R.I.P. Ian Lavender (Private Pike in UK comedy "Dad's Army")

[Your Name]

The last surviving cast member of the UK comedy show "Dad's Army". He
was also in many other TV and stage shows. :o(


Ian Lavender: Dad's Army star dies aged 77
------------------------------------------
The Dad's Army actor Ian Lavender, who played Private Pike
in the hit TV series, has died at the age of 77.

Birmingham-born Lavender was just 22 when he was cast as
the guileless platoon member, in what was then a new BBC
sitcom.

But it made him a household name, and he ended up spending
10 years as part of the comedy classic.

Lavender, who died on Friday, was the last surviving main
cast member of the series.

Away from Dad's Army, he also acted in other TV comedies
such as Yes Minister, and appeared on stage, including in
The Merchant of Venice.

He also had a stint on EastEnders as Derek Harkinson, a
role he reprised in 2016 for a festive storyline.

Lavender grew up in the Midlands but studied acting at the
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

He was barely out of drama school before being cast in the
role for which he was to become most known.

Dad's Army, a much loved series about a Home Guard platoon
during World War Two, ran on BBC One from 1968 to 1977.

It also starred Arthur Lowe as Captain Mainwaring, Arnold
Ridley as Private Godfrey and John Le Mesurier as Sergeant
Wilson, among others.

The hapless Pike was the youngest member of the troop and
a bank clerk.

He frequently had run-ins with Mainwaring, who would shout
at him: "You stupid boy!"

The series regularly attracted more than 18 million viewers
in the 1970s, and has had a long-lasting impact on British
popular culture.

Some of its other catchphrases are also still used, such as
"don't panic!", "put that light out!", and "they don't like
it up 'em!"

Lavender joined EastEnders in 2001 and remained on the BBC
One soap for four years.

He returned to Walford briefly, fifteen years after his
first appearance, but he left in 2017 after becoming ill
with sepsis.

The following year marked the 50th anniversary of Dad's Army,
which was commemorated by Royal Mail with a collection of
stamps featuring the main characters.


<https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68204488>