John le Mesurier interview - 1978

Best known for his portrayal of Sgt Wilson in Dad's Army, John le Mesurier has a quick chat with Roger Bowns.

[@dougearnest7590]

He referred to bad writing in comedy these days (1978) -- can you imagine the shock if he saw how crappy it's become in the past 40 years!!!

[@jourwalis-8875]

I fully agree!! TV was at its best in the 70s!

[@neilwatson4461]

@James Henderson Explain how?

[@TomorrowWeLive]

@James Henderson you seem like a fun person

[@tinabaker4662]

James Henderson have you ever considered therapy to reverse your sense of honour bye pass operation?

[@MrDaiseymay]

@James Henderson now go play wiv yer ifone agin

[@LennyJohnson5]

A great guy and a lovely actor.... part of a kinder Britain, sadly long gone.

[@scattygirl1]

1978- the year of the firefighters' strike, Ford strikes, bakers' strike, IRA bombings, the Yorkshire Ripper, football hooliganism, rampant graffiti, punk, National Front, hushed-up paedophilia, casual racism, The Sweeney, rising unemployment and the winter of discontent- d'you mean *that* kinder Britain? Modern life has its problems- but the past was no picnic.

[@andywalker9079]

phoebephoebo .sydney Perfectly put sir

[@vanreliant5584]

Even with all the things you mention it was still a better time, we were still free to speak the truth then for the most part. And the country overall was less over regulated.

[@ryszard68]

@@scattygirl1 - By "casual racism" I expect you mean when people could still laugh a themselves and we weren't dictated to by insane litards in a constant state of indignation. Programmes like Love Thy Neighbour for instance, highlighted the stupidity of racism rather than promoted it, but subtleties like that seem lost on the f-wits we've in control now.

[@ryszard68]

@James Henderson - the butt of the joke in LTN wasn't the colored couple, they were the smart ones. It was the stupid racist white guy. Unless everyone watching that show completely missed the point.

[@kybone25]

From a breed of gentlemen actors that sadly now is all but extinct..

[@denwatts6403]

Agreed

[@PaulWilliamArnold]

Apart from the Hattie Jaques bit 🥊

[@robsmithracing]

PAUL ARNOLD well played sir

[@TheAlfsterino]

You mean protecting her be saying he had an affair because she had an a affair with a younger man and if that had come out it would have ruined her career. Even during her This Is Your Life appearance.

[@davidmg1925]

ditto

[@saintetienne755]

Oh to have someone like John as a kindly Uncle - calm, reassuring and ever so cultured. Very much missed

[@terrythekittieful]

And he looked so smart in a German military uniform.

[@paulmcwilliams8641]

I met him in a pub in the 70's. He was a very erudite and clever person.

[@offrampt]

He said the same about you.

[@shaunw9270]

@@offrampt 😂😂🤣

[@pauldickinson6943]

you just don't get tv characters like him anymore.

[@tomakafrankconlon3207]

I met him too. We went and had some fish and chips. Then had a good ole cup of tea. He paid for it and danced in the middle of the greasy spoon. All just as true like what you said.

[@pauldickinson6943]

@@tomakafrankconlon3207 Benny hill, another great character, nurses In stockings and suspenders chasing him around speeded up, mental.

[@chrissheppard5068]

Without doubt the most laid back dude ever to visit planet earth.

[@nigelcarren]

John le Mesurier played John le Mesurier perfectly! 🎯

[@nicklewis1882]

nigelcarren I didn't expect him to be so 'Wilson' in real life! How much was he 'acting'! One of my favourite contributions from him in Dad's Army was when Mainwaring asks him to get the men to fall in line, and he says something like 'Would you mind just falling in line please, chaps?' Such an archetypal Englishman and a true gent! Sadly missed.

[@nigelcarren]

@@nicklewis1882 I agree Nick. "Would you mind forming three lovely lines!" A gentle man from a gentler time. Bless him.

[@howardcoles3537]

@@nicklewis1882 I recall my parents telling me they were at the cinema one time and John le Mesurier was also in the audience with a lady companion sitting a couple of rows in front of them. Though they didn't meet him, they couldn't help overhearing him chatting to his lady before the film began, and they told me he sounded exactly like his character Sergeant Wilson in Dad's Army !

