"Captain Mainwaring Captain George Mainwaring () is a fictional character portrayed by Arthur Lowe in the BBC television sitcom ""Dad's Army"". He is the bank manager and Home Guard platoon commander, in the fictional seaside town of Walmington-on-Sea during the Second World War. He has become widely accepted and regarded as a classic British comic character owing to the popularity of both ""Dad's Army"" and Lowe's portrayal of him. Mainwaring was born in 1885 to Edmund Mainwaring and is a pompous, blustering figure with an overdeveloped sense of his importance, fuelled by his social status in Walmington-on-Sea as the bank"
"Captain Mainwaring and who was an active Conservative. When Dunn was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1975, it was reported that Lowe would only accept a higher-rated honour from the Queen. The playwright Tom Stoppard has been rumoured to have written a play based on this clash of personalities and politics in 1970s Britain. After ""Dad's Army"" ended, Dunn capitalised on his skill in playing elderly character roles by playing the lead character Charlie Quick, in the slapstick children's TV series ""Grandad"", from 1979 to 1984 (he played the caretaker at a village"
"manager named Mainwaring and his chief clerk named Wilson, both of whom are in the Home Guard. When he hears the names Mainwaring and Wilson, Gary begins singing the ""Dad's Army"" theme song. In June 2010, a statue of Captain Mainwaring by sculptor Sean Hedges-Quinn was erected in the Norfolk town of Thetford, where most of the TV series ""Dad's Army"" was filmed. The statue shows Captain Mainwaring sitting upright on a simple bench in Home Guard uniform, with his swagger stick across his knees. The statue is mounted at the end of a winding brick pathway with a Union"
"Lowe walked in and read for the producers. Lowe, who went on to become most recognised as Captain Mainwaring in sitcom Dad's Army, was already an established actor by the time of his Coronation Street casting, having been in several feature films, but it was his turn as pompous Mr. Swindley that made him a household name in the early 60s. In December 1961, only a year after the show's launch, a strike of the actor's union Equity meant that Lowe, who was not under contract with the show at that point, was forced to leave the series along with"
"Mum's Army ""Mum's Army"" is the ninth episode of the fourth series of the British comedy series ""Dad's Army"" that was originally transmitted on Friday 20 November 1970. Captain Mainwaring's plans to involve the women of the town in the platoon become rather too personal. Mainwaring is convening a parade, and is growing fed up of Jones' slowness. Walker suggests nodding his head whenever he wants them to come to attention, and Jones will understand. Mainwaring dismisses this, but Jones takes it on board, standing to attention and standing at ease whenever Mainwaring nods his head. Mainwaring informs the platoon"
"Arthur Lowe Arthur Lowe (22 September 1915 – 15 April 1982) was an English actor. His career spanned over thirty years, including starring roles in numerous theatre and television productions. He played Captain Mainwaring () in the British sitcom ""Dad's Army"" from 1968 until 1977, was nominated for seven BAFTAs and became one of the most recognised faces on television. Lowe began his working life shortly before the Second World War (1939–1945) and he featured in many theatrical performances. It was not until he landed the part of Leonard Swindley in the British television soap ""Coronation Street"" that he became"
"Walmington-on-Sea Walmington-on-Sea is a fictional seaside resort that is the setting of ""Dad's Army"", including the BBC Television sitcom, the BBC Radio 4 series and two feature films (1971 and 2016). Walmington-on-Sea is on the south coast of England which, following the fall of France and the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk during the Second World War, found itself on the front line against Hitler. It is situated in Sussex and the nearest large town is Eastbourne, where Captain Mainwaring was educated in the local grammar school. The series followed the adventures and misadventures of members of"
"featuring the characters from the show at a Christmas party, among whom was Mainwaring's unseen wife Elizabeth – or rather, what the children thought she looked like (Mainwaring remarks ""Good grief. What a remarkable likeness!""). Arthur Lowe made a second appearance as Captain Mainwaring on ""Blue Peter"" with the ""Dad's Army"" van which would appear in the forthcoming London-Brighton run and showed presenter John Noakes the vehicle's hidden anti-Nazi defences. During its original television run, ""Dad's Army"" was nominated for a number of British Academy Television Awards, although only won ""Best Light Entertainment Production Team"" in 1971. It was nominated"
