The Big Parade

"The Big Parade" is the first episode of the fourth series of the British comedy series Dad's Army. It was originally transmitted on Friday 25 September 1970. Synopsis Captain Mainwaring has doubts about letting Private Walker supply the platoon's mascot for the big 'Spitfire Week' parade. Plot After watching a film, Mainwaring and Wilson notice, on the newsreel, Winston Churchill admiring a Czech regiment, and their regimental mascot, a ram. This gives Mainwaring an idea. He tries to tell Wilson, who is more interested in trying to kiss Mrs Pike, and Jones, who is in a passionate embrace with Mrs Fox. However, he is interrupted by the air raid siren. The following evening, Mainwaring mentions a big parade of all civil defence units, and believes that they should have a mascot on the parade. Many ideas are suggested, including a live painted lady, a white mouse and a large domestic cat. It is Wilson who comes up trumps by suggesting that they have a ram as well. Frazer remarks that Private Sponge is a sheep farmer. Sponge grants Mainwaring permission to catch one if they can. Hodges enters, and he and Mainwaring argue as to who should lead the procession.