[@ivorbiggun710]

Would you mind awfully playing yourself?

[@ivorbiggun710]

@@nicklewis1882 I think the script writers very much had the characters of the actors in mind when they wrote and cast it.

[@rael1999]

JLM the definition of laid back. What a lovely guy he was, such a shame he was treated so badly by the women in his life.

[@introspectivedreamer3864]

i just watched this wonderful film, and thanks for a lovely comment and I have always thought it was terrible that he experienced bad treatment, this true gent deserved only the best

[@gennettor8915]

That was BECAUSE he was so laid back....

[@dadparker_9011]

He found true love in the end though.

[@rael1999]

​@@dadparker_9011 ...He may well have done, only he knows that. His third wife Joan Long did the dirty on him with Tony Hancock (Hancock just as guilty as they were good friends). John accepted her back so I suppose he must of truly loved her. Like I said he was treated appallingly by both Jaques and Long. Some may say he was weak, but I thought he was a true gent and both of them abused his kindness.

[@anarchistatheist1917]

I feel his best wife was his first wife, June Melville. Ironically he divorced her for being an alcoholic.

[@caragray7010]

An old gentleman, sadly there none left like him theses days, a lovely voice, great stories from the past.

[@bensims7501]

Heartbreaking.

[@hughmcbeath5463]

Yes and the TV is full of shine nowadays wats happend

[@chrisevans5259]

A proper gent, and from an era of classic comedy that is sadly gone from our tv screens today, ..dad's army was brilliantly written , wonderfully acted ,...and done with a warmth and realism that's sadly lacking from modern comedies of today.....miss those great times.

[@bexactlyyy]

Perfectly said!

[@M-H433]

Yes so very true

[@moppettshow]

A voice of buttered velvet.

[@fjccommish]

Don't give me that posh, public school nonsense!

[@gaskellr44]

@Delta Fox Not sure what you are talking about but that's some bloody good LSD you've taken.

[@lightbulb8587]

Very well said x

[@gaskellr44]

@Delta Fox I think the symptoms have been illustated in your previous diatribes(some might say diarrhea but I coulnt possibly comment) but ime always interested in new things so if you have a link to your WS i'll chck it out? PS is the beautiful wife made of these artificial body parts?

[@gaskellr44]

@Delta Fox ive got great H 2 E C, ime interested.

[@TheTk1971]

A true gentleman actor 'like David Niven ultra cool with style 'sadly we no longer see many actors of this stature today...

[@KevinPinel]

@StealthyMonk Unfortunately for John, here, it was alcohol related

[@jennyt966]

I was just thinking of David Niven and John Mills.

[@christopherfisher6293]

We had a manager that was less than competent in many matters. One day came a crisis and a decision of some importance had to be made and one of our junior members uttered the Sgt Wilson phrase of " Do you think that's wise Sir?" Silence then guffaw of laughter!! His competence improved immediately. Thank you Sgt Wilson.

[@brianlewis3888]

A charming man and in real life you could have been speaking to Sgt Wilson! I met him by chance while he was proping up the bar in the Foy Boat hotel Ramsgate when I was working for Wimpey on construction of a multi-story block of flats in the early 1970s. That chance meeting I will never forget because he was such an impressionable character.

[@brianlewis3888]

Knickertwist Copperby. How interesting Knickertwist. Working for a largely Irish company where the "Black Stuff" ruled, The Foy Boat became our daily watering hole! At that time Hughy Green and Monica Rose were living on a houseboat in Ramsgate Harbour.

[@brianlewis3888]

X Ruttles. Thanks for that. I didn't go into detail about Monica Rose because what I said was simply a point in passing. You are absolutely right. I well remember Hughy Green "spotting" her as a contestant on his show but I wasn't aware she comitted suicide.

[@brianlewis3888]

X Ruttles. Your last comment prompted me to follow your lead and I did a Google search. Following her 8 minute appearance as a contestant she progressed to hostess on Hughie Green's "Double Your Money" and "The Sky's the Limit."

