The Familiar Unknown British Character Actors

familiar unknown
a miscellany of British character actors who are still with us
Blog Archive
2016 (6)
o February (2)
Avril Elgar
Godfrey James
o January (4)
Rosemarie Dunham
Peter Martin
Rosalind Ayres
David Calder
2015 (21)
o December (2)
George Costigan
Edward Kelsey
o September (2)
Ian McNeice
Carol MacReady
o August (1)
Robert Lee
o July (1)
Nicholas McArdle
o March (3)
Michael Cochrane
Peter Elliott
Denis Lawson
o February (3)
Patricia Brake
Barry Stanton
Zara Nutley
o January (9)
Robert Putt
Ellis Jones
John Cairney
Zienia Merton
Benjamin Whitrow
Michael Percival
Marcia Warren
Bill Wallis
Perry Benson
2014 (40)
o December (1)
Stephen Lewis
o November (1)
Janet Henfrey
o October (1)
Graham Seed
o September (3)
Bridget Brice
Alan Dobie
John Castle
o August (1)
Selina Cadell
o July (7)
The All-Time Greats
Valete
John Owens
Trevor Peacock
Daniel Peacock
Sheila White
Paul Copley
o June (5)
Robert East
Stephen Bent
Pauline Moran
Peter Bland
Jeffrey Segal
o May (3)
Josephine Tewson
Denis Lill
Deddie Davies
o April (4)
Nicholas Smith
Sally Geeson
Tony Caunter
Jennifer Daniel
o March (1)
Dominic Jephcott
o February (5)
Robin Driscoll
Elissa Derwent
Roger Ashton-Griffiths
Gay Soper
Duggie Brown
o January (8)
Valerie Lilley
Brian Grellis
Kenneth Colley
Pauline Challoner
Gary Watson
Pauline Yates
Roy Dotrice
Tim Barlow
2013 (56)
o December (1)
Kenneth Cope
o November (2)
Veronica Doran
David Horovitch
o October (7)
Peter Blake
Yvonne Romain
Diane Langton
John Flanagan
Hugh Walters
Madge Hindle
Donald Sumpter
o September (11)
Gary Waldhorn
Christopher Godwin
Alan David
Douglas Wilmer
Paul Bown
Kate Williams
Margaret Nolan
Terrence Hardiman
Christopher Beeny
Barbara Murray
Peter Greene
o August (6)
Tony Millan
Kervork Malikyan
Nick Stringer
Tony Britton
Bernard Wrigley
David Dixon
o July (4)
Stephen Greif
Clifford Rose
Lee Montague
Penny Spencer
o June (6)
Colin Farrell
Paul Darrow
'The Weekend Murders' (1970)
Lance Percival
Simon Chandler
Annette Badland
o May (5)
Rosalyn Landor
Derren Nesbitt
Ray Burdis
John Bluthal
Tom Chadbon
o April (4)
Judy Cornwell
Robert Longden
Stanley Lebor
Conrad Phillips
o March (3)
Anna Dawson
Aubrey Woods
David Janson
o February (2)
Sheila Fearn
Michael Troughton
o January (5)
Malcolm Terris
Angela Crow
A Dandy In Aspic (1968)
David Simeon
Howard 'Lew' Lewis
2012 (105)
o December (2)
Glyn Houston
Gwen Taylor
o November (4)
John Rapley
Tony Aitken
Bob Goody
Helen Fraser
o September (1)
Ray Brooks
o August (4)
David Graham
Peter Vaughan
Brian Murphy
Jonathan Lynn
o July (7)
John Quentin
Carmel McSharry
Norman Eshley
Geoffrey Bayldon
Robert Gillespie
Maggie Steed
Johnny Shannon
o June (7)
Bernard Holley
Roger Sloman
Aimi MacDonald
Peter Cleall
Peter Tilbury
Frank Windsor
Diane Keen
o May (48)
Christopher Fulford
Michael Byrne
James Cosmo
Adrienne Posta
Shane Rimmer
Dudley Sutton
John Quayle
Linal Haft
Ron Moody
Keith Smith
Clive Swift
Film of the day: MELODY (1971) I wasn't aware o...
Gerald Sim
John Tordoff
Jacki Piper
Frank Williams
Richard O'Callaghan
Jacqueline Pearce
Peter Cellier
Tony Selby
Leslie Schofield
Albert Moses
Richard Davies
Clive Wood
Moray Watson
Peter Armitage
Toni Palmer
Film of the day:THE BARGEE (1964) As an adjunct ...
Eric Sykes
Clive Merrison
Jon Glover
Milton Johns
Roy Holder
Donald Gee
Royce Mills
Jonathan Cecil
Henry Woolf
Valerie Leon
Nicholas Le Prevost
Georgina Hale
Peter Sallis
James Warrior
Rosalind Knight
Jeremy Child
Geoffrey Chater
Bryan Marshall
Graham Stark
Kate Williams
o April (32)
Richard O'Sullivan
Sheila Steafel
George Sweeney
John Woodvine
Brian Pettifer
Anna Quayle
Tony Haygarth
Julian Holloway
David Daker
Jeremy Lloyd
Janine Duvitski
George Innes
Michael Jayston
John Standing
George A Cooper
Jo Rowbottom
Christopher Benjamin
Derek Deadman
Freddie Jones
Petra Markham
Aubrey Morris
Paul Brooke
John Clive
Madeline Smith
Philip Madoc
Sheila Bernette
Ken Jones
Ron Pember
Stella Tanner
Colin Jeavons
Damaris Hayman
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F r i d a y, 2 7 A p r i l 2 0 1 2
Richard O'Sullivan
Richard O'Sullivan:
The fun-loving, trendy face of the 1970s sitcom, well-known from 'Man About The House',
'Robin's Nest', and 'Doctor At Large', he was also a child actor in 'Cleopatra' opposite Elizabeth
Taylor, and appeared in 'The Young Ones' (1961) and 'Carry On Teacher'. He's a bit of a
household name compared to some actors I've been saluting, but he has fallen on hard times
following a serious stroke and now lives in showbiz sheltered housing in south west London. If
you're old enough, he's probably a part of your life, and I wish him well.
An early role, in 'Dandy in Aspic' (1967)

A bit bedraggled, but sitting in a Bentley with a nude Gabrielle Drake
in the Val Guest sex comedy 'The Au Pair Girls' (1972). Can't be bad.
In the '80s sitcom 'Me and My Girl'
Richard O'Sullivan - imdb profile
Posted by fiftywatts at 06:56 No comments:
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Labels: Brinsworth House, Cliff Richard, Doctor At Large, Man About The House, Richard O'Sullivan,Robins
Nest, Young Ones
Sheila Steafel
Sheila Steafel:
Satire boom star of the '60s in 'The Frost Report', this South African-born actress always seems
barely able to conceal a little smile. She was in a number of cult films, including 'The Bliss Of
Mrs Blossom', Quatermass & The Pit', 'Daleks - Invasion Earth 2150AD', 'Percy' and 'Bloodbath
At The House Of Death', and some TV shows and children's classics, from 'Sykes', 'Minder' and
'Q5', to 'Grange Hill', The Ghosts Of Motley Hall', and 'Z-Cars'. She was also married to Harry H
Corbett in the early '60s.
Sheila Steafel - imdb prof
Labels: establishment, Flopsy Mopsy, Harry H Corbett, Minder, Motley Hall, Percy, Popsy, Q5, Q9,satire, Sheila
Steafel, Sykes, The Good Old Days
George Sweeney
George Sweeney:
Rather hoggish, wild-eyed actor who has played a lot of henchmen, petty criminals, tough
coppers and psychopaths, and was memorable as Speed in 'Citizen Smith'. He's also been in 'Z-
Cars', 'Softly Softly', and naturally, 'The Sweeney'.
His film credits include 'For Your Eyes Only' (1981), 'The Bitch' (1979), Holmes spoof 'Without A
Clue' (1988), and the bizarre Reg Varney vehicle 'The Best Pair Of Legs In The Business' (1974).
George Sweeney - imdb profile
Posted by fiftywatts at 06:38 1 comment:
Labels: actor, Citizen Sith Speed, George Sweeney, Reg Varney, Softly Softly, The Bitch
John Woodvine
John Woodvine:
Craggy and dignified actor whose long association with the RSC and RADA hasn't translated
into stardom or luvvie status. Instead he's been rather wasted in many mediocre TV shows
including 'Peak Practice', 'Emmerdale' and 'The Bill', and small parts in films like 'The Devils'
and 'Young Winston'. He does boast nice '60s full-house of 'Danger Man', 'The Saint', 'The
Baron', 'The Avengers' and 'The Champions'.
John Woodvine - imdb profile
Labels: Avengers, Emmerdale, John Woodvine, Shameless, Young Winston
Brian Pettifer
Brian Pettifer:
This mouse-faced Scottish actor, usually cast as downtrodden and put-upon - is probably best
known for his TV work in 'Get Some In', 'Hamish Macbeth' and as the timid 'Andra' in 'Rab C
Nesbitt'. He was also in 'If' (1968), 'O Lucky Man' (1973) and 'Britannia Hospital' (1981) playing
a character called Biles in all three. You might also remember him in 'Timeslip' or struggling
with a scouse accent in 'The Liver Birds' if you are over 40.
More recently, he was excellent playing the timid would-be magician Mr Honeyfeather in the
BBC adaptation of 'Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell'.
Trivia point; His folk-rocker sister Linda is better known as Mrs Richard Thompson.
As Biles in 'If' (1968)
Brian Pettifer - imdb profile

Labels: Biles, Brian Pettifer, Get Some In, Hamish Macbeth, If, jock, Linda Thompson, Rab C Nesbitt,Timeslip
Anna Quayle
Anna Quayle:
Charming character actress who is apparently now quietly retired on the south coast. She played
a number of severe, sad, sexy and strange roles in the '60s and '70s, including cult films like 'A
Hard Day's Night' (1964), 'Smashing Time' (1967), 'Casino Royale' (1967) and 'Chitty Chitty
Bang Bang' (1968), TV high points include 'The Avengers', Brideshead Revisited', 'Mapp &
Lucia', and low points 'Never The Twain' and 'Grange Hill'.
She also has a choochie face
Anna Quayle - imdb profile
Posted by fiftywatts at 06:04 5 comments:
Labels: Anna Quayle, Beatles, Casino Royale, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Choochie Face, Hard Day's Night
We d n e s d a y, 2 5 A p r i l 2 0 1 2
Tony Haygarth
Tony Haygarth:
Stolid-looking character actor who seems to bring unusual depth and oddness to the parts he
plays. Despite appearing in dull fare like 'Emmerdale' and 'Casualty', he's also played a Nazi, a
Roman slave, a prison warder (in 'McVicar'), and any number of coppers and shady
businessmen. Films include 'A Private Function', 'Unman Wittering and Zigo', 'Clockwise' and
'Britannia Hospital'. For many, he'll always be the endearingly bone-idle PC Wilmot from the
inoffensive police comedy 'Rosie', but might also be remembered for the utterly baffling kids' TV
show 'Kinvig', in which he starred.
Tony Haygarth - imdb profile
Labels: Kinvig, Rosie, Tony Haygarth, Wilmot

Julian Holloway
Julian Holloway:
A 'Carry-On' regular, of course, but a versatile actor - son of Stanley Holloway; and the father of
Sophie Dahl - who also appears in 'The Knack', 'Young Winston', 'The Stud', 'The Great Rock
And Roll Swindle' and 'Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter'. Not to forget the Children's Film
Foundation classic, 'Sammy's Super T-Shirt'. TV credits are exemplary; 'Sweeney', 'The Saint',
'Doctor Who', The New Avengers' and the rest.
A typical 'Carry On' moment: Bringing comic relief to this scene featuring a powerfully erotic
performance by the late Terry Scott.
Julian Holloway - imdb profile

Labels: Carry On, Julian Holloway, Sophie Dahl, Stanley Holloway, Stud, Terry Scott, The Knack, Young Winston
David Daker
David Daker:
Stolid bloodhound type with a classic comb-over, he has played convicts, dads, lorry-drivers,
coppers (eg Constable Culshaw in 'Z-Cars'), teachers, heavies, and various nervous, shifty types.
Films include 'Stardust', 'The Black Windmill', 'Time Bandits' and 'Britannia Hospital'. On TV he
has been seen in 'Dick Turpin', 'Minder', 'Boon', 'UFO', 'Juliet Bravo', and the last resort of the
British character actor, 'Holby City'. An old dependable.
David Daker - imdb profile
Labels: David Daker, Stardust, Time Bandits, UFO, Z-Cars

Tu e s d a y, 2 4 A p r i l 2 0 1 2
Jeremy Lloyd
Jeremy Lloyd:
July 22 1930 December 23 2014
Definitive upper-class twit and lecherous toff in British cinema of the '60s, he sadly abandoned
acting in the '70s in favour of writing and producing TV shows like 'Are You Being Served?', 'Allo
Allo' and 'Hi-De-Hi'. See him at his best in 'Smashing Time', 'School For Scoundrels', 'The Magic
Christian' and 'Salt & Pepper' (as one Lord Ponsonby, naturally). He'd make a good sinister MI5
type these days.
But here's possibly his most obscure screen appearance (with thanks to punk potentate and
beat-group aficionado Richard Huggins): Sabotaging The Tornados in the film 'Just For Fun'
(1963).
Jeremy Lloyd - imdb profile
Labels: Jeremy Lloyd, Just For Fun, Smashing Time, Tornados, Tove, Yes Minister
Janine Duvitski
Janine Duvitski:
Appealingly quirky and budgie-like actress. She was Angela in 'Abigail's Party', of course, but
also well-known from appearances in 'Little Dorrit', 'One Foot In The Grave', 'Boys From The
Blackstuff', 'Waiting For God', 'Brushstrokes' and 'Benidorm'.
In the 'Play For Today' from 1975, 'Diane' when she was still known
as Janine Drzewicki. Her name was changed by the time of 'Abigail's Party'
Film credits include 'The Madness Of King George', 'Dracula' (1979), and 'About A Boy' (2002).
In the sitcom 'Waiting for God'

A children's TV role, as Emily in 'Old Jack's Boat'
Janine Duvitski - imdb profile
Labels: Abigail's Party, Beautiful lips, benidorm, Janine Duvitski, Mike Leigh, One foot in the grave, The Knowledge
George Innes
George Innes:
Wolfish tough guy and con-man type who got his first break opposite Tom Courtenay in 'Billy
Liar' (1963). Since then he's been seen in films including 'The Italian Job', 'A Bridge Too Far',
'Quadrophenia', and 'Last Orders', as well as TV from 'Callan', 'Danger UXB', and 'Upstairs
Downstairs', to 'The Sweeney', 'Crown Court' and 'I, Claudius'. He also did a stint in the States
with appearances on 'Hart To Hart', 'Magnum PI', 'M*A*S*H', and 'Hill Street Blues'.
George Innes - imdb profile
Labels: actor, Billy Liar, Callan, Claudius, George Innes, Quadrophenia, Sweeney
Michael Jayston
Michael Jayston:
"Headache? Tense, nervous headache?"
Despite leading-man good looks and a rich speaking voice, he has tended to play supporting
roles as suave villains, businessmen, bounders and decadent aristocrats. After a series of stage
Shakespeare successes and a few starring roles in 'Quiller' and 'The Power Game', and as
Rochester in 'Jane Eyre', he is now a staple of 'Emmerdale' and 'Holby City' and one of the most
in-demand voice-over artists in the country.
Michael Jayston - imdb profile

Labels: actor, Finisterre, headache tense nervous, Michael Jayston, Power Game, Quiller, St Etienne
John Standing
John Standing:
A baronet in real life, he has made quite a career from playing patrician roles, and the occasional
butler, in television and film over the years. A lot of cult TV boxes are ticked, including 'The
Avengers', 'The Saint', 'Danger Man' and 'Space: 1999', and movies good and bad, from 'The
Elephant Man' and 'V For Vendetta' to 'The Au Pair Girls' and 'Torture Garden'...
In 'The Au Pair Girls' (1972)
A less typical role, as a bubble-wrapped, eye-shadowed alien

in the 'Space:1999' episode 'The Mark of Archanon'
The opening credits to 'The Other 'Arf', in which he starred
as a posh Tory MP entranced by cockney model Lorraine Chase
John Standing - imdb profile
Labels: Avengers, Elephant Man, John Standing, The other arf, Torture garden, V for Vendetta
George A Cooper
George A Cooper:
To those of a certain generation, he's Mr Griffiths, the school caretaker in 'Grange Hill', but this
seemingly unchanging actor played grumpy old gits for forty years in television including 'Billy
Liar' (TV), 'Sykes', 'Budgie', 'Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)', 'Rising Damp', 'Bless This House',
'Steptoe & Son' and 'Juliet Bravo'.
On the big screen, he appeared in 'The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer', 'The Bargee', 'Tom
Jones', and 'Dracula Has Risen From The Grave'.
George A Cooper - imdb profile
Labels: caretaker, George A Cooper, Grange Hill, griffiths, The Bargee, Tom Jones
Jo Rowbottom
Jo Rowbottom:
Tending to be cast as strong-willed and sassy women, she was often seen in TV comedies and
drama in a string of parts as barmaids, tarts and troublesome servants. She was equally adept at
portraying society ladies as she was cockney sparrows, but is best remembered as Betty in
"Romany Jones' with the late James Beck. See also 'Little Women', 'I, Claudius' (as Calpurnia),
'The Professionals', 'Z-Cars', 'Steptoe & Son', 'The Baron', 'London's Burning' and 'Dr Who' ('The
Evil of the Daleks' in 1967). Terrific legs apparently.
Jo Rowbottom - imdb profile
Labels: Claudius, James Beck, Jo Rowbottom, Queenie Watts, Romany Jones
Christopher Benjamin
Christopher Benjamin:
Delighted to find that this instantly recognisable actor is still going strong with the Royal
Shakespeare Company. He was the link between 'Danger Man' and 'The Prisoner' playing the
same character, Potter, and was a natural for 'The Avengers', 'The Saint' and 'Jason King'
playing pompous, officious, charming and effete characters with equal brio and verve. Mix in an
impressive high-brow and low-brow CV ranging from 'Rumpole', 'Poldark' and a ton of 'Doctor
Who' to 'When The Boat Comes In' and 'Dick Turpin' and you have a one-man history of British
television. A stalwart.
Christopher Benjamin - imdb profile
Labels: Christopher Benjamin, Dick Turpin, Doctor Who, Poldark, RSC, Rumpole
Derek Deadman
Derek Deadman:
May 1940 November 21 2014
A former window-cleaner who has made a decent career out of playing dimwits, to the point that
he hardly needs to act at all. Which is a good thing, as his acting seems to consist mostly of
scratching his head and doing huge double-takes. See his definitive turn as Ringo in the excruciating
'Never The Twain', and spots in 'Benny Hill' (as a sort of junior Bob Todd), 'Porridge', 'George & Mildred',
'Get Some In' and hundreds of bit-part hospital porters, cabbies, butchers, and petty crooks, as well as
Stor the Sontaran in the 1978 'Doctor Who' story 'The Invasion of Time'.
'Get busy with the fizzy!' Sodastream advert circa 1980
In Michael Winner's star-studded but so dreary

British-set version of "The Big Sleep' (1978)
He was in 'Brazil' (1985), 'Bullshot' (1983), 'Time Bandits' (1981) and a 'Harry Potter'
(Philosopher's Stone, 2001), doing more of the same, and fulfilling a constant need within
British cinema. For which we salute him.
Update Mar 2015: Sorry to hear that Derek Deadman passed away in Nov 2014.
Derek Deadman - imdb profile

Labels: actor, Brazil, Bullshot, Derek Deadman, Porridge, Ringo, Time Bandits
M o n d a y, 2 3 A p r i l 2 0 1 2
Freddie Jones
Freddie Jones:
The prince of wild-eyed bluster and choleric charm, Mr Jones has a CV as long as Gazza's
psychiatric notes and has appeared in many classic and not-so-classic films, including 'Zulu
Dawn', 'Dune', 'Marat/Sade', David Lynch's 'Wild At Heart', 'The Elephant Man' and 'The
Satanic Rites Of Dracula'. His TV work is even more extensive, from 'The Avengers', 'Randall &
Hopkirk Deceased' (both series), 'The Ghosts of Motley Hall' and 'Jason King', to 'Vanity Fair',
'Lovejoy', and 'The League Of Gentlemen'. A gold-standard character actor. Trivia point: He is
the father of the highly-regarded actor Toby Jones, who has received far too much recent
publicity and critical accolades to qualify for inclusion here himself.
Freddie Jones - imdb profile
Labels: Dune, Freddie Jones, Motley Hall, Toby Jones, Vanity Fair, Wild at Heart
Petra Markham
Petra Markham:
Strangely goggly and doll-like actress who played Mikki in 'Ace Of Wands' on ITV in the early
'70s, after an early appearance in 'Dr Who'. Her best-known big screen role is as Doreen in 'Get
Carter' (1971), but she has continued to show up on TV in the likes of 'Follyfoot', 'Bergerac', 'The
Bill' of course, 'Angels', and 'EastEnders'. Interesting footnotes include 'Curry & Chips' and
'Ripping Yarns'. From a theatrical family, her brothers-in-law are/were Roger Lloyd-Pack and
the late Corin Redgrave.
With Michael Caine in 'Get Carter' (1971)
Petra Markham - imdb profile
Labels: Ace of Wands, actor, actress, Bergerac, Get Carter, Petra Markham, Ripping Yarns
Aubrey Morris
Aubrey Morris:
June 1 1926 - July 15 2015
Another really familiar face you probably couldn't put a name to. He's been in films like
'Clockwork Orange' (1971), 'Up The Junction' (1968), 'Lisztomania' (1975) and 'The Wicker Man'
(1973), and an A-Z of cult TV from 'The Prisoner', 'The Avengers' and 'Catweazle', to 'Babylon 5',
'Deadwood', 'Metal Mickey' and 'Man About The House'. Well done, sir.
* Sorry to hear that Aubrey Morris has passed on. He was one of the first actors to receive a
salute on this blog, back in 2012. Guardian obituary here.
Aubrey Morris - imdb profile
Labels: A Clockwork Orange, Aubrey Morris, Catweazle, Prisoner, Up The Junction, Wicker Man
M o n d a y, 2 3 A p r i l 2 0 1 2
Paul Brooke
Paul Brooke:
Unmistakable wonky-eyed actor who often plays intelligence men, civil servants, shifty doctors
and dodgy accountants. Most famous, apparently, for an uncharacteristic bare-chested bit-part
in 'Return Of The Jedi', but you probably know him from 'Minder', 'Blott On The Landscape',
'Blackadder', or something in the 'Marple'/'Bergerac'/'Midsomer Murders' cosy crime strand. A
class act.
Paul Brooke - imdb profile
Labels: Blackadder, Blott on the Landscape, Jedi, Minder, Paul Brooke, squint
John Clive
John Clive:
6 January 1933 14 October 2012
A very distinctively impish actor who has been a staple of British comedy for many years,
resulting in a fantastic CV containing credits for 'Smashing Time', 'Clockwork Orange', 'Carry On
Dick', 'The Italian Job' and the voice of John Lennon in 'Yellow Submarine'. On the box, he has
two memorable appearances in 'Rising Damp' on top of the obligatory gigs on 'The Sweeney',
'The Saint', 'Man In A Suitcase' and lots of kids' shows. He is also a successful writer of historical
fiction.
John Clive -imdb profile

