Don't panic - but now there are THREE Captain Mainwarings! Arthur Lowe's Dad's Army character is being brought back to life by two of Britain's finest comedy actors

By Chris Hastings for The Mail on Sunday

Published: 19:24 EST, 31 October 2015 | Updated: 19:33 EST, 31 October 2015

With his pompous bumbling and immortal ‘You stupid boy’ catchphrase, you might have thought there could only ever be one Captain Mainwaring.

But the Dad’s Army character – originally played by Arthur Lowe – is being brought back to life by two of Britain’s finest comedy actors: John Sessions and Toby Jones.

Sessions plays Lowe, who died in 1982, in a new BBC docu-drama We’re Doomed! The Dad’s Army Story about the creation of the sitcom, which is to be shown over Christmas.

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Immortal: John Sessions as the pompous Capt Mainwaring, with his immortal ‘You stupid boy’ catchphrase

Immortal: John Sessions as the pompous Capt Mainwaring, with his immortal ‘You stupid boy’ catchphrase

The Dad’s Army character was originally played by Arthur Lowe
But Capt Mainwaring is being brought back to life by Sessions and another fine comedy actor, Toby Jones (pictured)

Don't panic! The Dad’s Army character was originally played by Arthur Lowe (left), who died in 1982. But Capt Mainwaring is being brought back to life by Sessions and another fine comedy actor: Toby Jones (right)

And in a film based on the TV series, Toby Jones plays the Home Guard captain alongside Bill Nighy as Sergeant Wilson and Sir Tom Courtenay as Lance-Corporal Jack ‘Don’t panic!’ Jones.

The film features a cameo from Ian Lavender, who played Private Pike in the TV show, which ran for nine seasons between 1968 and 1977.

Lavender, 69, last night said he was sure the film, out next year, would be a hit, adding: ‘It’s the most enormous compliment when you realise that this particular cast want to remake it.’

Wife: Felicity Montagu is seen as the wife of Capt Mainwaring in the film version of the popular TV series

Wife: Felicity Montagu is seen as the wife of Capt Mainwaring in the film version of the popular TV series

Original: Lowe as Capt Mainwaring and Ian Lavender as Private Frank Pike (second left) in the original version

Original: Lowe as Capt Mainwaring and Ian Lavender as Private Frank Pike (second left) in the original version


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