Dad's Army

The series is set in the fictional seaside town of [[Walmington-on-Sea]], located on the south coast of England, not far from [[Eastbourne]].{{Cite book |last=Lewisohn |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Lewisohn |title=Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy |publisher=[[BBC Worldwide]] |year=2003 |isbn=0563487550 |edition=2nd |location=[[London]] |pages=204–205}} The exterior scenes were mostly filmed in and around the [[Stanford Battle Area|Stanford Training Area (STANTA)]], near [[Thetford]], [[Norfolk]].[http://www.explorethetford.co.uk/trails.aspx Thetford tourist website] discussing the reasons for shooting in [[Norfolk]]. Retrieved 5 June 2006 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060308091101/http://www.explorethetford.co.uk/trails.aspx |date=8 March 2006 }} Walmington, and its Home Guard platoon, would be on the frontline in the event of a German invasion across the [[English Channel]]. The first series has a loose narrative thread, with Captain Mainwaring's [[platoon]] being formed and equipped, initially with wooden guns and LDV armbands, later on with full army uniforms; the platoon is part of the [[Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment]].

The series is set in the fictional seaside town of [[Walmington-on-Sea]], located on the south coast of England, not far from [[Eastbourne]].{{Cite book |last=Lewisohn |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Lewisohn |title=Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy |publisher=[[BBC Worldwide]] |year=2003 |isbn=0563487550 |edition=2nd |location=[[London]] |pages=204–205}} The exterior scenes were mostly filmed in and around the [[Stanford Battle Area|Stanford Training Area (STANTA)]], near [[Thetford]], [[Norfolk]].[http://www.explorethetford.co.uk/trails.aspx Thetford tourist website] discussing the reasons for shooting in [[Norfolk]]. Retrieved 5 June 2006 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060308091101/http://www.explorethetford.co.uk/trails.aspx |date=8 March 2006 }} Walmington, and its Home Guard platoon, would be on the frontline in the event of a German invasion across the [[English Channel]]. The first series has a loose narrative thread, with Captain Mainwaring's [[platoon]] being formed and equipped, initially with wooden guns and LDV armbands, later on with full army uniforms; the platoon is part of the [[Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment]].

The first episode, "[[The Man and the Hour]]", begins with a scene set in the then-present day of 1968, in which Mainwaring addresses his old platoon as part of the contemporary '"[[I'm Backing Britain]]" campaign.{{Cite web |date= |title=10 things you didn't know about Dad's Army {{!}} Dad's Army {{!}} Gold |url=https://gold.uktv.co.uk/dads-army/article/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-dads-army/ |access-date=11 December 2023 |website=[[Gold (British TV channel)|Gold]] |language=en |archive-date=2 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602141355/https://gold.uktv.co.uk/dads-army/article/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-dads-army/ |url-status=dead }} The prologue opening was a condition imposed after initial concerns from [[Paul Fox (television executive)|Paul Fox]], the BBC1 controller, that it belittled the efforts of the Home Guard.Clark, Anthony. [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/449057/index.html "Dad's Army"] at BFI Screen online. Retrieved 4 June 2006. After Mainwaring relates how he had backed Britain in 1940, the episode proper begins; ''Dad's Army'' is thus told in [[Flashback (narrative)|flashback]], although the final episode does not return to 1968. Later episodes are largely self-contained, albeit referring to previous events and with additional character development.

The first episode in monochrome, "[[The Man and the Hour]]", begins with a scene set in the then-present day of 1968, in which Mainwaring addresses his old platoon as part of the contemporary '"[[I'm Backing Britain]]" campaign.{{Cite web |date= |title=10 things you didn't know about Dad's Army {{!}} Dad's Army {{!}} Gold |url=https://gold.uktv.co.uk/dads-army/article/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-dads-army/ |access-date=11 December 2023 |website=[[Gold (British TV channel)|Gold]] |language=en |archive-date=2 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602141355/https://gold.uktv.co.uk/dads-army/article/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-dads-army/ |url-status=dead }} The prologue opening was a condition imposed after initial concerns from [[Paul Fox (television executive)|Paul Fox]], the BBC1 controller, that it belittled the efforts of the Home Guard.Clark, Anthony. [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/449057/index.html "Dad's Army"] at BFI Screen online. Retrieved 4 June 2006. After Mainwaring relates how he had backed Britain in 1940, the episode proper begins; ''Dad's Army'' is thus told in [[Flashback (narrative)|flashback]], although the final episode does not return to 1968. Later episodes are largely self-contained, albeit referring to previous events and with additional character development.

As the comedy in many ways relies upon the platoon's lack of participation in the Second World War, opposition to their activities must come from another quarter. This is generally provided by Chief [[Air Raid Precautions]] (ARP) Warden Hodges, and sometimes by the [[verger]] of the local church (St Aldhelm's) or by Captain Square and the neighbouring Eastgate Home Guard platoon. The group, however, does have some encounters related to the enemy, such as downed [[Nazi Germany|German]] planes, a [[Luftwaffe]] pilot who parachutes into the town's clock tower, a captured [[U-boat]] crew, and discarded parachutes that may have been German. A Viennese [[Ornithology|ornithologist]] appears in "[[Man Hunt (Dad's Army)|Man Hunt]]" and an [[Irish Republican Army (1922–1969)|IRA]] suspect in "[[Absent Friends (Dad's Army episode)|Absent Friends]]".

As the comedy in many ways relies upon the platoon's lack of participation in the Second World War, opposition to their activities must come from another quarter. This is generally provided by Chief [[Air Raid Precautions]] (ARP) Warden Hodges, and sometimes by the [[verger]] of the local church (St Aldhelm's) or by Captain Square and the neighbouring Eastgate Home Guard platoon. The group, however, does have some encounters related to the enemy, such as downed [[Nazi Germany|German]] planes, a [[Luftwaffe]] pilot who parachutes into the town's clock tower, a captured [[U-boat]] crew, and discarded parachutes that may have been German. A Viennese [[Ornithology|ornithologist]] appears in "[[Man Hunt (Dad's Army)|Man Hunt]]" and an [[Irish Republican Army (1922–1969)|IRA]] suspect in "[[Absent Friends (Dad's Army episode)|Absent Friends]]".