[@brianlewis3888]

X Ruttles. Good luck to you too and thank you for the contact.

[@isthereanybodyoutthere9397]

He lived not far from the Foy Boat in London Road, Ramsgate for many years.

[@jeffking6286]

Even off screen his voice and mannerisms were the exact same as his on screen Sgt Wilson.....

[@vulpesinculta3238]

The best actors are those who play themselves.

[@temudzjin]

jeff king he was giving a carte blanche on how to play Sgt Wilson. So he decided he'd model Wilson after himself.

[@davekp6773]

totally right. He portrayed Wilson in the exact same way he was when he was a captain in the tank regiment.

[@shaunw9270]

@@vulpesinculta3238 Apart from Michael Caine. Bloody awfully over rated actor.

[@shaunw9270]

@Knickertwist Copperby Yeah granted!

[@mjstow]

One of my heroes. We won't see his kind again.

[@tracya4087]

mine too

[@janeokeeffe5297]

A lovely man

[@001Geoff]

I was always a big fan of John le Mesurier, he was a true gentleman.

[@mikedavies1217]

His partnership with Arthur Lowe was comedy gold i would have loved to have seen them in more things but alas they came together late in there respective careers, but what a body of work they left us with

[@johnappleby405]

Hard to imagine Dad's Army without Wilson but I'm glad that the interviewer talked about the many other roles this gifted and charming gentleman played. Thanks for making this available

[@BibtheBoulder]

What a fabulous actor John was, with impeccable timing and delivery...

[@KidMillions]

- I was surprised to see you in Ben Hur. - Good eyesight have you?

[@maxwellfan55]

Repost that makes ordinary men great. Rare.

[@CherylJoyce]

Always made me laugh in Dad's Army, a truly great actor 😘

[@forestsoceansmusic]

My god! He wasn't acting in Dad's Army, that's how he really is! I've never seen an actor (hopefully) being himself, so much like his character!

[@adriang2053]

Hugh grant Ricky gervais ?

[@introspectivedreamer3864]

it is a pleasure not only to watch this wonderful gentleman in this great clip, never before have I seen, but to read all the super words and feel the happiness in the comments here for all those folks who loved this lovely actor and enjoyed his lovely personality and his wonderful acting, Thank you for this post

[@drd1314]

What beautiful comments on here, made me smile and sad in equal measure; an actor that was of his time, a real English gentleman that I can only aspire ever to be. Many people in SE Asia think we are all like this - if only...he represents Englishness personified...RIP John - a true role model.

[@nicholasdavies6264]

A pure gent! John and Hattie Jacques had a son Robin. Robin became an accomplished guitarist and was part of Rod Stewart’s band back in the 80’s. Sadly he too is no longer with us .

[@christineduffy3113]

Am sure they had two sons

[@neilrafferty2097]

Beautiful pronunciation and enunciation

[@barryallen7894]

From generation of gentlemen..niven,lee,cushing,and countless others..when england was english

[@dannywestern831]

James Henderson - that is thanks to Tony Blair

[@dannywestern831]

James Henderson funny you don’t mention anything about the Ottoman Empire or genghis khan (who slaughtered millions, also no mention of the needless Vietnam war , or even the Rwandan genocide , seems like you’ve also forgot that Dads army is based on the home guard who in a FICTIONAL town called Walmington on sea, you seem like a person who makes it an embarrassment to be British and proud.

[@dannywestern831]

James Henderson - er no, it’s a COMEDY based on those men that were willing to fight the Nazis (the real racists) should they reach British shores , the person they were fighting against was indeed a racist and anti Semite , do you not have something to say about him...???????

[@jimcrawford5039]

I’m Brit. Born, not English, but do we have to bring politics into a topic about a lovely man. Australia.

[@lawrencescott7014]

England was one of the biggest slave trade countries on Earth

[@EmptyGlass99]

It's always good to see actors giving credit to good writing.

[@dibbler08]

Thanks for uploading, very little is on the internet of this great actor.....sadly missed.

[@tuberider324]

His behaviour during his marriage breakup was truly honourable.