Labels: Carry On, Italian Job, John Clive, Lennon, Sweeney, voice, Yellow Submarine
Madeline Smith
Madeline Smith:
Biba salesgirl turned actress who played endless dollybird, saucepot, and vamp roles from the
late '60s to the early '80s. Cartoonishly busty and cute, she features briefly in 'Live & Let Die'
(1973) - it's her zip and Roger Moore's magnetic watch - and more prominently (ahem) in 'Up
Pompeii' (1971), 'Theatre Of Blood' (1973), 'The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins' (1971), 'Taste
The Blood Of Dracula' (1970), 'Carry On Matron' (1972) etc. Her television CV covers 'Jason
King', 'The Two Ronnies', 'Steptoe & Son', and so on, until she retired from acting in the '80s.
In the mildly saucy Hammer horror 'The Vampire Lovers' (1970)
Madeline Smith - imdb profile
Labels: busty, Carry On Matron, James Bond magnet, Madeline Smith, Steptoe, topless, Up Pompeii
Philip Madoc
Philip Madoc:
July 5 1934 March 5 2012
A sort of wild-eyed Welsh Herbert Lom, whose intense glare and dark looks made him
something of a shoo-in for a range of sinister roles in British TV of the '60s and '70s. Apart from
his comedy star turn as the U-boat captain in 'Dad's Army', he was also in demand for 'The
Avengers', 'Man In A Suitcase', lots of 'Doctor Who', 'UFO', 'Jason King', 'Porridge' and 'Randall
& Hopkirk, Deceased'. Never really made it big in cinema, but he's in 'The Quiller Memorandum'
(1966) and odd British Joan Crawford vehicle 'Berserk' (1967).
Another one gone. The entry above was one I originally posted on Oct 24 2011
Philip Madoc - imdb profile
Labels: Berserk, Dad's Army, Don't tell him Pike, Philip Madoc, UFO
F r i d a y, 2 0 A p r i l 2 0 1 2
Sheila Bernette
Sheila Bernette:
A familiar face from sitcoms and TV advertising in the '60s and '70s as the archetypal neat and
fussy housewife, she has appeared in 'Fall & Rise of Reginald Perrin', 'The Benny Hill Show',
'Butterflies', and bawdy gems like 'Eskimo Nell' and 'What's Up Nurse'. She is seen here in 'The
Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins', a favourite film of mine, and is seemingly still available for
work...
http://www.crawfordscommercials.co.uk/browse.php?cat=browsewomen
Sheila Bernette - imdb profile
Labels: actor, actress, Butterflies, Magnificent Deadly Sins, Perrin, Sheila Bernette
Ken Jones
Ken Jones:
Feb 20 1930 Feb 13 2014

A very familiar face from 'Porridge' where he played the sneaky but dim Scouser, Ives, and from
the low-budget but well-written office sitcom 'Squirrels'. He's been in everything from
'Gumshoe' to 'Germinal', 'Serpico' to 'Jesus of Nazareth', specialising in nervy and downtrodden
characters, for which he has a unique genius.
Ken Jones - imdb profile
Labels: Gumshoe, Ives, Ken Jones, Porridge, Squirrels
Ron Pember
Ron Pember:
Well known for 'Secret Army', also films like 'Death Line' (1973) and 'Poor Cow' (1967), and
hundreds of weasely villains, petty officials and chirpy tradesmen in classic British TV from 'The
Avengers' and 'Department S' to 'Minder', 'UFO' and 'The Two Ronnies'. He also directed
Shakespeare at the Mermaid Theatre with Bernard Miles. Now retired through ill health.
With George Innes in 'The Avengers'
Ron Pember - imdb profile

Labels: Avengers, Minder, Poor Cow, Ron Pember, Secret Army, UFO
F r i d a y, 2 0 A p r i l 2 0 1 2
Stella Tanner
Stella Tanner:
Jan 1 1926 - Mar 26 2012
Often turning up as a housekeeper, landlady or angry housewife, she is probably in your DVD
collection somewhere and I bet you can hear her voice in your mind's ear... Maybe in 'Fawlty
Towers', 'The Rag Trade', or 'Budgie'? Or perhaps more likely, married to the Pakistani Dalek in
Spike Milligan's Q5.
Sadly, Stella Tanner has passed on since I originally wrote this entry in April 2010.
Stella Tanner - imdb profile

Labels: Budgie, Pakistani Dalek, Spike Milligan, Stella Tanner
We d n e s d a y, 1 8 A p r i l 2 0 1 2
Colin Jeavons
Colin Jeavons:
Excelling at the more unctious and sinister of minor characters, he was memorable as Shadrack
in the TV 'Billy Liar', although unavoidably overshadowed by Leonard Rossiter's movie
portrayal, he also featured in 'Blue Remembered Hills', several episodes of 'The Avengers', 'The
Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy', and has played both Moriarty and Inspector Lestrade in
various Sherlock Holmes adaptations. He also sang the theme-tune and narrated 'Barnaby The
Bear'. And this: 'Joe'.
As a ex-POW in an episode of 'The Baron'
Colin Jeavons - imdb profile
Labels: Barnaby the Bear, Billy Liar, Blue Remembered Hills, Colin Jeavons, Max Quordlepleen, The Baron
Damaris Hayman
Damaris Hayman:
The epitome of the eminently respectable horsey lady, Ms Hayman was cast strictly to type,
having been born in Kensington and educated at Cheltenham Ladies' College. She was
memorably eccentric in the classic Pertwee-era 'Doctor Who' story The Daemons, and had a
number of appearances on TV, in 'The Sweeney', 'The Double Deckers', 'Wodehouse Playhouse'
and, perhaps less predictably, 'The Young Ones' and 'Filthy Rich & Catflap'.
Damaris maintaining her dignity in 'On The Buses'

About to come a cropper during a seance in
''Full Circle' (aka 'The Hunting of Julia') (1977)
Film appearances include: 'Bunny Lake is Missing' (1965), 'The Pink Panther Strikes Again'
(1976), Michael Palin's 'The Missionary' (1982), and the unlikely 'Confessions of a Driving
Instructor' (1976). It might also be fun to spot some of her many uncredited extra appearances,
such as in 'Greyfriars Bobby' (1961), The Belles of St Trinians' (1954), or the peculiar mystery
movie 'Smokescreen' (1964) with Peter Vaughan.
'Smokescreen' (1964)
About to be run over by a piano in the Children's Film
Foundation classic, 'The Magnificent Six and a Half' (1968)
Damaris Hayman - imdb profile
Labels: Bunny Lake, Daemons, Damaris Hayman, Doctor Who, Double Deckers, Dr Who, Jon Pertwee, On the
Buses, Roger Delgado, Sweeney, Wodehouse, Young Ones
Hello and welcome

Hello and welcome
Just a short word of explanation as to what this is and why it is taking up valuable time, bytes
and electricity; yours and mine.
In April 2010 I chanced upon the surprising information that Damaris Hayman was still alive
and well. A little-known and little-appreciated character actress, familiar from many TV
programmes and films of my youth (I was born in 1965), but her face was as instantly familiar to
me as that of many of my relatives and friends.
I felt a pang of guilt that I hadn't actually known her name or had any idea that she was still
around.
So I posted a very tiny appreciation of her and her work on my Facebook page. Other people
seemed to share my feeling that she needed acknowledgment, and I carried on posting these
mini tributes to other 'familiar unknown' character actors who are 'still with us'. At one
point, The Guardian became interested enough to ask me for a few examples for their
website. See it here.
I'm going to re-post them up here and carry on in the same vein. Perhaps mixing in some other
observations of my own on various matters and happenings.
Thanks.

T h u r s d a y, 3 1 M a y 2 0 1 2
Christopher Fulford
Christopher Fulford:
Compact, sensitive tough-nut sort of actor, who could almost be a Victor Maddern for the
2000s. Hasn't done as much as I would have thought, but very familiar from 1980s/90s crime
TV, including 'Inspector Morse', 'Cracker', 'Touch Of Frost', 'Juliet Bravo', 'Dalziel & Pascoe', etc.
Other roles run from "I'm A Stranger Here Myself', 'Minder', and 'Made In Britain', through to
'Wire In The Blood' and 'Whitechapel'.
Christopher Fulford - imdb profile

Michael Byrne
Michael Byrne:
Gimlet-eyed, steely establishment type with a hint of menace, he has had a few high profile film
roles and a very solid TV drama career, moving easily between playing Whitehall mandarins and
Nazi psychopaths, although perhaps that's not such a huge leap. Movie highlights are 'Indiana
Jones & The Last Crusade' (1989), 'The Eagle Has Landed' (1976), 'Gangs Of New York' (2002),
'Braveheart' (1995) and 'Butley' (1974). On television, he was seen in 'Within These Walls', 'The
Gentle Touch', 'Hamish Macbeth', 'Smiley's People' and more recently 'Coronation Street'.
Michael Byrne - imdb profile
Labels: Butley, Indiana Jones, Michael Byrne, nazi, Smiley's People

We d n e s d a y, 3 0 M a y 2 0 1 2
James Cosmo
James Cosmo:
Craggy, red-headed Scottish actor with an extensive and impressive portfolio of work.
Emanating an almost palpable Scottishness, he's been an obvious choice for roles ranging from
hardcase copper to woad-covered warrior. He's instantly recognisable but, again, it's probably
not a name you could easily put your finger on. You'll have seen him in any of quite an array of
major films, from 'Battle Of Britain' and 'The Virgin Soldiers' (both 1969) and playing Father
Christmas in 'The Chronicles of Narnia' (2005), to an undeniably tartan trio of 'Highlander'
(1986), 'Braveheart' (1995) and 'Trainspotting' (1996).
In the 'UFO' episode 'Reflections in the Water' from 1971
As for TV, it would be surprising if he hadn't popped up in 'Taggart', 'Rab C Nesbitt' and 'Rebus',
but he was also seen in dramas such as 'Softly Softly', 'The Onedin Line' and 'Strangers',
comedies like 'George & Mildred' and 'Fairly Secret Army', and cult classics 'Doomwatch', 'The
Stone Tape', 'UFO' and, what a surprise, 'The Sweeney'. His movie profile has got him into some
high-end fantasy shows like 'Merlin' and 'Game of Thrones', and more recently the FX biker
drama 'Sons of Anarchy'. Rock solid stuff.
In 'Game of Thrones'
James Cosmo -imdb

Labels: Braveheart, Game of Thrones, Highlander, James Cosmo, Trainspotting
Tu e s d a y, 2 9 M a y 2 0 1 2
Adrienne Posta
Adrienne Posta:
One of the faces of 1967/68, Ms Posta exemplified the pert dollybird and swinging London
comedy glamour-puss. She featured in some of the middling hits of the era; 'To Sir With Love'
(1967), 'Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush' (1968), 'Up The Junction' (1968), and the late
kitchen sink classic 'Spring And Port Wine' (1970).
Looking for Robert Lindsay in 'Confessions of a Taxi Driver' (1976)
By the '70s she was increasingly a victim of the trend towards dim-witted sex comedies that
characterised British cinema in its most dismal phase: 'Percy's Progress' (1974), 'Carry On
Behind' (1975), 'Adventures of A Taxi Driver' (1976), and playing Scrubba in 'Up Pompeii' (1971),
for example. Small roles in some of the better TV of the period must have seemed a relief after
these, and she was seen in nice TV Playhouse stuff like 'Bar Mitzvah Boy' in 1976 and 'The
Cherry Orchard' in 1971. As she got older, roles followed suit with jaded glamour something of a
speciality; see 'Minder', 'Budgie', 'The Gentle Touch', 'Boon', etc. Often on panel games
and turned up in variety shows too. Quite an all-rounder.
A taste of 'All The Way Up' (1970), with Warren Mitchell and a very mod Kenneth
Cranham: here
Adrienne Posta - imdb profile
Labels: Adrienne Posta, Bar Mitzvah Boy, dolly bird, feet, Lulu, Scrubba, To Sir With Love, topless, Up The
Junction
Shane Rimmer
Shane Rimmer:
Yes, he's Canadian, but his career has been almost exclusively UK-based since 1958, and as he's
the unmistakable voice of 'Thunderbirds' Scott Tracy, he now belongs to us. As well as nearly
every Gerry Anderson production from the mid-'60s to 'Dick Spanner', he has been the go-to-
guy for American character roles in films including 'The Spy Who Loved Me' (1977), 'Out Of
Africa' (1985), 'Whoops Apocalypse' (1988), 'Rollerball' (1975), 'Dr Strangelove' (1964) and
'Gandhi' (1982). Disconcerting sometimes in other parts when you expect him to say "F.A.B,
Virgil" at any moment.
Shane Rimmer - imdb profile
Labels: Dick Spanner, Joe 90, Out of Africa, Shane Rimmer, Thunderbirds
T h u r s d a y, 2 4 M a y 2 0 1 2
Dudley Sutton
Dudley Sutton:
The disconcerting, pug-faced Mr Sutton will be familiar to many as the eccentric Tinker from
'Lovejoy', but before that he was best known for a string of menacing, unstable young tearaways
and sinister villains in some of the UK's most interesting TV and cinema. Notable films include
'The Leather Boys' (1964, as one of the screen's first openly homosexual characters), 'The Boys'
(1962), 'A Town Called Bastard' (1971), 'Brimstone & Treacle' (1982), and of course Ken Russell's
'The Devils' (1971). His TV career covers the classic territory of 'The Saint', 'The Baron',
'Department S', 'Strangers' and of course, 'The Sweeney'. He was particularly good as the sinister
Connie Rosenthal in 'Shine On Harvey Moon' and as the sardonic schoolteacher, Mr Carter, in
'The Beiderbecke Trilogy' by Alan Plater. I haven't seen the Gillingham FC movie 'The Shouting
Men' (2010), so I won't mention it.
Dudley Sutton in 'The Devils' (1971)
About to trigger 'a series of small explosions' in 'The Beiderbecke Affair'

Dudley Sutton - imdb
Labels: Beiderbecke, Brimstone, Crossplot, Dudley Sutton, gay, Gillingham, Harvey

Moon, homosexual,Lovejoy, Plater, The Boys, The Cellar Boys, The Devils
John Quayle
John Quayle:
Good heavens! It's Malcolm! Terry and June's best friend. Or the harassed groom from the
excruciatingly brilliant wedding/blind date 'Rising Damp' episode, 'Pink Carnations'. Tall, rangy
and very middle-class, he was also seen on television ranging from the decent ('Doomwatch',
'The Fall & Rise Of Reginald Perrin', Steptoe & Son') to the doubtful ('The Jim Davidson Show',
'Kelly Monteith', 'Nanny', and 'Mind Your Language').
As a youngster, he also played cabin boy hero Jim Hawkins in the BBC's 1951 version of
'Treasure Island'.
John Quayle - imdb profile
Labels: John Quayle, Malcolm, Rising Damp, Steptoe, Terry and June
Linal Haft
Linal Haft:
Tough-looking, bullet headed Jewish actor, who has cornered a certain market in ruthless spivs,
tycoons, gangsters and lawyers, which probably says more about typecasting in British drama
than it does about his acting range. A more domestic persona was seen in the popular series of
BT adverts he did with Maureen Lipman. His best big-screen role was probably as Vic in 'Soft
Fruit' (1999), but he was also seen in 'Moulin Rouge!' (2001) and the Billy Connolly comedy 'The
Man Who Sued God' (2001). In classic character actor style, though, he has been a stalwart of
British television, racking up appearances in 'Minder' (old and new series), 'EastEnders', 'First
Among Equals', 'The Sweeney' and several roles in 'The Bill'. I liked him in the Marks & Gran
comedy/drama 'Shine On Harvey Moon' where he appeared as the charmingly sleazy black-
marketeer, Monty Fish.
Linal Haft - imdb profile

Labels: BT, Harvey Moon, Lionel Haft, Maureen Lipman, ology
We d n e s d a y, 2 3 M a y 2 0 1 2
Ron Moody
Ron Moody:
Jan 8 1924 June 11 2015
A more senior and familiar face than some I've saluted. Mr Moody is still going strong at 87.
Best known, of course, for his iconic, now controversial, turn as Fagin in the musical 'Oliver!'
(1968), which rather overshadows the rest of his career. Other movie work includes smallish
roles in films like 'The Sandwich Man' (1966), 'The Mouse On The Moon' (1963) and 'Summer
Holiday' (1963), and Merlin in 'The Spaceman & King Arthur' (1979). There are comparatively
few TV highlights: 'The Avengers', and odd US cop comedy 'Hart Of The Yard', before hitting
'Holby/Casualty/ The Bill/EastEnders' territory.
Factoid: He turned down the chance to replace Patrick Troughton in 'Doctor Who'.
And here's a little treat: The trailer for 'Murder Most Foul' (1964)
Ron Moody - imdb profile
Labels: Fagin, Oliver, Ron Moody, Summer Holiday, The Bill
M o n d a y, 2 1 M a y 2 0 1 2
Keith Smith
Keith Smith:
Trim, versatile, dormouse-faced actor whom I always remember as one of Spike Milligan's
smiley stooges in the 'Q' series. He was also a feature of such classic TV as 'The Beiderbecke
Trilogy', 'Z-Cars', 'Gurney Slade', 'Minder' (naturally), 'Worzel Gummidge', 'George & Mildred',
and 'The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists'.
'The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins' (1971) - the RAC man
spots the badge on Ian Carmichael's roller...
As the punctillious headmaster in 'The Beiderbecke Connection'
Keith Smith - imdb
Labels: Beiderbecke, Gurney Slade, Keith Smith, Q5, Spike Milligan

Clive Swift
Clive Swift:
Tidy and precise sort of actor, often typecast as the timid official or henpecked husband - for
example, the long-suffering Richard Bucket in the interminable 'Keeping Up Appearances'. His
earlier career included some interesting British films like 'Death Line' (1973), 'Frenzy' (1972),
the Dave Clark 5 clunker 'Catch Us If You Can' (1965) and Peter Hall's 'Midsummer Night's
Dream' (1968). I'd be disappointed if he hadn't been in 'Doctor Who', 'Heartbeat', 'Tales Of The
Unexpected' and 'Minder', but of course, he was.
He was also in the 1972 BBC 'Dead of Night' ghost story 'The Exorcism' - looking pretty groovy.
Clive Swift - imdb profile
Labels: Clive Swift, Doctor Who, Frenzy, Hyacinth, Keeping Up Appearances, Onslow, Richard
F r i d a y, 1 8 M a y 2 0 1 2
Film of the day:
MELODY (1971)
I wasn't aware of this film until I was working on an interview with American director Wes
Anderson. He cites it as one of the major influences on his new film 'Moonrise Kingdom'.
Starring Jack Wild and Mark Lester, recapping their cocky urchin and sensitive angel roles
from 'Oliver!' (1968), 'Melody' is a London-set puppy-love tale blending gritty urban locations
with a lyrical, sun-dappled childhood innocence, written by Alan Parker and directed by Waris
Hussein.
The kids are meant to be the stars, but for me it's the locations and the brilliant cast of adult
character actors that makes it: Roy Kinnear, Sheila Steafel, Ken Jones, James Cossins, Keith
Barron, Kate Williams, and John Gorman (of 'Tiswas' and Scaffold fame).
A winsome sunshine-pop soundtrack by the Bee Gees is an added attraction for some, as is the
featured Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song, 'Teach Your Children'.
Apparently it was a big hit in Japan and South America, which explains why the versions you
can check out on YouTube are mostly subtitled for those markets.
See it here. for instance.
Gerald Sim
Gerald Sim:
Delighted to find that this distinguished gent is still around, having made his film debut in
1947's 'Fame Is The Spur'. Sixty years is a long time, so it's likely that you'll have seen his knitted
brows in 'The Wrong Box', 'Ryan's Daughter', 'Dr Jeckyll & Sister Hyde', 'Oh What A Lovely
War!', 'Dr Phibes Rises Again' or 'A Bridge Too Far' on the big screen. His TV career stretches
from 'Man In A Suitcase' and 'The Avengers' to 'Cribb', 'Ripping Yarns', 'The Fall & Rise Of
Reginald Perrin' and the unavoidable 'Bergerac'. A full house.
Gerald Sim - imdb profile

