How To Watch The 2016 Dad’s Army Film For Free

By Olivia Emily

3 weeks ago

A hack for fans of the WW2 comedy


Dad’s Army will never die in British memory, thanks to its influence on countless comedies since it originally aired from 1968–1977. Injecting new life into the time-worn series in 2016 was a spin-off film set in 1944 (after the events of the original series ended), with a whole new cast based on the original characters. Whether you watched it when it was first released and want some nostalgia or you fancy watching the 2016 film for the first time, we’ve got some good news for you: Dad’s Army can now be streamed for free in the UK. Here’s how.

Blake Harrison as Private Pike; Daniel Mays as Private Walker; Tom Courtenay as Lance Corporal Jones; Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring; Bill Paterson as Private Fraser; Bill Nighy as Sergeant Wilson & Michael Gambon as Private Godfrey

Blake Harrison as Private Pike; Daniel Mays as Private Walker; Tom Courtenay as Lance Corporal Jones; Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring; Bill Paterson as Private Fraser; Bill Nighy as Sergeant Wilson & Michael Gambon as Private Godfrey in Dad’s Army. (© 2015 Stupid Boy Ltd/Universal City Studios Productions, LLLP. All Rights Reserved.)

Where Can I Watch The 2016 Dad’s Army Film?

Dad’s Army (2016) is now streaming on ITVX, free of charge for UK residents. Starring Toby Jones and Michael Gambon, the flick is based on the characters from the classic TV show – with the ranks infiltrated by a female journalist.

What Is The Plot?

Set in 1944 as Britain nears the end of World War II, the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard platoon happens upon a female journalist, Rose (Catherine Zeta-Jones) intending to write a magazine feature on the men, who are feeling underappreciated. But Rose is actually a German spy, sent to investigate the Allied invasion plans…

Cast Of Dad’s Army

Who stars in Dad’s Army? A whole host of famous faces, with many characters based on the original series. The cast is as follows:

  • Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring, based on Arthur Lowe’s character
  • Bill Nighy as Sergeant Wilson, based on John Le Mesurier’s character
  • Catherine Zeta-Jones as Rose Winters
  • Tom Courtenay as Lance Corporal Jones, based on Clive Dunn’s character
  • Blake Harrison as Private Pike, based on Ian Lavender’s character
  • Michael Gambon as Private Godfrey, based on Arnold Ridley’s character
  • Bill Paterson as Private Frazer, based on John Laurie’s character
  • Daniel Mays as Private Walker, based on James Beck’s character
  • Sarah Lancashire as Mrs Pike
  • Mark Gatiss as Colonel Theakes
  • Mark Tandy as Major Cunningham, MI5
  • Andrew Havill as Captain Meeks, MI5
  • Emily Atack as Daphne
  • Alison Steadman as Mrs Fox
  • Holli Dempsey as Vera Shilton
  • Annette Crosbie as Cissy Godfrey
  • Ian Lavender as Brigadier Pritchard
  • Frank Williams as the Reverend Timothy Farthing
  • Felicity Montagu as Mrs Mainwaring
  • Martin Savage as Warden Hodges
  • Oliver Tobias as Admiral Canaris
  • Julia Foster as Dolly Godfrey
  • Jacqueline Tong as Mrs Todd
Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring & Catherine Zeta-Jones as Rose Winters in Dad's Army.

Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring & Catherine Zeta-Jones as Rose Winters in Dad’s Army. (© 2015 Stupid Boy Ltd/Universal City Studios Productions, LLLP. All Rights Reserved.)

Where Was It Filmed?

Dad’s Army was filmed in Yorkshire in October 2014, including North Landing, Flamborough Head, Bridlington, Beverley, Leeds and Pickering. The film and original series are set in the coastal town of Walmington-on-Sea, which is a fictional town said to be down on the southern coast of England, not far from Eastbourne. Filming for the 2016 film, however, was hundreds of miles away on the eastern coast of the country. Meanwhile, the original series was filmed in Thetford, a small market town in Norfolk, while filming for the 1971 movie took place in Chalfont St Giles in Buckinghamshire.

Catherine Zeta-Jones as Rose Winters & Tom Courtenay as Lance Corporal Jones

Catherine Zeta-Jones as Rose Winters & Tom Courtenay as Lance Corporal Jones in Dad’s Army. (© 2015 Stupid Boy Ltd/Universal City Studios Productions, LLLP. All Rights Reserved.)

Where Can I Watch The Original Dad’s Army Series?

The original episodes of Dad’s Army are available to watch on NOW, provided you have a subscription, and ITVX with a premium subscription. Despite the series being created by the BBC, episodes are sadly not available on iPlayer.

As for the 1971 film, it isn’t included in any streaming service subscription, but it can be rented on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and more.