| The Showing Up of Corporal Jones | |
| Series 1, Episode 5 | |
 | |
| Air Date | 4 September 1968 |
| Written by | Jimmy Perry & David Croft |
| Director | David Croft |
| Producer | David Croft |
| Length | 30 minutes |
| Original Audience Figures | 8.8 Million |
| Previous episode | The Enemy Within the Gates |
| Next episode | Shooting Pains |
| List of episodes | |
The Showing Up of Corporal Jones is the fifth episode of the first series of Dad's Army, which was originally transmitted on Wednesday 4 September 1968.
Synopsis[]
When Major Regan from GHQ inspects the platoon, he decides that Jones must resign, on account of being too old; however, he also says that if Jones completes an assault course in 15 minutes, he can stay. The platoon organise an elaborate plan to keep Jones amongst them.
Plot[]
The platoon's uniforms finally arrive, just in time for them to be ready for an inspection by Major Regan, from GHQ, who immediately gets a bad impression of the platoon (disapproving of the amount of trading of goods that seems to go on). The platoon recover, however, and impress Regan, with the exception of Corporal Jones, whom Regan believes is too old to be in the Home Guard. He demands that Jones leave the platoon, unless he can complete an assault course in fifteen minutes.
The platoon take Jones to the assault course to practice, but he gets stuck at the first obstacle and spends hours there. It is obvious that he will not be able to complete the course in the right amount of time the next day, but Walker has a solution; other members of the platoon impersonate Jones on different legs of the course and he finishes it on time. Regan becomes suspicious, and enters the course himself, but disappears under a blanket (Jones himself did the same thing during his practice; it seems that there is a pit of some sort underneath it).
Full Story[]
The uniforms finally arrive, albeit without buttons, and all other supplies remain a matter of 'improvisation'. Grim HQ inspector Major Regan thus scolds the stuff and the black market even before testing the men. Still, thanks to Wilson's instructions the platoon passes. However, Jones is over age, so he's fired unless he passes an obstacle course within 15 minutes, while nightly tests remain over two hours.
The platoon is ready for inspection now that their uniforms have arrived. Unfortunately the major in charge believes that Corporal Jones is too old to be in the Home Guard and says that he must leave unless he can complete an assault course in fifteen minutes. Of course this is impossible but Walker has a solution as other members of the platoon impersonate him on different legs of the course and he finishes it on time.
Major Regan visits from area HQ to monitor progress in everything from use of weapons to first aid. Things run smoothly until he labels Jones a potential danger: not only did he forget how to aim a rifle, but his glasses steamed up when charging the dummy with his bayonet.
Jones' fate is decided on his ability to negotiate an assault course in 15 minutes. On the eve of the test, Jones' outlook is bleak until certain platoon members cook up a plan. Strategically placed along the course, they help the butcher romp home with two minutes to spare.
.jpg "The Showing Up of Corporal Jones (Colour).jpg (86 KB)")
Cast[]
Main cast[]
- Arthur Lowe as Captain Mainwaring
- John Le Mesurier as Sergeant Wilson
- Clive Dunn as Lance Corporal Jones
- John Laurie as Private Frazer
- James Beck as Private Walker
- Arnold Ridley as Private Godfrey
- Ian Lavender as Private Pike
- Janet Davies as Mrs Pike
Supporting cast[]
- Martin Wyldeck as Major Regan
- Patrick Waddington as Brigadier
- Edward Sinclair as Caretaker
- Thérèse McMurray as Girl at the Window