Arthur Lowe, best known as Captain Mainwaring in Dad’s Army, made a heartfelt declaration after the death of his co-star Edward Sinclair, who played the beloved Verger Maurice Yeatman. Lowe firmly stated that “following the death of Edward Sinclair, there would be no more Dad’s Army,” marking the end of an era for the iconic show.
However, fans of the series already knew the end was coming, as the final episode was clearly intended to wrap up the beloved sitcom anyway.
Sinclair died in 1977, having played a key role in establishing Dad’s Army as one of Britain’s most cherished comedies, known for its memorable catchphrases and lovable characters.
The cast, especially in the later seasons, were facing personal challenges so decided to conclude the series. During the final season, Lowe, struggled with narcolepsy, a condition that caused sudden and uncontrollable bouts of sleep.
Meanwhile, John Le Mesurier, who played the calm and collected Sergeant Wilson, was battling cirrhosis of the liver, and John Laurie, known for his role as Private Frazer, was dealing with emphysema and memory problems.
One of the show’s long-kept secrets was also revealed right at the end. For years, fans had speculated about the relationship between Private Pike and Sergeant Wilson.
Despite Pike always referring to him as “Uncle Arthur,” it was finally confirmed that Wilson was indeed his father. On the very last day of filming, Ian Lavender (who played Pike) asked co-writer and producer David Croft, “Is he (Sgt. Wilson) my father?”
Croft simply responded, “Of course he is!” It was a revelation that added a new layer of depth to the show’s already beloved characters.
Even years after its final episode, Dad’s Army proved to be a valuable asset for the BBC.
On June 20, 2000, a power failure during the BBC News at Six led to an episode of the show being aired as an emergency back-up. This unexpected return to the screen reminded viewers of the show’s lasting charm.
While Dad’s Army had a bit of a rough start, with initial audience reactions to early episodes being lukewarm at best, the show quickly grew into a national treasure.
When an episode was shown to the public prior to the broadcast of the first season, the feedback was overwhelmingly negative.
But the production team put the report containing these comments at the bottom of David Croft’s in-tray, where it was forgotten for several months.
By the time Croft discovered it, the show had already aired to great acclaim.
