Kevin R. McNally, Robert Bathurst and Bernard Cribbins are set to star in Gold’s remake of Dad’s Army: The Lost Episodes alongside Kevin Eldon, Mathew Horne, David Hayman and Tom Rosenthal.
McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean, Designated Survivor) will be heading up the platoon as Captain Mainwaring, with Bathurst (Cold Feet, Toast of London) following suit as Sergeant Wilson and Cribbins (Doctor Who) stepping into the role of mild-mannered Private Godfrey.
Kevin R. McNally said: “Now look here men, HQ tells me that three episodes of Dad’s Army have gone missing. And it has fallen to us to step in and replace them. I have been asked to double for Captain Mainwaring and daunting as that may be, I accept the responsibility and look forward to leading the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard in three last pushes against the Jerries. I hope you’ll join us and enjoy the ride.”
Robert Bathurst said: “I’ve played soldiers before, but find I handle guns with all the bloodcurdling authority of Sergeant Wilson. I’m looking forward to playing him. I hope we can honour Croft and Perry’s lost episodes. It’s a celebration of their writing, with understudies.”
Bernard Cribbins said: “What a way to start the New Year. Back in khaki again – just like I was in 1947.” Bernard Cribbins, 90, volunteered for the Parachute Regiment in 1947 after being called up for his National Service.
Eldon (Murder on the Blackpool Express, Damned) will try not to panic as Lance Corporal Jones, whilst Horne (Gavin & Stacey, Bad Education) reports for duty as Private Walker, Hayman (Taboo, The Paradise) as Private Frazer and Rosenthal (Friday Night Dinner, Plebs) as Pike.
Dad’s Army: The Lost Episodes will air on Gold in 2019 to celebrate fifty years since the episodes were first broadcast and last seen, before they disappeared from the archives. The remakes will use the original scripts, which were written for the second series of Dad’s Army by Jimmy Perry and David Croft. Dad’s Army was based on an idea by Jimmy Perry.
The three episodes being recreated for Gold are from the original second series and titled The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Walker, A Stripe for Frazer and Under Fire. The UKTV Original series has been commissioned by Pete Thornton, head of scripted, and ordered by Richard Watsham, director of commissioning and Steve North, genre general manager of entertainment and comedy.
Dad’s Army: The Lost Episodes joins a strong line up of new UKTV Originals on Gold, including Death on the Tyne, Morecambe and Wise in America and David Jason: Planes, Trains & Automobiles.