"of fighting unit. Mainwaring has no combat experience, which causes tension with the other members of the Home Guard, particularly Wilson, who was a decorated Captain in the Royal Artillery (Mons, Gallipoli) during the First World War. Mainwaring did, however, serve in the Army of Occupation in France, ""during the whole of 1919 — somebody had to clear up the mess."". He volunteered to enlist in 1914 but was rejected with poor eyesight. (During the Second World War, John Le Mesurier, who played Wilson, had been a captain while Arthur Lowe was a Sergeant Major. Lowe tried to enlist in"
"Mainwaring refers to Pike as 'stupid boy' as he did in the series.<ref> Private Pike Private Frank Pike is a fictional Home Guard private and junior bank clerk; he was appointed as the platoon's information officer by Captain Mainwaring in The Man and the Hour. He is frequently referred to by Captain Mainwaring as ""stupid boy"". In the BBC television sitcom ""Dad's Army"" he was portrayed by Ian Lavender. Pike was born in 1922, and is the youngest of the Walmington-on-Sea platoon. Aged 17 when the series begins, he is not old enough to join the army, although presumably he"
"they'll find the orange rather bitter: it's for making marmalade with! The episode must be set prior to 25 June 1941, as Mainwaring refers to 'our Finnish allies'. On 25 June 1941, the UK declared war on Finland, following Finland's invasion of the USSR along with Germany and her allies. No new series of Dad's Army was made in 1976 due to the cast touring the stage version of the show across the UK, so a Christmas Special was made instead. This would be the first year since 1971 that no new series of the show would be produced and"
"Absent Friends (Dad's Army) Absent Friends is the sixth episode of the fourth series of the British comedy series ""Dad's Army"" that was originally transmitted on Friday 30 October 1970. Taking advantage of Captain Mainwaring's absence, the platoon take part in a pub darts match against the ARP wardens. Sergeant Wilson is singing to himself in Mainwaring's office. Suddenly, Mainwaring enters, which is a shock to Wilson, as Mainwaring had gone to a Lodge meeting in London for the weekend. Wilson asks if it was cancelled, but Mainwaring admits he didn't go after all as Elizabeth doesn't like being in"
"not to shoot revealing himself as an army officer. The Colonel congratulates them on winning the exercise, while a slumped Mainwaring passes out. Gorilla Warfare (Dad's Army) Gorilla Warfare is the third episode of the seventh season of the British comedy series ""Dad's Army"" that was originally transmitted on Friday 29 November 1974. Mainwaring casts himself as a highly important secret agent whom his platoon must escort to a clandestine destination. GHQ has put out counter-agents to catch him, so the platoon decides to trust no-one. Hodges arrives with news of """"an 'orrible hairy monster on the loose"""". The platoon"
"set in 1968, Mainwaring, who was born in 1885, would have been 82 years old then and 60 at the end of the Second World War. In a radio sequel to ""Dad's Army"", ""It Sticks Out Half a Mile"", which is set in 1948 (three years after the Second World War ended), it is revealed that Mainwaring spent two years manufacturing cuckoo clocks in Switzerland. However, the first episode of ""Dad's Army"" shines light on Mainwaring's future: briefly set in the then present-day 1968, it features Mainwaring as guest of honour at the launch of Walmington's ""I'm Backing Britain"" campaign,"
"Kevin McNally and Robert Bathurst were the initial casting announcements as Captain Mainwaring and Sergeant Wilson, with Bernard Cribbins portraying Private Godfrey. Two of the four Christmas sketches which aired as part of Christmas Night with the Stars from 1968 ""Santa On Patrol"" and 1970 ""Cornish Floral Dance"" (which were made in colour) remain missing, though both exist as audio recordings. Dad's Army missing episodes The ""Dad's Army"" missing episodes are some portions of the British sitcom programme ""Dad's Army"", which ran for nine series between 1968 and 1977. Certain episodes are no longer held by the BBC, as between"
"nearby river. The statue has since been fixed. The British sitcom ""Goodnight Sweetheart"" paid tribute to ""Dad's Army"" in episode one of its second series in 1995, ""Don't Get Around Much Any More"". Here, lead character Gary Sparrow – a time-traveller from the 1990s – goes into a bank in 1941 and meets a bank manager named Mainwaring and Wilson, his chief clerk, both of whom are in the Home Guard. When he hears the names Mainwaring and Wilson, Gary begins singing the ""Dad's Army"" theme song. A brief visual tribute to ""Dad's Army"" is made at the start of"
"Gorilla Warfare (Dad's Army) Gorilla Warfare is the third episode of the seventh season of the British comedy series ""Dad's Army"" that was originally transmitted on Friday 29 November 1974. Mainwaring casts himself as a highly important secret agent whom his platoon must escort to a clandestine destination. GHQ has put out counter-agents to catch him, so the platoon decides to trust no-one. Hodges arrives with news of """"an 'orrible hairy monster on the loose"""". The platoon arrive at the church hall and load their equipment onto Jones' van, ready for a weekend exercise. The exercise concerns guerrilla warfare, the"
