DAD’S Army Marches On will be ready for inspection at Fareham’s Ferneham Hall from Thursday to Saturday.

Best known for the role of Dirty Den Watts in EastEnders, Leslie Grantham will be swapping one shady character for another as Private Walker, the Warmington-on-Sea wide-boy made famous by James Beck in the celebrated television series.

Timothy Kightley, having won praise for his performance in The Lost Episodes, will reprise his role as Captain Mainwaring.

Calibre Productions have collaborated once more with series creators Jimmy Perry and David Croft in a bid to break into new territory by producing a stage series of Dad’s Army performances.

The show features four classic episodes hand-picked by the writers, including two of their own personal favourite storylines.

In Branded – chosen by Jimmy Perry – Mainwaring discovers Private Godfrey was a conscientious objector in the First World War and sets about turning the platoon against him. However, a rescue, a military medal and a medical bag later reveal Main-waring to have greatly misjudged Godfrey.

In Mum’s Army – chosen by David Croft – the Home Guard seeks to recruit women members in the fight against the Axis powers; this inevitably leads to the disapproval of the Captain of the troop until one pleasant widow named Mrs Grey enters and turns the situation quite literally head-over-heels.

Tickets for Dad’s Army Marches On are available by calling 01329 231942 or visiting fernehamhall.co.uk • For an interview with the show’s star ex-EastEnders Leslie Grantham, see today's Daily Echo