It's been reported this morning that Dad's Army star Ian Lavender is returning to the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Ian, one of the last surviving star of the classic Perry and Croft war-time sitcom, will be featuring in several episodes later this year as part of a Christmas storyline.
Ian first played the character of Derek Harkinson in EastEnders between 2001 and 2005 and most of his storylines involved Albert Square matriarch Pauline Fowler, played by fellow Dad's Army and Carry On alumni Wendy Richard. Lavender's character was an older, kinder addition to the fairly bleak soap therefore you probably don't remember him from his original stint! No details have been revealed about Ian's return storyline although it's thought to feature regular character Martin Fowler, son of the late Pauline.
Ian is of course best remembered for his role as Private Pike in the long running comedy series, Dad's Army, still a regular feature of the BBC2 Saturday night schedule in 2016. Ian was with the series from the first episode in 1968 right through until the very last in 1977. He also played the supporting role of Joe Baxter in the 1975 film, Carry On Behind, opposite Adrienne Posta and a rather large wolfhound! I always think it's a shame Ian didn't have a larger role in Behind as he could have been the ideal replacement for the Jim Dale character of bumbling young romantic lead.
Earlier this year, Ian returned to Dad's Army with a cameo role in the big screen adaptation starring Toby Jones and Michael Gambon. Although I'm not an avid fan of EastEnders, it'll be good to see Ian Lavender back on our screens again!
You can read more on this on The Radio Times Website
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