The writers of Dad's Army were forced to make a major script change after the sudden death of star James Beck, who portrayed Private Joe Walker. The actor died in 1973 while the cast was filming the sixth season, leaving the production in chaos.
Sudden death during filming
James Beck, known by his co-stars as Jimmy, was a heavy drinker and was rushed to hospital after falling ill. He was diagnosed with pancreatitis, the painful inflammation of the pancreas, and died just three weeks later. His cause of death was confirmed as pancreatitis combined with heart and renal failure. He was 44.
Following his tragic death, the show's writers decided against giving the character a major emotional or physical farewell. Instead, his absence was addressed in the sixth season's final episode, The Recruit, where a note explained that he had "gone to the smoke", a slang term for travelling to London.
Cast reflect on the loss
In a Channel 5 documentary, The Secret Lives of Dad's Army, released in 2021, the cast opened up about how they dealt with Jimmy's passing. Michael Knowles, who appeared in the show as various characters, said: "I knew him quite well actually, it was very, very sad when he went."
Ian Lavender, who starred as Private Pike for all nine seasons, added: "There were sad times along the way, the saddest obviously was the death of Jimmy Beck. We didn't think we'd get over that quite honestly, we were very unsure about doing the next series without him."
Series nearly ended
The seventh series was thrown into doubt following Jimmy's death, with the writers even considering ending the sitcom as a result. However, three more seasons of Dad's Army were subsequently made before it concluded in 1977.
During the documentary, Ian reflected on how Jimmy's on-screen exit was played out. "It's one of the sad, poignant, a sort of 'ooh' moments, there was a letter on the floor," he said.
Priscilla Morgan, the wife of Lance Corporal Jones star Clive Dunn, recalled: "They did a quick re-write saying he's gone up to the smoke, meaning London, got some business to do up there. I can remember seeing Clive's face just standing there, and suddenly he wasn't Corporal Jones at all, everyone was so upset."