"The Recruit (Dad's Army) ""The Recruit"" is the seventh episode of the sixth series of the British television sitcom ""Dad's Army"" that was originally transmitted on 12 December 1973. Captain Mainwaring is indisposed due to an ingrowing toenail, so Sergeant Wilson takes charge temporarily of the platoon. When, however, he allows the vicar and the verger to join the ranks, the rest of the men are far from happy. With Captain Mainwaring absent from the platoon, Sergeant Wilson signs on two new recruits into the platoon, the vicar and the verger. When Mainwaring returns from hospital, he learns of the"
"angles during the scene are usually set so that only one of the brothers is seen at once, the other speaking out of vision, allowing Arthur Lowe to pre-record his dialogue for the unseen brother. My Brother and I My Brother and I is the second Christmas episode of the British comedy series ""Dad's Army"". It was originally transmitted on Friday 26 December 1975. The episode is notable for the dual role played by Arthur Lowe, in his regular role of Captain Mainwaring and Mainwaring's estranged brother Barry. Just as Captain Mainwaring gives the go-ahead for a sherry party, his"
"Battle of the Giants! ""Battle of the Giants!"" is the first special Christmas episode of the British comedy series ""Dad's Army"" that was originally transmitted on Monday 27 December 1971. After being insulted by Captain Square for his lack of medals, Captain Mainwaring challenges the Eastgate platoon to a test of strength and stamina to prove who commands the better platoon. While Jones and the rest of the platoon hold a bayonet practice, Mainwaring and Wilson discuss the upcoming Ceremonial church parade of all the Home Guard platoons in the area. Mainwaring receives a new officer's cap in the post"
"rowdy drunken brawl at the end), agreeing that overall it was still a ""good dance"". War Dance (Dad's Army) War Dance is the ninth episode of the third series of the British comedy series ""Dad's Army"" that was originally transmitted on Thursday 6 November 1969. The platoon hold a platoon dance, and Pike has a special announcement to make. Pike is cleaning Mainwaring's bank office and singing love songs. Mainwaring interrupts him, and Pike changes the subject by telling him how much he is looking forward to the Home Guard dance that Mainwaring is organising. When Pike leaves, Mainwaring confides"
"arrives stiffly, wearing the pair of size 6 shoes. He hobbles into the office, just as Mr Sedgewick arrives with the pair of boots he left for repair last week: a 6½. The men joke with Mainwaring, not realising the truth, even when Mainwaring jovially tells Jones to lead the men off on their twenty-mile march. Boots, Boots, Boots Boots, Boots, Boots is the third episode of the fourth series of the British comedy series ""Dad's Army"" that was originally transmitted on Friday 9 October 1970. Captain Mainwaring implements an unpopular series of lengthy marches to achieve the three Fs"
"the Expression"" (1966) and its sequel ""Turn Out the Lights"" (1967). Leonard Swindley was not a role Lowe relished and he longed to move on. During the months he was not playing Swindley, he remained busy on stage or making one-off guest appearances in other TV series such as ""Z-Cars"" (1962) and ""The Avengers"" (1967). In 1968, Lowe was cast in his best remembered role, as Captain Mainwaring in the BBC sitcom ""Dad's Army"" (1968–1977). His colleagues on the show later remarked that the role resembled Lowe, pompous and bumbling; Lowe had a clause written into his contract, specifying that"
"prepares to chuck the Eastgate flag over the parapet, but Walker stops him. Mainwaring is shocked to learn that both flags are theirs. Walker offers up an excuse, but Mainwaring sees through him, knowing he did it on purpose. However, he is prepared to let him off because they won the contest. Battle of the Giants! ""Battle of the Giants!"" is the first special Christmas episode of the British comedy series ""Dad's Army"" that was originally transmitted on Monday 27 December 1971. After being insulted by Captain Square for his lack of medals, Captain Mainwaring challenges the Eastgate platoon to"
"The Armoured Might of Lance Corporal Jones The Armoured Might of Lance Corporal Jones is the first episode of the third series of the British comedy series ""Dad's Army"" that was originally transmitted on Thursday 11 September 1969. Lance Corporal Jones allows the platoon to use his butcher's van as an armoured car and Mainwaring meets the new Chief ARP Warden, William Hodges the greengrocer. Following a lecture on the gases the enemy will use, Captain Mainwaring reads a communiqué sent by GHQ, which says that there isn't enough communication between the ARP and the Home Guard, so the new"
