List of Dad's Army characters

The characters of Dad's Army (left to right): Privates Pike and Frazer, ARP Warden Hodges, Private Godfrey, Captain Mainwaring, Private Walker, Lance Corporal Jones and Sergeant Wilson

This is a list of characters in the British television comedy series Dad's Army. In addition to the seven main characters, all members of the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard platoon, the series featured a large cast of recurring characters, many of whom began to appear regularly in episodes, particularly following the death of James Beck (who played Private Walker). In addition, a number of characters appeared in significant roles for a single episode or series.

Main platoon members

Captain Mainwaring

Main article: Captain Mainwaring

Mainwaring (/ˈmænərɪŋ/ MAN-ər-ing) was played by Arthur Lowe. He was the pompous - if essentially brave and unerringly patriotic - local bank manager. Mainwaring appointed himself leader of his town's contingent of Local Defence Volunteers. Of the platoon, he and Private Walker were the only adult members with no prior combat experience, and therefore had no medals, which was a source of embarrassment for Mainwaring and sometimes caused tension with the other members. He did, however, serve in France, "during the whole of 1919—somebody had to clear up the mess". Although an ensemble piece, the series focused particularly upon Mainwaring, who has invested all his efforts into the platoon as a way of escaping from an unhappy marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of a Bishop, and a stalled career at the bank.

Sergeant Wilson

Main article: Sergeant Wilson

Wilson, played by John Le Mesurier, was a diffident, upper-class bank clerk and Mainwaring's inferior in the bank and on parade. Nevertheless, his suave, understated social superiority, public school education and handsome looks led to a certain amount of jealousy on Mainwaring's part, which Wilson was never particularly bothered by. He would also subtly question Mainwaring's judgement by asking "do you think that's wise, Sir?" after Mainwaring had given an instruction. Their rivalry came to the fore in "A. Wilson (Manager)?", in which Wilson is appointed manager of another bank, and "The Honourable Man", when Wilson inherits a title. Wilson lodged with Mrs Pike and her son Frank and it is implied, though never explicitly stated, that he is Frank's father. During the First World War Wilson had been a Captain and fought in the Royal Artillery at Mons, Gallipoli and the Somme.

Lance Corporal Jones

Main article: Lance Corporal Jones

Jones was the oldest member of the platoon (born 1870), but was played by Clive Dunn, who was in his 40s when he took the role. Jones was an old campaigner who had joined the British Army as a boy soldier and served under Kitchener of Khartoum in the Sudan between 1896 and 1898, the Boer War, and the First World War. By 1940 he worked as the town butcher, which enabled him to occasionally supplement his superiors' meat ration. Jones was leader of the platoon's first section. He has a story for every occasion, and will never hesitate in telling it, regardless of how long-winded or irrelevant it is. Despite his age Jones demonstrates an almost boyish enthusiasm for combat, in particular the use of the bayonet, accompanied by his catchphrase "they don't like it up 'em!" He was easily excitable and would repeatedly yell "don't panic!" during moments of crisis. He was also keen to volunteer for any task, no matter how ill-advised it might be. In "Battle of the Giants!" Jones suffered a malaria relapse.

Private Frazer

Main article: Private Frazer

Frazer was played by John Laurie. The character, who was born in 1872, was a dour Scottish coffin maker and a retired Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Navy who fought at the Battle of Jutland (although as a cook). Frazer was blunt, tight with money, and had a gloomy outlook on life; he would proclaim "We're doomed!" during bleak moments faced by the platoon. In the early episodes Frazer was the keeper of a philately shop, but by series four the writers had decided that he should become the local undertaker, in keeping with his gloomy nature. Openly eager for more power within the platoon, he sometimes led rebellions against Mainwaring; in response Mainwaring temporarily let Frazer take over as captain in "If the Cap Fits...". Frazer was the only member of the platoon to be portrayed as a villain in episodes such as "A Soldier's Farewell" and "The Two and a Half Feathers", though for the most part he was loyal and well-intentioned. Despite his age, he is one of the more competent members of the platoon.

