DAD’S Army and EastEnders star Ian Lavender has died aged 77.
He played Private Pike in the hit BBC sitcom and was the last surviving member of the cast.
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Dad’s Army star Ian Lavender dies aged 77 Credit: Getty – Contributor
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Lavender was just 22 when she was cast as Private Pike, a junior bank clerk who is often referred to as a ‘dumb boy’ by Captain MainwaringCredit: Alamy
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In 2001 he joined EastEnders as Derek Harkinson, Pauline Fowler’s gay friendCredit: BBC
In later years Ian also became a popular character in the BBC soap EastEnders playing Derek Harkinson.
Announcing his death on Monday, a spokesman for Dad’s Army said his passing “truly marks the end of an era”.
The statement added: “His wonderful performance as Private Frank Pike will live on for decades.
“He left behind a legacy of laughter enjoyed by millions. We will dedicate this year’s tour to his memory.
“Our thoughts and love are with Ian’s wonderful wife Miki, their family and close friends.”
Lavender, who was born in Birmingham, died on Friday.
He was only 22 when he was cast as Private Pike, a junior bank clerk who was often referred to as a “dumb boy” by Captain Mainwaring.
Pike was famous for being made by his mother to wear a scarf “to keep him from croup”.
In the Dad’s Army episode The Deadly Attachment, Lavender’s character was a key part of one of the most famous moments in British TV comedy, after Captain Mainwaring urged his young protégé not to give his name to a German officer with the memorable line: “Don Don’t tell him, Pike !”
Although once described as a “masterpiece” by The Times, Dad’s Army took four years to get off the ground. The first reviews rejected it and the series was almost canceled three or four times.
Ian Lavender plays Derek Harkinson in a classic EastEnders scene
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Ian Lavender, Frank Williams, Bill Pertwee and Clive Dunn at the unveiling of a plaque for John Le MesurierCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
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Private Pike, a junior bank clerk, was often referred to by Captain Mainwaring as a ‘stupid boy’Credit: BBC
But it won the hearts of 12 million viewers, with the BBC calling it one of its biggest comedy successes.
It became so popular that it was turned into a West End stage and film.
His downtrodden character was the baby of the series, but his hair started to turn gray prematurely, a family trait, so he had to cream it to give it the right greasy look suitable for a teenager in wartime Britain.
Lavender, the son of a policeman, wasn’t even around during World War II – he was born a year after the war ended in 1946.
He handed in his Home Guard uniform after the final series in 1978 – and went on to play grumpy Ron in The Glums, an ITV series in 1979. And he was a young idiot in Mr Big, the BBC’s comedy about petty con man Ginger.
“I just love making people laugh,” said Lavender, who trained at the Bristol Old Vic and has done his fair share of Shakespeare, including The Merchant of Venice starring Dustin Hoffman.
Ian Lavender: Actor plucked from obscurity to star in Dad’s Army
Lavender was the youngest member of Dad’s Army – the beloved BBC series (even the late Queen was involved) which ran for 10 years.
He drove Captain Mainwaring crazy with his whining and relied on his uncle Arthur, played by John Le Mesurier, to keep an eye on him.
With a scarf wrapped permanently around his neck – his overprotective mother worried about his weak chest – Private Pike was the last man in Britain to strike fear into the hearts of the invading Germans.
Birmingham-born Lavender once said it was the happiest day of his life when he was plucked from obscurity to play 17-year-old Frank Pike.
He was earning £9 a week during a six-month stint at Canterbury Rep when someone came up to him and said he looked stupid enough to do Pike.
“I was a complete novice and suddenly I joined probably the most experienced British cast of character actors,” he said.
“I was in a state of shock when I suddenly found myself among so many great actors. When the moment came to speak, that funny voice of Pike just came out in a moment of panic.
“From then on at the beginning of every new series it was a hell of a job trying to recreate it.
“But Private Pike took me out of the dark and onto TV. I never could have done it if I hadn’t learned to say, ‘Ooh, Captain Mainwaring, my mamma said I shouldn’t catch a cold, even if the Germans come.’ “
The actor also played Derek Harkinson, the gay friend of Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard) from 2001 to 2005 in the BBC soap EastEnders.
He returned to Walford from 2016 to 2017 but left after contracting sepsis.
Dad’s Army – which followed the exploits of the Home Guard during the Second World War – ran for nine series between 1968 and 1977.
It became one of the most popular sitcoms in Britain, regularly attracting audiences of 18 million.
The Royal Mail marked the 50th anniversary of the TV comedy classic Dad’s Army with a 2018 collection of postage stamps featuring the main characters.
That same year, Lavender cleared up a long-standing mystery from the show during an interview with the Radio Times.
When she asked creator David Croft if Uncle Arthur was Pike’s father, Lavender said, “He looked at me and said, ‘Of course he is!'”
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In 2001, Lavender joined EastEnders as Derek Harkinson, Pauline Fowler’s gay friend
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Dad’s Army – which followed the exploits of the Home Guard during the Second World War – ran for nine series between 1968 and 1977. Credit: Rex Features
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