Who Do You Think You Are Kidding!

Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, Clive Dunn and Ian Lavender are among the more starry names associated with the television series.

But Wigan-born Bean was in 80 episodes of Dad's Army as Private Sponge, progressing from a couple of sentences an episode to having "plot" lines.

In his entertaining book Who Do You Think You Are Kidding!, Bean describes his enjoyable Dad's Army days as well as charting the rest of his career.

Particularly interesting for local people are his memories of appearing at Bolton's Octagon Theatre.

He made his first appearance there as Gratiano in The Merchant of Venice in 1983. He recalls that one Christmas attraction at the Octagon was Wilfred Harrison's adaptation of Beauty and the Beast.

Bean played a nosey, interfering neighbour and explains that in deference to his portly appearance, his character had the names Frederick, Alphonse, Thomas Terence, Ignatius, the initials spelling the name FATTI!

In a postcript to the book, Jimmy Perry, Creator of Dad's Army, writes of Private Sponge: "He was always ready to carry out Captain Mainwaring's orders: 'I'll leave it to you, Private Sponge', 'Take charge, Private Sponge", 'Pick six men for this dangerous task, Private Sponge'. And so he marched beside his captain for 80 episodes into history and became a legend.

This is a book for anyone interested in actors and acting.

Who Do You Think You Are Kidding! by Colin Bean, (Published in softback by Edward and George at £9.99)