Private Walker

Main article: Private Walker

Walker was played by James Beck in the television series and seven episodes of the radio series, Graham Stark for five radio episodes with Larry Martyn for the remainder of the radio series. A black market "spiv" (he called himself a "wholesale supplier"), Walker was the only fit, able-bodied man of military age in Walmington-on-Sea's home guard. His absence from the regular armed forces was due to a corned beef allergy, although it was implied that Walker had probably found a way to play the system. Mainwaring often turned a blind eye to his profiteering as he could supply the platoon (and Mainwaring) with useful items. On more than one occasion, Walker's willingness to use underhand tactics allowed Mainwaring's platoon to triumph over rivals in the Home Guard, Army and ARP. He irritated Mainwaring with his penchant for making wisecracks at inappropriate times. Following Beck's death in 1973, Walker was written out of the series. The platoon found a note from Walker, explaining that he had gone to "The Smoke" to conduct some business and he was not heard from again.

Private Godfrey

Main article: Private Godfrey

Played by Arnold Ridley, Godfrey was the most frail member of the platoon, and was the platoon's medical orderly. He had served in the First World War as a conscientious-objecting stretcher bearer in the Royal Army Medical Corps, winning the Military Medal before becoming a tailor at the Army & Navy Stores. Godfrey was an amiable, vague, lifelong bachelor who lived with his sisters in an idyllic cottage, and was a martyr to his weak bladder, leading to many requests to be "excused". He was very loyal to Captain Mainwaring, except on one occasion when he took part in a plot to make Mainwaring's feet hurt.

Private Pike

Main article: Private Pike

The youngest platoon member (born 1922) - played by Ian Lavender - Pike, a cosseted mother's boy and often the target of Mainwaring's derision ("You stupid boy"), was a junior bank clerk. He called Wilson "Uncle Arthur", and although never explicitly stated, it was often evident that Wilson and Pike's mother were having a relationship, which they unsuccessfully tried to hide, and Walmington is rife with gossip about the two of them. Wilson is often seen having meals at Mrs Pike's house with Frank, and Pike mentions several times that Wilson spends the night (although he believes he sleeps on the sofa, whilst Wilson accidentally lets slip that he was in fact in bed with Mrs Pike.) It was also occasionally suggested that Wilson was Pike's father (although the writers only acknowledged this in interviews after the programme ended). In an early episode when asked by Captain Mainwaring why Frank calls him "Uncle Arthur" when he is not a blood relation Wilson states that it was Mrs Pike who had insisted from an early age Frank call him "Uncle Arthur" and that this dates from a point in Frank's childhood when Frank had started to "accidentally" call Arthur Wilson "something else ...Daddy". He frequently threatens to set his mother on Mainwaring whenever he is shouted at or forced to do anything he doesn't want to do. He has the lowest position at Swallow bank, subordinate to both Wilson and Mainwaring.

Non-platoon characters

Chief ARP Warden Hodges

Chief ARP Warden Hodges

Hodges (Bill Pertwee) is Mainwaring's main rival in Walmington-on-Sea. A greengrocer by trade, following the outbreak of war he has been given power as Chief Air Raid Warden, and that power has gone to his head. He can be as pompous and officious as Mainwaring, but is more uncouth and coarse. Even the usually calm Godfrey tells Hodges he is a "rude, common and nasty fellow".[1] He delights in antagonising the platoon, in particular Mainwaring, whom he calls "Napoleon".[2] This rivalry increased after he was forced to share the church hall with Mainwaring after his headquarters was bombed.[3] Unlike Mainwaring, Hodges did fight in the First World War, and developed a profound dislike of "bloomin' Yanks" in the process.[4]

Hodges tries to take charge of important situations as an 'ARP matter' - however, as he also displays a cowardly streak, in any danger he is quick to transfer command back to Mainwaring and withdraw.[5] In several episodes, Hodges refers to having "funny turns", which hints that his mental faculties are less than perfect.[6] In many episodes, Hodges, and his co-conspirator, the verger, try to sabotage the platoon's efforts, usually at the command of Captain Square.[7] but these efforts typically backfire - a running gag being that Hodges would be thrown into a lake or river.

