We are nearly at the 50th anniversary of The Man and the Hour and it is time for one last bit of eye-rolling from Private Frazer.
The episode Menace from the Deep from the third series is probably one of the best from Dad’s Army and regularly tops polls of favourite episodes. It has all the classic Dad’s Army elements – the platoon are embarking on a mission to guard the (broken) pier head. An attack of the stupid-boys results in the platoon becoming marooned and their attempts to signal for help lead only to an enraged Hodges being stuck with them (and ruining his new uniform).
The situation goes from bad to worse when they wake to find a magnetic mine under the pier, threatening to blow them all to smithereens. How they get back to land we never discover but their rescue from the mine comes courtesy of one of Hodges’ less well known skills.
The maritime setting of the episode encourages, former-sailor, Frazer to demonstrate his considerable thespian powers, and for a moment it is not clear whether they will see the night through or be lost to the siren voices of ancient mariners lost in the deep…
50 Moments that made Dad’s Army is a series of blog posts each focusing on one moment that helped define the popular comedy series. There will be one post for each of the 50 days leading-up to the 50th anniversary of the first broadcast of the first episode of the series on 31st July 1968. 50 Moments that Made Dad’s Army is brought to you by walmington-on-line.co.uk and copyright of all video clips belongs to the BBC.