Dad's army star shuns current TV shows

Updated 07.17 Thu Jul 10 2008

Keywords: Ian Lavender, BBC, television, Dad's Army

Dad's Army star Ian Lavender, Private Pike in the TV series, has turned his fire on the current crop of TV shows

Stars of the series shave just celebrated the 40th anniversary of the first episode of the hit British comedy.

"Sadly everything now is done for demographics, whether it's selling a chocolate bar or television" - Dad's Army star Ian Lavender

Former forces' sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn, 92, joined Dad's Army veterans including Clive Dunn, 88, (Lance Corporal Jones) and Bill Pertwee, 81, (Warden William Hodges) at the birthday bash at London's Imperial War Museum.

After a photocall with the ageing cast grouped around Mr Pertwee on the motorbike that he drove in the series, Lavender hit out at broadcasters for failing to make programmes for families.

The actor, who recently starred in EastEnders, said: "It's rather sad that Dad's Army has to be repeated on the TV, although I'm delighted to see it of course.

"But there's a need for it because they're not making programmes for the whole family to watch."

He said: "Sadly everything now is done for demographics, whether it's selling a chocolate bar or television."

The first episode of the BBC comedy was screened on July 31, 1968.