Pensioner enlists in Dad's Army

A WARRINGTON pensioner has “enlisted” in the Home Guard – nearly 70 years after it was disbanded – as part of the team making a new “Dad’s Army” film.
Harry Knight, aged 73, from Birchwood, is one of a special platoon supporting the principal actors starring in the film.
He has already taken part in eight or nine filming sessions on location in Yorkshire – including Bridlington, which is being used to re-create the famous Walmington-on-Sea of the television series.
The new film has a big-name cast including Bill Nighy, Michael Gambon, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Blake Harrison and Toby Jones.
Harry said: “I’m just an extra, of course, but we have had a great time doing the filming.
“~It’s a great team and I predict it will be a great film.
“I know some people are saying that it isn’t possible to recreate the original characters – Captain Mainwaring, Sergeant Wilson, Jones the Butcher, etc – but I think the quality of the cast will ensure the film will have all the appeal of the television series.
“They’ve got a hard act to follow, but I am sure they will do it.”
The Home Guard was set up in 1940 as a last line of defence should Britain be invaded during World War 2. It was disbanded in 1945.
The original Dad’s Army television series ran from 1968 to 1977, spawned a previous film, a stage show and a radio series.
It is still regularly repeated by the BBC and in 2004 was voted into fourth place in a poll to find Britain’s most popular sitcom.
The new film is due for release in cinemas in 2016.
Picture: The platoon of extras, with Harry Knight second from the right.