Labels: A Bridge Too Far, Cribb, Ripping Yarns, Ryan's Daughter, The Saint, The Wrong Box
Tu e s d a y, 1 5 M a y 2 0 1 2
John Tordoff
John Tordoff:
He retired from acting a few years ago and now designs gardens and paints in Umbria but a
welcome sight whenever he pops up in roles as put-upon coppers, harassed officials, and
quizzical passers-by. Seen in TV including 'Campion', 'The Sweeney', 'The Rivals Of Sherlock
Holmes', 'Citizen Smith', 'Coronation Street' (as three different characters, in '68, '78 and '99),
and, more memorably for me, 'Murder Most English: A Flaxborough Chronicle' as ghoulish
forensic officer Mr Warlock. Film parts range from a tiny role in a cafe scene in 'Billy Liar'
(1963) to 'Without A Clue' (1988), Michael Winner's 'Parting Shots' (1999) and 'Robin Hood:
Prince Of Thieves' (1991).
John Tordoff - imdb profile
Labels: Billy Liar, Campion, Citizen Smith, Flaxborough, John Tordoff, Parting Shots, Without a Clue,Wrong Box
Jacki Piper
Jacki Piper:
Effervescent and sweetly saucy as lead dollybird Sally Martin in 'Carry On Loving' (see also
Richard O'Callaghan) she went on to appear in several 'Carry Ons' and some other minor films
in the same year, including 'Doctor In Trouble' and the Roger Moore vehicle 'The Man Who
Haunted Himself'. She then popped up occasionally in 'The Two Ronnies' and 'The Fall And Rise
Of Reginald Perrin', before hitting the hospital/police potboiler circuit of 'The Bill', 'Doctors' and
'Wire In The Blood' as a run of nice middle aged ladies.
Jacki Piper - imdb profile
Labels: bra, Carry On loving, corset, Doctor in trouble, Jacki Piper, Reginald Perrin, The Bill, topless,Two ronnies
M o n d a y, 1 4 M a y 2 0 1 2
Frank Williams
Frank Williams:
Forever associated with the role of 'his reverence' Timothy Farthing, the vicar in 'Dad's Army',
he has rarely been out of television work since the late '50s. Aside from his stock-in-trade vicars
and bishops, he has played academics, clerks, salesmen, a hypnotist and various fusty, odd types
in 'The Rutles', 'Z-Cars', 'Adam Adamant Lives!', 'Minder', 'Bergerac' and 'Boon'. Also a stalwart
of TV sketch comedy with Morecambe & Wise, Kenny Everett, Jimmy Tarbuck and Dick Emery.
Timeless catchphrase: "Oh, do be quiet Mr Yeatman".
Frank Williams - imdb profile
Labels: Dad's Army, Frank Williams, Timothy Farthing, vicar

Richard O'Callaghan
Richard O'Callaghan:
Son of the inimitable Patricia Hayes, he is probably best known as the shy tinfoil aeroplane
enthusiast Bertram Muffet from 'Carry On Loving' and the idealistic young master Boggs from
'Carry On At Your Convenience'.
He has aged into a rather craggy and disreputable-looking type, with some Shakespearean stage
roles to back up his parts in TV from 'Dalziel & Pascoe', 'Mr Pye', and 'McCallum', to 'Boon',
'Casualty', and 'Heartbeat'-type fare. I should also mention his role in the bleak, bisexual, black-
comedy, 'Butley' (1974), with Alan Bates. Directed by Harold Pinter.
Richard O'Callaghan - imdb profile
Labels: Boon, Butley, Carry On, Patricia Hayes, Richard O'Callaghan
S a t u r d a y, 1 2 M a y 2 0 1 2
Jacqueline Pearce
Jacqueline Pearce:
RADA-trained, eternal gamine with a haughty demeanour, whose image was burned onto the
adolescent beta male retina of the early '80s as Servalan in 'Blakes 7'. Before that she had been
the glamour in a couple of low-budget Brit horrors - 'The Reptile' and 'Plague Of The Zombies' -
and also 'Carry On Don't Lose Your Head' all in 1966. Her TV appearances include a nice set of
'60s cult classics: 'Danger Man', 'The Avengers', 'Man In A Suitcase', and 'Callan'; before hitting
the small-screen sci-fi big-time in 'Doctor Who' and 'Blakes 7', as well as some classy period
pieces like 'The Edwardians', 'Churchill's People' and 'Moondial'.
In 'The Reptile' (1966)
In the Jerry Lewis swinging London romp

'Don't Raise The Bridge, Lower The River' (1968)
Jacqueline Pearce - imdb profile

Labels: avon, Blakes 7, Cally, Jacqueline Pearce, Orac, Plague Of The Zombies, Servalan, The Reptile,Zen
Peter Cellier
Peter Cellier:
Another actor specialising in patrician roles, particularly judges, politicians and high-ranking
civil servants - and perhaps the odd supercilious head waiter or shifty ex-officer. He has rarely
been out of work since the early '60s, with roles in films including 'Barry Lyndon' (1975), 'Young
Winston' (1972), 'Morgan - A Suitable Case For Treatment' (1966), 'Jabberwocky' (1977),
'Personal Services' (1987) and 'The Remains Of The Day' (1993). His TV CV is extensive and
stretches from 'Randall & Hopkirk' to 'Yes, Minister' and from 'Rumpole' to 'Jackanory'.
A giant in his field, but few could put a name to the face.
Peter Cellier - imdb profile
Labels: Barry Lyndon, Jabberwocky, Peter Cellier, veteran
Tony Selby
Tony Selby:
A perennial chirpy cockney tough-nut, well-suited to any kind of petty criminal and henchman,
as well as bin men, lorry drivers and of course the sadistic Corporal Marsh in the grimly amusing
National Service comedy 'Get Some In!'. Film roles include parts in classics like 'Alfie' (1966),
'Villain' (1971), and 'Witchfinder General' (1968), but he found his niche in TV. 'Catweazle',
'Callan', 'Minder', 'Doctor Who' and 'Department S' is just scratching the surface. Saw him
drinking in the Dog & Duck in Soho a few times; his wheezily sarcastic voice and frizzy barnet
are unmistakable.
Tony Selby - imdb profile
Labels: Alfie, Callan, Catweazle, Department S, Doctor Who, Get Some In, Tony Selby, Witchfinder General
Leslie Schofield
Leslie Schofield:
One of those long-faced types who often populate the perifery of British drama, appearing as
ratty villains, petty bureaucrats, sleazy bohemians and indignant customers. He has appeared in
films ranging from 'Star Wars' (as the splendidly named Moradmin Bast) to 'Villain' and 'Force
10 From Navarone'. His TV career started on a moderate high, with parts in 'Doctor Who',
'Softly Softly', 'The XYY Man', 'Blakes 7' and of course modern parent Tom* in 'The Fall & Rise
of Reginald Perrin'. Latterly he's been seen in 'Juliet Bravo', 'Coronation Street', 'EastEnders',
'ChuckleVision' and the inevitable 'Midsomer Murders'.
In 'Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)'.
Leslie Schofield - imdb profile
*It had been bothering me that Mr Schofield somehow wasn't the Tom from Reggie Perrin that I
remembered. Turns out that the part was played by TIM PREECE in the first series.
Accordingly, I add an annexed mini-salute to Mr Preece here.
Labels: Blakes 7, Doctor Who, Force 10, Leslie schofield, Midsomer, Moradmin Bast, Reginald Perrin,Tom, Villain
Albert Moses
Albert Moses:
The Sri Lankan-born actor came to the UK trading on a slight likeness to Clark Gable, but is
perhaps best known for appearing as Ranjeet Singh in the blithely racist 'Mind Your Language',
a show he also produced, and a plethora of film roles as doctors, secret agents, merchants,
assassins, and petty Raj officials, as well as stereotypical bus conductors and waiters in many
unreconstructed '70s British movies and TV shows. He can be seen in two James Bond movies,
'The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), and 'Octopussy' (1983), as well as 'The Man Who Would Be King'
(1975), 'Carry On Emanuelle' (1978) and 'An American Werewolf in London' (1981).
In 'Mind Your Language'

With Kenneth Williams in 'Carry On Emanuelle' (1978)
He's also a poet, a chairman of Equity, and pillar of the community in St Albans.
Albert Moses - imdb profile

Labels: American Werewolf in London, Carnival of Monsters, Casualty, Doctor Who, Jewel in the Crown,Lytton's
Diary, Mind Your Language, Octopussy, On the Buses, Ranjeet Singh, Shoestring, The Bill, The Spy Who Loved Me
Richard Davies
Richard Davies:
Jan 25 1926 Oct 8 2015
Marvellous as the cynical Welsh foil to John Alderton's idealist teacher in the school sitcom
'Please Sir!', he has a long list of roles as seedy nobodies, minor officials, and Taffy stereotypes
behind him. In the cinema, he appeared in 'Zulu' (1964) and a few uncredited comedy parts, but
has really made his career in television. Notable among these are perhaps 'Fawlty Towers',
'Coronation Street, 'Robert's Robots', 'Dr Who', and the forgotten Jenny Agutter TV vehicle 'And
The Beat Goes On'. Your go-to guy for anything Welsh, he was an obvious choice for roles
in 'Taff Acre', 'The Citadel', and Burton's 'Under Milk Wood'. But it's always the staffroom at
Fenn Street School for me. "I pity you, Hedges".
As Clive Jenkins in 'Not The Nine O'clock News'

Richard Davies - imdb profile
Labels: Fawlty Towers, Fenn Street, Please Sir. Mr Price, Richard Davies, taff Acre, Zulu
Clive Wood
Clive Wood:
Fleshily handsome actor who came to prominence in the racy '80s TV version of 'A Kind Of
Loving'. Other lead roles have been thin on the ground since, but he has a record of regular cast
parts in TV dramas 'London's Burning' and 'The Bill', and has popped up in 'Minder' (new
version), 'Frost', 'Casualty' and a 'Dr Who'. Presumably his RSC work keeps him in clean shirts.
Clive Wood - imdb profile
Labels: A Kind of Loving, Casualty, Doctor Who, Frost, Minder, The Bill
T h u r s d a y, 1 0 M a y 2 0 1 2
Moray Watson
Moray Watson:
Specialising in the affable sort of toff, jolly sort of magistrate and approachable sort of army
officer, he has been popping up on TV and in films for the last 60 years. My favourites among his
many roles are Lord Collingford in 'Catweazle' and Chief Constable Chubb in 'The Flaxborough
Chronicles', but you may have seen him in 'The Avengers', 'The Saint', 'Quiller', or 'Rumpole of
The Bailey'. Or maybe 'The Darling Buds Of May' or,quelle surprise, 'Midsomer Murders'. Seems
like a gent, anyway.
With the late Elspeth Gray in 'Catweazle'

In the 1982 Dr Who story 'Black Orchid'
In 'The Darling Buds of May'
Moray Watson - imdb profile

Labels: Catweazle, Darling Buds of May, Flaxborough Chronicles, lord Collingford, Moray Watson,Quiller, The
Avengers, The Saint
T h u r s d a y, 1 0 M a y 2 0 1 2
Peter Armitage
Peter Armitage:
Rugged northern fellow probably best-known as Bill Webster in 'Coronation Street' or as the
Yellow Pages advert dad who laments 'I were right about that saddle, though'. Like many
authentic salt of the earth-type character actors, he came through the Joan Greenwood/Harry H
Corbett-mentored East-15 acting school and went on to appear in TV roles in 'The Sweeney',
'The Professionals', 'Strangers', 'G.B.H', and the inevitable 'Holby City'/'Casualty'/'The Royal'.
Lots of "By 'eck, think on mind..." etc
Peter Armitage - imdb
Labels: Bill Webster, Coronation Street, GBH, Holby City, Strangers, Sweeney, The Bill, Yellow Pages
Toni Palmer
Toni Palmer:
The epitome of the familiar-unknown actress, having played dozens of variations on the chirpy
working class housewife, busybody and woman-in-the-street. Originally a dancer, she first came
into the public eye in TV's 'The Rag Trade' in the early '60s, and had a long run in the dismal
motel soap ...'Crossroads'. Other roles in TV included 'Russ Abbott's Madhouse', 'Minder', 'The
Sweeney', 'The Bill', and 'Within These Walls', and period pieces like 'The Duchess Of Duke
Street' and 'Foyle's War'. Her film career highlights stretch from 'Personal Services', 'The French
Lieutenant's Woman' and 'Sir Henry at Rawlinson End', to our old favourite 'Smashing Time'.
Oooh, get her!
Toni Palmer - imdb profile
Labels: Crossroads, Minder, Rag Trade, Rawlinson, The Bill, Toni Palmer
We d n e s d a y, 9 M a y 2 0 1 2
Film of the day:
THE BARGEE (1964)
As an adjunct to the ongoing business of saluting British character actors who are still with us,
I'm going to be posting the odd recommendation of films that offer rich pickings in that
direction. I'll start off with this corker.
A film of which I had vague recollections, dating back to the good old days of the Saturday and
Sunday afternoon 'old film' strand on the BBC, it's a typically bittersweet, occasionally cringe-
inducing, Galton & Simpson effort with an amazing cast:
Harry H Corbett, Ronnie Barker, Miriam Karlin, Pat Hayes, Julia Foster, Eric Barker, Michael
Robbins, Richard Briers Like I say, a corker.
Nice scenery too. All in lovely old proper Technicolor.
You can watch the whole thing (in 10 minute bits) on YouTube: Here
Labels: Eric Barker, Harry H Corbett, Julia Foster, Michael Robbins, Miriam Karlin, Pat Hayes, Richard
Briers, Ronnie Barker, The Bargee
Eric Sykes
Eric Sykes:
May 4 1923 July 4 2012

A legendary writer and performer, respected and adored by industry and public, the last of the
British post-war comedy greats. He has worked with everybody from Peter Sellers to David
Bowie, Tony Hancock to Terry-Thomas, and Frankie Howerd to Vincent Price. His TV show
'Sykes', with the much missed Hattie Jacques, Deryk Guyler and Richard Wattis, was a
comforting presence in British homes of the '70s, and his filmography is full of minor gems: 'The
Plank' (1967), of course, plus 'Theatre Of Blood' (1973), 'Monte Carlo Or Bust (1969), 'Those
Magnificent Men...' (1965), 'The Bargee' (1965), 'Harry Potter & The Goblet Of Whatever'
(2005), and 'Son Of Rambow' (2007). Royalty.
With Tommy Cooper in 'The Plank' (1967)
Eric Sykes - imdb profile
Labels: Dennis Nordern, Derek Guyler, Eric Sykes, Hattie Jacques, Peter Cook, Richard Wattis, Terry-Thomas, Tony
Hancock
Clive Merrison
Clive Merrison:
Of rather cadaverous and ascetic demeanour, he has played a succession of doctors, politicians,
courtiers, teachers and other vaguely sinister and authoritarian parts in 'Crown Court', 'Yes
Prime Minister', 'Doctor Who' (1967 & 1987), 'The Borgias' and 'Reilly, Ace Of Spies'. He is also
the voice of the BBC's radio incarnation of Sherlock Holmes* (1989-98) and played Fenelon-
Barnes in 'The English Patient' (1996) and the headmaster in 'The History Boys' (2006).
*Surely wasted on radio...
Sidney Paget's evocation of Sherlock Holmes, 1904
Clive Merrison - imdb profile

Labels: Ace Of Spies, actor, Borgias, Clive Merrison, Doctor Who, Reilly
Tu e s d a y, 8 M a y 2 0 1 2
Jon Glover
Jon Glover:
Strong-featured actor, now most familiar as the brilliantined Mr Cholmondley-Warnerin the

Harry Enfield skits. He is a very successful voice performer, his well-modulated tones have been
heard in 'Spitting Image' (as Prince Philip, Melvyn Bragg, PW Botha and many more), oddball
kids' show 'Ludwig', 'The Staggering Stories Of Ferdinand De Bargos' and numerous computer
games. He's also the go-to guy for old-school BBC announcer and newsreader parts. On-screen
roles have been limited to mostly 'Midsomer Murders', 'Casualty'-type fare and lots of sketch
shows
'Ahhh. Ludwig.'
Jon Glover - imdb profile
Labels: Bargos, Harry Enfield, Jon Glover, Ludwig, Mr Cholmondley-Warner
Milton Johns
Milton Johns:
The king of snide. The emperor of unctuous. He's the perfect casting for a mean-minded official,
sinister headteacher, devious accountant or oily undertaker. It's always a pleasure to see him
pop up on TV in 'Minder', 'Budgie', 'Doctor Who' or 'Tucker's Luck'. Or the odd period drama,
from 'Poldark' and 'A Horseman Riding By' to 'War & Remembrance' (as Adolph Eichmann) and
'The Scarlet Pimpernel'. And let's not forget 'The Basil Brush Show', 'Coronation Street' and the
popular kids' space movie 'The Empire Strikes Back' (1980).
Milton Johns - imdb profile
Labels: Budgie, Milton Johns, Minder, Poldark, Tucker's Luck

Tu e s d a y, 8 M a y 2 0 1 2
Roy Holder
Roy Holder:
Chunky, cheeky-faced chap who began as a child actor in various schoolboy adventures in the
early '60s and peaked at the height of cult TV. He was Chas in 'Ace Of Wands', clad in the same
sort of unlikely trendy gear he wore in the movie of 'Loot' (1970) or the much-loved absurd
biker-horror 'Psychomania'. A steady stream of roles over the next three decades included 'Z
Cars', 'Dr Who' (Peter Davison's swansong - 'The Caves Of Androzani' in 1984), and as Timothy
Lumsden's only mate, Frank, in the Ronnie Corbett vehicle, 'Sorry'. Solid stuff.
Roy Holder - imdb profile

Labels: Ace of Wands, androzani, Loot, Roy Holder, Sorry
Donald Gee
Donald Gee:
Soft-spoken, friendly-faced northerner with a long, but uncrowded, CV of appearances as caring

coppers, doctors, dads, teachers and lawyers. He also tried to teach Bob Hoskins how to read in
the BBC adult literacy vehicle 'On The Move'. Other credits include various roles in 'The Likely
Lads', Coronation Street', 'Boon', and 'The Avengers', as well as two 'Dr Who' stories ('The Space
Pirates' in 1969 and 'The Monster Of Peladon' in 1974), and regular parts in 'The Forsyte Saga',
'Z Cars', and as the slightly comical Boynton in the 'Heartbeat'-esque doctors drama 'Born &
Bred'. More challenging stuff runs from 'Unman Wittering & Zigo' (1971) to the bizarre Johnny
Speight TV movie 'If There Weren't Any Blacks You'd Have To Invent Them' with Leonard
Rossiter.
Donald Gee in the 1969 Doctor Who story, 'The Space Pirates'
and in 1974's 'The Monster Of Peladon'
Apparently, he was at drama school with Patrick Stewart, Martin Jarvis and Janet Suzman,
and taught Stewart to drive...
Putting the screws on Jim Hacker in 'Yes, Minister'

Reading Bob and Thelma's wedding banns in
'Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?'
Donald Gee - imdb profile

Labels: Bob Hoskins, Coronation Street, Donald Gee, On the Move, Peladon
Royce Mills
Royce Mills:
Affable middle-class buffoon type, with a rather needy grin perhaps best known as the
hopeless swain Nausius/Knotweed in the Frankie Howerd romps 'Up Pompeii'/'Up The Chastity
Belt'. I thought he was fairly well-known, but his TV work has mostly been in 'Mike Yarwood',
'Kelly Monteith', 'Never The Twain' territory. He did a number of Dalek voices for 'Dr Who',
though, and a stirling job as Arthur Daley's accountant Andrew in a few episodes of 'Minder'.
Nowadays, he's a bedroom farce specialist on the home counties theatre circuit. Not too shoddy.
Royce Mills - imdb profile
Labels: andrew, Chastity, farce, Minder, Royce Mills, Up Pompeii
Jonathan Cecil
Jonathan Cecil:
1939-2011
Despite being descended from the aristocratic line of Lord Salisbury, and educated at Eton and
Oxford (his father was the famous Oxford literary scholar Lord David Cecil), he has spent his
whole career playing idiotic fops, upper-crust nincompoops, and society dimwits. Perhaps best-
known on TV as Poirot's slow-witted sidekick, Captain Hastings, he has mainly appeared in a lot
of fairly low-brow and kid's stuff, including 'The Goodies', 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum', 'Worzel
Gummidge', 'Kenny Everett', 'Doctor In The House', 'Romany Jones' and the like. 'Wodehouse
Playhouse', 'Dad's Army' and 'Alice In Wonderland' (1986) were rare treats, but he's a great
character actor who always brightens the screen when he appears.
[Sadly we have lost Jonathan Cecil since I originally posted this in October 2010]
Jonathan Cecil - imdb profile
Labels: hastings, Jonathan Cecil, Poirot, Worzel Gummidge
Henry Woolf
Henry Woolf:
Brilliantly combining the sinister and the absurdly hilarious for 60 years - his unctious growl
and leering manner are unmistakable. He went to Hackney Downs school with Harold Pinter
and is still closely associated with the work of his lifetime friend, but is better known to the
wider public for his roles in 'Rutland Weekend Television' (he was, of course, Arthur Sultan,
the Surrey Mystic in 'The Rutles'), 'Sykes', 'Dr Who' and 'Steptoe and Son'. His connection to the
British avant garde is more evident in his parts in Peter Brook's 'Marat/Sade' and 'The
Bedsitting Room', but to many British children of the '70s he's the scary man from the schools
programme, 'Words & Pictures'.
Henry Woolf - imdb profile
Labels: Arthur Sultan, Bedsitting Room, Henry Woolf, Pinter, Rutland Weekend television, Steptoe,Words and
Pictures
Valerie Leon
Valerie Leon:
Glamorous, sultry and well-spoken actress, probably still best-known as the Hai Karate
aftershave girl even after 40 years. She was in a few decent films, including two Bond movies, as
well as cult classics 'Smashing Time' and 'The Rise & Rise Of Michael Rimmer', but was often
just cast for her cleavage, as in several 'Carry On' films and some dire farces.
Played the reincarnated Egyptian queen in 'Blood From the Mummy's Tomb' but never quite
made it as a leading lady. An icon of her era, nevertheless.
And here's a gratuitous treat for, er, Ronnie Corbett fans.
Valerie Leon -imdb profile