In the episode "High Finance", Mrs Pike (Janet Davies) reveals that Hodges is her Landlord, and raised the rent on her house from one pound a month to two pounds a month, which she couldn't afford. He told her she could owe it, only to later say that she owed him fifty pounds in back rent, which he would forget if she was 'nice' to him. He claims to have 'admired Mrs Pike for years', although she is 'besotted' with Sergeant Arthur Wilson.

Despite his hostility toward the platoon, Hodges has sided with the platoon in times of need; in the episode "Wake Up Walmington", due to there never being an invasion from the Germans, the townspeople had grown indifferent and contemptuous toward the platoon and the wardens. To shock them out of their apathy, the platoon and Hodges joined forces and disguised themselves as foreign invaders to scare the town into taking the war - and them - seriously again.

Hodges has a Scottish nephew, Hamish, who insulted both the Home Guard and the ARP in "The Recruit", and a niece named Sylvia who briefly dates Private Pike, much to both Hodges' and Mrs. Pike's chagrin in "The Making of Private Pike".

His feelings towards both Mainwaring and his wartime responsibilities were summed up in the episode "Time on my Hands". While Mainwaring is stuck up the town hall clock tower, Hodges shouts:

“ I hope you stay up there to let me enjoy this war in peace! Because I do enjoy this war. I've never enjoyed anything as much in all my life... And you! You always spoil it! ”

Mrs. Mavis Pike

Mavis Pike

Mrs. Mavis Pike (Janet Davies) was Pike's mother, who appeared in many episodes. She is fiercely protective of Pike and Wilson, to the point that she is accused of "mollycoddling" by Captain Mainwaring. Pike often claims his mother will be 'furious' whenever he gets wet or muddy whilst with the Home Guard. Pike often threatens to "tell mum" when Wilson will not let him get his own way, and tries to frighten Mainwaring by setting Mrs. Pike on him. She can be quite formidable when she wants to; in the episode "The Making of Private Pike", Mainwaring threatened to arrest Pike and his mother vowed to Wilson that she would make the rest of his life a misery if he let Mainwaring take him away. Mrs. Pike's occupation - if she has one - is unknown, although she often volunteers her services to the Home Guard. Warden Hodges is her landlord, and he is enamored with her but she does not reciprocate his feelings.

It is also implied very heavily that Mrs. Pike is Sergeant Wilson's lover, and there are many rumours of Pike being Wilson's son, a fact often pointed out to Wilson by Mainwaring. Both arrived from Weston-super-Mare around the same time, and Wilson unofficially lives with them (although Pike naively believes Wilson sleeps on the sofa, despite it never looking as though it's been slept in.) It is not clear if Mrs Pike is an actual widow, as her late husband has never been clearly mentioned, although Wilson admits as a child, Pike called him "daddy", meaning that any husband she had must have died when Pike was a baby. Wilson claims that "She's a widow and she has my ration book and I go round to her house sometimes for meals... and that sort of thing" and she often asks him if he will be around to her house for his "usual", much to his embarrassment. There are instances in which people remark on the similarity of Sgt Wilson and Private Pike (in particular their mannerisms in the episode "Boots, Boots, Boots"). In the episode "Sgt. Wilson's Little Secret" Wilson agrees to marry Mrs Pike when the impending arrival of an evacuee child at the Pike household is miscommunicated to him in such a way that he believes Mrs. Pike to be pregnant. When the misunderstanding is resolved Sgt. Wilson jilts her at the altar - as is explained in the opening dialog of the next episode "A Stripe for Frazer". In the 1971 film, Mrs. Pike was played by Liz Frazer.

The Reverend Timothy Farthing MA (Oxon)

Rev. Timothy Farthing

Farthing (Frank Williams) is the petulant, ineffectual, but kind and well-meaning vicar of St Aldhelm's Church, Walmington-on-Sea. Neither on the side of the Home Guard, nor the ARP Wardens, he attempts to care for "The spiritual needs of (his) parishioners", despite the many setbacks presented during the war, such as having to share his church hall and office with both the pompous Captain Mainwaring and the uncouth Warden Hodges. He is portrayed as a spiritual and learned man, and is shown to be a Master of Arts of the University of Oxford by his academic hood, worn in the episode "All is Safely Gathered In".

