The Loneliness of the Long Distance Walker

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Walker
Series 2, Episode 3
Air Date	15th March 1969 (original) 25th August 2019 (remake)
Written by	Jimmy Perry & David Croft
Director	David Croft (original) Ben Kellett (remake)
Producer	David Croft (original) Ben Kellett and Candida Julian-Jones (remake)
Length	30 minutes
Original Audience Figures	11.3 Million
Previous episode	The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage
Next episode	Sgt. Wilson's Little Secret
List of episodes

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Walker is the third episode of the second series of Dad's Army, which was originally transmitted on Saturday 15th March 1969. It is currently one of three episodes absent from the BBC's archives.

Synopsis Edit

To his complete surprise, Walker receives his call-up papers. Mainwaring tries his best to get his superiors' to reconsider.

Plot Edit

When Walker is called up, he applies to the Military Service Hardship Committee, who reject him on the grounds that he doesn't keep books for his business. After Jones's attempts to sabotage Walker's medical test fail, Walker has no choice but to accept his conscription. However, Walker is swiftly invalided out of the Army after he is discovered to be allergic to corned beef, the staple diet of the troops.

Cast Edit

Main cast Edit

• 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
• Colin Bean as Private Sponge

Supporting cast Edit

• Anthony Sharp as Brigadier (War Office)
• Diana King as Chairwoman
• Patrick Waddington as Brigadier
• Edward Evans as Mr Rees
• Michael Knowles as Captain Cutts
• Gilda Perry as Blonde
• Larry Martyn as Soldier
• Robert Lankesheer as Medical Officer

Remake cast Edit

Main cast Edit

• Kevin McNally as Captain Mainwaring
• Robert Bathurst as Sergeant Wilson
• Kevin Eldon as Lance Corporal Jones
• David Hayman as Private Frazer
• Mathew Horne as Private Walker
• Timothy West as Private Godfrey
• Tom Rosenthal as Private Pike

Supporting cast Edit

• Christopher Villiers as Brigadier (War Office)
• Sam Phillips as Captain Cutts
• Julia Deakin as the Chairwoman
• Andrew Havill as the Brigadier
• Jerry-Jane Pears as Judy
• Gareth Benjamin as Mr Rees
• Lee Barnett as the soldier

Notes Edit

• This episode is currently missing from the BBC's television archives after they wiped the master transmission tapes for reuse. This is one of three Dad's Army episodes that are still missing from the archives; the other two are A Stripe for Frazer (which currently exists only on audio) and Under Fire. The radio version still exists.
• This episode, along with the other two missing from Series 2, was remade by UKTV GOLD with a new cast, and was broadcast in August 2019.