Viewing Dad’s Army should be part of citizenship preparation in this country. No television programme better demonstrates the curious British split personality. On the one hand we are often pompous, officious, xenophobic, hypocritical, bumbling and class-ridden; on the other courageous, generous, decent, inventive and finding humour in the least thing.
The TV programme originally ran from 1968 to 1977, but has been repeated almost constantly since. It also spawned a radio version and spin-off; and a wonderful film. It is truly a British institution.
There is of course much comedy; the slapstick of Corporal Jones and often of Captain Mainwaring; the lewd or cutting asides of Walker; the class warfare of Captain/Manager and Sergeant/Chief Clerk; the continuous doom-mongering of Frazer; and good old-fashioned toilet jokes about Godfrey. But underneath the laughter there is respect for what the Home Guard was prepared for – to be cannon fodder to slow a German advance in the event of invasion.
Arthur Lowe was born to play George Mainwaring; likewise John Le Mesurier Arthur Wilson. And there too lies another secret of the show’s success: the quality of its cast: John Laurie was a Shakespearean actor and Ealing Comedy stalwart; Arnold Ridley not only a player but also a noted writer for the theatre.
Add to those ingredients Jimmy Perry and David Croft ’s genius with catch-phrases which have entered our national language: you stupid boy; they don’t like it up ‘em; do you think that’s wise, sir? and you have the recipe for a classic piece of television, and a small but powerful piece of our identity.
More British Institutions
Afternoon Tea
Allotments
April Fools Day
Big Ben
Binge Drinking
Black Cabs
Bonfire Night
British Sense of Humour
Brown Windsor Soup
Burns Night
Cadburys
Castles
Changing the Guard
City of London
Coronation Street
Cowes Week
Cricket
Crufts
Dad’s Army
E-Type Jag
Eccentricity
English Country Garden
Fish and Chips
Fish Fingers
Fox Hunting
Full English Breakfast
Gin and Tonic
Glastonbury
Glorious Goodwood
Grand National
Grouse Shooting
Harrods
Highland Games
Hogmanay
James Bond
John Bull
King Arthur
Land Rover
Lloyds of London
London to Brighton Veteran Car Rally
Marks and Spencer
Monty Python
Morecambe and Wise
Old School Tie
Oxbridge
Panto
Picnics
Pimms
Point-to-Point
Punch and Judy
Queueing
Real Ale
Red Arrows
Red Telephone Boxes
Remembrance Poppies
Robin Hood
Rolls Royce
Royal Ascot
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Savile Row Suits
School Discos
School Sports Day
Seaside Piers
Speakers’ Corner
Stag Nights
Stiff Upper Lip
Strawberries and Cream
Street Markets
Summer Festivals
Sunday Roasts
The Archers
The BBC
The Beano
The Boat Race
The Brass Band
The British Bobby
The Bulldog
The Church of England
The Cup Final
The Curry House
The English Rose
The Garden Shed
The Honours System
The Kilt
The Last Night at the Proms
The London Bus
The Mini
The National Trust
The NHS
The Oak
The Pub
The Queen’s Speech
The Rolling Stones
The Royal Christmas Message
The Spitfire
The V Sign
The Village Fete
The Weather
Travelling Fairs
Trooping the Colour
Village Greens
Wedgwood
Wellington Boots
Wimbledon
Wine Gums
Yeomen of the Guard
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