[@alanleemaxwell831]

Proper gentleman!!!

[@fasthracing]

Married to that fat bird wasn't he.

[@ivorbiggun710]

@@fasthracing Yep. She like a bit of noggin' though.

[@mscott3918]

@@fasthracing Hattie Jaques

[@fasthracing]

@@mscott3918 Yeah thats the one

[@fastacesus8499]

The true definition of cool. Charming intelligent and understated.

[@Sebastianmelmothuk]

The way those Actors talk in English is just something Surrealy Beautiful and get you in Love with Britain

[@maakeklein4073]

Si inglese ha molto classe.sfortumente gli americani non.perdone mia italiano.io sono nouva zealandia.ciao.

[@Sebastianmelmothuk]

@@maakeklein4073 piacere di conoscervi... It is a pleasure to meet you and your Italian is fine

[@theendofeverything6356]

What a chap and such a lovely, cultivated voice.

[@stephenguppy3466]

He won the BAFTA for best actor in 1972 for a straight piece called Traitor. Totally unlike almost all of his other work.

[@pauljay5478]

Stephen Guppy A brilliant piece of work as well.

[@videocurios]

Thanks it great to see him just being himself

[@alexsmyth17]

How awfully nice to hear your voice!

[@twogitsinacar4811]

"I know it's absolutely lovely to be here"

[@DavidHealy-u4g]

I could listen to him all day....(do you think that's wise). RIP john..

[@standenberg]

I recalled he did the narration for a 1970s kids cartoon Bod, such marvellous voice.

[@andrewclark8630]

And Arthur Lowe did the Mr Men.

[@davidcoleman757]

Played the elderly Bilbo in the BBC's radio version of Lord of the Rings. It was immaculate casting. One of the loveliest voices in showbiz.

[@maxwellfan55]

An elegant gentleman and portrait of an era before comedy censorship.

[@borkumriff642]

He was really great wasn't he ?

[@tracya4087]

yes

[@mynameisnotjerome1803]

John Le Mesurier was my great-grans next door neighbor. Sadly I never met him but she liked him very much.

[@lameduck3630]

Where did he live?

[@Shaylee757]

@@lameduck3630 in an house 🏠😂

[@dryflyman7121]

Mainwaring in Dad’s Army. “....typical public school..they’re an ambling, muddle headed lot...! “. He loved insulting poor old Wilson. Greatest comedy of all time!

[@chrisnatmills7802]

He seemed like a big star the way he is dressed, glasses and cigarettes. He was a great actor, always watch whatever he is in. He sounds exactly as his character in Dads Army.

[@no-oneman.4140]

It's all been rather lovely indeed.

[@WhisperingJohn]

Another superb actor who made acting look so easy. Thanks for posting.

[@gunner678]

Love this guy, a true gentleman.

[@TonyAuty]

My favourite person of all time.what a gentleman.see you in heaven

[@SusieKful]

He sounds like a wonderful man. I wish I had met him. Loved his acting and narration of The Velveteen Rabbit.

[@JuganautTimelapse]

How cool to be that laid back. Just like he was in Dad's Army.........

[@jimcrawford5039]

Nature’s gentleman, a lovely man. I wish I had known him!

[@TedCornish]

Absolutely a lovely man, the likes we'll never see again

[@markharrisllb]

The irony in WWII he was the highest ranked member of the cast of Dad's Army, as a Captain in a tank regiment. I’m sure I’ve heard of someone else recently who held a similar position.

[@madabbafan]

Arnold Ridley was also a Captain by the time he left the army.

[@ianhowlett4682]

The great Murray Walker was a captain in tanks by the end of WW2.

[@markharrisllb]

@@ianhowlett4682 That’s quite possibly it. So many entertainers served with distinction, Rupert Davies, David Niven, Raymond Baxter, my dad (he entertained me and my siblings anyhow).

[@jnuttso1]

Fabulous so cool very good actor you don't see many interviews with dads army cast often :-)

[@tramlad2]

A true gent, great actor, great story teller.

[@susanyoung6632]

A true gentleman, in the ilk of David Niven. So charming.

