Dad's Army (TV Series) Is There Honey Still for Tea? (1975) User Reviews

A classic.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 5 January 2021]

Sometimes episodes would have dual stories, with one often being grander and funnier than the other, this one is perfectly split, with two wonderful threads, Mainwaring's door, and Godfrey's cottage.

One of the more distressing aspects of the ear effort, was compulsory purchase of people's property, necessary of course, but hard for those on the receiving end.

I enjoyed this episode hugely, very funny, very sweet, Godfrey as always one step behind, Mainwaring as always reactive and his pride dented. I though the scenes with the door were hilarious, so funny, especially Jones blundering in.

A lovely scene between Jones and Godfrey, the spirit of goodwill plain to see.

It's a shame that Godfrey's sisters weren't the originals, the new ones were sweet, the originals were dotty and scatty.

Quality, light hearted comedy, 9/10.

A late era classic, mixing humour and melancholia to devastating effect

[phantom_tollbooth · 10/10 · 28 July 2023]

Dad's Army peaked with its brilliant third, fourth and fifth series and, while there have been exceptions like The Deadly Attachment and The Honourable Man, few episodes since have reached the quality of the show's heyday. What a delight then to discover this late era classic, a wonderfully emotional episode that gives every cast member a chance to shine. I'm a sucker for Arnold Ridley as Godfrey, pretty much the sweetest old man imaginable. On the rare occasions he is the focus of an episode, Dad's Army's big heart is always prominently on display. Is There Honey Still for Tea? Is no exception, a wistful episode which mixes ample laughs with a sense of desperate melancholy to remarkable effect. The plot involves Mainwaring being asked to break the news to Godfrey that his beloved cottage is to be demolished to make way for a new aerodrome. Each member of the platoon has a bash at telling Godfrey the devastating news but none of them can bring themselves to go through with it. Lovely scenes abound, from an afternoon tea in Godfrey's idyllic garden to a heartwarming moment in which Jones offers to move Godfrey in with him. The capper to all this comes as Fraser is unexpectedly the one to save the day, albeit in a typically cynical way. John Laurie finally seems to be back on track with his performance here after it drifted into pantomime for a couple of series, and the final image of another afternoon tea at Godfrey's being destroyed by the nearby aerodrome's noisy blast is a perfect punchline. An absolute delight.

Fraser's finest hour

[tfevans · 10/10 · 6 June 2021]

The show's second look at the details of the platoon's relationship with Godfrey. The main plotline starts with the Colonel asking Cpt Mainwaring to break some devastating news to Godfrey in person, as it could cause shock. This is of course nicely subverted when Godfrey eventually deals with the news better than just about anyone else.

The star of the episode is undoubtedly Fraser, in the scene where he calls Sir Charles in the middle of the night (when it's cheaper). Despite it's relative lack of connection to the war, one of the finest episodes of Dad's Army.