Sergeant Wilsonâs Little Secret (1969 in black & white) is one of three surviving episodes from series two of Dadâs Army. A fascinating aspect of this episode is the way that it deals with the dynamic between Sergeant Wilson (John Le Mesurier) and the widowed Mrs Pike (Janet Davies), mother of Frank.
In subsequent series, itâs generally understood that Sergeant Wilson and Mrs Pike are in a relationship, but an enduring theme, and an essential part of the ongoing comedy, is that it is only ever referred to in whispers, with a little general nudging and winking and the occasional pointed comment (to Sergeant Wilsonâs intense discomfort), but never explicitly stated. Mrs Pike holds Wilsonâs ration books, so itâs understandable that he is always at her home at mealtimes. At one point, when Frank asks his Uncle Arthur why he always manages to be at their house last thing at night and first thing in the morning, Wilson explains that he departs and arrives very quietly.
In Sergeant Wilsonâs Little Secret, nothing is left to the imagination. Mrs Pike has decided to take in a young evacuee, and after overhearing half a conversation, and then when being told about the impending arrival by Mrs Pike herself, Sergeant Wilson misunderstands and believes her to be expecting.
In shock, Wilson confides in Captain Mainwaring who is suitably outraged (I thought you only went around there for meals!). Mainwaring frets about what upper management at the bank's head office might think, and is adamant that Wilson must do the honourable thing.
Sergeant Wilson turns up at Mrs Pike's front door late at night to propose marriage, but is rumbled by Joe Walker (James Beck) who is enjoying the whole kerfuffle
Matters progress as far as a wedding rehearsal with the platoon as guard of honour, before the truth is revealed right at the last moment when Mrs Pike arrives with the young evacuee. There is relief all round and the episode ends.
By the ninth and final series in 1977, and a total of 80 episodes, the question over Wilson and Mrs Pike's relationship was no closer to being resolved, and the marriage proposal and impending wedding had been conveniently forgotten. (Apparently the term, so Iâve just learned, is retconned, or retroactive/retrofitted continuity).
Ian Lavender later said that creator and co-writer Jimmy Perry had confided to him that he always intended Frank Pike to be Sergeant Wilsonâs unacknowledged son.Â