[@glynnwadeson5605]

I saw the poor old guy a few times, usually at the bar of the Barons Keep or on one occasion at Raymond’s Revue Bar, drinking alone, always seemed very sad

[@mariaobeirne514]

That's very sad. Seemed like a lovely man.

[@FF-so3su]

Been wonderful to spend an evening chatting to him🙂👍

[@ChrisJones-yh2ig]

Wonderful actor. So underrated. My favourite in Dad's Army. Loved his performance in Traitor - BBC play for today written by Dennis Potter in 1971

[@chuffpup]

Likeable chap. God, I've enjoyed watching dad's army again. It was a funny show.

[@daleskidmore1685]

John could say everything with just a look, He knew when no words were needed. I always remember it was mentioned in an episode of Dad's that he looked like Jack Buchanan. As soon as I saw one of his movies I realised he did.

[@twogitsinacar4811]

[Toupe Episode] It's awful........Ha Ha....Ha Ha Ha....I mean it's awfully good

[@EdParnellReads]

All these people from those days... quality. You could put an argument times change but they could knock most of today’s talent into a basket.

[@djackman4229]

Hope im wrong but I doubt the coming generations will be even able to comprehend the quality in a show like Dads Army - all but a few anyway.

[@alexsmyth17]

If this reassures you, I’m 21 and Dad’s Army is my favourite show of all time. It is due in no small part to John Le Mesurier’s talents, as well as many other factors. Hopefully this gives you a glimmer of hope.

[@djackman4229]

@@alexsmyth17 Thanks it does, im surprised.

[@alexsmyth17]

@@djackman4229 Good. A pleasant surprise I hope. Don't panic don't panic.

[@margin606]

Anyone remember: 'Graded grains make finer flour' ?

[@hirundine44]

No... maybe? Subconsciously, perhaps... ?

[@eugeneoneal3034]

Homepride flower. I remember Fred.

[@rodden1953]

I do that advert was never the same after they changed the voice

[@shaun5944]

Well remembered R W, I forgot all about that 👍

[@annoldham3018]

Yes. You recognised the voice of Fred straightaway didn't you?🥰

[@davidryan9496]

Beautiful voice and diction.

[@stevepayne5965]

His performance in 'Traitor' - loosely based on Kim Philby - was an absolute masterpiece, even though JLM was reported to be absolutely terrifed of doing it and thought it would be a disaster. Afterwards he said that in his opinion it was the best role he ever had on television. In my opinion he was right. I'm taking away nothing from the comedy career for which he's best known, but 'Traitor' proves what a criminally underrated serious actor he was, and what he might have done if everything else hadn't been eclipsed by Sgt. Wilson. If you get the chance to see it - for God's sake watch it.

[@jeremyclapham394]

Does anyone remember that strange animation? BOD . Le Mesurier narrated it, apparently ; the crazy theme tune was inspired by Stephane Graphelli.

[@thisiszaphod]

Yes remember it. Derek Griffiths 'sang' the title song.

[@paulb2049]

I have the DVD of the complete Bod...... it’s brilliant

[@alanleemaxwell831]

One of my most enduring childhood memories!

[@ivorbiggun710]

I certainly do. Aunt Floe had a curiously coquettish signature tune.

[@twogitsinacar4811]

A lady friend of mine still calls me BOD !!!!!

[@ROCKINGMAN]

I always thought he was one of the mainstays of british cinema and in numerous films. He had a really nice quiet personality. His son Robin is well known in French rock as he was a close friend and guitarist to Johnny Hallyday.

[@annoldham3018]

He will always be the narrator of Bod to me. 🥰

[@mattprior8442]

Any good actor knows exactly the power and effects of a good story , scene , dialogue writing and choosing of words in a scenario because before giving credit to themselves for the good acting performance and without it ...... an actor is nothing ! R.I.P........ Mr.John Le .

[@bretdouglas9407]

He played bilbo baggins in the 1980 bbc radio production of Lord of the Rings. I was a kid when it was on radio and remember the whole cast

[@jaxnean2663]

The Honorable John le Mesurier!

