force.

With:- JANET DAVIES as Mrs Pike / ERIC WOODBURN as Caretaker 

3. COMMAND DECISION

Mainwaring has an important decision to make - one that could see his pride take a fall.

4. THE ENEMY WITHIN THE GATES

The platoon have their hands full with a pair of captured German airmen.

With:- CAROLINE DOWDESWELL as Janet King / CARL JAFFE as Captain Winogrodzki / DENYS PEEK as German Pilot / NIGEL  RIDEOUT as German Pilot / DAVID DAVENPORT as MP Sergeant

5. THE SHOWING UP OF CORPORAL JONES

When it looks like he might have to retire Jones has to prove that he is fit enough for duty.

With:- JANET DAVIES as Mrs Pike / MARTIN WYLDECK as Major Regan / PATRICK WADDINGTON as Brigadier / THERESE McMURRAY as Girl at Window 

6. SHOOTING PAINS

Mainwaring is determined to ensure that his men are the ones ordered to protect a VIP.

With:- BARBARA WINDSOR as Laura La Plaz / JANET DAVIES as Mrs Pike / CAROLINE DOWDESWELL as Janet King / MARTIN WYLDECK as Major Regan / JIMMY PERRY as Charlie Cheeseman

SEASON TWO

6 Episodes / Saturdays 7.00pm / 1 March - 5 April 1969

(7) 1. OPERATION KILT

During a war games exercise Mainwaring's men have to prevent their HQ falling into the hands of a Scottish regiment.

With- JANET DAVIES as Mrs Pike / JAMES OLGILVY as Captain Olgilvy

(8) 2. THE BATTLE OF GODFREY'S COTTAGE

The platoon mount a campaign to prevent Private Godfrey's cottage being demolished.

With:- JANET DAVIES as Mrs Pike / NAN BRAUNTON as Miss Godfrey / COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge

(9) 3. THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE WALKER

Walker has a shock on his hands when he gets his call up papers to join the regular army.

With:- DIANA KING as Chairwoman / PATRICK WADDINGTON as Brigadier / MICHAEL KNOWLES as Captain Cutts

(10) 4. SGT WILSON'S LITTLE SECRET

No one can work out what is wrong with Wilson when he starts to neglect his duties.

With:- JANET DAVIES as Mrs Pike / GRAHAM HARBOARD as Little Arthur

(11) 5. A STRIPE FOR FRASER

Who will be the lucky recipient  when a promotion is in the offing.

With:- GEOFFREY LUMSDEN as Capt/Col Square / JOHN RINGHAM as Captain Bailey

(12) 6. UNDER FIRE 

The platoon becomes convinced that a fifth columnist is at work in Walmington and signaling to the enemy. 

With:- JANET DAVIES as Mrs Pike / GEOFFREY LUMSDEN as Capt/Col Square / JOHN RINGHAM as Captain Bailey / ERNST ULMAN as Sigmund Murphy / QUEENIE WATTS as Mrs Keane

SEASON THREE  

13 Episodes / Thursdays 7.30pm / 11 September - 11 December 1969

(13) 1. THE ARMOURED MIGHT OF LANCE CORPORAL JONES 

Captain Mainwaring decides that Jones's butchers van would be ideal as the platoons new armoured car.

With:- NIGEL HAWTHORNE as Angry Man / JANET DAVIES as Mrs Pike / PAMELA CUNDELL as Mrs Fox / JEAN ST. CLAIR as Mrs Meadows / QUEENIE WATTS as Mrs Peters / HAROLD BENNETT as Old Man

(14). 2. BATTLE SCHOOL 

The Platoon get a shock when they learn they are to practice using live ammunition.

With:- ALAN TILVERN as Captain Rodrigues / ALAN HAINES as Major Smith / COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge

(15) 3. THE LION HAS PHONES

The platoon manages to capture the crew of a crashed enemy plane.

With:- AVRIL ANGERS as Telephone Operator / TIMOTHY CARLTON as Lt Hope Bruce / JANET DAVIES as Mrs  Pike  / STANLEY McGOUGH as Sgt Waller / LINDA JAMES as Betty / GILDA PERRY as Doreen

(16). 4. THE BULLET IS NOT FOR FIRING

Mainwaring decides that a court of inquiry should be set up when the men run out of ammunition.

