# Number Engaged > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Number_Engaged > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Number_Engaged.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_Engaged > Source revision: 1244527749 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) "**Number Engaged**" is the fifth episode of the ninth and final series of the British [television](/source/Television) [sitcom](/source/Sitcom) *[Dad's Army](/source/Dad's_Army)*. It was originally broadcast on 6 November 1977 on [BBC1](/source/BBC1) and was the penultimate episode of the series.[1] ## Synopsis The platoon is tasked with guarding the new [telephone wires](/source/Telephone_line) that have been set up along the coast. During the night, an [air raid](/source/Airstrike) occurs, and upon waking, the platoon discover an [unexploded bomb](/source/Unexploded_ordnance) caught in the wires. ## Plot The platoon has been assigned to guard a two-[mile](/source/Mile) stretch of telephone wires that are vital for the war effort. Arriving at the site in [Jones's van](/source/Jones's_van_(Dad's_Army)), Mainwaring orders Frazer to prepare the next morning's [breakfast](/source/Breakfast). However, Frazer explains that he cannot cook the [porridge](/source/Porridge) since he must catch the [trout](/source/Trout) for dinner, so Mainwaring appoints Pike to prepare the porridge. Before departing, Frazer gives Pike the [recipe](/source/Recipe) of 'one jug of water to one mug of porridge' for every man present. During the night an air raid occurs, and the next morning, while eating breakfast, Pike asks Mainwaring what he should do with the leftover porridge he has prepared. Pike mixed up Frazer's measurements, and upon discovering the leftovers, which are enough to feed 'a hundred men', Mainwaring calls Pike a 'stupid boy'. Soon, the Vicar arrives to perform the morning [Holy Communion](/source/Eucharist) [open-air service](/source/Open-air_preaching). As the platoon raise their heads in [prayer](/source/Prayer), they notice the unexploded bomb in the telephone wires. Following several attempts to dislodge the bomb, Wilson suggests that they use the [crane](/source/Crane_(machine)) at the construction site up the road. Jones is raised onto the wires, but being unable to reach, he climbs onto the pole and attempts to lift the bomb and remove it. However, he loses his grip and the bomb falls... landing safely in Pike's pot of porridge. Mainwaring, relieved, apologises to Pike for calling him a stupid boy. However, Jones discovers that he cannot get down from the wires, and he soon suffers a non-fatal [electric shock](/source/Electric_shock). ## Cast - [Arthur Lowe](/source/Arthur_Lowe) as [Captain Mainwaring](/source/Captain_Mainwaring) - [John Le Mesurier](/source/John_Le_Mesurier) as [Sergeant Wilson](/source/Sergeant_Wilson) - [Clive Dunn](/source/Clive_Dunn) as [Lance Corporal Jones](/source/Lance_Corporal_Jones) - [John Laurie](/source/John_Laurie) as [Private Frazer](/source/Private_Frazer) - [Arnold Ridley](/source/Arnold_Ridley) as [Private Godfrey](/source/Private_Godfrey) - [Ian Lavender](/source/Ian_Lavender) as [Private Pike](/source/Private_Pike) - [Bill Pertwee](/source/Bill_Pertwee) as [Chief ARP Warden Hodges](/source/Dad's_Army#Supporting_characters) - [Frank Williams](/source/Frank_Williams_(actor)) as The Vicar - [Edward Sinclair](/source/Edward_Sinclair_(actor)) as The Verger - [Ronnie Brody](/source/Ronnie_Brody) as the [GPO](/source/General_Post_Office) Man - Robert Mill as the Army Captain - [Kenneth MacDonald](/source/Kenneth_MacDonald_(English_actor)) as the Army Sergeant - [Felix Bowness](/source/Felix_Bowness) as the Van Driver - [Colin Bean](/source/Colin_Bean) as Private Sponge - [Stuart McGugan](/source/Stuart_McGugan) as the Scottish Sergeant - [Bernice Adams](/source/Bernice_Adams) as the [ATS](/source/Auxiliary_Territorial_Service) Girl ## Production ### Casting This episode features three actors who were regulars on [Jimmy Perry](/source/Jimmy_Perry) and [David Croft](/source/David_Croft_(TV_producer))'s other sitcoms. In *[It Ain't Half Hot Mum](/source/It_Ain't_Half_Hot_Mum)*, [Kenneth MacDonald](/source/Kenneth_MacDonald_(English_actor)) and [Stuart McGugan](/source/Stuart_McGugan) played [Gunner "Nobby" Clark](/source/It_Ain't_Half_Hot_Mum#Concert_party) and [Gunner "Atlas" Mackintosh](/source/It_Ain't_Half_Hot_Mum#Concert_party) respectively, from 1974-1981. [Felix Bowness](/source/Felix_Bowness), who appeared in this episode as the Van Driver, was a regular of *[Hi-de-Hi!](/source/Hi-de-Hi!)*, and played [Fred Quilley](/source/Hi-de-Hi!#Characters) from 1980-1988. Jim Dowdall and [Derek Ware](/source/Derek_Ware_(actor)) performed the stunts for this episode.[2] ### Filming The studio sequences for this episode were recorded on 15 July 1977 at the [BBC Television Centre](/source/Television_Centre,_London) in [London](/source/London).[1] Outdoor film sequences were shot at the Black Rabbit Warren in the [Stanford Training Area](/source/Stanford_Training_Area) in [Norfolk](/source/Norfolk), and at Sapiston Green in the [Suffolk](/source/Suffolk) village of [Sapiston](/source/Sapiston).[3] ## References 1. Pertwee, Bill (2009). *Dad's Army: The Making of a Television Legend*. [London](/source/London): [Conway Publishing](/source/Conway_Publishing). p. 125. ISBN 9781844861057. 1. ["Series Nine"](https://www.dadsarmy.co.uk/Series-Nine.html). *[Dad's Army Appreciation Society](/source/Dad's_Army_Appreciation_Society)*. 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023. 1. ["Locations"](https://www.dadsarmy.co.uk/Locations.html). *[Dad's Army Appreciation Society](/source/Dad's_Army_Appreciation_Society)*. 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Number Engaged](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_Engaged) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_Engaged?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.