Bill Pertwee - Entertainment Career

Entertainment Career

Pertwee appeared in the radio comedy series Beyond Our Ken (1959–64) and Round the Horne (1965–67). He was also a warm-up act for many television shows.

His most prominent role was that of ARP Warden William Hodges in Dad's Army, which he played in both the original television series and the radio adaptations, as well as the radio sequel It Sticks Out Half a Mile, set after the war. Pertwee is president of the Dad's Army Appreciation Society and the author of the book Dad's Army – The Making of a Television Legend. In July 2008 he and other surviving members of the Dad's Army cast gathered together at the Imperial War Museum on the 40th anniversary of the show's first broadcast in 1968. He also made appearances on This Morning and BBC1's Jonathan Ross Salutes Dads Army at the time of the anniversary.

Pertwee appeared in two Carry On films – Carry On Loving (1970) and Carry On Girls (1973). His appearance in Carry On At Your Convenience (1971) was cut from the final film. Other film appearances include The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (1971).

On television Pertwee appeared in the final episode of It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1981) and an episode of Hi-de-Hi! (1986). He played PC Wilson in You Rang, M'Lord? (1988–93), another creation of Jimmy Perry and David Croft.

Bill was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1999 when he was surprised by Michael Aspel at the Imperial War Museum.