With:- JANET DAVIES as Mrs  Pike / TIM BARRETT as Captain Pringle / MICHAEL KNOWLES as Captain Cutts / HAROLD BENNETT as Mr Blewitt / MAY WARDEN as Mrs Dowding

(17) 5. SOMETHING NASTY IN THE VAULT

Mainwaring's bank could be on the verge of disintegration when an unexploded bomb is discovered in it.

With:- ROBERT DORNING as Bank Inspector / NORMAN MITCHELL  as Captain Rogers / JANET DAVIES as Mrs  Pike

(18) 6. ROOM AT THE BOTTOM

Captain Mainwaring is somewhat put out when he learns he is not actually a commissioned officer.

With:- ANTHONY SAGER as Drill Sgt Gregory / JOHN RINGHAM as Captain Bailey / COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge

(19) 7. BIG GUNS

The Platoon has its hands full with a consignment of heavy artillery.

With:- EDWARD EVANS as Mr Rees / DON ESTELLE as Man From Pickfords / ROY DENTON as Mr Bennett

(20) 8. THE DAY THE BALLOON WENT UP 

Mainwaring and his men have their hands full with a captured barrage balloon.

With:- NAN BRAUNTON as Cissy / JENNIFER BROWNE as Waaf Sgt / THERE McMURRAY as Girl in Haystack / JACK HAIG as Gardener / HAROLD BENNETT as Mr Blewitt / VIVKI LANE as Girl on Tandam

(21) 9. WAR DANCE

Mainwaring decides to would be a good idea to try and lift the morale of the platoon and sets about organising a dance.

With:- JANET DAVIES as Mrs  Pike / NAN BRAUNTON as Miss Godfrey / OLIVE MERCER as Mrs Yeatman / SALLY DOUGLAS as Blodwen / THE GRAHAM TWINS as Doris and Dora / HUGH HASTINGS as Pianist / ELEANOR SMALE as Mrs Prosser

(22) 10. MENACE FROM THE DEEP

The platoon seek refuge in a barn which just happens to the target in a live ammunition exercise.

With:- STUART SHERWIN as 2nd ARP Warden / BILL TREACHER as 1st Sailor / LARRY MARTYN as 2nd Sailor

(23) 11. BRANDED

Private Godfrey's bravery is questioned when it is discovered he was a conscientious objector during the Great War but it turns out (after the fact that Godfrey was a medal winning hero ambulance driver) that the platoon have things to think about.

With:- NAN BROUGHTON as Miss Godfrey / ROGER AVON as The Doctor / STUART SHERWIN as 2nd ARP Warden

(24) 5. MAN HUNT

The platoon gets itself a four legged recruit.

With:- JANET DAVIES as Mrs  Pike / PATRICK TULL as Supect / ROBERT ALDOUS as German Pilot / ROBERT MOORE as Large Man / LEON CORTEZ as Small Man / OLIVER MERCER as Fierce Lady / MIRANDA HAMPTON as Sexy Lady

(25) 6. NO SPRING FOR FRAZER

Frazers absent mindedness could mean disaster for Mainwaring's men.

With:- HAROLD BENNETT as Mr Blewitt / JOAN COOPER as Miss Baker / RONNIE BRANDON as Mr Drury

(26) 7. SONS OF THE SEA

The men have to quickly find their sea legs when they get themselves a  platoon boat.

With:- MICHAEL WILTON as Mr Maxwell / JOHN LEESON as First Soldier / JONATHAN HOLT as Second Soldier / RALPH BALL as Man on Station

SEASON FOUR

13 Episodes / Fridays 8.00pm / 25 September - 18 December 1970

(27) 1. THE BIG PARADE

It's decided that the Platoon needs a mascot, a Ram is deemed to be the most suitable, the men then have to catch one.

With:- COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge / JANET DAVIES as Mrs  Pike / PAMELA CUNDELL as Mrs Fox

(28) 2. DON'T FORGET THE DRIVER

The men face a test of their ingenuity.

With:- GEOFFREY LUMSDEN as Captain Square / COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge / DON ESTELLE as 2nd ARP Warden / ROBERT RAGLAN as Home Guard Sgt / VERNE MORGAN as Landlord

(29) 3. BOOTS BOOTS BOOTS

The Home Guard have to learn the importance of the three F's; Footwear, footwear, footwear after Mainwaring decides the men need to harden up their marching feet.

With:- ERIK CHITTY as Mr Sedgwick / JANET DAVIES as Mrs  Pike

(30) 4. SERGEANT - SAVE MY BOY

When Pike finds himself accidentally stuck in the middle of a minefield it's Godfrey who 'leaps' to the rescue.