[@RobertJonesWightpaint]

We could have done with a lot more of that - once he gets going he's fascinating, but extremely diffident; and always courteous. Much missed.

[@margin606]

The epitome of urbanity. What a man!

[@derby1884]

You wouldn't expect him to play a murderer - but he did. Twice. Once, in 1963, in the Edgar Wallace Mystery episode "Flat Two" and, ten years later, in the Thriller episode "File It Under Fear". In each case, he was as laid back as ever.

[@ozzie-sk9dh]

'Do you think that's wise sir?' ..... 'now come along you fellows fall in for the Captain please'

[@philippankhurst6680]

Proof, it it was needed, that Croft and Perry allowed him to play himself in Dad's Army.

[@bikerbisht110]

I don't know anyone who didn't like John, lovely person

[@flashers.5212]

I remember him well, always a favourite in our household during the seventies & early eighties. Even my crusty, conservative father loved him. He served in India during the war & instead of being all secretive & dramatic he is quoted as saying that he had a “rather comfortable war” He was called up, but his rented house was bombed destroying his call up papers, in the same raid the theatre he was working in was hit as well. He ended up as a captain ( much to his surprise, he couldn’t of cared less) before being demobbed in 1946. His private life wasn’t to be envied, but is that my business?

[@goober650NX]

Well said. He was a class act.

[@fjccommish]

Wil....w...Wilson, you're sitting like that again.

[@twogitsinacar4811]

Oh dear ...... Oh dear oh dear ....... Oh dear oh dear oh dear .......

[@chookvalve]

Met him in a restaurant in Adelaide Australia when I was 12. The first ‘star’ I guess I met.

[@RonWylie-gk5lc]

What an elegant gentleman he really was, such style and he was the perfect foil for Mainwarring's pompous Poe faced Captain. He has a lot of the Brian Ferry here lol

[@heli-crewhgs5285]

Ron Wylie: John Le Mesurier was never a member of Roxy Music!

[@twogitsinacar4811]

@@heli-crewhgs5285 - Yes I think someone is getting awfully confused !!

[@pauljackson0121]

Too Nice Of A Man,Betrayed By 2 wives and his best friend...Top Gentleman,a real Gentle man

[@FlavourlessLife]

We don't make them like this any more...

[@duncansmith8992]

Interviewer: I wad surprised to see you in Ben Hur the other night.... John: oh, were you ? ......good eyesight have you ? Brilliant comment. A natural raconteur. Legend.

[@andrewm514]

He was a lovely man. RIP

[@nigelpowton9509]

So beautifully spoken and eloquent.

[@1000WinstonSmith]

Contrast and compare these interviews with fine, successful actors, to what we get today. Back then a question was asked and the interviewee gave a full and sincere answer to the question. These days someone stars in one hit movie and when interviewed they reply in short soundbites. John was a great actor. God bless him. ❤

[@sunderland97]

Amazing chap and dad's army wow still amazing

[@andyaim4764]

It’s amazing how many people have met him in a pub!! I did too in a pub in Ladbroke Grove... delightful chap.

[@susiefoureyes6256]

What a lovely man

[@saxa21]

Imagine John as PM There would be no war cool cool cool.

[@breeze1472]

it must of been easy to play wilson in dads army as his demenear is no different to here,cool calm and collective.nice fella by sounds of it

[@michaelfontanelli2450]

So great as Sgt Wilson!

[@VikingRhys]

"One was out there a long time to do very little" priceless lol

[@CherylJoyce]

Such a great actor 😀

[@sudrianliam1199]

It's great to see him just being himself, but.... I don't see that big a difference between John Le Mesurier and Sgt. Arthur Wilson!😂

[@twogitsinacar4811]

That was his craft there wasn't much difference at all, just great writing. with the exception of Barry Cryer, good writing no longer exists in comedy

[@tracya4087]

he was infact a captain in the royal armoured corps

[@davidnelson7149]

The writers wrote for the character traits of each actor. They were all acting 'in character', to perfection in my point of view.

[@ajjy1110]

legend.. Jacques took the piss out of him and treated him like crap

[@andywright3450]

Good actor John sadly missed