Career: After the war, Le Mesurier returned to the stage and made his film debut in 1948 in Death in the Hand. He appeared in a number of films and television series during the 1950s and 1960s, including I'm All Right Jack, I Was Monty's Double, Hancock's Half Hour and The Pink Panther. In 1968, he landed the role that made him famous, playing Sergeant Arthur Wilson in Dad's Army. He won a Best Actor Bafta in 1971 for his performance in Dennis Potter's Traitor. He continued to be in demand after Dad's Army finished in 1977, appearing in a number of TV programmes, including Ripping Yarns, Worzel Gummidge, Brideshead Revisited and Hi-de-Hi! He died from a stomach haemorrhage on November 15, 1983, at the age of 71.

Career: Caine worked on stage and appeared in small roles on TV, often struggling to make ends meet. He was good friends with Terence Stamp during the early 1960s, before either became famous, and they often shared digs. Caine decided if he wasn't successful by the age of 30 he'd quit acting. Days before this milestone he landed the role in Zulu which made his name. The Harry Palmer spy movies, The Italian Job and Alfie secured his star status. Since then, he's made many films, many forgettable and, by his own admission, done for the money. Highlights include Get Carter, Sleuth (plus a remake), The Man Who Would Be King, Educating Rita, Little Voice, Mona Lisa, Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight, Harry Brown and Interstellar. He won Oscars for Hannah and Her Sisters and The Cider House Rules. He claims he will retire from showbusiness when he's 90.