In many episodes he ends up embroiled in the escapades of the platoon, often by accident, and he joins the Home Guard briefly in "The Recruit". In the episode "Time on My Hands" it is revealed that his hobby is archery, when he uses his skills and equipment to rescue the platoon. This episode also includes one of many insinuations from Chief Warden Hodges that the slightly effeminate Vicar may have homosexual tendencies: "I've heard you're an expert in fairies".

The Vicar's sexuality is left open to speculation but he is never seen to have a romantic attachment to anyone of either sex; however in the episode "The Captain's Car", the Vicar expected a kiss from a visiting French general and was annoyed when he did not receive one. Farthing is also fond of whisky and there is a recurring gag (in pub situations) where Captain Mainwaring will offer to buy the Vicar a drink and the Vicar will respond "a double whisky (or scotch) please" at a time when whisky was in short supply and expensive. Just as Captain Mainwaring is resigning himself to pay for this expensive beverage the Verger will usually insist that Captain Mainwaring change "his Reverence's" order to a single rather than a double as "he's a martyr to it". When Mainwaring orders a single rather than a double the Vicar will then inform him that he has "noticed" this and insinuate that Captain Mainwaring is mean.

Maurice Yeatman

Maurice Yeatman, the Verger

Mr Yeatman (Edward Sinclair) is the local verger and captain of the local Sea Scouts unit. Although his name is Maurice, in the episode 'War Dance,' Jones announces both he and his battleaxe wife as "Mr and Mrs Henry Yeatman". He was often hostile to the platoon. Labelled a "troublemaker" by Jones, he is ridiculously loyal to the vicar, and to his good friend and accomplice to Hodges when it comes to causing problems for the platoon. He is constantly asserting the Vicar's opinions on subjects often only to have the Vicar tell him to "be quiet, Mr Yeatman" and override him or simply to restate what Mr Yeatman has already said in his own words. Often when the Verger puts forward a morally judgemental opinion the Vicar will respond that "I've really no idea".

Apart from the menial task of cleaning the hall (Mr Yeatman is referred to in early episodes simply as "the caretaker" and almost always seen to be carrying a yellow duster) he occupies a position of complete political impotence and when the need for his presence at an event is questioned he will respond "I'm here in my capacity". Often when Captain Mainwaring and the Reverend Timothy Farthing or other members of the cast hand each other a physical MacGuffin important to the plot (for example the money in "High Finance") the Verger will interject snatching the object off the person it has been given to only to hand it back to them in order to make clear his "important" but superfluous role in the administrative processes of the parish.

Mr Yeatman is also in charge of counting the church collections after services which he often does in the Red Lion public house. Throughout the series, there are numerous insinuations from Lance-Corporal Jones and Chief Warden Hodges that Mr Yeatman is engaged in the systematic embezzlement of church funds, but the Vicar seems to be either in denial of this reality, too trusting and naive to believe it or he simply turns a blind eye.

Mrs Fox

Mrs Fox

Pamela Cundell as Mrs Fox (right), with Janet Davies (left) as Mavis Pike
First appearance The Lion Has Phones
Last appearance Never Too Old
Portrayed by Pamela Cundell (television)
Mollie Sugden (radio)
Information
Occupation Housewife
Relatives Mr Fox (deceased husband)
Jack Jones (second husband)
Unnamed Brother

Mrs Marcia Mildred Fox is played by the actress[8] Pamela Cundell.[9] In the first episode in which she appears[10] she is seen queueing for meat at Jones the Butchers'.

