Inside the incredible true stories of the men who inspired Dad's Army

The moment Bud Flanagan croons "Who do you think you are kidding, Mr Hitler," you're instantly transported back into the uproarious, disorderly world of Dad's Army.

For the next half an hour, you're under the command of Capt Mainwaring and his motley Home Guard platoon as they "defend" the fictional coastal town of Walmington-on-Sea. Despite the final series airing in 1977, the comedy remains immensely popular.

The original actors bore uncanny resemblances to their characters. Allegedly, Clive Dunn was as rambling as Jones, Arthur Lowe was as haughty as Mainwaring, and John Le Mesurier was as vague and eloquent as Sgt Wilson.

The show, which ran for 80 episodes from 1968 to 1977, with its iconic catchphrases and wild antics, was inspired by co-writer Jimmy Perry's real experience in the Home Guard during World War II.

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"John Le Mesurier was playing my piano and complained it was a rotten piano and was out of tune. It seemed to get better after a couple of gin and tonics, though."

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He wrote: "I thought, why not just be myself, use an extension of my own personality and behave rather as I had done in the army?"

"So I always left a button or two undone, and had the sleeve of my battle dress slightly turned up."

"I spoke softly, issued commands as if they were invitations (the sort not likely to be accepted) and generally assumed a benign air of helplessness."

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Lowe, who suffered from narcolepsy and once fell asleep on stage, could also be priggish.

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"There was no persuading him. We had to rewrite the scene and stick the bomb down Cpl Jones' trousers."

After that episode, Lowe had a clause put in his contract saying he would never remove his trousers.

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