Labels: busty, Carry On loving, Hai Karate, Rimmer, Smashing Time, topless, Valerie Leon
Nicholas Le Prevost
Nicholas Le Prevost:
Slightly sheepish, dismayed and bewildered-looking actor who has often appeared in TV
comedy and drama playing well-meaning vicars, doctors, ministers and aristocrats. Early
successes include 'The Borgias', 'Brideshead Revisited', 'The Camomile Lawn' and of course 'The
Ghosts Of Motley Hall', while more recently he has been seen in 'Inspector Morse', 'Foyle's
War', 'Doc Martin' and 'Psychoville'.
As the man from the Labour Exchange in 'Shelley'
Nicholas Le Prevost - imdb profile
Labels: Borgias, Brideshead revisited, Motley Hall, National theatre, Nicholas Le Provost
Tu e s d a y, 8 M a y 2 0 1 2
Georgina Hale
Georgina Hale:
Slinky, adenoidal, estuarine glamour-puss who oozed naughtiness in some interesting films
(particularly with director Ken Russell) and some classic television in the '70s. She has latterly
cornered the market in nouveau riche langour and suburban middle-aged lasciviousness. See
'The Devils', 'Mahler' and 'Lisztomania', and the likes of 'The Boyfriend', 'The Love Ban' and
'McVicar'. She smouldered nicely on TV in 'The Sweeney', 'Budgie' and 'Minder', and more
recently in 'Emmerdale' and One Foot In The Grave'. But forever, the definition of Euston films
'crumpet'.
Georgina Hale - imdb profile
Labels: breakfast, Budgie, Georgina Hale, grotbags, Ken Russell, Mahler, mcvicar, Minder, Sweeney,topless
Peter Sallis
Peter Sallis:
Now the perfect incarnation of middle-aged timidity, but in my opinion, sadly wasted as Clegg in
30-odd years of 'Last Of The Summer Wine', which would probably be nostalgically admired if
they'd stopped after three or four series. Wallace in 'Wallace & Gromit' and Ratty in 'Wind In
The Willows...' seem to be his only other parts since the mid-'70s, but before that he was a useful
and intelligent actor in a mixed bag of interesting roles. He appeared in 'Callan', 'Doctor Who',
'Danger Man', 'The Capone Investment', 'Catweazle' and 'The Pallisers', and in films like 'Mouse
On The Moon', 'Charlie Bubbles', 'Taste The Blood Of Dracula' and 'Scream And Scream Again'.
Rather than one of him wearing a flat cap or sitting in a wheelbarrow, here's a picture of him
with a gun, from 'The Persuaders'
Peter Sallis - imdb profile
Labels: Clegg, Danger Man, Gromit, Persuaders, Peter Sallis, Ratty, Summer Wine, Wallace
James Warrior
James Warrior:
The perennial worried Welshman in a brown suit, his first roles included harrassed coppers in
'Budgie' and 'The Sweeney', but he has played town councillors, reporters, landlords, con-men,
miners and cab drivers with some of the quirky elan of Gorden Kaye, if not quite Roy Kinnear.
I liked him as Mr Meredith ("it's Me-RED-ith") in the unlamented comedy 'Glamour Girls'. These
days he brews real ale in Cornwall. Good man.
As James Berry the hangman in 'Cribb'
James Warrior - imdb profile

Labels: Budgie, Glamour girls, James Warrior, Sweeney, Welsh
Rosalind Knight
Rosalind Knight:
Charmingly chinny and cherubic actress who played a number of light comedy and romantic
roles in the '50s, including 'Carry On Teacher', 'Carry On Nurse' and 'Blue Murder At St
Trinians', before getting the more prestigious part of Mrs Fitzpatrick in 'Tom Jones'. Other films
include 'About A Boy', 'Eskimo Nell', 'Prick Up Your Ears' and 'Can Heironymus Merkin Ever
Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?'. A quality TV stalwart, though in latter years
she has done a lot of cosy crime and the odd 'Holby' and 'Heartbeat'.
And this bizarre waste of talent; a sort of American 'Carry On'.
Rosalind Knight - imdb profile
Labels: actress, Carry On Teacher, Eskimo Nell, Prick Up Your Ears, Rosalind Knight, St Trinians
Jeremy Child
Jeremy Child:
Another real-life baronet and old Etonian, his big break came, appropriately, with 'Privilege' in
1967. Since then he has played over a hundred roles including three Home-Secretaries, effete
officers, refined clerics and numerous lawyers. You may have seen his face in 'Jewel In The
Crown', 'Take Three Girls', 'The Sweeney', 'Fairly Secret Army', 'Minder', 'Oxbridge Blues' or 'Sir
Henry At Rawlinson End'. Or perhaps in a 1993 Labour party broadcast with Fry & Laurie.
'Privilege' (1967)
Jeremy Child - imdb profile
Labels: Fairly Secret Army, Jeremy Child, Minder, Privilege, Rawlinson
S a t u r d a y, 5 M a y 2 0 1 2
Geoffrey Chater
Geoffrey Chater:
The very image of the establishment, he has played ministers, lawyers, bankers and doctors
since the early 1950s. His film credits include impressive entries such as 'Gandhi', 'If', 'Barry
Lyndon', and 'O Lucky Man', as well as unlikely oddments like Reg Varney's drag-act
monstrosity 'The Best Pair of Legs in The Business'. His appearances on British TV include
semi-regular roles in 'Callan', 'Devenish' and 'Mapp & Lucia', plus endless parts in everything
from 'Jason King', Steptoe & Son' and 'Some Mothers Do Ave Em' to 'Brideshead Revisited',
'Harry Enfield' and 'Dad's Army'.
Geoffrey Chater - imdb profile

Labels: actor, Barry Lyndon, Brideshead revisited, Gandhi, Geoffrey Chater, Jason King, Steptoe
Tu e s d a y, 1 M a y 2 0 1 2
Bryan Marshall
Bryan Marshall:
Dependable, masculine character actor who crops up all over the cinema and TV of the '70s,
equally adept at dashing and dastardly roles as hussars and henchmen, middle-management
and mercenaries. His lengthy film CV includes 'Quatermass & The Pit', 'The Long Good Friday',
'The Spy Who Loved Me' and 'BMX Bandits'. On TV, he graced 'The Frighteners', 'The Saint',
'Return Of The Saint', 'The Professionals', 'Warship', and... 'The Basil Brush Show'. Emigrated to
Australia and appeared in 'Flying Doctors', 'Prisoner: Cell Block H', 'Neighbours' and Home &
Away'. A true all-rounder.
In 'I Start Counting' (1969). A seldom-seen kitchen-sink Lolita

drama featuring the teenage Jenny Agutter
Bryan Marshall - imdb profile
Labels: Agutter, BMX Bandits, Bryan Marshall, I start counting, Long good Friday, Quatermass, Saint,Warship
Tu e s d a y, 1 M a y 2 0 1 2
Graham Stark
Graham Stark:
Jan 20 1922 Oct 29 2013
Real character actor royalty, Mr Stark has brightened hundreds of British comedies, particularly
those involving his good friends Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan. His resum is extensive - well
over a hundred entries on imdb - but some highlights include the 'Pink Panther' films, 'Alfie',
'The Wrong Box', 'The Plank' and 'Le Petomane'. Surprising lowpoints are 'Boon', 'Hi-De-Hi' and
'Let's Get Laid'. Almost a star.
Here's an obscure little treat: 'Simon Simon'

Graham Stark - imdb profile
Labels: Alfie, Graham Stak, Michael caine, Peter Sellers, Pink Panther, Plank, Spike Milligan
Kate Williams
Kate Williams:
Recently back on TV screens playing Liz Turner in 'EastEnders', she is still probably best known
for the un-PC ITV favourite, 'Love Thy Neighbour' as Jack Smethurst's long-suffering wife, Joan,
or possibly for her role in the Euston-films drama series 'Widows'. Film credits include 'Poor
Cow', 'Melody', 'Til Death Us Do Part', and Jimmy's mum in 'Quadrophenia'. My personal
favourite might be her role as Blakey's nurse and girlfriend in 'Holiday On The Buses'. It's
probably not hers.
Incidentally, I was sure that she played Frankie Abbot's mum in 'Please Sir!' but that was the
excellent BARBARA MITCHELL, who died in 1977. Sadly there isn't much on the internet about
her, but she deserves a salute anyway.
http://www.kingstononline.co.uk/reviews4.htm
Kate Williams - imdb profile

Labels: EastEnders, Holiday On the buses, Kate Williams, Love thy Neighbour, Poor Cow, Quadrophenia
M o n d a y, 2 5 J u n e 2 0 1 2
Bernard Holley
Bernard Holley:
Here's another very familiar face - one of the stalwarts of British television - although perhaps
he never quite had the spark of charisma or flashy acting chops to get to leading man status,
despite his good looks and reassuring voice. His television appearances stretch back to the '60s
and include 'Z Cars', 'Doctor Who' ('Tomb Of The Cybermen' and 'Claws Of Axos') 'Birds of a
Feather','The Gentle Touch', 'A Touch of Frost', and lots of cops and nurses potboiler stuff like
'Casualty', 'The Bill', 'Doctors' and 'Holby City'. I particularly remember him reading the Johnny
Briggs stories on 'Jackanory' and was surprised to find that he wan't a northerner, but hails from
Middlesex. (That's what we call acting, dear boy.)
He's got a few clips up on his own YouTube channel, which is here. But I particularly like this
one.
Bernard Holley - imdb profile
Labels: Axos, Bernard Holley, Coronation Street, Cybermen, Doctor Who, Jackanory, Johnny Briggs
M o n d a y, 1 8 J u n e 2 0 1 2
Roger Sloman
Roger Sloman:
Finger: "Who the bleedin' hell d'you think you are?"
Keith: "I'm a good citizen who's aware of his responsibilities"
Finger: "You're a bloody comedian mate"

(from 'Nuts In May')
Gangling, knotty faced actor, best known for his brilliantly awkward portrayal of the insufferable
Keith in Mike Leigh's 1976 Play For Today, 'Nuts In May'. His flat London vowels have leant
their moderate force to a number of roles in the petty official and whingeing neighbour line.
On TV, his appearances include the nasty PE teacher Mr Foster in 'Grange Hill' (twisting
Tucker's ear and making Benny do gym in his underpants), and playing John Nettles's uptight
boss in 'Bergerac'. You might also see him crop up in detective stuff like 'Hazell', 'The Chinese
Detective', 'The Sweeney', 'Cracker', 'Shoestring' and "The Gentle Touch', as well as comedy from
'The Young Ones', 'Blackadder' and 'Ripping Yarns' down to 'Terry and June and (oh dear)
'Grace and Favour'.
Lots of kids TV too - possibly because of his ability to inhabit even the most Beano-ish of teacher
parts with a degree of comic skill.
Roger Sloman - imdb profile
Labels: actor, Alison Steadman, Bergerac, Grange Hill, Keith, Mike Leigh, Nuts In May, Roger Sloman
F r i d a y, 1 5 J u n e 2 0 1 2
Aimi MacDonald
Aimi MacDonald:
Chirruping, ditzy dolly, the self-parodying Betty Boop of swinging London. At one time she
used to crop up all over TV, but is now only rarely seen. After becoming a national
catchphrase in the pre-Python 'At Last The 1948 Show' ('Introducing the LOVELY Aimi
MacDonald') she swerved briefly between variety and acting, often appearing as herself in
light entertainment shows and panel games, but occasionally playing a role in comedy or
drama.
Aimi MacDonald in full-on variety show mode
She was in some classic series, like 'The Avengers' and 'The Saint', but was more often on our
screens dancing or being silly on 'Celebrity Squares', 'Sez Lez', 'Give Us A Clue', '3-2-1' or 'The
Kenny Everett Television Programme'.
With Roger Moore in the feature length 'Vendetta for The Saint'
She was also very much associated with the 'pub entertainer' TV fad of the mid '60s appearing
with camp comedian Ray Martine in 'Stars & Garters' and 'Down at The Old Bull & Bush'
Star of camp comedy, Ray Martine. Album cover.
And here she is, being lovely.
Aimi MacDonald - imdb profile
Labels: 1948, Aimi MacDonald, Avengers, Give us a Clue, Ray Martine, Sez Lez
We d n e s d a y, 1 3 J u n e 2 0 1 2
Peter Cleall
Peter Cleall:
Very recognisable face from the late '60s and early '70s when he had a run of roles as either surly or
gruffly amenable Londoners, mostly in comedy. His most famous part was as the genial class bovver-boy,
Eric Duffy, in 'Please Sir!' and its spin-off, 'The Fenn Street Gang', but he also crops up in smallish parts in
a string of popular TV shows over the following years: 'Sykes', 'Are You Being Served', 'Spooner's Patch',
'Dempsey & Makepeace', 'Minder' ('90s variety), 'Silent Witness', and 'The Brittas Empire'. For some
reason, though, his star waned (as evidenced by a handful of forgettable bit-parts in 'The Bill' over the
years), and he doesn't seem to be doing much now. Which is a pity. If not quite another Bob Hoskins, I
think he deserves his name to be better known. I bet most people think Duffy rather than Cleall when he
appears.
In 'Confessions of a Pop Performer' (1976)
Still, here are a couple of gems for you:
'Do The Clapham' From 'Confessions of A Pop Performer' (1976)
A second class return to Dottingham
Peter Cleall - imdb profile

Labels: Confessions of a Pop Performer, dottinghab, dottingham, Duffy, Peter Cleal, Please Sir, Tunes
F r i d a y, 8 J u n e 2 0 1 2
Peter Tilbury
As Philip Roath in 'It Takes a Worried Man'
Peter Tilbury:
Distinctive saturnine character actor and something of a mystery man as far as his internet
profile is concerned. He was the writer of 'It Takes A Worried Man' - in which he also starred as
the put-upon Philip Roath - and also creator of the similar mildly-neurotic, middle-age sitcoms
'Shelley', and 'Sorry I'm A Stranger Here Myself'. His dialogue is quite distinctive, with a self-
deprecating acidity that was in touch with the times - presumably how he came to write scripts
for shows as wide-ranging as 'Birds Of A Feather', the Lenny Henry sitcom 'Chef' and an episode
of 'Not Going Out'.
As an actor, roles have been rather minor and well spread out. He was seen on TV in 'Dixon of
Dock Green', 'C.A.T.S. Eyes', 'Miss Marple', and Stephen Fry's 'This Is David Lander', while his
only film role seems to have been as a copper in the grim Hazel O'Connor vehicle 'Breaking
Glass' (1980).
Peter Tilbury - imdb profile
Labels: actor, David Lander, It Takes a Worried Man, Lenny Henry, Miss Marple, Peter Tilbury, Philip
Roath, Shelley, Stephen Fry
T h u r s d a y, 7 J u n e 2 0 1 2
Frank Windsor
Frank Windsor:
I suppose I can hardly count such a famous actor as unknown, but the reassuringly wholesome
rumpled features of Frank Windsor have been seen more widely than just in the venerable cop
dramas 'Z-Cars' and 'Softly Softly; Taskforce' or adverts for pension plans and stairlifts. Starting
as an actor in the late '50s, he never played the dashing leading man, but more often the trusty
retainer or honest yeoman. TV jobs include the sci-fi serial 'A for Andromeda', 'The Avengers',
'Randall & Hopkirk, Deceased', the title role in the series 'Headmaster', and the not very
memorable limo-hire drama 'Flying Lady'. More recent appearances cover the usual suspects
'Boon', 'Casualty', 'Chancer', 'Midsomer Murders', 'Judge John Deeds' and so on.
On the big screen he is far less ubiquitous, but pops up in favourites like 'This Sporting Life'
(1963), 'Spring and Port Wine ' (1971) and 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' (1971), as well as duffers such
as 'Barry McKenzie Holds His Own' (1974), and heist romp 'The Omega Connection/The
London Connection' (1979), often pastiching his copper persona.
Dependable rather than riveting. Hence the insurance adverts.
Frank Windsor - imdb profile
Labels: Frank Windsor, Softly Softly, Z-Cars

F r i d a y, 1 J u n e 2 0 1 2
Diane Keen
Diane Keen:
Lovely lovely Diane Keen. During the '70s she was a regular presence on television screens,
playing attractive women in roles that ranged from the demure to the dubious. Making her
debut in the long-lost sci-fi mod pic 'Popdown' (1967) and the ever-present 'Here We Go Round
The Mulberry Bush', but she soon graduated out of the miniskirt moppet casting pool and into
some more serious productions, including Fay Weldon's Wednesday Play 'Fall Of The Goat', and
quality output like 'Budgie', 'Fall of Eagles', and the 1975 series of 'The Legend of Robin Hood
(with 'Blake's Seven's Avon, Paul Darrow, as the Sheriff of Nottingham). She was also in the
rather exhausting kids' drama 'The Feathered Serpent' as an Aztec queen. She went on to star in
wholesome sitcoms like 'Rings On Their Fingers', 'The Cuckoo Waltz' and 'You Must Be The
Husband'. As the '70s became the '80s she matured prettily into roles in 'The Shillingbury Tales',
'Ruth Rendell Mysteries', 'Oxbridge Blues' and 'Foxy Lady' before finding a nice regular slot in
the long-running 'Doctors'.
In the meantime there were a couple of cinema parts, in the movie of 'Sweeney!' (1977) and
'Silver Dream Racer' (1980), but nothing big.
One minor hiccup was caused by the generally harmless (it's got Christopher Biggins in it)
British soft-core movie 'The Sex Thief' (1974). Never too shy about doing topless scenes, she did
a stirling job in this limp effort, which duly slipped into obscurity. Unfortunately, the film was
later 'beefed up' by a foreign producer with hard-core scenes spliced in, making Ms Keen's role
appear decidedly spicier. It probably only cemented her place as '70s ITV sex-symbol.
Diane Keen - imdb profile
Labels: Cuckoo Waltz, Diane Keen, Doctors, Fliss, Popdown, Sweeney, topless
Tu e s d a y, 3 1 J u l y 2 0 1 2
John Quentin
John Quentin:
Biographical details seem hard to pin down, but surely this lofty, upper crust actor was born to
play effete aristocratic roles. One can hardly see him as a horny-handed son of the soil. As a
young man he was often cast as the insufferable snob or floppy haired aesthete, while more
recent roles have seen him as the eminent or sinister civil servant. Sadly, perhaps, I suspect he
would be easiest called to mind by one phrase; 'Sheer nectar, Jeeves' from the Croft Original
sherry ads of the '80s, but in fact his career has been fairly distinguished.
Television titbits include the excellent '70s Dorothy L Sayers adaptation 'The Unpleasantness at
the Bellona Club', 'Blakes 7', 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum', 'Colditz' and the blue-screen '80s kids
show 'The Return of The Antelope'. Movie appearances take in the Karel Reisz/Melvyn Bragg
biopic 'Isadora' (1968), 'Man At The Top' (1973), 'Gandhi' (1982), 'A Handful Of Dust' (1988),
and the Sean Connery terrorist thriller 'Ransom' (1974).
This is a little gem, though: 'The Waterloo Bridge Handicap' (1978)
John Quentin - imdb profile

Labels: Croft Original, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Jeeves, John Quentin
M o n d a y, 3 0 J u l y 2 0 1 2
Carmel McSharry
Carmel McSharry:
Of course, Carmel McSharry was born in Ireland, but she has graced a number of classic UK TV
shows over the years. With her wary, alert eyes and anxiously disapproving expression, she's
made something of a speciality of the busybody business. She was Carol's 'mam' in the later
series of 'The Liver Birds' and played Mrs Hollingbery, the endearingly impervious foil to Alf
Garnett's rants in 'In Sickness And In Health' after Dandy Nichols passed away. She was in the
'60s Michael Medwin sitcom 'For The Love Of Mike', but her big break from playing servants
and nosy parkers came in the early '70s when she starred in 'Beryl's Lot', the popular ITV
comedy about a middle-aged housewife who decides to embark on an ambitious course of
education and self-improvement. After that she went on to appear in wartime drama 'Wish Me
Luck' and the usual 'Ruth Rendell Mysteries', 'Casualty',
In the cinema you could look out for fleeting appearances in ' The Leather Boys' (1964),
Hammer horror 'The Witches' (1966), and the dreadful but fascinating All Coppers Are
(1972).
Carmel McSharry - imdb profile

Labels: Alf Garnett, Beryl's Lot, Carmel McSharry, Liver Birds

F r i d a y, 2 7 J u l y 2 0 1 2
Norman Eshley
Norman Eshley:
For some, this tall, uncomfortable-looking actor will always be Jeffrey Fourmile, the priggish,
long-suffering neighbour of 'George & Mildred' (although, confusingly, he had already played
Robin Tripp's brother in 'Man About The House' before the 'G&M' spin-off), but he also
appeared in a number of hard cop roles in 'The Sweeney' and 'The Professionals', as well as
having an impressively varied TV career including 'Secret Army', 'I, Claudius', 'Cadfael', 'Minder'
(as a vicar), and 'One Foot In The Grave'. He sustained head injuries in a serious car accident in
1993 which apparently wrecked his ability to memorise parts for the stage, and has sadly had
only infrequent TV roles since. I wish him well.
See also: Sheila Fearn, Brian Murphy
Norman Eshley - imdb profile

Labels: Brian Murphy, Geoffrey Fourmile, George Mildred, Minder, Norman Eshley, Professionals, Secret Army, Sheila
Fearn, Tristram
Tu e s d a y, 2 4 J u l y 2 0 1 2
Geoffrey Bayldon
Geoffrey Bayldon:
Although a superstar of children's TV in the '70s thanks to his tour de force portrayal of time-
travelling wizard 'Catweazle', and later as the cosily sinister Crowman in 'Worzel Gummidge', he
also performed in dozens of classic TV series and a few feature films. With his cadaverous
appearance and gimlet stare, he often played officious clerks, dry churchmen and the occasional
foreign criminal, in shows like 'The Saint', 'The Avengers', 'Black Beauty', and 'Van Der Valk',
and was splendidly sleazy as Mr Ganglion in 'Blott On The Landscape'.
(In the morgue with Steed and Mrs Peel in 'The Avengers'; and as the vendor of authentic vampire
accoutrements in the 1972 film, 'The House That Dripped Blood')
He's strongly associated with television, but it's a delight when he crops up in the odd feature
film. See, for example: various Hammer and Amicus-type horrors like 'Dracula' (1958), 'Camp
On Blood Island' (1958), 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' (1969), The House That Dripped
Blood' (1971) - with future Worzel Gummidge Jon Pertwee - and 'Tales From The Crypt' (1972).
Other slight surprises include 'King Rat' (1965), 'Suspect' (1960) and 'Tom & Viv' (1994).
A legend. This is why.