The amorous, larger than life Mrs Fox (Pamela Cundell) gives her matronly attentions freely to the platoon's men and she eventually marries the elderly but eligible Corporal Jones. (Lance Pettit, Museum of Broadcast Communications)

Described by Captain Mainwaring as a "flashy woman", like many of Jones's customers, on producing her ration book she receives an extra sausage, much to the chagrin of another shopper, the actress Olive Mercer (herself later to join the cast as the wife of Mr Yeatman, the verger). In return, Jones receives an enormous wink that sets the tone for much of what was to follow as the role develops. Mildred (originally Marcia) Fox is an ebullient woman, who has an off-screen husband in this first episode.[11]

By "The Big Parade", transmitted exactly a year later[12] she is referred to as a widow, so presumably she lost her husband between these episodes. What followed was a long running saga in which Corporal Jones wooed Mrs Fox, often with hilarious consequences, with at one point Jones describing the relationship as merely teutonic (sic)[13] Whenever he seems to be making progress a setback occurs: for example the arrival of American servicemen turns the heads of the Walmington-on-Sea women.[14]

Victoria Wood points out[15] that part of the success of Dad's Army came from its juxtaposition of comedic situations such as the rivalry between various ladies of the town to play Lady Godiva[16] and the exploration of far deeper, more complex emotions[17] between older people. As the series drew to an end co- creators David Croft and Jimmy Perry debated whether to marry off Jones and his "Merry Widow".[18] This finally came to pass in the last episode of the series, much to the delight of a massive television audience.[19] Right at the end, she refers to herself as "Mrs. Jones".

The actress Mollie Sugden played the role in the radio series.

Other platoon members

In addition to the seven featured players, 1st Platoon 'B' Company also included a "Second Section" and a "Third Section" who filled the platoon up to size while on parade or display. The men of the platoon wear the cap badges of the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment. The back rows rarely spoke, although according to Jimmy Perry instead of "extras", they were normally retired actors, playwrights or singers.[20] A handful of platoon members had a secondary but significant role in particular episodes:-

Other members of the platoon were named as:

These were played by Leslie Noyes, Vic Taylor, Freddie White, Freddie Wiles, Hugh Cecil, Richard Jacques, Peter Whitaker, Alec Coleman, Frank Godfrey, Michael Moore, Evan Ross, William Gossling, Vernon Drake, Graham Hamilton, David Seaforth and Jimmy Mac, among others.

Recurring characters

Guest characters

References

  1. ↑ "Time on my Hands"
  2. ↑ "A Brush With the Law"
  3. ↑ "Unwelcome Guests"
  4. ↑ "The Big Parade"
  5. ↑ Something Nasty in the Vault
  6. ↑ "Put that Light Out"
  7. ↑ "Don't Forget the Diver", "Gorilla Warfare"
  8. ↑ See warm appreciation in fellow cast member Bill Pertwee's ca Television Legend (Sutton, Foreland 1989) ISBN 1-872699-28-6
  9. ↑ Cundell's professional CV
  10. ↑ The Lion Has Phones Series 3, Episode 3 (originally transmitted on 25 September 1969)- in which she is credited as one of the "Ladies in butcher's queue"
  11. ↑ In that opening scene she quite clearly states that her husband "...will have his little bit of brisket, you know." S3,E3(ibid)
  12. ↑ Series 4, Episode 1 as stated in Complete A-Z of Dad's Army (Webber, Ed)London, Orion 2000 ISBN 0-7528-1838-4
  13. ↑ Dad's Army. The Story Of A Classic Television Show McCann, G London, Fourth Estate 2001. ISBN 1-84115-308-7
  14. ↑ My British Buddy Series 6 E2 8 November 1973
  15. ↑ 28 May 2000 BBC1 Don't Panic! The Dad's Army Story, a 50-minute documentary researched and hosted by Victoria Wood (repeated by BBC2 on 28 December 2001)
  16. ↑ The Godiva Affair Series 7, Episode 4: 6 December 1974
  17. ↑ For example, Captain Mainwaring's feelings for Mrs Gray (Carmen Silvera) in "Mum's Army" ( S4, E9 )
  18. ↑ See their Dad's Army (Sphere 1976) ISBN 0-7221-0406-5
  19. ↑ On line biography
  20. ↑ McCann, 64
  21. ↑ David Croft, Dad's Army: The Complete Scripts, Orion 2003, p.13
  22. ↑ "The Godiva Affair"
  23. ↑ "Mum's Army"
  24. ↑ Graham McCann (2001) Dad's Army
  25. ↑ "Gorilla Warfare"
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