With:- JANET DAVIES as Mrs  Pike / MICHAEL KNOWLES as Engineer Officer

(31) 5. DON'T FENCE ME IN

The men of the Home Guard are detached to guard the local P.O.W. camp.

With:- EDWARD EVANS as General Monteverdi / JOHN RINGHAM as Captain Bailey / LARRY MARTYN as Italian P.O.W.

(32) 6. ABSENT FRIENDS

When Captain Mainwaring is away the rest of the men decide to play.

With:- J.G. DEVLIN as Regan / ARTHUR ENGLISH as Policeman / PATRICK CONNOR as Shamus / VERNE MORGAN as Landlord / MICHAEL LOMAX as 2nd ARP Warden

(33) 7. PUT THAT LIGHT OUT

Idea for episode: Harold Snoad

When they are assigned to guard duty at the lighthouse the platoon accidentally manage to light up the whole of Walmington-On-Sea.

With:- AVRIL ANGERS as Telephone Operator / STUART SHERWIN as 2nd ARP Warden / GORDON PETERS as Lighthouse Keeper

(34) 8. THE TWO AND A HALF FEATHERS

The daring exploits of Jones during previous conflicts (which he often spends time telling the rest of the platoon about) is thrown into doubt.

With:- WENDY RICHARD as Edith / QUEENIE WATTS as Edna / GILDA PERRY as Doreen / LINDA JAMES as Betty / PARNELL McGARRY as Elizabeth / JOHN ASH as Raymond

(35) 9. MUM'S ARMY

Mrs Gray decides the ladies of Walmington-On-Sea should have their own platoon.

With:- JANET DAVIES as Mrs Pike  / CARMEN SILVERA as Mrs Gray / WENDY RICHARD as Edith Parish / PAMELA CUNDELL as Mrs Fox/ ROSEMARY FAITH as Ivy Samways / MELITA MANGER as Waitress

(36) 10. THE TEST

Hodges challenges Mainwaring and his men to the ultimate British challenge - a game of cricket.

With:- FREDDIE TRUMAN as E.C. Egan / DON ESTELLE as Gerald / HAROLD BENNETT as Mr Blewitt

(37) 11. A. WILSON (MANAGER)

Mainwaring is distraught when Wilson is promoted to manager of his own branch in Eastgate and is also made a Lieutenant in the Home Guard.

With:- JANET DAVIES as Mrs Pike / BLAKE BUTLER as Mr West / ROBERT RAGLAN as Captain Pritchard / ARTHUR BROUGH as Mr Boyle / COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge / HUGH HASTINGS as Private Hastings

(38) 12. UNINVITED GUESTS

Walmington-On-Sea has its hands full when a fire in the church hall acts as a Beacon.

With:- ROSE HILL as Mrs Cole / DON ESTELLE as Gerald

(39) 13. FALLEN IDOL

Captain Mainwaring feels the need to prove himself after showing himself up by getting drunk on a Battle School course.

With:- GEOFFREY LUMSDEN as Captain Square / REX GARNER as Captain Ashley-Jones / MICHAEL KNOWLES as Captain Reed / ANTHONY SAGAR as Sgt Major / TOM MENNARD as Mess Orderly / ROBERT RAGLAN as Captain Pritchard

40. CHRISTMAS SPECIAL ONE

25 December 1970

This was a short 10 minutes long part of Christmas Night With the Stars with singing and dancing and no actual plot to speak of.

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL TWO

1x60 minute episode / Monday 7.00pm / 27 December 

41. BATTLE OF THE GIANTS

Mainwaring and his men face the deadly rivals, the Eastgate Platoon, in an initiative test.

With:- GEOFFREY LUMSDEN as Captain Square / ROBERT RAGLAN as Colonel / CHARLES HILL as Sergeant / COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge / ROSEMARY FAITH as Barmaid

SEASON FIVE

13 Episodes / Fridays 8.30pm / 6 October - 29 December 1972

(42) 1. ASLEEP IN THE DEEP

Godfrey and Walker get trapped inside the local pumping station when it is hit during an air raid.

With:- COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge 

(43) 2. KEEP YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL

The platoon have to use devious tactics to make themselves look as young possible when it looks they could be drafted into the ARP.

With:- ROBERT RAGLAN as Colonel / JAMES OTTAWAY as 1st MP / CHARLES MORGAN as 2nd MP / DEREK BOND as Minister

(44) 3. A SOLDIER'S FAREWELL

Mainwaring has strange dream in which he is Napoleon.