Geoffrey Bayldon - imdb profile
Labels: Avengers, Blott, Castle Saburac, Catweazle, Crowman, Duck Halt, Geoffrey Bayldon,Touchwood, Worzel Gummidge
S a t u r d a y, 2 1 J u l y 2 0 1 2
Robert Gillespie
Robert Gillespie:
Strange, impish character actor with a distinctive 'halting and blinking' delivery. He trained at
RADA, which may account for his ability to be memorable and compelling in a lot of fairly slight
and minor roles. His star turn in the seemingly bland family sitcom 'Keep It In The Family' was
notable for his portrayal of the childlike, manically depressed Dudley Rush - a comic-strip artist
with a hinted history of breakdowns and mental issues who lives with his attractive, supportive
wife (played by Pauline Yates, echoing her performance in 'Reggie Perrin') and pert grown-up
daughters. He only draws when holding the pen with a glove-puppet lion...
Other TV roles include the unhappy transvestite Mr Mince in the first episode of 'Agony', the
fair-minded chairman of the residents association, Mr Carter, in 'The Good Life', and the long
suffering police sergeant in 'Man About The House' who was to become a recurring character
extending even unto the realms of 'George & Mildred'. His resume stretches back to the '60s,
and includes comedy like 'Dad's Army', 'Up Pompeii', 'Porridge', 'Rising Damp' and 'The Liver
Birds'. There's a smattering of cult classics too: 'The Avengers', The Sweeney', 'Doomwatch', 'The
Survivors', and the rather forgotten kids adventure series 'The Freewheelers'.
On the big screen, watch out for him in 'Otley' (1968), 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' (1969).
'The National Health' (1973), 'Barry MacKenzie Holds His Own' (1974), and of course he played
the AA man in my old favourite, 'The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins' (1971).
A scandal of some sort cut his on-screen career short in the '90s, but he is still acting and an
innovative and successful director and writer for the stage.
But this is the good stuff, to my way of thinking: from 'Whatever Happened to The Likely Lads?'
Robert Gillespie - imdb profile
Labels: actor, Agony, Freewheelers, Keep It In The Family, Likely Lads, Magnificent, Rising Damp,Robert Gillespie, scandal
Tu e s d a y, 1 0 J u l y 2 0 1 2
Maggie Steed
Maggie Steed:
Imperious and imposing actress, often playing working-class matriarchs and strong dynamic
women, albeit sometimes with a rather harsh, masculine edge. Her resum is impressive,
particularly in TV comedy and comedy-drama, with her role as Rita opposite Kenneth Cranham
in 'Shine On Harvey Moon' being especially memorable, but also in 'Lipstick On Your Collar',
'Jam & Jerusalem', 'Sensitive Skin', 'The History Man', 'Born & Bred', 'Pie In The Sky', and
period pieces like 'Lark Rise to Candleford' and the highly regarded 1994 TV adaptation of
'Martin Chuzzlewit'. Lots of one-offs too, in old standbys including 'Red Dwarf', 'Minder', 'Foyles
War', 'Van der Valk', 'The Young Ones' and 'Brideshead Revisited'.
Not too much on the big screen, though, preferring perhaps to appear on the serious stage with
the RSC rather than slog around in Hollywood circles, but there was 'Simon Magus' (1999) and
'The Painted Veil' (2006).
Maggie Steed - imdb profile
Labels: actress, jam and Jerusalem, Jam Jerusalem, Lark Rise, Maggie Steed, Pie in the Sky, Shine On Harvey Moon
M o n d a y, 9 J u l y 2 0 1 2
Johnny Shannon
Johnny Shannon:
The classic chunky London wideboy, whose soft 'r's ('You intu-ested in gu-eyhounds, Mr
Seymour?') seem to be one of the fonder inspirations behind Viz comic's 'Cockney Wankah'. He
was well cast in the surprisingly gritty 'Slade In Flame' (1975), as well as 'That'll Be The Day'
(1973) and of course 'Performance' (1970) where he played the muzak and muscle-loving gang
leader Harry Flowers. He also cropped up in 'Absolute Beginners' (1986) and played slumlord
Peter Rachman in 'Scandal' (1989).
His TV roles have been a little patchier, but you might have seen him in the likes of 'The
Sweeney', 'The Professionals', 'Minder' (as three different characters over the years),
'EastEnders' (naturally), and 'The XYY Man'. Less expected might be 'Secret Army', 'The
Morecambe & Wise Show', 'Beryl's Lot', 'The Kenny Everett Television Show' and kids' show
'Super Gran' where he apparently played a character called Derek Morbid.
He also had a nice little tip for the 3.00 at Exeter for for Basil Fawlty
Johnny Shannon - imdb


Labels: Cockney, Fawlty Towers, Johnny Shannon, Minder, Performance, Slade in Flame
Tu e s d a y, 2 8 A u g u s t 2 0 1 2
David Graham
David Graham:
Lugubrious, skeletal actor, probably best known for his voiceover work, more specifically for
being the voice of both Parker and Brains in Gerry Anderson's 'Thunderbirds', (not to mention
Prof Matthew Matic in 'Fireball XL5' and Dr Beaker in 'Supercar'). This alone is obviously
enough to guarantee him cult TV legend status, but he was also partly responsible for devising
the voices of the Daleks in 'Dr Who' and providing them in more than 30 episodes, as well as
appearances in a more dramatic vein such as the scientist Kerensky (pic above) in the Tom
Baker-era story 'City Of Death'. His television roles have also included classic '60s/'70s stuff like
'The Avengers', 'The Saint', 'Danger Man', 'Till Death Us Do Part', 'Callan', 'Timeslip' and 'Ace Of
Wands'. By the '80s he was still cropping up in 'When The Boat Comes In' and 'Howard's Way'
and has been seen in 'The Bill', and 'Doctors'.
As befits his exalted position as the voice of Brains, he also did a fine job portraying Einstein in
the dramatic segments of the 2005 BBC 'Horizon' programme 'Einstein's Unfinished
Symphony'.
The admirable Parker in 'Thunderbirds', voiced unforgettably by David Graham ; and in the unsettling
short film 'One For Sorrow' (2011)
David Graham - imdb profile
His own website is here.
Thanks to Richard Sanderson for the nudge.
Labels: David Graham, Doctor Who, Fireball XL5, Gerry Anderson, Kerensky, Parker, Peppa
Pig,Thunderbirds, Timeslip, voice
Tu e s d a y, 2 1 A u g u s t 2 0 1 2
Peter Vaughan
Peter Vaughan:
A big man, and something of a giant in the realm of British TV comedy and drama. Emanating
an aura of cunning and dead-eyed menace, he is part of the collective consciousness as 'genial'
Harry Grout, the Mr Big of Slade Prison in the classic sitcom 'Porridge', forever asking Ronnie
Barker's wily, but good-natured Fletcher to run him some little errand. When not in prison
blues, he was also Cheryl's dad in 'Citizen Smith' and one of the Fox clan in the tough 1980
drama series 'Fox'.
His acting career stretches back to the mid-'50s and traces a line through most of the cult TV
output of the following decades: 'The Saint', 'Adam Adamant Lives!', 'Man In A Suitcase', 'The
Avengers', 'The Strange Report', and 'The Protectors'. He also lent his innate gravitas and
looming presence to some lavish and heavyweight dramas, such as playing Bill Sikes in an early
'60s 'Oliver Twist'; the BBC's 1967 'Great Expectations' (playing Jaggers - the late Ronald Lacey
played Orlick); a memorable Long John Silver in 'Treasure Island', and the ruthlessly
unprincipled Horace Dorrington in 'The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes'. Coming up to date, he is to
be seen in stuff ranging from 'Our Friends in The North' to 'Lark Rise to Candleford' and 'Game
of Thrones'.
(pictured above in 'The Avengers' episode 'My Wildest Dream'; and in 'The Gold Robbers' with a
teenaged Sally Thomsett)
In the cinema, notable titles include: 'Village of the Damned' (1960), 'Make Mine Mink' (1960),
'The Punch and Judy Man' (1963), 'Fanatic' - aka 'Die, Die My Darling' (1965), the Boulting
brothers comedy 'Rotten to the Core' (1965), 'Straw Dogs' (1971), Ken Russell's 'Savage Messiah'
(1972), and Terry Gilliam's 'Time Bandits' (1981) and 'Brazil' (1985).
Peter Vaughan - imdb profile
Labels: Citizen Smith, Game of Thrones, Peter Vaughan, Porridge, Richard Beckinsale, Ronnie Barker,Savage
Messiah
Tu e s d a y, 7 A u g u s t 2 0 1 2
Brian Murphy
Brian Murphy:
Best known even today as George Roper, the neck-scratching ne plus ultra of hen-pecked TV
husbands vainly attempting to stand his ground against the formidable Mildred, played by the
late Yootha Joyce in 'Man About The House' and its spin-off 'George & Mildred'. Like many of
the most distinctive actors of the '60s he came from a non-theatrical background via the
enabling force of Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop in the East End. He appeared in 'Sparrers
Can't Sing' (1960) an eccentric, authentic jewel of kitchen sink drama directed by Littlewood,
and went on to roles in Ken Russell films 'The Devils' (1971) and 'The Boyfriend' (1971). Between
those outings he found a reasonable amount of work in television which was to lead to his
eventual place in British culture, these included 'The Avengers', 'Z Cars' and the satirical sketch
show 'Not So Much A Programme, More A Way Of Life'. Footnotes include another post G&M
series, 'The Incredible Mr Tanner' - with his old pal Roy Kinnear - where Murphy played a
hapless escapologist, and 'L For Lester' where he played a driving instructor.
In recent years he has fallen into the cosy nightmare world of 'Last Of The Summer Wine' as a
regular character, Alvin, but his cultural icon credentials have seen a few modern and alternative
comedy writers calling on his services. See, for example: 'Benidorm', 'Monkey Trousers', 'The
Catherine Tate Show' and the trying-very-hard-to be-a-cult 'This Is Jinsy'.
And would you be Mr Roper?
Not for a big clock
Brian Murphy - imdb profile
Labels: Brian Murphy, George and Mildred, Joan Littlewood, Roy Kinnear, Sparrers Can't Sing, Yootha Joyce
F r i d a y, 3 A u g u s t 2 0 1 2
Jonathan Lynn
Jonathan Lynn:
A versatile humourist and yet another alumnus of the Cambridge Footlights in the golden days
of the early-'60s , he's now better known as a writer and director than as an actor his satirical
'Yes, Minister' (with co-writer Antony Jay) eclipsing his earlier workaday efforts with 'On The
Buses', the Robin Nedwell 'Doctor...' series, and 'Nearest & Dearest'. His directorial talents have
been employed at home and in Hollywood, on films including 'Nuns On The Run' (1990), 'The
Whole Nine Yards' (2000), 'My Cousin Vinny' (1992) with Joe Pesci, and the ill-starred 'Sgt
Bilko' (1996) with Steve Martin in the Phil Silvers role.
He is also a first cousin of the neurologist Oliver Sacks, author of 'Awakenings' and 'The
Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat'.
As an actor, you might remember his cheeky, newborn chick features from TV gems like 'The
Knowledge', 'Bar Mitzvah Boy', 'The Liver Birds' and 'Colditz'. Or perhaps as the window cleaner
who gets the wrong idea when Barbara suggests 'some other way to pay' in 'The Good Life'
(pictured above, considering the possibilities). Or movie bit parts in 'Prudence & The Pill'
(1968), 'Breaking Glass' (1980) and 'The House That Dripped Blood' (1971). Or you might not.
Jonathan Lynn - imdb profile
Labels: Bar Mitzvah Boy, Good Life, Jonathan Lynn, Nedwell, Nuns On The Run, Yes Minister
M o n d a y, 3 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 2
Ray Brooks
Ray Brooks:
'As if by magic, the shop keeper appeared.'
Possibly the great tragedy of Ray Brooks's career is our impermeable national affection for the kids' TV
classic 'Mr Benn', a short 1971 series of five-minute illustrated stories about a nice ordinary man who
tries on fancy dress costumes and has surprising adventures. Despite Mr Brooks's good looks and
mellifluous voice, he seems to have been excluded from the meatiest dramatic roles by the resonances
of Festive Road.
Perhaps not. He was solid, rather than outstanding, in a decent run of '60s TV cult faves, from 'The
Power Game' and 'Emergency Ward 10' to 'Danger Man', 'The Avengers', a nice episode of 'Randall &
Hopkirk (Deceased)' in which he appeared as a bogus Marty Hopkirk, and as Reg in the groundbreaking
Wednesday Play 'Cathy Come Home'. He also played shady young nightclub impressario Norman Phillips
in 'Coronation Street' in a couple of 1963/64 beat-boom storylines. He hit the cinema screen in Michael
Winner's 'Play It Cool' (1962) with Billy Fury, before graduating to oddball mod lothario Tolen in 'The
Knack... And How To Get It' (1965) and Peter Cushing's dynamic assistant in 'Daleks Invasion Earth 2125'
(1966).
"The Knack and How To Get It' (1965)
For whatever reason, the '70s and '80s seem a bit bare in comparison. He appears in 'Carry On
Abroad' (1972), and the Brit schlockers 'The Flesh & Blood Show' and 'The House Of Whipcord'
(1974), and on TV in a few shows of the 'Softly Softly' calibre, before lending his voiceover
talents to the sub-Mr Benn antics of fairytale half-wit 'King Rollo'. In 1984 came 'Big Deal', and a
starring role as seedy gambler Robbie Box, in which he finally threw off the Mr Benn millstone,
but largely failed to capture the public's affection. Since then, not much. A long stint in
'EastEnders' as Pauline Fowler's love interest, Joe, ended badly when he caused her death by
hitting her with a frying pan. He later fell out of a window after a fatal showdown with Dot
Cotton
I imagine he kept the frying pan. To help him remember.
Ray Brooks - imdb profile

Labels: actor, Big Deal, Mr Benn, Ray Brooks, The Knack

F r i d a y, 3 0 N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 2
John Rapley
John Rapley:
A ubiquitous character actor with a hangdog expression and the definitive British comb-over, usually seen
representing the stolid middle-aged old-school type. Rarely given a really memorable part or much in the
way of dialogue, yet he's been a stalwart of British TV since the '60s. He pops up in fare as varied as 'Blott
on the Landscape', 'Grange Hill', 'Murder Most English', ''The Avengers', 'Colditz', and in particular, a
good bit of period drama, from 'Jeeves and Wooster', 'The Onedin Line', and 'The Duchess of Duke Street'
to 'David Copperfield', 'Dombey & Son', and 'The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes'
With a face for comedy, it's also likely that you'll see him in things like 'Black Adder', 'The New
Statesman', 'Terry & June', 'Goodnight Sweetheart', as well as the Jim Broadbent flop vehicle 'The Peter
Principle', and with Robert Lindsay in 'My Family'.
Fairly limited work in the cinema includes roles in 'Elephant Man' (1980), Clint Eastwood's 'White Hunter
Black Heart' (1990), and the silly silk-undies romp 'Jane and the Lost City' (1987).
John Rapley - imdb
Labels: Avengers, Blott on the Landscape, Colditz, Elephant Man, Jane, Jeeves and Wooster, John Rapley, Murder Most
English, Onedin Line
M o n d a y, 2 6 N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 2
Tony Aitken
Tony Aitken:
With its permanently nervous, pinched expression, the face of actor Tony Aitken has been a small pale
dot in the television firmament for some 40 years. Appearing in dozens of roles, almost always as a
comically unassuming clerk, curate or scoutmaster, he is another of those semi-familiar TV fixtures.
Early '70s appearances include: 'Porridge', 'Z-Cars', 'Love Thy Neighbour', and naturally, 'The Sweeney'.
He gained a little more visibility by the early '80s, featuring as Norman Straightman in the hit and miss
sketch show 'End of Part One' and in the not-classic 1977 TV remake of the classic film 'London Belongs
to Me' (1948). He was also Fred the Postman in the TVS Saturday morning titting-about show 'No.73'
where he longed in vain for the embraces of Ethel, as played by Sandi Toksvig. He was also seen as a
lawyer in 'Coronation Street' during 2011's convoluted Fiz and John Fishwick machinations, and as a
real-ale obsessed potential manager for the Queen Vic in 'EastEnders'.
Tony Aitken as Fred the Postman in 'No.73'
Despite all that, the thing you probably do know him from is playing the lute while being booted around
by Rowan Atkinson in the closing credits of 'Black Adder II'. I always found the minstrel's appearance
confusingly similar to Baldrick's, but that's probably just me.
Tony Aitken - imdb

Labels: Black Adder II, Blackadder, Denise Coffey, End Of Part One, Love thy Neighbour, lute, minstrel,No 73, Porridge, Rowan
Atkinson, Sweeney, Tony Aitken
T h u r s d a y, 1 5 N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 2
Bob Goody
Bob Goody:
The extremely lanky frame and gaunt features of actor Bob Goody first came to my attention as a marked
comedy contrast to the energetically tubby Mel Smith in their kids show, 'Smith and Goody' back in 1980.
The show was knockabout, but educational, trying to counteract the 'weedy kid' image of libraries and
getting working class kids interested in reading books.
His old drama school and Edinburgh Fringe pal Smith had already gained instant fame from the wildly
popular 'Not The Nine O'Clock News', while Goody slid slightly into the comparative hinterlands of acting
and writing even though his CV still has some interesting high-points. There was 'Lovejoy', 'Porterhouse
Blue', 'The Kenny Everett Show', and the usual soap and drama factory-circuit of the '90s an '00s: 'The
Bill', 'Doctors' and a stint as drugs counselor Gavin in 'EastEnders'.
He also shows up in minor roles in a couple of biggish movies; 'Flash Gordon' (1980), The Cook, the Thief
his Wife and her Lover' (1989) 'The Borrowers' (1997).
I gather he has also done a fair bit of workshop theatre and a few interesting independent films.
Including a delightfully seedy turn in this one: 'Curtains' directed by Julian Barratt. It can be found
among the extras on the DVD 'The Mighty Boosh on Tour: Journey of the Childmen'.
Bob Goody - imdb
Labels: actor, Bob Goody, Curtains, EastEnders, Flash Gordon, Lovejoy, Mel Smith
F r i d a y, 2 N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 2
Helen Fraser
Helen Fraser:
A much loved actress and a very famous face (though, inexplicably, not a household name) for British
audiences, on the strength of her peerlessly frumpy fusspot, Barbara, in 'Billy Liar' (1962), numerous
sitcoms, and a semi-regular role in 'The Dick Emery Show' (as the daughter of his gurgling old codger,
Lampwick). Other TV roles include 'Rising Damp' (playing the bride in the episode 'The Newlyweds'), and
'The Likely Lads', carrying on into the '80s and '90s in the likes of 'Duty Free' and 'One Foot in the Grave'.
Her biggest role in later years has been as the tough-as-old-boots prison warder Sylvia Hollamby in nearly
a hundred episodes of the semi-gritty behind-bars drama, 'Bad Girls', which ran from 1999-2006.
A character-actor star, and a suitable subject for Familiar Unknown's 100th blog post.
(In Roman Polanski's 1965 classic 'Repulsion', with Catherine Deneuve; and dolled up in the
1968 Harold Pinter misery-fest 'The Birthday Party')
By way of an aside Ms Fraser met her late husband, Peter Handford, on the set of 'Billy Liar'.
He was a film and television sound recordist but had a hobby/sideline in recording the sounds of
steam engines. Some of his archive was released on the Argo label in the '50s and '60s in the
form of 7''EPs, which I now collect.
Helen Fraser -imdb
Labels: Bad Girls, Billy Liar, Dick Emery, Helen Fraser, Likely Lads
F r i d a y, 1 4 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 2
Glyn Houston
Glyn Houston:
Here's one of the old guard, an authentic character actor with his own small place in British
entertainment history. Gimlet-eyed Welshman Glyn Houston started his film career in the
'Dixon of Dock Green' prototype, 'The Blue Lamp' in 1950, before hitting a rich vein of rugged
stoker and sailor roles in a sequence of warship and shipwreck dramas, including 'Waterfront'
(1950), 'The Cruel Sea' (1953), 'The Sea Shall Not Have Them' (1954), 'A Night to Remember'
(1958) and 'Sink the Bismarck' (1960).
With the decline of the British film industry starting in the early '60s, he found himself in some
demand in television, with appearances in Welsh classic 'How Green Was My Valley' and the
newsroom drama series 'Deadline Midnight'. As the decade went on, potboiler movies like
motor-racing thriller 'The Green Helmet (1961) and prisoner-of-war pic 'The Secret of Blood
Island' (1964), gave way to regular roles in 'Softly Softly' and 'Z-Cars', and the odd 'Danger Man'
and 'The Saint'.
In the early '70s he got a useful leg-up with a casting as Lord Peter Wimsey's valet, Bunter, in the
Ian Carmichael-fronted adaptations of the Dorothy L Sayers whodunnits. He also played Nigel
Havers' trusty foreman in 'A Horseman Riding By', before finding a curiously lasting fame
as Robert Gillespie's exasperated editor in 'Keep It In The Family'.
He also appears in this forgotten gem of scenery-rattling TV drama: Beasts
Glyn Houston - imdb
Labels: Beasts, Glyn Houston, Keep It In The Family, Sink the Bismarck, The Cruel Sea
M o n d a y, 1 0 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 2
Gwen Taylor
Gwen Taylor:
The very versatile Gwen Taylor is still seen often on British TV, most recently (2011-2012) by
millions of 'Coronation Street' viewers as the murderous mother of Frank Foster. Before that she
was probably best known for the role of Amy in the farce series 'Duty Free' watching
incredulously as her husband (played by Keith Barron) pursues fellow long-term holiday-maker
Joanna Van Gyseghem. Long before that, she was a regular cast member of the legendary post-
Python show 'Rutland Weekend Television', in a fantastic range of roles from sex-kitten to
battle-axe. Other appearances include her own sitcom, 'Barbara', a mild-mannered domestic
affair with Sherrie Hewson and Sam Kelly, and as Rita Simcock in 'A Bit of a Do' with David
Jason.
She hasn't done much in the movies, but her Eric Idle/RWT connection secured her the roles of
Mrs Leggy Mounbatten in 'The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash' (1978) and Mrs Big Nose at the
sermon on the mount in 'The Life Of Brian' (1979), which isn't a bad combo.
Gwen Taylor - imdb

