Dad’s Army star Pike on duty in South Yorkshire
Dad's Army: The classic line-up of Arthur Lowe as Capt George Mainwaring, John Le Mesurier as Sgt Arthur Wilson, Clive Dunn as L-Cpl Jack Jones, John Laurie Pvt James Frazer, Arnold Ridley as Pvt Charles Godfrey, Ian Lavender as Pvt Frank Pike and James Beck as Pte Joe Walker.
DON’T tell him Pike! The Dad’s Army sketch is TV comedy gold and fans will get the rare chance to ask Pike actor Ian Lavender all about it - in Barnsley, writes Graham Walker.
The 65-year-old star, who played hapless Home Guard platoon member Private Pike, is the star of An Evening With Ian Lavender at The Lamproom Theatre in Westgate, Barnsley, on Sunday, February 12.
Long-time friend Roger Walton, a trustee at the theatre, has spent five years tempting his famous pal, who remains busy with stage, film and TV work, to find time for the show.
He will interview him on stage about his long and varied career, before he takes questions from fans.
Classic Television magazine readers voted Pike’s encounter with a sneering German submarine commander TV’s best comedy moment.
The U-boat captain demanded his name and the incompetent Captain Mainwaring declared loudly: “Don’t tell him, Pike!”
Roger said: “I first met Ian when he was in Babes In The Wood, the panto I helped with publicity for at the Civic Theatre in Barnsley, in 1973.
“He was still filming Dad’s Army at the time - they made the series from 1968 to 1977.
“We became friends, then I used to meet up with him when they took the TV series on a stage tour.
“So I was lucky enough to meet all the cast and they were all very much like the characters they played.
“We’ll be getting Ian to talk all about that and his other roles, working with the likes of Dustin Hoffman and appearing on the West End in Sister Act.”
* Tickets for An Evening With Ian Lavender are £14. Call the box office on 01226 200075.
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Thursday 23 February 2012
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