With:- ROBERT GILLESPIE as Charles Boyer / JOAN SAVAGE as Greta Garbo / JOY ALLEN as Clippie / COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge

(45) 4. GETTING THE BIRD

Walker manages to get some much need poultry (in the form of pigeon) for put upon butcher Jones.

With:- SERETTA WILSON as The Wren / PAMELA CUNDELL as Mrs Fox / OLIVER MERCER as Mrs Yeatman / ALVAR LIDELL as Newsreader

(46) 5. THE DESPERATE DRIVE OF LANCE CORPORAL JONES

When he learns of a deadly danger facing the platoon Jonesy faces a hazardous journey to inform them.

With:- ROBERT RAGLAN as Colonel / LARRY MARTYN as Signal's Private / JAMES TAYLOR as Artillery Officer

(47) 6. IF THE CAP FITS...

Mainwaring decides that its high time the constant moaning of Frazer was sorted out once and for all.

With:- CAMPBELL SINGER as Major General Menzies / ROBERT RAGLAN as Colonel / ALEX McAVOY as Sergeant / DENNIS BLANCH as 2nd Lieutenant

(48) 7. THE KING WAS IN HIS COUNTING HOUSE

Captain Mainwaring orders the platoon to guard the bank vault after a bomb hits the strong room.

With:- WENDY RICHARD as Shirley / COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge

(49) 8. ALL IS SAFELY GATHERED IN

When Godfrey's old sweetheart needs help getting in the harvest on her farm, Mainwaring decides to let the men help.

With: BRENDA COWLING as Mrs Prentice / COLIN  BEAN as Private Sponge / APRIL WALKER as Judy / TINA CORNIOLI as Olive

(50) 9. WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR MONEY

Jonesy is distraught when he manages to mislay the £500 canteen fund.

With:- TONY HUGHES as Mr Billings / HAROLD BENNETT as Mr Blewitt

(51) 10. BRAIN VERSUS BRAWN

After getting dressed up as firemen to complete an initiative test the men are amzed to find themselves dealing with a real fire.

With:- ROBERT RAGLAN as Colonel / ANTHONY RAY as Mr Fairbrother / MAGGIE DON as Waitress / GEOFFREY HUGHES as Bridge Corporal / DAVID ROSE as Dump Corporal

(52) 11. BRUSH WITH THE LAW

When a light is left on the Church Hall, Hodges decides Mainwaring is to blame and takes him to court.

With:- GEOFFREY LUMSDEN as Captain Square / JEFFREY GARDINER as Mr Wintergreen / STUART SHERWIN as Junior Warden / MARJORIE WILDE as Lady Magistrate / CHRIS GANNON as Clerk of the Court / TONY PERKINS as usher

(53) 12. ROUND AND ROUND WENT THE GREAT BIG WHEEL

The platoon face problems whilst guarding a top secret new weapon which later goes out of control.

With:- GEOFFREY CHATER as Colonel Pearce / EDWARD UNDERDOWN as Major General Sir Charles Holland / MICHAEL KNOWLES as Captain Stewart / JEFFREY SEGAL as Minister / JOHN CLEGG as Wireless Operator

(54) 13. TIME ON MY HANDS

After bailing out of his stricken plane a German pilot finds his parachute caught up in Walmington's town clock - enter Mainwaring and his men.

With:- CHRISTOPHER SANDFORD as German Pilot / HAROLD BENNETT as Mr Blewitt / COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge / JOAN COOPER as Miss Fortescue / ERIC LONGWORTH as Mr Gordon

SEASON SIX

7 Episodes / 31 October - 12 December 1973

(55) 1. THE DEADLY ATTACHMENT

Mainwaring's men have to guard a U-boat crew that landed via a fishing boat.

With:- PHILIP MADOC as U-boat Captain / ROBERT RAGLAN as Colonel / COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge

(56) 2. MY BRITISH BUDDY 

Mainwaring is none too pleased when he learns a platoon of Americans are due in Walmington.

With:- JANET DAVIES as Mrs Pike / WENDY RICHARD as Shirley / ALAN TILVERN as U.S. Colonel / PAMELA CUNDELL as Mrs Fox / VERNE MORGAN as Landlord / TALFRYN THOMAS as Mr Cheeseman / SUZANNE KERCHISS as Ivy / ROBERT RAGLAN as Colonel / BLAIN FAIRMAN as U.S. Sergeant

(57) 3. THE ROYAL TRAIN

Walmington-On-Sea is due to have a Royal Visit - at least that's what Mainwaring believes.

