After "Dad's Army", Lavender returned to the theatre, including a role in a production of Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" starring Dustin Hoffman. Between 1971 and 1973 Lavender joined "Dad's Army" colleague Arthur Lowe on the BBC radio comedy "Parsley Sidings". From 1982 to 1983, he was in the BBC radio comedy series, a spin-off from "Dad's Army" called "It Sticks Out Half a Mile." Lavender also appeared in films and television series, one of which ("Mr Big", 1977) featured him starring alongside Peter Jones and Prunella Scales. During the 1970s he appeared as a supporting actor in a number of British 'low farce' films, including one "Carry On" film - "Carry On Behind" (1975).