and he can more safely escape. When the Germans eventually assume he has succeeded in getting away and lose interest, he will walk out of the camp, disguised as one of three visiting Swiss Red Cross observers, along with Cooper and Baines (which has echoes of a real Second World War escape from Spangenberg by RAF officers Dominic Bruce, the "Medium Sized Man" of Colditz fame; Pete Tunstall; and "Useless" Eustace Newborn, who escaped dressed as Swiss Red Cross doctors). Crucial to the plan is that Everett looks like the camp Lager (compound) officer, Major Stampfel (also played by Baxter, even though he describes him as "hideously ugly"). He must impersonate Stampfel, as he will be escorting the delegation. The escape committee, headed by Wing Commander Piggott (John Le Mesurier), are very dissatisfied with Pease's plan, but Pease is determined to see it through. The plan nearly comes unstuck at the last moment, when another prisoner, "Grassy" Green (John Forrest), is revealed as an astute undercover Luftwaffe intelligence officer. He takes them at gunpoint, but mistakes Everett for Stampfel and is "dealt with". Pease, Cooper and Baines walk out of the camp and eventually make their way back home. Returning to the television programme, Pease is reunited with Baines, now a leading designer of ladies' foundation garments; Cooper, a missionary in India; Everett, a West London undertaker; and Stampfel, who has become a popular entertainment manager at a British holiday camp. Cast James Robertson Justice – Sir Ernest Pease, aka Lt. Farrow RN Leslie Phillips – Jimmy Cooper Stanley Baxter – "Jock" Everett / Major Stampfel Eric Sykes – Willoughby, Sports Officer Richard Wattis – Woodcock, Entertainments Officer Godfrey Winn – Himself Colin Gordon – Briggs John Le Mesurier – Piggott, head of the escape committee Norman Bird – Travers Jeremy Lloyd – "Bonzo" Baines John Forrest – "Grassy" Green Jean Cadell – Lady telling story on the TV show in the opening scene Peter Myers – Shaw Ronnie Stevens – Hankley Ronald Leigh-Hunt – Clynes Steve Plytas – Luftwaffe officer John Ringham – Plum Pouding Joseph Furst – Luftwaffe interrogator Norman Shelley – Fred Whittaker Brian Oulton – 1st scientist in corridor Frederick Piper – 2nd scientist in corridor Joan Haythorne – Miss Rogers, Pease's secretary Inspiration The escape plan, to walk out of the camp dressed as Red Cross observers, was used in real life. It was briefly