"he was a child and that dream comes true. Mainwaring has several redeeming qualities, notably a deep concern for the welfare of the men under his command. His bravery and courage cannot be denied: he is willing to endanger himself for his country and platoon and to take the risks that he orders his men to undertake. In one episode, ""The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage"", the platoon thinks the Germans have invaded and Mainwaring, with his men, fights what they think is the German army but turns out to be other members of the platoon. He also clears bricks from"
"War Dance (Dad's Army) War Dance is the ninth episode of the third series of the British comedy series ""Dad's Army"" that was originally transmitted on Thursday 6 November 1969. The platoon hold a platoon dance, and Pike has a special announcement to make. Pike is cleaning Mainwaring's bank office and singing love songs. Mainwaring interrupts him, and Pike changes the subject by telling him how much he is looking forward to the Home Guard dance that Mainwaring is organising. When Pike leaves, Mainwaring confides in Wilson that he's not satisfied with Pike's work as of late, and that Pike"
"Command Decision (Dad's Army) Command Decision is the third episode of the first series of the British comedy series ""Dad's Army"", which was originally transmitted on Wednesday 14 August 1968. Leadership agrees with Captain Mainwairing, but the men, still without uniforms and arms, are getting restless. The platoon's fortunes take a turn when old campaigner Colonel Square arrives with an offer of rifles and horses. There is a catch; to secure the weapons, Mainwaring must hand over command to Colonel Square. The platoon are all feeling blue due to their lack of rifles. Mainwaring promises them some before the week"
"Fallen Idol (Dad's Army) Fallen Idol is the thirteenth and final episode of the fourth series of the British comedy series ""Dad's Army"" that was originally transmitted on Friday 18 December 1970. Mainwaring has always epitomised the principle of military sobriety to his men, but, after Captain Square leads him astray one day in the Officer's Mess, he ends up inebriated. Only something genuinely heroic now can restore his damaged reputation in the eyes of his men. The platoon arrive at a weekend country training camp to teach them about bombs. The camp is run by a twitchy Captain Reed"
"My Brother and I My Brother and I is the second Christmas episode of the British comedy series ""Dad's Army"". It was originally transmitted on Friday 26 December 1975. The episode is notable for the dual role played by Arthur Lowe, in his regular role of Captain Mainwaring and Mainwaring's estranged brother Barry. Just as Captain Mainwaring gives the go-ahead for a sherry party, his drunken brother Barry turns up to spoil the occasion. As Mainwaring and the platoon return from an exhilarating route march, he discovers Wilson reading Pike's ""Hotspur"" magazine. There is a letter written in Pike's handwriting"
"has overslept and he has a rude note from his wife complaining that he didn't come home last night. A Soldier's Farewell A Soldier's Farewell is the third episode of the fifth series of the British television sitcom ""Dad's Army"" that was originally transmitted on 20 October 1972. Mainwaring is depressed: his men are falling short of his expectations, his leadership is unappreciated. He then dreams that he is Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. The episode opens with the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard unit in Eastgate cinema, watching a film about Napoleon. A panning shot moves across the faces of"
"Boots, Boots, Boots Boots, Boots, Boots is the third episode of the fourth series of the British comedy series ""Dad's Army"" that was originally transmitted on Friday 9 October 1970. Captain Mainwaring implements an unpopular series of lengthy marches to achieve the three Fs - fast feet, functional feet and fit feet. Mainwaring is giving a lecture on transportation, and tells the men that whatever mode of transport they use, it all comes down to the same thing: the three Fs - fast feet, functional feet, and fit feet. Producing two diagrams, he gives one to Wilson. Mainwaring unrolls his"
"A. Wilson (Manager)? A. Wilson (Manager)? is the eleventh episode of the fourth series of the British comedy series ""Dad's Army"" that was originally transmitted on Friday 4 December 1970. Captain Mainwaring is infuriated to discover that Wilson is heading for promotion both at the bank and in the Home Guard. Mainwaring arrives at the bank one morning just as Pike is bringing in two letters marked ""Delayed by Enemy Action"". He then begins to set up the Lewis Gun in the office window, before receiving a telephone call from Mr West at head office. He orders Pike to attend"