'Dad's Army' ended after eight seasons. In 1981, Jimmy Perry and David Croft's other hit wartime sitcom followed suit. Unlike the earlier show, however, the war was over and the concert party set off for home by boat, waving a fond farewell to 'Char Wallah Muhammed' ( the late Dino Shafeek ). The final episode opens with the boat's voyage told in the form of animation. Back home, they move into an army barracks and wait to be demobbed. Their homecoming is not what they are expected; instead of cheering crowds, they encounter an over-efficient customs officer ( Arnold Peters ) and 'Ashwood' ( Michael Knowles ) and 'Reynolds' ( the late Donald Hewlett ) cannot buy spirits as rationing is still on. The railway station waitress ( the late Stella Tanner ) is unimpressed by the fact they have just returned from the war, everyone else is claiming to have been a 'hero' too. In their civilian clothes, the party says goodbye. 'Williams' ( Windsor Davies ) did not get the prison job he wanted, so 'Parky' ( the late Christopher Mitchell ) offers to take him home. Choked with emotion, the ex-battery sergeant major accepts. The train moves off, and Jimmy Perry and Derek Tavernier's theme song is heard one last time. Back in Burma, the Char Wallah is composing a letter to Gloria, stating his intention to move to Bradford and open an Indian restaurant!
Nice finale, with everyone signing off in style. Gloria announces sadly he has gotten a job as understudy in a London stage show ( in the concert party, he was its biggest star ), while Graham is going back to Cambridge. The melancholic tone is offset nicely by Ashwood getting uppity with various officials, including the 'Demob Centre Supervisors' ( Bill Pertwee and Jeffrey Segal ).
Many of the cast went on to appear in other sitcoms - Dino Shafeek did two seasons of 'Mind Your Language' while it was still being made, Michael Knowles and Donald Hewlett worked so well together they were re-teamed in two other David Croft shows - 'Come Back Mrs.Noah' and 'You Rang Milord'. The late Kenneth MacDonald played 'Mike', barman of the Nag's Head, in 'Only Fools & Horses'.
Funniest moment - Williams falling off the gangplank as the boat docks in thick fog.
Jonathan Ross - yes, THAT Jonathan Ross - has an uncredited role as a soldier.
My only complaint is the lack of a dedication to the late Michael Bates. Bearing in mind it was his show originally, it does seem a bit of a shame.
Having written about a lot of old men in 'Dad's Army', and a lot of young men in 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum', Perry and Croft's next comedy project would feature both old and young men - and quite a few females too - in a show set in a holiday camp in Fifties Britain. Hi-De-Hi!
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