Mrs Fox | |
---|---|
First appearance | The Lion Has Phones |
Last appearance | Never Too Old |
Portrayed by |
Pamela Cundell (television) Mollie Sugden (radio) |
Information | |
Occupation | Housewife |
Relatives | Mr Fox (deceased husband) Jack Jones (second husband) Unnamed Brother |
This is a list of characters in the British television comedy series Dad's Army. In addition to the seven main characters, all members of the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard platoon, the series featured a large cast of recurring characters, many of whom began to appear regularly in episodes, particularly following the death of James Beck (who played Private Walker). In addition, a number of characters appeared in significant roles for a single episode or series.
Mainwaring (/ˈmænərɪŋ/ MAN-ər-ing) was played by Arthur Lowe. He was the pompous - if essentially brave and unerringly patriotic - local bank manager. Mainwaring appointed himself leader of his town's contingent of Local Defence Volunteers. Of the platoon, he and Private Walker were the only adult members with no prior combat experience, and therefore had no medals, which was a source of embarrassment for Mainwaring and sometimes caused tension with the other members. He did, however, serve in France, "during the whole of 1919—somebody had to clear up the mess". Although an ensemble piece, the series focused particularly upon Mainwaring, who has invested all his efforts into the platoon as a way of escaping from an unhappy marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of a Bishop, and a stalled career at the bank.
Wilson, played by John Le Mesurier, was a diffident, upper-class bank clerk and Mainwaring's inferior in the bank and on parade. Nevertheless, his suave, understated social superiority, public school education and handsome looks led to a certain amount of jealousy on Mainwaring's part, which Wilson was never particularly bothered by. He would also subtly question Mainwaring's judgement by asking "do you think that's wise, Sir?" after Mainwaring had given an instruction. Their rivalry came to the fore in "A. Wilson (Manager)?", in which Wilson is appointed manager of another bank, and "The Honourable Man", when Wilson inherits a title. Wilson lodged with Mrs Pike and her son Frank and it is implied, though never explicitly stated, that he is Frank's father. During the First World War Wilson had been a Captain and fought in the Royal Artillery at Mons, Gallipoli and the Somme.