Knights of Madness

Knights of Madness
Series 9, Episode 3

Air Date	16th October 1977
Written by	Jimmy Perry and David Croft
Director	David Croft
Producer	David Croft
Length	30 minutes
Original Audience Figures	Unknown
Previous episode	The Making of Private Pike
Next episode	The Miser's Hoard
List of episodes

Knights of Madness is the third episode of the ninth and final series of Dad's Army. It was first broadcast on 16th October 1977.

Synopsis[]

To support the "Wings for Victory" week, the platoon restages the Battle of Saint George and the Dragon. This does not go down well with Hodges and his ARP wardens, however, as they have been planning the same thing.

Plot[]

At a meeting, the town council are trying to organise the events that will take place in order to celebrate Saint George's Day. After a vote, it is decided that the Home Guard and the ARP will share the grand finale. Both Mainwaring and Hodges are reluctant to reveal what they each will be doing for the event.

Later that day, Mainwaring is in his office with Wilson and Pike. Mainwaring tells them of his plan to celebrate St. George's day by staging a fight between St. George and a dragon, representing Britain's fight against Hitler. Mainwaring also reveals that he will be playing St. George.

During the rehearsal of the fight, Mainwaring is finding it quite difficult to manoeuvre in a real suit of armour, but is persistent stating that "If our ancestors could wear it, so can I." After falling off the horse a number of times, he eventually gives up and agrees to let Godfrey's sister knit him a suit of armour.

As the platoon are about to get their staged fight underway, the ARP interrupt them, as they too are staging the historical fight scene. As things take a turn for the worse, Hodges challenges Mainwaring to a duel, which he accepts. The two dragons also face off, with Jones at the head of one and the Vicar at the head of the other. Wilson tells Pike that they "Ought to do something" and with that, Pike shoots Hodges using the trumpet as a pea shooter, causing him to fall off. The Home Guard dragon eventually defeats the ARP dragon, and Mainwaring salutes the cheering crowd from his horse.

Cast[]

Main cast[]

Notes[]

The episode is a reference to the popular story of St George and the Dragon, as celebrated on St. George's Day. However, it throws a peculiar twist on the story by having St George fight St George and the dragon fight the dragon.