Labels: Duty Free, Eric Idle, Gwen Taylor, Rutland Weekend television, Rutles
Tu e s d a y, 2 9 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 3
Malcolm Terris
'Thriller: The Colour of Blood'
Malcolm Terris:
This sturdy Wearsider has played countless coppers, aldermen, landlords, country squires and
bluff northerners... See, for example, Matt Headley in 'When The Boat Comes In'. Also 'Doctor
Who', 'The First Great Train Robbery', 'McVicar', 'Reilly Ace Of Spies', and a stint in 'Coronation
Street' in the '90s (the storyline involving Curly Watts and the girl who ended up dead in the
freezer...).
'When The Boat Comes In'
'Armchair Thriller: High Tide'

'Agatha Christie's Poirot Investigates'
Malcolm Terris - imdb profile
Labels: Coronation Street, Curly Watts, Firman's Freezers, Ian McShane, Malcolm Terris, Matt
Headley,mcvicar, Reg, Sunderland, Thriller, When the Boat Comes In
M o n d a y, 2 8 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 3
Angela Crow
Angela Crow:
Petite veteran actress, familiar from an impressively wide range of television roles. She
joined the cast of 'Coronation Street' from 1961-64 as factory girl Doreen Lostock, andwent on
to appear a remarkable assortment of programmes. There can't be many actors who can say
they appeared in 'Hancock's Half Hour' and 'Star Cops'.
'Coronation Street'
Other TV credits include 'Last of the Summer Wine', 'One Foot In The Grave', 'Between The
Two of Us', 'North and South', 'Bleak House', 'Bingo', 'Alas Smith and Jones', 'The Ruth Rendell
Mysteries', 'Casualty' and 'Star Cops'. She played Ronnie Birtles's mum in 'Grange Hill', and
shows up in such varied fare as 'Doomwatch', and kids comedy 'Potter's Picture Palace'
'There's a Hole in your Dustbin Delilah'
'Last of the Summer Wine'
Trivia: She apparently played truant from school to make her professional debut on stage in
'Jane Eyre', and is still an authority on the Bronts and a trustee of Haworth parsonage.
Angela Crow - imdb

Labels: Angela Crow, Coronation Street, Grange Hill, Hands of the Ripper, Last of the Summer Wine,Morons from
Outer Space
T h u r s d a y, 2 4 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 3
Film of the day:
It seems a little strange that this fascinating little spy movie with a dynamite cast should have
slipped under the radar for so long. Lawrence Harvey stars as Eberlin, an MI5 agent sent to
Berlin to uncover and eliminate a Russian infiltrator among his British network, the difficulty
being that actually he's the double agent they're after.
Harvey's cold professional runs into waif-like poppet Mia Farrow (pulling off a very creditable
posh-trendy British accent) who then tags along, complicating his assignment in a rather off-
hand romantic fashion. All shot on location in London and Berlin, with a subtle, cimbalon-
heavy soundtrack by Quincy Jones, no less. It should be a solid-gold cult classic, right up
there with 'The Ipcress File' or even 'Get Carter'.
I'd guess that Lawrence Harvey's pained, pompadoured performance is a little too chilly to gain
much sympathy from the audience, along with his dreary motivation to retire from spying and
go home to quiet retirement in the East, which is probably why it remains more of a curiosity
than a cult classic. (He ended up directing the film when Anthony Mann died part way through
filming, so maybe his mind was really as distracted as it seems on screen.) The real pleasure of
the film for me is in the supporting cast. Tom Courtenay as a zealous intelligence operative fast-
tracked for big things; the whiskered giant Harry Andrews as their boss; a collection of
seemingly bumbling British agents in trilbys and brown raincoats played by the likes of Geoffrey
Bayldon, Norman Bird and John Bird. There are also honourable mentions for Lionel Stander
(Max from 'Hart to Hart'), a young Richard O'Sullivan, Mike Pratt ('Randall & Hopkirk
Deceased') with a shockingly bad mittel-European accent, and the venerable Michael Trubshawe
who played Lord Dowdy in 'Bedazzled' (1967) ...
... And while we're on the subject of 'Bedazzled', I have to salute Peter Cook as Prentiss.
Notoriously wooden with other people's lines, he was definitely not a natural actor and yet he is
cast to perfection in this as the ultimate public schoolboy turned spy. Flippant, randy and
nursing a hangover, but also a ruthless and unquestioning tool of the establishment. I'm sure he
enjoyed the satire he injected with his relaxed portrayal of British intelligence as a gentleman's
club, in contrast to the tense worriers among his MI5 and KGB fellows. Top notch.
It's well worth an hour of your time on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
You can see the whole film on YouTube here: 'A Dandy In Aspic'
Thanks to Chris Berthoud for the nudge.

Tu e s d a y, 8 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 3
David Simeon
David Simeon:
The sandy-haired and usually horn-rimmed Mr Simeon was once a solid regular of British TV,
turning up in an assortment of middling comedies and dramas throughout the '70s and early
'80s, after getting of to a good start with a decent part in the now-lost 1967 TV series of 'Sexton
Blake'. He was one of the key members of the teatime comedy show 'End of Part One' alongside
the over-excitable Denise Coffey and kids favourites Fred 'Ragtime' Harris and Tony Aitken, and
played the straight man in sketches for comedians as diverse(?) as Dick Emery and Lenny
Henry. His sitcom work is a bit patchy: from top-notch stuff like 'Fawlty Towers', 'The New
Statesman' and 'Ever Decreasing Circles', to schedule-fillers 'Birds of a Feather' and 'Sykes', and
a lot of rubbish along the lines 'Rings on their Fingers', 'The Many Wives of Patrick', and the
abysmal Leslie Phillips vehicle 'Casanova '73'.
On the drama front, he shows up in ho-hum '70s cop soaps 'Z-Cars', 'Hunters Walk', and 'Special
Branch', and the obligatory 'Dr Who' or two ('The Daemons' and 'Inferno'), and appears for an
instant in the famously hard-boiled (or gratuitously violent) Brit 1969 gangster series 'Big
Breadwinner Hog'. After all that comes the wasteland of '80s hospital and courtroom tosh:
'Angels', 'The Bill', 'Casualty' and 'Doctors'. A rare starring role comes in Nigel Kneale's
'Murrain', a segment of the interesting drama series'Beasts'.
He hasn't hit Hollywood, or even Borehamwood, in a big way, but minor credits include 'A Fish
Called Wanda' (1988), 'Sweet William' (1980) and the interesting-sounding 'Freelance' (1971), a
gangland thriller starring Ian McShane and with a soundtrack by Basil Kirchin.
David Simeon - imdb
Labels: actor, actorglasses, Daemons, David Simeon, Dr Who, End Of Part One, Eric Kneale, Fawlty Towers, Fish
called Wanda, Freelance, Inferno, Murrain, Rutland Weekend television, Sexton Blake
T h u r s d a y, 3 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 3
Howard 'Lew' Lewis

Howard 'Lew' Lewis:
Hefty, 6'3" London-born actor, pretty much specialising in gormless goons, whose longest-
running role is probably as Elmo the barman in the '80s-'90s sitcom 'Brush Strokes'. He also
played the dimwitted Blag in 'Chelmsford 123', and Rabies in the larky kids' series 'Maid Marian
& Her Merry Men'. A stalwart of TV cop shows and comedies, he pops up in episodes of 'The
Bill', 'Minder' and 'Widows' as often as 'Black Adder', 'Open All Hours', The Magnificent Evans'
and he was also the memorable Uncle Idris in 'My Family'.
His film career has largely been a string of bit-parts, albeit in some fairly big movies. For
example 'Brazil' (1985), 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves' (1991), 'Chaplin' (1992), 'Shadowlands'
(1993). He has also been in some variably interesting low-budget British efforts including the
comedy-gangster picture 'The Baby Juice Express' (2004), acclaimed b&w short 'Zoltan the
Great' (2005), and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre meets League of Gentlemen-style UK horror,
'Small Town Folk' (2007).
Howard 'Lew' Lewis - imdb
Labels: Ace Of Spies, Black Adder, Brazil, Brush Strokes, Chaplin, Chelmsford 123, Elmo, Howard Lew Lewis, Karl
Howman, Maid Marian, Minder, rabies, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, Small Town Folk
W e d n e s d a y, 6 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 3
Sheila Fearn
Sheila Fearn:
A little bit of glamour now, of the wholesome British sort. The lovely Sheila Fearn, who managed
to embody both confident sexiness and a down-to-earth mix of good humour and common
sense. This impression probably stems largely from two of her best-known roles; as Terry
Collier's sister Audrey in 'The Likely Lads' and as the witty and unaffected Anne Fourmile in
'George & Mildred'.
Other golden-era TV appearances include 'The Avengers', 'Z-Cars', 'Adam Adamant Lives', and
even an episode of ' The Beverly Hilbillies' where they come to live in an English castle (it's one
of the colour series from 1967, I don't know if it ever aired in the UK). She never seemed to hit
the big time on the cinema screen, but her few minor roles are in some interesting films, such as
'Billy Liar' (1963), 'Catch Us If You Can' (1965), and an unusually unsympathetic turn as Kevin's
mother in 'Time Bandits' (1981) alongside stalwart David Daker. In later years she showed up as
Timothy's would-be girlfriend in the depressing Ronnie Corbett TV comedy 'Sorry!' (see
also Roy Holder), but faded from sight in the '80s.
In fact, it seems (relying on Wikipedia here) that her career was brought to an abrupt halt by
injury in a serious accident, much as her 'George & Mildred' co-star Norman Eshley's was,
although hers was a mountaineering fall.
A great shame if it's true. Hopefully there might be more acting work in Sheila Fearn's future.
'The Likely Lads'

'The Avengers' - Murdersville
'Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?'

'George and Mildred'
Sheila Fearn - imdb

Labels: Adamant, Anne Fourmile, Audrey Collier, Avengers, Billy Liar, Daker, George and Mildred, Likely Lads, mountaineering
accident, Sheila Fearn, Time Bandits
F r i d a y, 1 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 3
Michael Troughton
Michael Troughton as Piers Fletcher-Dervish

Michael Troughton:
Chunky and clean-cut in appearance, he's the son of the second Dr Who, Patrick Troughton. Young
Michael has little of the eccentricity and brooding intensity of his late father, but he is certainly a very
accomplished character actor. He has dovetailed neatly into a collection of roles, usually cast in a
naturally affable middle-class mould. He was Piers Fletcher-Dervish, the idiotic sidekick to Rik Mayall's
monstrous Alan B'Stard in 'The New Statesman', a part which didn't really give him a lot of room to be
anything other than the utterly dim foil to Mayall's showboating. Before that he had a more
sympathetic sidekick role in 'Minder' as DC Mellish, forever at the elbow of Arthur Daley's would-be
nemesis, DS Rycott.
Popular, comfortable comedies have used his talents on a number of occasions, for example,
'Goodnight Sweetheart', '2 point 4 Children', 'The Detectives' with Jasper Carrott and Robert Powell,
and 'My Family'. He's also done a bit of TV drama, ranging from 'Testament of Youth' and 'Strangers and
Brothers' to 'Blakes 7', 'Boon' and 'Cat's Eyes'. Seemed to be in demand for kids' shows too, particularly
in the '80s, so those of a certain age might remember him from the likes of 'Graham's Gang' and 'Woof!'.
'Dorothy L Sayers Mysteries: Have His Carcase'

DC Taff Jones (Michael Povey) and DC Mellish in 'Minder'
Update: Nice to see him pop up in the 2014 Christmas episode of Dr Who. A nice nod to his old man's
Whovian legacy.
Michael Troughton - imdb
Labels: actor, Doctor Who, Dr Who, Michael Troughton, Piers Fletcher Dervish, Rik Mayall, The New Statesman, tory
W e d n e s d a y, 2 7 M a r c h 2 0 1 3
Anna Dawson
Anna Dawson:
Probably more of a song and dance turn than a straight actress, she made her name in West End musicals
throughout the '50s and '60s, but she cornered the market in sassy, no-nonsense dames in TV comedy and
variety for a good chunk of the '70s and '80s. You will have almost certainly forgotten seeing her in 'The
Benny Hill Show', 'The Kenny Everett Show', 'The Morecambe & Wise Show', 'Larry Grayson', 'Bernie' (as
in Winters), the excruciating 'Leslie Crowther Show', and (shudder) 'The Jim Davidson Show'.
With Bill Fraser in the movie 'Love Thy Neighbour' (1973)
Acting parts encompass comedies of variable quality, from 'The New Statesman' and 'Smith & Jones' to
'Rings On Their Fingers', 'Robin's Nest' and kids' non-favourite 'Super Gran' (playing a character called
Wendy Whiplash). A bonus role arrived in the '80s with a semi-regular turn in 'Keeping Up Appearances'
as well-off sister Violet.
In the jaw-droppingly awful 1977 variety special 'Hi Summer!'
On Malcolm McDowell's lap in 'O Lucky Man! (1973)
Her film work has been more of the same. Dubious tie-ins and semi-saucy comedies: 'Love Thy Neighbour
(1973), 'Stand Up Virgin Soldiers' (1977), 'The Sexplorer' (1976) and hitting the odd jackpot, see 'O Lucky
Man!' (1973), and cult car-crash, see Kenny Everett's 'Bloodbath at the House of Death' (1984).
Anna Dawson - imdb
Labels: actor, Anna Dawson, Benny Hill, Hi Summer, Love thy Neighbour, O Lucky Man, song and dance,The Good Old
Days, variety
M o n d a y, 2 5 M a r c h 2 0 1 3
Aubrey Woods
Checking passports in 'San Ferry Ann' (1965)
Aubrey Woods:
Apr 9 1927 May 7 2013
Another veteran with a curious collection of character roles in film and television. Starting in the
mid-'50s his rather stern countenance began showing up in some minor cult classics, including: 'Father
Brown' (1954), 'Spare the Rod' (1961), 'San Ferry Ann' (1965), 'Futtocks End' (1970), Joe Orton's 'Loot'
(1970), 'Up Pompeii' and 'Up the Chastity Belt' (both 1971), 'The Abominable Dr Phibes' (1971) and 'Willy
Wonka & the Chocolate Factory' (1971).
'The Abominable Dr Phibes' (1971)

Television work has included some modest parts in some popular actioners: 'Sexton Blake', 'Cribb' and
'Menace', as well as a '70s double-top of 'Doctor Who' and 'Blakes 7'. Add to that a smattering of mid-table
favourites like 'Ever Decreasing Circles', 'Auf Wiedershein, Pet' and 'Hazell'
And then there's this bizarre artefact, Eric Idle's 'Commander Badman'. Enjoy.
The candy man'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Aubrey Woods - imdb
Labels: actor, Aubrey Woods, candy man, Gene Wilder, San Ferry Ann, The Abominable Dr Phibes, Willy Wonka
F r i d a y, 2 2 M a r c h 2 0 1 3
David Janson
David Janson:
Always seemingly eager to please, this boyishly bowl-cut actor has cropped up in odd forgotten corners of
British TV for nearly 50 years, including appearances in 'Softly, Softly', 'Doomwatch', 'Jason King', 'The
Fenn Street Gang', 'Dixon of Dock Green', 'Z-Cars', 'Brush Strokes', 'T-Bag Strikes Again', 'Ever Decreasing
Circles', 'Get Some In!', 'The Upper Hand', and Hyacinth Bucket's long-suffering postman in 'Keeping Up
Appearances'.
His first brush with fame came as the truant schoolboy in Richard Lester's much loved Beatles movie 'A
Hard Day's Night' (1963) in the sequence where Ringo similarly plays truant from the band, kicking
stones into the canal and messing around with his new camera. A stint in the then-popular TV drama
'The Newcomers' (groovy theme by John Barry) in 1965/66 seemed promising, but it's all-but forgotten
now.
The nearest he came to front-room TV star status was in the RAF national service comedy 'Get Some In'
as likeable everyman Ken Richardson, constantly victimised by the 'orrible Corporal Marsh (Tony Selby).
But somehow his leading man status seemed to ebb away in the direction of cheeky teddy boy Robert
Lindsay (soon to get his big break as Wolfie in 'Citizen Smith'). Even more discouraging was his short-
lived stint in 'Allo Allo', inexplicably replacing Richard Gibson as Herr Flick of the Gestapo in the last
death throes of the series in 1992.
And so a character actor he has remained, and we salute him here.

As Michael the postman in 'Keeping Up Appearances'
With Ringo Starr in 'A Hard Day's Night' (1963)
David Janson - imdb
Labels: Beatles, child actor, David Janson, Doomwatch, Get Some In, Hard Day's Night, Jason King, John Barry, Keeping Up
Appearances, Newcomers, Ringo, T-Bag
We d n e s d a y, 2 4 A p r i l 2 0 1 3
Judy Cornwell
Judy Cornwell:
Okay, so here's someone who is perhaps not so very unknown. Yes, it's Hyacinth's sister Daisy:
possessive snuggler of Geoffrey Hughes' s Onslow in 'Keeping Up Appearances', and as it
transpires, a very accomplished and respected figure in the acting profession. You've seen her in
TV dramas like 'Mill on the Floss', 'Persuasion', 'David Copperfield' and 'The Good Companions'.
And she's had a regular role in 'EastEnders' as Queenie Trott, the horrid mother of jokey
storyline (and eventually murder) victim Heather Trott.
Originally a dancer, she's swished dynamically from dolly-birds and parlour maids to matrons
and matriarchs with some style. I can't remember (even though the theme tune was one of my
favourite bits of library music) the comedy series 'Moody & Pegg' in which she starred with the
late Derek Waring, but her name has been no stranger to the Radio Times and TV Times. See,
for example: 'Doctor Who', 'Bergerac', 'Rumpole of the Bailey', 'Boon', and no less than three
guest spots in 'Doctors'.
On the big screen there was Marty Feldman's anarchic advertising satire 'Every Home Should
Have One' (1970), she played Filligree Fondle in the psychedelic Anthony Newley and Joan
Collins sex-comedy 'Can Hieronymous Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True
Happiness?' (1969), and was in the rather more thoughtful 'Two for the Road' (1967) with
Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney.
More recently, there's been 'Mad Cows' (1999), and she was a charming Mrs Claus in the 'Santa
Claus: The Movie' (1985) with Dudley Moore.
Judy Cornwell - imdb

Labels: 2 for the Road, Daisy, Every Home Should Have One, Hyacinth, Judy Cornwell, Keeping Up
Appearances, Mercy Humppe, Mill on the Floss, Onslow
T h u r s d a y, 11 A p r i l 2 0 1 3
Robert Longden
Robert Longden:
The distinctively camp, adenoidal tones of actor Robert Longden have been heard in some
minor classics of British TV. His whimsical annunciation (somewhere between Georgina Hale
and Julian Clary) and strangely boyish manner means he tends to appear in eccentric
pieces, notably Alan Plater's Beiderbecke trilogy, in which he played Mr Pitt, the quietly
subversive planning officer.
Other TV roles date from the early '70s to the '00s, and include: 'The Fenn Street Gang', Sapper
Copping in 'Danger UXB' (pictured above), 'Peter Cook & Co', 'Wood & Walters', 'Boon', 'The
Gentle Touch', a string of TV movie whodunits and the unavoidable 'Casualty' and 'Doctors'.
His showreel would suggest that he's keeping fairly busy, but I don't think he quite hooked as
many primetime shows as he deserved.
He was in a few feature films, mostly mildly embarrassing, such as 'Adolf Hitler: My Part In His
Downfall' (1974), 'Confessions of a Window Cleaner' (1974) and 'Escort Girls' (1975).
He's still acting on the stage, it seems, and not just pantomime dames. He also found time to
write the cult West End smash-flop, 'Moby Dick: The Musical'.
Robert Longden - imdb
Labels: Beiderbecke Affair, Beiderbecke Connection, Beiderbecke Tapes, Confessions, Danger UXB,Dudley
Sutton, james Bolam, Moby Dick, Peter Cook, Robert Longden
M o n d a y, 8 A p r i l 2 0 1 3
Stanley Lebor
Stanley Lebor:
Look at that face. The prominent nose and chin, the Balkan 'tache, the unwavering cynical gaze.
It's a bit strange, then, that we're probably most familiar with Stanley Lebor from his rather
uncharacteristic role as deadpan deadly dull Howard in 'Ever Decreasing Circles', because he's
actually more often seen in villainous and sinister parts. His severe countenance has made him
popular with casting directors looking for evil henchmen, Cold War assassins, gypsy chieftans
and taciturn farmhands.
His better TV work includes: 'Department S', 'Jason King', 'Doomwatch', 'The Protectors', 'The
Tomorrow People', 'Hammer House of Horror', 'The Naked Civil Servant', 'The Borrowers',
'Reilly, Ace of Spies' and as a commendable Inspector Lestrade in the '80s Holmes series, 'The
Baker Street Boys'. He played Leon the sinister butler in the Scottish kids adventure serial
'Huntingtower', and a memorable rival bodyguard in the 'Minder' episode 'The Bengal Tiger'.
The one with the arranged-marriage scam run by Arthur's newsagent Mr Muckerjee that ends
with a messy punch-up in an Indian restaurant.
He's been in a few big-screen films. The long-lost Donald Pleasance comedy 'Arthur! Arthur!'
(1969) is one I'd like to see, but there was also 'Up the Front' (1972), 'Nothing But The Night'
(1973), 'Flash Gordon' (1980), 'Tarka the Otter' (1979), and 'Gandhi' (1982).
Stanley Lebor - imdb
Labels: Arthur Arthur, Doomwatch, Ever Decreasing Circles, Flash Gordon, Howard and Hilda, Stanley Lebor, The
Tomorrow People
Tu e s d a y, 2 A p r i l 2 0 1 3
Conrad Phillips
Conrad Phillips:
13 April 1925 13 January 2016
With his thick black hair and dramatic eyebrows, here's a handsomely serious face from the
past yet happily Mr Phillips is still with us. An almost-leading-man, who briefly attained star
status in the late '50s in the swashbuckling adventure series 'William Tell', he was sometimes
given top billing in a series of minor British movies up to the early '60s, before settling into a
long and productive character career.
Some of those feature films were minor cult classics, like the grand guignol melodrama 'Circus
of Horrors' (1961), and the feline psychological horror 'The Shadow of the Cat' (1961), but
most fit firmly into the police pot-boiler category. Take your pick from 'Three Steps to the
Gallows' (1953), 'The White Trap' (1959), 'Witness In The Dark' (1960), 'The Fourth Square'
(1962) and quite a few others.
About to take aim at that apple in 'William Tell'
Fortunately, TV was in need of accomplished actors with handsomely serious faces, and
offered parts in the likes of 'The Saint', 'The Avengers', 'The Prisoner', 'Callan' and even 'UFO'
(playing a sea captain whose ship is sunk by a flying saucer).
By this time a little grey was showing and he found a stream of steady work through the latter
'70s and into the '80s, in comedies such as 'Fawlty Towers', 'The Gaffer', 'Never the Twain', and
'Sorry!', and in dramas ranging from 'Crown Court' and 'Emmerdale Farm' to 'Hannay' and 'Robin
of Sherwood'.
Now retired from acting (internet sources differ on his birth year between 1925 and 1930) he
lives in Wiltshire and enjoys the odd pint of real ale. Solid performance all round.
As a doctor in 'The Prisoner', (Episode: 'The General')
Another dissatisfied guest at 'Fawlty Towers', (Episode: 'The Wedding Party')
Update Jan 13, 2016: Sad to hear that Conrad Phillips has died aged 90.
Conrad Phillips - imdb
Labels: Avengers, Callan, Circus of Horrors, Conrad Phillips, Fawlty Towers, Robin of Sherwood, The Prisoner, The
Shadow of the Cat, UFO, William Tell
M o n d a y, 2 7 M a y 2 0 1 3
Rosalyn Landor
Rosalyn Landor:
An English beauty, in a rather elongated and lugubrious manner, this haughty Hampstead-born
actress has had numerous brushes with top billing, yet somehowalways remained
just a twinkle short of star status. Ms Landor began her career as a ten-year-old in 'The Devil
Rides Out' (1968), an auspicious start which led to a few more bonnet-and-bloomers roles in
the early '70s, such as the BBC series 'The Edwardians', and the film 'The Amazing Mr Blunden'
(1972) which failed to become the children's classic its makers were hoping for.
After a break for finishing school she began to appear in young woman roles requiring
received pronunciation and maximum aloofness such as the bright young thing Polly in 'Love
In A Cold Climate' and the classical drama 'The King of Argos'.
In 'The Amazing Mr Blunden'
When the '80s came along she found herself much in demand to portray a bit of upper class
glamour. Her slightly stern appearance saved her from the worst excesses of the period's
posh-totty syndrome, instead appearing in middle-brow quality like 'Oxbridge Blues' and
Rumpole of the Bailey' and the nonsensical 'C.A.T.S. Eyes' with Jill Gascoyne and Leslie Ash.
She was also in the star-studded, yet truly abysmal, 'Arthur the King' (1980), which is so bad,
you will need to see it to believe it.
As Fiona Allways in 'Rumpole of the Bailey'

