Ian Lavender: From Derek to Dad's Army


By Larry Jaffee

Ian Lavender's portrayal of Derek Harkinson provided Albert Square with an older male role model, who has carried himself with dignity.

The character was introduced as an old schoolfriend of Pauline Fowler. He supported Pauline through various crises and acted as a father figure to Martin, even taught him how to drive.

Brought on as a potential love interest for Pauline, Derek, in true soap fashion, turned out to be gay, alas such a coupling was not meant to be.

While EastEnders in recent years brought Lavender back into UK telly consciousness, he's perhaps better known in Britain for his portrayal of a young soldier in the classic comedy Dad's Army.

He recently spent some time talking about both shows with the Walford Gazette.

WG: You've had a long acting career. What are the highlights in your mind?
IL: Being part of what was arguably the biggest comedy programme that the BBC has ever had. Only this last week there have been complete evenings' scheduling of the programme and programmes about the programme — Dad's Army — to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the first broadcast. I'm obviously very proud of that. It continues to be shown and repeated here [in the U.K.] collecting an audience across the whole family from grandparents to grandchildren whose parents weren't even born when we made them. It became the programme that everyone wanted to do an episode of, and was where I first met Wendy Richard. She played the girlfriend of one of the leading characters in four or five episodes. Some years ago I was in the West End production of The Merchant 0f Venice starring Dustin Hoffman as Shylock. It was the event of that West End year, the hottest ticket in town. Great to be part of that event and it wasn't a bad production either! And just recently another highlight was being in The National Theatre's production of the American musical, Tony Kushner's Caroline or Change starring Tonya Pinkins and directed by George C.Wolfe, Tony Award winners. Great experience all round.

WG: You're still remembered for Dad's Army. Did you feel typecast at all after that?
IL: Literally typecast yes, in that I am in that the public tend to expect me to appear in comedies or light comedy, but they don't expect me to play the same character. I have found that friends and other actors who have become well known for playing in straight series or soap operas find it much more difficult afterwards in that the audience seem to want to see them only playing that character.

WG: Was it nice once you arrived on EastEnders to act with Wendy Richard? Wasn't it sort of art imitating life in that Derek and Pauline were old friends?
IL: The experience started off very easily because I had known not only Wendy for thirty years or more but also June Brown, Derek Martin, Johnny Bardon and Barbara Windsor to name only a few. It was like old friends' week in possibly what could have been called an old actors' home! So life imitated art with Wendy, but I never got to play golf with Jim Branning or Charlie Slater!

WG: My favourite Derek moment was him not taking any nonsense from the Mitchells during the mini World Cup competiton. (That played in the U.S. only about 6 months ago, by the way). How about yours?
IL: You are obviously quite early on in my period in Enders. There are several moments that are more favorite for me than the World Cup but I would be giving things away. Suffice to say that there is a lovely story to come yet when my — Derek's — former partner reappears for a while. It's a nice story line that interweaves with a holiday trip for Dot and Jim, and Pauline and Derek. Great fun to do but shot on location in the middle of the winter. It can get very cold here at times!

WG: Did you have any trepidation in taking on a gay character?
IL: None whatsoever. I have played several gay characters in my career and I have too many friends who just happen to be gay for me to worry about that sort of thing. A person's, let alone a character's, sexuality shouldn't have any bearing on how you feel about them for real, or whether you should play a character who is gay.

WG: How are you feeling? I read about your recent heart attack. Any advice for readers regarding taking care of one's health?
IL: I had my heart attacks three years ago now. I feel fine. Apart from the pills that I shovel down my throat daily I find it hard to remember that they happened. Still working and still doing everything else that gives me pleasure. One of the greatest pleasures being coming over to visit with my son and daughter in law and soon to arrive granddaughter in Los Angeles. I think I would have another heart attack if I couldn't do that. Advice? Surely there is enough out there about lifestyle and diet without me adding more. What I would like to shout at everybody is that you don't necessarily have the pains in the arm or in the chest when an attack happens. If you think there is something wrong get in there and find out. Not only for yourself but it also makes the doctors' job easier if they get their hands on you right at the start. My team told me that they once had a man walk in with his food shopping with him. He had started to feel unwell un the supermarket but thought he would just finish the shopping and then go to hospital. Idiot!!!! and I can think of better words to describe him too.

WG: Thanks, Ian.




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