Philip Madoc was 77

Philip Madoc, the actor immortalised as the captured German in the 'Don't tell him, Pike!' scene from Dad's Army, has died at the age of 77.

He played a U-boat captain guarded by Captain Mainwaring's Home Guard in a classic 1973 episode of the sitcom.

His character threatens revenge once the war is over, making a list of those who will be 'brought to account' and demands to know Private Pike's name prompting Mainwaring's punchline.

Although the scene is much-repeated, it was a small part of Madoc's career, which also included the title role in the 1981 BBC drama The Life And Times of David Lloyd George. He also played King Lear in a Radio Three adaptation of the Shakespeare play and DCI Noel Bain in Nineties detective drama A Mind To Kill

Madoc, who had been ill since January, died in hospital in Middlesex on Sunday morning.

He was divorced from Hi-de-Hi! star Ruth Madoc, 68. In a statement the Welsh actor's family said:'He will be greatly missed by his son, daughter and grandchildren.'

Here is his classic scene:

Published: 6 Mar 2012