In her full '80s pomp in 'C.A.T.S. Eyes'
And of course, there was her part in Renault's lasting contribution to the horrible mental
landscape of Thatcher's Britain:
'You're not being a bit... hasty about this, are you?'
After all this she moved to the US, specialising in voiceover work in animation and latterly
computer games, and narrating audio books. She put in a creditable outer-space Irish accent
performance in a segment of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' before the Rob Lowe movie 'Bad
Influence' (1990) sent her back to the voice booth for the next couple of decades.
Rosalyn Landor - imdb
Labels: Cat's Eyes, Hammer House of Horror, Love in a Cold Climate, Mitford, Mr Blunden, Renault,Roaslyn Landor
We d n e s d a y, 2 2 M a y 2 0 1 3
Derren Nesbitt
Derren Nesbitt:
'Oooh, he's a bad devil', as my late grandmother would say. The broad, leering, insinuating
face of Derren Nesbitt was once an invariable cipher for cunning and villainy on the screen.
He's had a long, if patchy career in the movies, with his most famous role being the strangely
stylised Nazi Major von Hapen in 'Where Eagles Dare' (1968). Part of that patchiness is down to
a notorious real-life attack on his wife in 1972. The papers widely reported the details of the
assault which included a vicious thrashing with a leather strap.
Not surprisingly, film work dropped off after that. Pre-'72 highlights include 'A Night To
Remember' (1958), a fight scene in 'Room At The Top' (1959), the tense, heist-gone-wrong, B-
movie 'The Man In The Back Seat' (1961), 'The Blue Max' (1966), the Sinatra spy-thriller 'The
Naked Runner' (1967), 'Monte Carlo Or Bust' (1969) and 'Burke & Hare (1972). After the court
case, he spent some time in Australia, but also appeared in a string of smutty low-budget
movies, including Dick Emery's 'Ooh You Are Awful' (1972), and his self-penned confessions-
style effort 'The Amorous Milkman' (1975), possibly one of the dreariest sex comedies ever
made, which is saying something. He was later partly rehabilitated by the alternative Comic
Strip crowd, and appears in 'Eat The Rich' (1987), while maverick of mediocrity Michael
Winner had him in 'Bullseye!' (1990) with Michael Caine and Roger Moore.
'Burke & Hare' (1972)
On TV, it was a similar story, with appearances in old favourites like 'Danger Man', 'Doctor
Who', 'The Saint', Man In A Suitcase', 'The Prisoner' and 'UFO' followed by a long period in the
wilderness. By the early '80s there was a bit more on offer for him, including 'The Comic Strip
Presents' and villain roles in a few detective series.
As Number Two in 'The Prisoner'

As a SHADO astronaut in 'UFO'
He's still around, in Sussex it seems, catch up with his story here.
Derren Nesbitt - imdb
Labels: Amorous Milkman, assault, Blue Max, Bullseye, Comic Strip Presents, Derren Nesbitt, leather strap, Man In
The Back Seat, Persuaders, Prisoner, Protectors, Saint, UFO, Where Eagles Dare, wife
Tu e s d a y, 2 1 M a y 2 0 1 3
Ray Burdis
Ray Burdis:
Affable Cockney bovver boy type who started out as a teen actor in the '70s, matured into a
regular in TV comedy and drama in the '80s, and has since gone on to make a name for
himself as a director of Brit hardcase and gangster movies. Early appearances include 'Four
Idle Hands' (a sort of prototype 'Tucker's Luck' with a pre-'Quadrophenia' Phil Daniels),
'Graham's Gang', 'The Tomorrow People' and the Pauline Quirke/Flintlock kid's comedy vehicle
'You Must Be Joking'. He was also the lead in the bizarre 25-minute flashback Public
Information Film 'Twenty Times More Likely' with a teenage Gillian Taylforth, as a doomed
reckless biker.
In one of several biker-themed Public Information Films

A tense moment from 'The Professionals'
The big turning point seems to be Alan Clarke's hard hitting Borstal drama, 'Scum' (1979, and
original TV version 1977) in which he plays opposite Ray Winstone. Other, less harrowing adult
acting roles have included being Michael Elphick's son Nick in 'Three Up, Two Down', as well
as 'Operation Good Guys' and the mid-life crisis sitcom 'Manchild'.
In 'Manchild'
These days he fits in a little bit of acting around his career as a writer, director and producer. He
helmed the claustrophobic 'The Final Cut' in 1998 and 'Love Honour and Obey' in 2000, both
with Ray Winstone, and there's some more in the pipeline for 2013. The boy done good.
Ray Burdis - imdb
Labels: Final Cut, Flintlock, Gillian Taylforth, Manchild, Ray Burdis, Ray Winstone, Scum
M o n d a y, 2 0 M a y 2 0 1 3
John Bluthal
John Bluthal:
It's pretty likely that much loved actor John Bluthal is mostly recognised by the recent
generation of TV viewers for his portrayal of Frank, the sensitive, elderly, gay parishioner of
'The Vicar of Dibley'. To older viewers he is unmistakable as one of Spike Milligan's
mischievous cronies from his 'Q' series (see also: Keith Smith; Sheila Steafel) or possibly as
Manny Cohen, the archetypal Jewish tailor from the long-running sitcom 'Never Mind the
Quality, Feel the Width'.
As Frank in 'The Vicar of Dibley'

In fact, the tailor schtick was to prove a bit of a recurring theme (see: Solly Salmon in 'Minder',
and similar turns in 'Allo Allo' and 'Super Gran', not to mention 'Carry On Don't Lose your
Head'). A Polish Jew, he has been called upon to portray an extensive range of ethnicities,
particularly during the pre-correctness years of British TV: Pakistani, Italian, Greek,
Irish, American, Indian, Russian, and many more. It's helped him rack up a phenomenal list of
classic TV credits: Comedies from 'Hancock', 'Sykes' and 'The Goodies' to 'Not Only But Also'
and 'One Foot In The Grave'; dramas like 'The Saint', 'The Avengers', 'The Baron' and 'Man In A
Suitcase' from the cult TV era, through to the post-'80s plod of 'Morse', 'Bergerac', 'Casualty' and
'The Life and Loves of a She-Devil'.
Bluthal was the voice of Commander Zero in Gerry Anderson's 'Fireball XL-5' and also the voice
of HBX Belgrade in the Hancock episode 'The Radio Ham'.
In 'Doctor Down Under'

With Spike Milligan in Q7
In the cinema, his talents were on show in 'The Mouse in the Moon' (1963), the kitchen-sink
classic 'This Is My Street' (1964), 'Help!' (1965), 'The Knack' (1965), 'Casino Royale'
(1967), 'Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River' (1968), 'The Bliss of Mrs Blossom' (1969), The
Return of the Pink Panther' (1975), and 'The Fifth Element' (1997).
With Leo McKern in 'Help!' (1965)

"A licence for my minkey?" 'The Return of the Pink Panther' (1975)
John Bluthal - imdb
Labels: Beatles, comedy, Frank, Jewish, John Bluthal, minkey, Pink Panther, Q7, Q8, Spike Milligan,Vicar of Dibley
We d n e s d a y, 1 M a y 2 0 1 3
Tom Chadbon
Tom Chadbon:
As familiar as your front-room furniture, the perpetually disconcerted Mr Chadbon has spent a
lot of time occupying screenspace, yet remains stubbornly anonymous. His fleshy, yet
handsomely even, features might ring bells from his leading role in 1995's 'Crown Prosecutor'.
No? Me neither. He also enjoyed substantial recurring roles in'Chancer', 'The Liver
Birds','Where the Heart Is', and the Robson Green psych-cop nonsense 'Wire in the Blood'. He's
also good as Inspector Hawkins (pictured above) in the Jeremy Brett 'Memoirs of Sherlock
Holmes'.
In The Alf Garnett Saga' (1972) enjoying some spliff

purchased from Derek Griffiths down the dole office.
Guest appearances and smaller parts have covered a lot of the best British television shows,
including: 'Out of the Unknown', 'Softly, Softly', 'Tales of the Unexpected', 'The New
Statesman', 'Foyle's War', 'Between the Lines', 'Rebecca', and 'Taggart, as well as 'Peak
Practice', 'Casualty', 'Hetty Wainthropp Investigates', 'Silent Witness', 'The Bill', 'Holby City',
'Heartbeat' and of course, 'Midsomer Murders'. He joins that elite club of actors who have
appeared in two 'Doctor Who' stories: 'City of Death' in 1979 (Tom Baker), and in the 1986
(Colin Baker) story, 'The Trial of a Time Lord', opposite Michael Jayston, a particularly
booming Brian Blessed and Linda Bellingham in a big hat.
'City of Death'
'Trial of a Time Lord'
As well as the 'Doctor Who' connections, he has a few claims to fame in the world of cult TV:
'The Protectors', 'Bulman' and 'Arthur of the Britons', but perhaps the best are as Avon's old
enemy, Del Grant, in 'Blake's 7'...
As Del Grant in the 'Blakes 7' episode 'Countdown'
...and Nigel Kneale's 1972 Christmas Day sci-fi/ghost tale, 'The Stone Tape', in which he gets
to deliver the big pay-off line.
As Hargrave in 'The Stone Tape'
Tom Chadbon - imdb


Labels: 'The New Statesman', 'Where the Heart Is', 'Wire in the Blood', Blake's 7, Chancer, Crown
Prosecutor, Softly, Softly', Tales of the Unexpected, The Liver Birds, The Stone Tape, Tom Chadbon
M o n d a y, 2 4 J u n e 2 0 1 3
Colin Farrell
Colin Farrell:
Spare a thought for British character actor Colin Farrell, now condemned to be referred to as Colin
Farrell (II) in deference to the Irish-born Hollywood 'throb of the same name - who presumably never
tried to join Equity.
Our chap is the affable, boyish, slightly sneaky-looking Colin Farrell who showed up in some decent TV
in the '70s and '80s; Alan Plater's 'Trinity Tales', 'Tales of the Unexpected', 'Sorry!', 'Blakes 7' and
'Hadleigh'. He was also a regular as the dirty-minded Ernie Hadfield in the undertaker comedy 'In Loving
Memory' with Thora Hird, but perhaps his most memorable role was as the universally despised
'orrible Norris in 'Porridge'.
Full BBC costume department glory in 'Blakes 7'
In the inevitable 'Midsomer Murders'
He had a decent role as Harry Smith in the film version of 'Oh! What a Lovely War' (1969),but other
movie appearances are pretty much all bit-parts: including fighting rubber dinosaurs with Doug*
McClure in 'The Land that Time Forgot' (1975), 'A Bridge Too Far' (1977), and 'Gandhi' (1982).
I notice that in recent years he has obliged to take billing as 'Col' Farrell, which seems a shame as almost
everybody in the UK had laughed heartily at him digging up the pitch at Elland Road two years before the
'other' Colin Farrell was even born. Still, that's showbusiness.
About to sign up in 'Oh! What a Lovely War' (1969)
Clerk of the Court in 'Gandhi' (1982)
*[edit: not Simpsons character Troy McClure, as I originally wrote...]
Colin Farrell (II) - imdb

Labels: A Bridge Too Far, Blakes 7, Col, Colin Farrell, Gandhi, In Loving Memory, naked, Oh! What a Lovely War, Porridge, Thora
Hird
T h u r s d a y, 2 0 J u n e 2 0 1 3
Paul Darrow
Paul Darrow:
Sullen and intense-looking actor whose perma-scowl was a defining feature of the clunky BBC cult
space opera, 'Blakes 7' between 1978 and 1981. He played Avon, whose cynical self-interest, dubious
loyalties, and kiss/kill relationship with the show's arch-baddie, slinky Federation commander Servalan,
drove most of the key storylines.
With his old adversary Servalan (Jacqueline Pearce) in 'Blakes 7'
Before 'Blakes 7', Darrow had appeared in a few roles in middling popular dramas ranging
from 'Emergency Ward 10' and 'Coronation Street' to 'The Saint' and the gripping Nazi-fest 'Manhunt'. A
big break was playing the Sheriff of Nottingham in the 1975 BBC series; The Legend of Robin Hood', in
which he got to exercise his sinister glare to good effect. He was in 'Doctor Who', before and after
'Blakes 7', and made a convincingly devious Mr Carker in the BBC's 'Dombey & Son' in 1983.
'The Legend of Robin Hood'
Darrow never got much film work. In fact, from imdb it looks as though he only hit the big screen a
couple of times, playing doctors in both 'The Raging Moon' (1971) and 'Die Another Day (2002).
Since the '80s, you may have caught his regular appearances in 'Law & Order: UK' or his part as roguish
middle-aged biker Eddie Fox in 'Emmerdale', but increasingly he has found a niche in the world of video
game voiceovers. I've never heard of any of them and won't list them here, but I hope we see more of
Paul Darrow on our TV and cinema screens in future.
In the Lord Peter Wimsey mystery 'Murder Must Advertise'

Telling Malcolm McDowell the bad news in 'The Raging Moon (1971)
Paul Darrow - imdb
Labels: actor, avon, Blakes 7, Die Another Day, Doctor Who, Dombey and Son, Emmerdale, Hammer House of Horror, Murder Must
Advertise, Orac, raging Moon, Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, Servalan
T h u r s d a y, 1 3 J u n e 2 0 1 3
Film of the day:
The Weekend Murders (1970)

aka: 'Concerto per Pistola Solista'
A real oddity. This 1970 Italian production mixes the high-style, lurid-bloodstain, mod weirdness of the
classic "Giallo" movie with the tongue-in-cheek British country-house whodunnit. Shots of tweeds and
golf-clubs against shots of blood-filled bathtubs,crash zooms on off-kilter belfries and the trademark
eyeball-tight close-ups.
Shot on location in East Anglia by the Italian crew in the underexposed saturated-colour style of the
genre, it offers a weirdly vivid view of England through European eyes. Perhaps the strangest thing is
seeing jolly old Lance Percival in a leading role as Scotland Yard's Superintendent Grey, albeit leavened
with a bit of light comedy business involving stereotypical bumbling local copper Sergeant Thorpe
played by Italian veteran Gastone Moschin, complete with goofy 'English' false teeth. The only other
familiar face is the dear old major from 'Fawlty Towers', Ballard Berkeley, as the butler.
A saucy interlude. Note pin-up of George Best
It doesn't seem to have ever had a UK release, so I imagine few people here have ever seen it, and to be
honest, it's pretty hard going a lot of the time. It looks as if the Italian actors did their lines in Italian and
the Brits did theirs in English, so presumably the scenes didn't make much sense to either on the set. Still,
it's got some stylish moments.
You can watch it on YouTube here: 'The Weekend Murders'
The Weekend Murders - imdb
Labels: Ballard Berkeley, Concerto per Pistola Solista, Fawlty Towers, Gastone Moschin, giallo, golf,Lance Percival, Norfolk, The
Weekend Murders
Tu e s d a y, 11 J u n e 2 0 1 3
Lance Percival
Lance Percival:
26 July 1933 6 January 2015
The unmistakable, agile and angular features of John Lancelot Blades Percival - that long crooked nose
and the teeth seemingly trying to escape from under his jutting upper lip - combined with his quickfire
delivery and timing to make him a comedy star of the '60s. He featured in a string of middling movies
as a sure pair of hands for dimwit and klutz roles. He's in 'Carry On Cruising' (1962) of course, as the
bilious ship's cook (Charles Hawtrey pulled out with only a few days until filming), and there was a solid
run of jokey parts through the early part of the decade.
'The Big Job' (1965)
The lucky break with the 'Carry On' team probably helped his profile, but possibly not as much as his
regular appearances on television's 'That Was The Week That Was', where he was a natural fit for the
satirical skits and he became a household name for his topical calypso numbers. One of these, 'Shame
and Scandal in the Family', was a Top 40 hit in 1965. As the decade wore on, his combination of wacky
charm and anti-establishment credentials saw him in demand for pop-music tie-ins, like voice-over
work on the Beatles animated adventures (he was Paul and Ringo) which led to him voicing Old Fred
in 'Yellow Submarine' (1968). Less memorably, he also featured in Herman's Hermits 'Mrs Brown You've
Got A Lovely Daughter' the same year.
An interesting aside is the Italian thriller 'The Weekend Murders' (1970) which saw him in a leading role,
albeit stylised and semi-comic. Shame and scandal was to follow however, when the Kent-born actor
was involved in a road accident on the A20 in which his Jaguar XJ6 was alleged to be racing with
another similar car. An unfortunate Rainham man was killed in the resulting smash.
Whether or not the accident had anything to do with it, work post '70 was a bit less fun.There were
movie roles in 'Up Pompeii' (1971) and its follow-ups, and similar British smutty comedies of the
period: 'Our Miss Fred' (1972), leading to 'Confessions from a Holiday Camp' (1977) and 'Rosie Dixon:
Night Nurse' (1978). All rather poor.
With Danny LaRue in 'Our Miss Fred' (1972)
TV work kept coming, though rather intermittently by the '80s, and these days he makes a living
on the after-dinner speaking circuit.
Update 9/1/15: Sorry to hear that Lance Percival died on January 6 after a long illness.
Lance Percival - imdb

Labels: calypso, Carry On Cleo, Carry On Cruising, Confessions, Rosie Dixon, satire, Shame and Scandal,Sid James, The Big
Job, The Boy with Two Heads, The Saint, The Weekend Murders, TW3, Yellow Submarine
Tu e s d a y, 4 J u n e 2 0 1 3
Simon Chandler
Simon Chandler:
Another of the grey men. Simon Chandler's assured portrayals of middle-class anxiety and
establishment brinkmanship seem to have led to his being cast in a long string of substantial TV roles.
His longest and probably highest profile residency in a TV series has come in 'Judge John Deed' in which
he plays Martin Shaw's machiavellian nemesis Sir Ian Rochester. He was also in the wry comedy
'Teachers' and played the Reverend Farebrother in the 1994 adaptation of 'Middlemarch'.
It's a bit of a giveaway that your profile isn't as high as it could be, however, when you get cast as a
number of characters over the course of a long-running series. He has been in 'The Bill' in several
different one-off roles between 1992 and 2007, but more worryingly, was able to pop up in 'Doctors' in
2011 as one Elliot Taylorman, despite having appeared as semi-regular Andrew Hewitt in three
different earlier storylines. The 'Doctors' audience was presumably untroubled by any confusing
memory of that character.
In the Mel Gibson version of 'The Bounty' (1984)
As Dr Finlay in 'The Singing Detective'
More satisfying TV work has included: 'The Singing Detective', 'Brideshead Revisited', 'Bulman', 'Anglo
Saxon Attitudes' and 'The Thick of It'. A glance at imdb also reveals that he has also appeared in a quite
impressive collection of major feature films, ranging from 'The Bounty (1984), 'Vera Drake' (2004) and
'Perfume, The Story of a Murderer' (2006) to 'The Iron Lady' (2011), 'The King's Speech' (2010) and the
voice of Merry in Ralph Bakshi's truncated and gloomy animated version of 'The Lord of the Rings'
(1978).
'Urban Gothic'
'Midsomer Murders'
Simon Chandler - imdb
Labels: actor, Foyle's War, John Deeds, Land Girls, Middlemarch, Mike Leigh, Simon Chandler, The Singing Detective, Urban
Gothic, Who's Who
M o n d a y, 3 J u n e 2 0 1 3
Annette Badland
Annette Badland:
Versatile alumna of the E15 drama school, she's been quite a success on the serious stage, and her
combination of bulky presence and basilisk gaze have led to a career on TV playing shrewd farmer's
wives, social workers, cooks and nurses. Memorable in the Eccleston/Piper-era 'Doctor Who' as
Slitheen-in-disguise Margaret Blaine, she has endured a long period of bit-parts to get there. She was a
regular in 'Bergerac' in the early '80s as Barney Crozier's formidable secretary, Charlotte, and stuck with
the dire 'hairdresser drama' 'Cutting It' for its long run. She was also in the late-'90s series 'Holding On'
which was considered quite cutting edge at the time.
As Charlotte the secretary in 'Bergerac'

