Dad's Army U-boat captain who starred in comedy's most famous episode dies aged 77

By Paul Revoir for MailOnline
Updated: 20:27 EDT, 5 March 2012

The actor Philip Madoc, who starred in a much-loved episode of Dad’s Army, died yesterday aged 77 after a short illness.

In a long TV and stage career he appeared in shows such as Porridge and Doctor Who, and played the title role in the BBC drama The Life And Times of David Lloyd George.

But he is probably best remembered for his portrayal of a German U-boat commander captured by the Home Guard in a 1973 episode of Dad’s Army.

Infamous: Philip Madoc played a German U-boat captain in the priceless "Don't tell him Pike" incident in the The Deadly Attachment episode of Dad's Army from October 1973

He says he is making a list of those who will be dealt with after Germany has won the war and demands to know the name of the platoon’s youngest private, prompting Captain Mainwaring’s immortal line: ‘Don’t tell him Pike!’

Madoc, born in Merthyr Tydfil, was divorced from Hi-de-Hi! star Ruth Madoc. His family said: ‘He will be greatly missed by his son, daughter and grandchildren.

'Although he suffered from cancer, he was very well looked after by the staff at Michael Sobell Hospice in Northwood, for which the family are very grateful.

Radio: The actor starred as Prospero with Nina Wadia as Ariel in Shakespeare's The Tempest on Radio 3 in 2001

His former wife, actress Ruth Madoc, said she had known for some time that he was not well.

'I've known him since I was 17 and I married him at 19,' she said.

'We had two children and have five grandchildren.

'I saw him on a regular basis and we had the family in common and a love of the business.

He will be hugely missed: Madoc as Noel Bain in Channel 5's A Mind To Kill

'I've got some wonderful, wonderful memories of Philip. He was such a talented actor and had that wonderful voice.'

The Merthyr Tydfil-born actor gained a reputation for playing villains, but insisted he did not mind.

He said in one interview: 'Certainly initially I rarely played heroes because there was still this tradition that heroes were six foot tall. Certainly if you had a voice that wasn't high and dark eyes then there was a feeling that you were set out to play the villains of this world.

'I didn't ever argue with that, because they were more or less the best parts.'

His agent Michael Hallet said: 'He passed away in hospital in Hertfordshire this morning after a short illness with his family around him.

'He will be hugely missed by everybody.'

Madoc famously played a captured U-boat captain in an episode of Dad's Army in which he asked the names of his captors, prompting a furious Captain Mainwaring to shout the famous line "Don't tell him Pike".