'Dad's Army' star blasts current TV shows

Dad's Army star Ian Lavender has bemoaned the lack of family-friendly shows on TV.

The actor, who played Private Pike in the classic BBC series, made his comments at a reunion with surviving cast members to mark the 40th anniversary of the show's first episode.

He told reporters during a photocall: "It's rather sad that Dad's Army has to be repeated on the TV, although I'm delighted to see it of course. But there's a need for it because they're not making programmes for the whole family to watch."

He added: "Sadly everything now is done for demographics, whether it's selling a chocolate bar or television."

Lavender, who also played Derek Harkinson in EastEnders, was joined at London's Imperial War Museum by Dame Vera Lynn and Dad's Army co-stars Clive Dunn, 88, and Bill Pertwee, 81.

When asked how he planned to celebrate the anniversary, Dunn (Lance Corporal Jones) joked that he was "going to try to stay alive until 5pm".

A 40th birthday reunion show hosted by Jonathan Ross will air on BBC One on August 13.