With:- WILLIAM MOORE as Station Master / FREDDIE EARLLE as Henry / RONNIE BRODY as Bob / FRED McNAUGHTON as Mayor / SUE BISHOP as Ticket Collector / BOB HORNERY as City Gent

(58) 4. WE KNOW OUR ONIONS

An efficiency test causes problems for the platoon.

With:- FULTON MACKAY as Captain Ramsay / ALEX McAVOY as Sergeant / PAMELA MANSON as Naafi Girl / CY TOWN as Mess Steward

(59) 5. THE HONOURABLE MAN

After the death of one of his relatives Wilson learns he is almost of blue blood, this of course leaves the supremely jealous Mainwaring seething.

With:- JANET DAVIES as Mrs Pike / ERIC LONGWORTH as Town Clerk / GABOR VERNON as Russian / HNA MARIA PRAVDA as Interpreter / ROBERT RAGLAN as Colonel / PAMELA CUNDELL as Mrs Fox / FRED McNAUGHTON as Mayor

(60) 6. THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT

The Platoon van breaks down outside a strange house which the Platoon are convinced is haunted.

With:- JONATHAN CECIL as Captain Cadbury / COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge

(61) 7. THE RECRUIT

The rest of the platoon don't like it when Wilson thinks the Vicar joining them is a good idea.

With:- SUSAN MAJOLIER as Nurse / LINDSEY DUNN as Small Boy

SEASON SEVEN

6 Episodes / 15 November - 23 December 1974

(62) 1. EVERYBODY'S TRUCKING

A steam engine manages to cause the platoon problems during a job signposting a route for an important exercise.

With:- PAMELA CUNDELL as Mrs Fox / OLIVE MERCER as Mrs Yeatman / FELIX BOWNESS as Driver / COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge / HAROLD BENNETT as Mr Blewitt

(63) 2. MAN OF ACTION

Mainwaring declares a state of Martial Law after a bomb drops on the dge of Walmington.

With:- TALFRYN THOMAS as Private Cheeseman / ERIC LONGWORTH as Town Clerk / HAROLD BENNETT as Mr Bluett / ARNOLD PETERS as Fire Officer Dale / JAY DENYER as Inspector Baker / ROBERT MILL as Captain Swan / COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge

(63) 3. GORILLA WARFARE

The platoon face an important exercise against the regular army and Mainwaring decides to take a leading role.

With:- TALFRYN THOMAS as Private Cheeseman / MICHAEL SHARVELL-MARTIN as Lieutenant / VERNE MORGAN as Farmer / ROBIN PARKINSON as Lieutenant Wood / ERIK CHITTY as Mr Clerk / ROBERT RAGLAN as Colonel / RACHEL THOMAS as Mother Superior

(64) 4. THE GODIVA AFFAIR

To aid the Spitfire Fund, the Platoon form a Morris dance group to take part in a charity carnival.

With:- TALFRYN THOMAS as Private Cheeseman / JANET DAVIES as Mrs Pike / PAMELA CUNDELL as Mrs Fox / ERIC LONGWORTH as Town Clerk / PETER HONRI as Private Day / ROSEMARY FAITH as Waitress / COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge / GEORGE HANCOCK as Private Hancock

(65) 5. THE CAPTAIN'S CAR

Mainwaring allows his ego to get even more inflated when Lady Maltby allows him the use of her Rolls Royce for the duration, problems occur though when he decides it needs camouflaging.

With:- TALFRYN THOMAS as Private Cheeseman / ROBERT RAGLAN as Colonel / FRED MacNAUGHTON as Mayor / MAVIS PUGH as Lady maltby

(67) 6. TURKEY DINNER

After a drunken Jonesy shoots a Turkey the platoon decide to use it by giving a dinner for the pensioners of the town.

With:- TALFRYN THOMAS as Private Cheeseman / HAROLD BENNETT as Mr Bluett / PAMELA CUNDELL as Mrs Fox / JANET DAVIES as Mrs Pike / OLIVE MERCER as Mrs Yeatman / DAVE BUTLER as Farmhand

SEASON EIGHT

6 Episodes / Fridays 8.00pm / 5 September - 10 October 1975

(68) 1. RING DEM BELLS

Mainwaring agrees to the platoon taking part in a training film, they have to pretend to be German soldiers, unfortunately nobody has told the vicar who thinks an invasion is under way.

