Dad's Army 50th anniversary celebrated with set of Royal Mail stamps

TV classic Dad's Army is being honoured with a set of eight stamps featuring the comedy's main characters and their much-loved catchphrases.

Pompous bank manager Captain Mainwaring, Lance Corporal Jones, Private Godfrey and Chief Warden Hodges will all appear on the first class Royal Mail stamps, issued to mark the comedy's 50th anniversary.

Second class stamps will feature chief clerk Sergeant Wilson, Private Pike, Private Walker and Private Frazer.

The bungling Home Guard platoon based in the fictional seaside town of Walmington-on-Sea were the unlikely stars of the sitcom set during the Second World War.

Ian Lavender who played mummies-boy Frank Pike in the comedy described being pictured on a stamp as "overwhelming".

The only surviving member of the original group of actors, he said: "I didn't believe you could have someone still alive on a stamp apart from the Queen…

"You can hope for an OBE or a Bafta - those are things that happen. But to be on a stamp, well it really is so nice. What a lovely surprise."

With a set of well-known catchphrases - including "You stupid boy", "Don't panic" and "We're doomed" - the motley crew of self-selected soldiers won the heart of the nation.

Some have claimed the timing of the stamp release could be seen as ironic, with the current Brexit debates underway in the House of Commons.

Welsh MP Jonathan Edwards wrote: "Brilliant timing by Royal Mail to issue these Dad's Army stamps considering what we are debating over the next two days in the House of Commons".

The BBC show ran for nine series between 1968 and 1977, filming 80 episodes in total.

One of the most watched television programmes of the 1970s, it regularly attracted more than 18 million viewers.

Feature films based on the sitcom were made in 1971 and 2016, however both big-screen attempts met with mixed reviews by critics and audiences alike.

Dad's Army stamps will be available from 7,000 post offices from 26 June.