it’s the Dad’s Army anniversary quiz

This month marks the 50th anniversary of the classic BBC sitcom Dad’s Army. Take Mark McCaighey’s quiz to see how well you remember the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard

1 What was the sitcom’s creator and co-writer Jimmy Perry originally going to name his show?

a) The British Lions

b) The Fighting Tigers

c) The Walmington Warriors

2. In the theme song Who do you Think you are Kidding Mr Hitler?, which line follows: “We are the boys who will stop your little game”? 3. What is the name of Captain Mainwaring’s wife, who is never seen by us in the series and original movie, but whose dominating presence could occasionally be felt? a) Eleanor

b) Elizabeth

c) Ellen 4. Why was Lance Corporal Jones invalided out of the regular army? 5. During the First World War, Private Frazer was a Chief Petty Officer in which branch of the Royal Navy? a) catering b) communications c) engineering 6. Which of Captain Mainwaring’s old soldiers had won the Military Medal for his medical services during the First World War? 7. What was Chief ARP Warden Hodges daytime occupation? 8. Why was Private Joe Walker discharged from the regular army shortly after being enrolled? a) allergy to corned beef b) flat feet c) rare blood group 9. Which Buckinghamshire village high street doubled for that of Walmingtonon-Sea’s in the 1971 movie? a) Chalfont St Giles

b) Chalfont St Peter

c) Chilton 10. In the episode My Brother and I, who portrayed the role of Captain Mainwaring’s estranged and drunken brother Barry? 11. Private Pike regularly wore his distinctive scarf on parade, what were its composite colours? a) burgundy, light blue & grey b) burgundy, light blue & white c) burgundy, light blue & yellow 12. Which platoon character was played by three actors over the course of the radio adaptations?

13. On October 2, 1975, the Dad’s Army stage show opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London. On the opening night there was a surprise appearance by which popular entertainer from the Forties? a) Arthur Askey b) Chesney Allen c) Ted Ray 14. Which episode was the basis of an unsuccessful pilot show for an American Broadcasting Company adaptation called The Rear Guard in 1976? a) Deadly Attachment

b) The Man and the Hour

c) My British Buddy 15. In which English county were the external scenes for the TV series filmed? 16. What was the name of Captain Mainwaring’s troublesome rival who was in command of the nearby Eastgate platoon?

a) Captain Bailey

b) Captain Cadbury

c) Captain Square 17 . When Frank Williams was asked to play the Reverend Timothy Farthing at the start of series three, it was only supposed to be for the one appearance. Instead he became a semi-regular character, featuring in how many episodes? 18. In the final episode Never Too Old, Corporal Jones marries the lady with whom he has been besotted with for 17 years, who is she?

a) Mrs Fox

b) Mrs Pike

c) Mrs Prosser 19. Which episode did co-writer David Croft reveal was his favourite? a) Branded

b) Mum’s Army

c) The Royal Train 20. In the 2016 movie, Ian Lavender makes a cameo appearance as a soldier named Pritchard. What rank is he?