With:- JACK HAIG as Landlord / ROBERT RAGLAN as Colonel / FELIX BOWNESS as Special Constable / JOHN BARDON as Harold Forster / HILDA FENEMORE as Queenie / JANET MAHONEY as Barmaid / ADELE STRONG as Lady With Umbrella

(69) 2. WHEN YOU'VE GOT TO GO

Pike's Mother is distraught when he gets his call up papers after being passed as A-1.

With:- JANET DAVIES as Mrs Pike / COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge /  ERIC LONGWORTH as Town Clerk / FREDDIE EARLLE as Italian Sergeant / TIM BARRETT as Doctor / FRANKIE HOLMES as Fishmonger

(70) 3. IS THERE HONEY STILL FOR TEA?

The team leap into action when it looks like Private Godfrey's cottage could be demolished (to make way for a new runway).

With:- ROBERT RAGLAN as Colonel / CAMPBELL SINGER as Sir Charles McAllister / JOAN COOPER as Dolly / KATHLEEN SAINSBURY as Cissy

(71) 4. COME IN, YOUR TIME IS UP

After finding a group of German soldiers stuck in a dinghy on a boating lake Captain Mainwaring's men have to go in and get them.

With:- HAROLD BENNETT as Mr Bluett / COLIN BEAN as Sponge

(72) 5. HIGH FINANCE

To help a cash strapped Jonesy, Mainwaring, Wilson and Pike agree to look over his books.

With:- JANET DAVIES as Mrs Pike / RONNIE BRODY as Mr Swann /  NATALIE KENT as Miss Twelvetrees

(73) 6. THE FACE ON THE POSTER 

Mainwaring decides to set up a recruitment campaign. 

With:- PETER BUTTERWORTH as Mr Bugden / HAROLD BENNETT as Mr Bluett (note the different spelling for some reason) / GABOR VERNON as Polish Officer / COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge / BILL TASKER as Fred / MICHAEL BOVIS as Police Sergeant

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL THREE

1 Episode / 26 December 1975

74. MY BROTHER AND I

Captain Mainwaring's drunken brother (looking much like much Arthur Lowe) pays him a visit much to Mainwaring's embarrassment. 

With:- PENNY IRVING as The Chambermaid / ARNOLD DIAMOND as Major General / COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FOUR

1 Episode / 26 December 1976 

75. THE LOVE OF THREE ORANGES

The vicar enlists the platoon to raise money for sending home comforts to the troops overseas.

With:- PAMELA CUNDELL as Mrs Fox / JANET DAVIES as Mrs Pike / JOAN COOPER as Dolly / ERIC LONGWORTH as Town Clerk / OLIVE MERCER as Mrs Yeatman / COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge

SEASON NINE

6 Episodes / 2 October - 13 November 1977

(76) 1. WAKE UP WALMINGTON

The town of Walmington-On-Sea faces a challenge.

(77) 2. THE MAKING OF PRIVATE PIKE

Pike borrows Mainwaring's new staff car to take his girlfriend to the pictures but then has trouble on his hands when the car breaks down.

With:- JEAN GILPIN as Pike's Girlfriend

(78) 3. KNIGHTS OF MADNESS

During Wings of Victory week Mainwaring and his men decide to stage the rousing story of St George.

(79) 4. THE MISER'S HOARD

Mainwaring has designs on Frazer's cache of gold sovereigns trying to persuade him they would be better off in the bank but Frazer is none too keen.

(80) 5. NUMBER ENGAGED

An explosive situation awaits the platoon on their latest assignment.

With:- RONNIE BRODY as GPO Man / BERNICE ADAMS as ATS Girl / FELIX BOWNESS as Van Driver / ROBERT MILL as Army Captain

(81) 6. NEVER TOO OLD

Corporal Jones proposes to Mrs Fox who accepts leading to the platoon pulling out all the stops to make sure their wedding day goes without a hitch.

With:- PAMELA CUNDELL as Mrs Fox / JANET DAVIES as Mrs Pike / COLIN BEAN as Private Sponge / JOAN COOPER as Dolly / ROBERT RAGLAN as Colonel

Interestingly Captain Mainwaring's wife is often mentioned on the show but is never seen, and it's worth bearing in mind that all of the older members of the cast would have been involved in some form or another in the second world war.