In 'Doctor Who'
Her other regular work seems to be in kids TV not perhaps the best arena in which to break out of the
bonds of typecasting: See 'The Queen's Nose', 'The Worst Witch', 'Wizards vs Aliens', 'The Sparticle
Mystery', etc...
As Sadie in 'Little Voice' (1998)
Movie work includes Michael Palin's intended, Griselda Fishfinger, in 'Jabberwocky (1977), '24:7' (1992),
'Little Voice (1998), 'Beuatiful People' (1999), the grim clubbing comedy 'Club Le Monde' (2002). She is
also in the Johnny Depp 'Charlie & The Chocolate Factory' (2005) playing 'Jolly Woman'. Such is the lot
of the character actor.
Annette Badland - imdb profile
Labels: Annette Badland, Bergerac, Charlotte, Cutting It, David Tennant, Doctor Who, Holding On,Jaberwocky, Little
Voice, Margaret Blaine, Slitheen, Worst Witch
M o n d a y, 2 9 J u l y 2 0 1 3
Stephen Greif
Stephen Greif
A face made to play villains, sleekly handsome and slightly sinister. He was able to play it for
laughs in 'Citizen Smith' with Robert Lindsay, where he portrayed local gangster Harry Fenning,
usually involving the line 'Hello Trotsky, I need you to do me a little favour'
He also sticks in the memory as Travis in 'Blakes 7', complete with sci-fi eyepatch and lots of
black leather, generally outdoing Avon in the evil stakes.
Other notable TV roles included parts in 'Edward II', 'The Persuaders', 'The New Avengers'.
'Dirty Money' (with Ian Macshane), 'Doctor Who' and 'The Lives and Loves of a She-Devil'. He
also pops up in diverse stuff ranging from in 'The Persuaders', 'Dick Turpin', 'Return of the
Saint' and US detective nonsense 'Hart to Hart' to 'Waking the Dead', 'Mistresses', 'Spooks',
'Space Race', 'Holby City', Dennis Potter's 'Midnight Movie', 'Minder', 'EastEnders' and 'The Bill'.
An entertaining episode of 'The Persuaders' with Terry-Thomas
'The New Avengers'
Film roles include 'No Sex Please, We're British' (1974), 'Boogie Woogie' (2009), 'Shoot on
Sight' (2008), 'Eichmann' (2008), 'Back in Business' (2007), 'Sixty Six' (2006), 'Casanova'
(2006), 'The Upside of Anger' (2005), 'Fakers' (2004) and 'Spartan' (2004).
Stephen Greif - imdb

Labels: Armchair Thriller, Blakes 7, Casanova, Citizen Smith, Dirty Money, Dr Who, EastEnders, Harry Fenning, Ian
MacShane, Spooks, The Lives and Loves of a She-Devil, The New Avengers, The Persuaders,Thriller, Travis
F r i d a y, 2 6 J u l y 2 0 1 3
Clifford Rose
Clifford Rose:
Neat and precise, in a sinister, ruthless sort of way, Clifford Rose will forever be associated
with the role of Kessler of the Gestapo in the '70s TV drama 'Secret Army', now difficult to
watch after years of gormless lampooning in 'Allo Allo'. So compelling was the character,
however, that there was also a spin-off, 'Kessler' which saw him as a Nazi war-criminal
businessman in South America, being hunted down by former members of the Resistance.
In 'Marat/Sade' (1967)
Before Kessler, he played a number of TV roles including Dr Snell in 'Callan' and as the
ambitious journalist Quintus Slide in 'The Pallisers', as well as appearing in 'Softly Softly',
'Warship', 'Van der Valk', 'Follyfoot', 'Doctor Who' and the star-studded series of Lord Peter
Wimsey stories from 1972, 'The Unpleasantness at the Ballona Club'.
Consulting EDNA the computer in 'Callan'.

(Plus chain-smoking Peter Sallis in white coat.)
In the Tom Baker-era 'Doctor Who' story, 'Warrior's Gate'
Post-Kessler, he was seen in a steady stream of decent mid-table stuff including 'Inspector
Morse', 'Minder', 'Oxford Blue', 'G.B.H' and 'Foyles War'.
His cinema credits are an interesting mix, running from 'Marat/Sade' (1967) and 'Workis a Four
Letter Word' (1968), to the movie version of 'Callan' (1974), and recent stuff like 'Pirates of the
Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' (2011) and the Glenn Close Thatcher pic 'The Iron Lady' (2011).
Clifford Rose - imdb
Labels: Buccaneer, Callan, Clifford Rose, Dr Who, Foyle's War, Iron Lady, Kessler, Marat
Sade, Minder,Morse, Secret Army, Terry on the Fence, The Pallisers, Warrior's Gate, Work is a Four Letter Word
We d n e s d a y, 2 4 J u l y 2 0 1 3
Lee Montague
Lee Montague:
The faintly mysterious and baleful good looks of veteran actor Lee Montague did net him a
couple of leading man roles but his long career is mostly one of solid supporting
performances. He was born in London, from a liberal Jewish background, but in the days
before political correctness (perhaps calling it cultural respect would make it less of a Daily
Mail bugbear probably not) he was often cast in 'more exotic' roles. From a number of
Japanese officers, as in 'Camp On Blood Island' (1958), or in TV's 'The Baron', to a string of
Spaniards, Russians, Greeks, Mexicans, Chinese and points between.
The inscrutable face of the Orient in 'The Baron'
The golden age of British TV in the '60s gave him plenty of work, including 'Danger Man', 'The
Baron', and 'Department S', alongside lots of Wednesday plays and weightier series. In the '70s
and '80s he crops up in 'Quiller', 'The Sweeney', 'Jesus of Nazareth' (as the prophet Habbukuk),
and 'Space 1999'. He was also the star of the not-much-remembered ITV football comedy 'Feet
First'.
In 'How I Won The War' (1967).
As the composer's father in 'Mahler' (1974)
In the cinema, he appears in a string of '50s and '60s war pics, including: 'Silent Enemy' (1958),
'Foxhole in Cairo' (1960), and the Richard Lester satire 'How I Won the War' (1967), memorably
teaching army drill to John Lennon, Roy Kinnear and Ronald Lacey. Other movie jobs include
'Moulin Rouge' (1952), 'Billy Budd' (1962), 'Mahler' (1974), 'The Best Pair of Legs in the
Business' (1975), and 'Silver Dream Racer' (1980).
Trivia: (Yes, I know it's all trivia.) He was the very first storyteller on the BBC's long-running
children's programme 'Jackanory'.
Lee Montague - imdb

Labels: Bergerac, Chinese Detective, Department S, House of Elliott, How I Won The War, Jackanory,Lee
Montague, Minder, Seconds Out, Space 1999, Sweeney, Target, The Squirrels
Tu e s d a y, 2 3 J u l y 2 0 1 3
Penny Spencer
Penny Spencer
Classic '60s/'70s dolly bird actress noticeable for her wide toothy smile, short miniskirts and
mega-eyelashes. She's probably best remembered today for playing Sharon, the bombshell
of 5C in 'Please Sir', causing John Alderton's Mr Hedges to loosen his collar on numerous
occasions. Despite this, in 1971 she was replaced in the role by the perkier 'Carry On' actress
Carol Hawkins, who was also in the movie version and later spin-off 'The Fenn Street Gang'.
In 'Please Sir!' with Peter Cleal
'Count Down to Danger' (1967)
She seems to have retired from acting after the probably dispiriting experience of appearing
(with old 'Please Sir!' chum Peter Cleal) in the smutty comedy 'Under the Doctor' (1976) and
the dismal Mary Millington sex romp 'The Playbirds' (1978). Before that she had been seen in
better stuff like 'Georgy Girl' (1966) and 'The Whisperers' (1967) with the mighty Avis Bunnage.
She also starred as the resourceful Sue in the Children's Film Foundation's 'Count Down to
Danger' (1967), a 'Screen Test' favourite.
'The Whisperers' (1967)
The final straw? Stripping off for Glynn (Winchester Club) Edwards and
Gavin ('That's Life') Campbell in 'The Playbirds' (1978)
On TV, her role as Sharon overshadows fleeting appearances in 'Man in a Suitcase', 'UFO' and
Derek Nimmo's 'All Gas and Gaiters'. As far as I can discover, she disappeared off the celebrity
radar without a trace. I hope she is doing well.
Penny Spencer - imdb

Labels: Best Pair of Legs in the business', Duffy, Man in a Suitcase, miniskirt, Mr Rose, Please
Sir,Sharon, topless, UFO
Tu e s d a y, 2 7 A u g u s t 2 0 1 3
Tony Millan
Tony Millan:
Unforgettable as the morose, harassed and over-fertile Tucker in 'Citizen Smith', but once
he'd lost the Zapata moustache, he also filled nervy character roles in comfy comedies like
'One Foot In The Grave', 'Birds of a Feather', 'Lame Ducks', 'Last of the Summer Wine' and the
stillborn Brian Murphy driving-instructor sitcom 'L For Lester'.
As a gorilla-gram in 'As Time Goes By'
He's also a writer, penning Chris Barrie sitcoms 'The Brittas Empire' and 'Prince Among Men'.
He also wrote the decidedly oddball post-apocalyptic sitcom 'Not With A Bang', featuring
Ronald Pickup, Stephen Rea and Josie Lawrence. Despite the impressive cast, LWT pulled the
plug after seven episodes of nervous laughter.
With Richard Wilson in 'One Foot in the Grave'
Tony Millan - imdb

Labels: actor, Brittas Empire, Citizen Smith, High Hopes, One foot in the grave, Robert Lindsay, Tony
Millan, Tucker, writer
T h u r s d a y, 2 2 A u g u s t 2 0 1 3
Kervork Malikyan
Kervork Malikyan:
I'm stretching the definition of British a little here, but this versatile Armenian-born
actor has been London-based since coming to study drama in England in the late '60s,
and his face is certainly most familiar to British TV audiences. He played Greek student
Max in 'Mind Your Language' wearing a succession of generously open-necked shirts,
and has popped up in a bewildering array of assumed ethnicities and roles, equally at
home with sinister, silly, sympathetic sleazy or sophisticated characterisations.
Kazim chases Indy around the seedy side of Venice in

'Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade' (1989)
Much in demand for the movies, he played Roger Moore's manservant Luigi in 'The Man Who
Haunted Himself' (1970) and, more significantly, the memorable Kazim in 'Indiana Jones and
the Last Crusade' (1989). Other big movies that you might spot him in include: 'Midnight
Express' (1978), 'Pascali's Island' (1988), the remake of 'Flight of The Phoenix' (2004), and the
Liam Neeson thriller 'Taken 2' (2012).
In 'The Man Who Haunted Himself' (1970)
As Max in 'Mind Your Language'
Menawhile, British TV viewers became accustomed to his presence in the likes of 'Doctor Who'
(in the Troughton-era Cyberman story 'The Wheel in Space'), 'The Saint', The Avengers', 'Jason
King', 'The Professionals', 'Minder', 'Auf Wiedersehn Pet' and 'Silent Witness'.
'The Bill' and 'Casualty' are presumably more or less a formality if you have an agent who can
pick up a phone.
Still going strong at 70 and lending a hand to the Turkish film industry after 50 years away in
England. Hokay.
Kervork Malikyan - imdb
Labels: actor, Avengers, Casualty, Cybermen, Greek, Indiana Jones, Jason King, Kazim, Max, Midnight
Express, Mind Your Language, Minder, Professionals, The Bill, The Saint, Wheel in Space
M o n d a y, 1 9 A u g u s t 2 0 1 3
Nick Stringer
Nick Stringer:
Bullet headed, droopy-tached actor who is often cast as stubborn and belligerent working
class characters. He's regularly seen on British TV playing trade-unionists, landlords, coppers,
doormen, van drivers and cabbies. Lots of detective and cop shows, as you might expect,
including 'The Sweeney', 'Target', 'The Gentle Touch', 'Shoestring', 'The
Professionals', 'Bergerac', etc.
In 'Only Fools and Horses' with David Jason
He's also done a lot of comedy, ranging from the mediocre: 'Bread', 'Rosie', 'Open All Hours',
'Birds of a Feather', to the moderately interesting: 'The New Statesman', 'Murder Most Horrid'
and 'This is David Lander'.
As Alan B'Stard's parliamentary rival Bob Crippen in 'The New Statesman'
Movie appearances include: 'The Long Good Friday' (1980), 'Clockwise' (1986), 'Personal
Services' (1987), Roman Polanski's 'Oliver Twist' (2005), and the ill-advised Dylan Thomas
romancer 'The Edge of Love' (2008).
Nick Stringer - imdb

Labels: actor, Bob Crippen, Edge of Love, New Statesman, Only Fools and Horses, Open All
Hours,Shoestring, Smollett, Sweeney, Target, The Bill, The Long Good Friday, The Professionals
F r i d a y, 9 A u g u s t 2 0 1 3
Tony Britton
Tony Britton:
Tall and imposing, Tony Britton's smooth good looks could have made him a leading man, but
for one reason and another we now chiefly remember him in sitcom fare like 'Robin's Nest'
'Don't Wait Up', 'And Mother Makes Five' and 'Don't Tell Father'.
Back in the '50s, he had a few starring and higher-billing supporting roles in films like'Loser
Take All' (1956), 'The Birthday Present' (1957), 'Behind the Mask' (1958), The Heart of a Man'
(1959), and the Boulting Brothers spy suspenser 'Suspect' (1960). All are now largely forgotten,
although 'Suspect' (aka 'The Risk') does have a cracking supporting cast with Thorley Walters,
Donald Pleasence and Spike Milligan in a rare semi-straight performance.
'Suspect' (1960)
'There's A Girl In My Soup' (1970)
He was in an episode of 'The Saint' on TV but didn't show up in the usual ITC classics, more
often appearing in 'Play for Today' and the like, before landing parts in some interesting films.
He was in the Peter Sellers/Goldie Hawn screwball romance 'There's A Girl In My Soup' (1970),
the middle-aged permissive era misery-fest 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' (1971) and the perennial
dad's favourite 'The Day of the Jackal' (1973), before the sitcom '70s finally beckoned.
With Roger Moore in 'The Saint'
In'Robin'sNest'
He's an accomplished stage actor and still going strong at 89. This might bring back a few
memories though.
Tony Britton - imdb
Labels: And Mother Makes Five, Behind the Mask, Don't Wait Up, Dr Syn, Raffles, Robin's Nest, Suspect,The Nearly
Man
M o n d a y, 5 A u g u s t 2 0 1 3
Bernard Wrigley
Bernard Wrigley:
Curly headed, mustachioed folk-singer-turned-actor with a rather hectoring delivery and
heavy Bolton accent, who must surely have influenced both Bobby Ball and Simon Farnaby.
He's appeared on 'Coronation Street' in no less than six different and unconnected roles
between 1976 and 1999, which must surely mean that he is the go-to guy for shorthand
Lancashire walk-ons.
Which isn't to say he doesn't have some serious clout with some of the country's best
playwrights and directors. He appeared in the Stephen Frears TV productions of Alan
Bennett's 'Me I'm Afraid of Virginia Woolf' and 'Afternoon Off', he was the teacher in Alan
Clarke's 'Rita Sue and Bob Too' (1987), and he has been a semi-regular for Victoria Wood's
ensemble pieces 'Wood and Walters' and 'Dinnerladies'.
AsMrTrickettin'MeI'mAfraidofVirginiaWoolf'
In 'Brassed Off' (1996)
He was also good as the hard-of-hearing receptionist who had to cope with sales-wanker Gareth
Cheeseman in 'Coogan's Run' (pictured, top), and as Dodgy Eric in 'Phoenix Nights' who
supplied the club with the unfortunate Bucking Bronco andobscene bouncy castle.
Big-screen duties have included 'A Private Function' (1984), the aforementioned 'RitaSue and
Bob Too' (1987) and the heartwarming brass band movie 'Brassed Off' (1996). One interesting-
sounding film I've not seen is the very-low-budget 'Tanner' (2007) a private detective drama
which apparently features Frank Williams (the vicar from 'Dad's Army') as a ruthless gangster.
Here's the trailer: click here. Looks like it was shot on a phone.
He's got his own YouTube channel with a nice selection of clips. Check it out here.
Bernard Wrigley - imdb

Labels: Alan Bennett, Bernard Wrigley, Bolton, Brassed Off, Coogan's Run, Dinner Ladies, Emmerdale,folk
singer, Me I'm Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Phoenix Nights, Rita Sue and Bob Too, Victoria Wood, Z Cars
T h u r s d a y, 1 A u g u s t 2 0 1 3
David Dixon
David Dixon:
Boyish, pixie faced actor best known for the part of feckless alien journalist Ford Prefect in
BBC's 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'. His first big break came in 'Family at War', ITV's
wartime drama from 1970-72, in which he played the cynical son Robert Ashton.
As Prince Leopold in 'Lillie'
He appeared in a very representative mix of good quality television during the remainder of
the '70s, such as 'The Legend of Robin Hood' as a slimy and effete Prince John, 'Rock Follies',
and the Victorian bustle-rustler 'Lillie' about the royal admirers of music hall star Lillie
Langtry. The '80s brought 'Hitchhikers' of course, but a lot of prosaic schedule-filler
programmes as well, for instance, 'Target', 'Boon', A Touch of Frost' and unavoidably, 'The
Bill'. One highlight was the darkly comic John Byrne series 'Tutti Frutti' in which he played the
extremely unsympathetic violent ex-boyfriend of Emma Thompson's character, Suzi Kettles.
'Tutti Frutti'
He has appeared in only a couple of feature films: fleetingly in the Michael Palin comedy, 'The
Missionary' (1980) and before that in a leading role in the ghastly-looking 'Escort Girls' (1975)
which I'm sure he'd rather forget. [Despite which, here's a link to the trailer, which I must
warn you, is NSFW, and offensively sleazy, sexist and racist, although it does feature Alan
Hawkshaw's 'The Champ' on the soundtrack. Click here.]
In the seedy 'Escort Girls' (1975)
In 'A Touch of Frost'. An episode from 1996 called 'Fun Times For Swingers'
There's a rather odd fansite for him too. Here's a link.
David Dixon - imdb

Labels: A Touch of Frost, Boon, Escort Girls, Ford Prefect, H2G2, Hitchhiker's, Lillie, Prince Leopold,Robert
Longden, Rock Follies, Super Gran, The Sweeney, topless, Tutti Frutti, Z Cars, Zaphod Beeblebrox
M o n d a y, 3 0 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 3
Gary Waldhorn
Gary Waldhorn:
A suave, thoughtful-looking actor, probably best known these days as grumpy squire David
Horton in 'The Vicar of Dibley', Mr Waldhorn actually made his TV debut in the trendy drama
series 'Take Three Girls' in 1969. Although his episode is now lost, he went on to make a solid
career in television through the '70s, appearing in 'Softly, Softly', 'The Sweeney', 'Space: 1999',
'The New Avengers', 'Brideshead Revisited', 'The Professionals', 'Minder', 'Robin of
Sherwood', 'Rumpole of the Bailey' and 'Lovejoy'. Before 'Dibley' he was a front-room fixture in
the '80s sitcom 'Brush Strokes' as Carl Howman's nemesis, Bainbridge.
In 'Space 1999'
In 'The Professionals'
He's a very well-respected stage player, with links to the RSC and English Touring Theatre,
and has graced the West End in performances alongside John Gielgud, Peter Wyngarde,
Eleanor Bron and Paul Scofield. Film work has been less forthcoming (or sought for), but he
does appear in Vivian Stanshall's legendary 'Sir Henry at Rawlinson End' (1980), which is a good
thing in my book.
In 'Doctor in Charge'
Gary Waldhorn-imdb
Labels: Brideshead revisited, Gallowglass, Gary Waldhorn, Heartbeat, Minder, Professionals, Robin of
Sherwood, Rumpole of the Bailey, Softly, Space 1999, The Bill, The New Avengers, The Sweeney, Vicar of Dibley
F r i d a y, 2 7 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 3
Christopher Godwin
Christopher Godwin:
The pinched and narrow features of this very familiar character actor seem to have often
found themselves used as a shorthand for petty bureaucrats, jobsworths and sniffy middle-
class executives, but a glance at his track record shows some surprising highlights.
Perhaps fans of TV comedy will be most conscious of his presence, as he turns up in a lot of
forgotten '80s schedule-fillers: 'The Other 'Arf' with Lorraine Chase, 'South of the Border',
'Roger Doesn't Live Here Any More' and 'Nice Work' with Edward Woodward. He was in 'Holding
the Fort', the sitcom with Peter Davison and Patricia Hodge as a role-reversal army couple
with live-in slob, Fitz, played by Matthew Kelly. There was a starring role in the
unfunny 'Astronauts', written by Bill Oddie and Graeme Garden in 1981. More interesting
was the satirical north/south series 'Snakes and Ladders' from 1989. A Marks and Gran
creation with Celia Imrie and John Gordon Sinclair.
Only here for the beer. With Mr McKay in

the film version of 'Porridge' (1979)
On the drama front, see him in: 'Z Cars', 'Softly Softly', 'Thomas & Sarah' and the sun-drenched
1987 TV adaptation of 'My Family and Other Animals', as well as 'The Bill' and the Daniel
Radcliffe drama 'A Young Doctor's Notebook'.
Film work includes: 'Porridge' (1979), 'A Handful of Dust' (1988) and the infamous Handmade
Films debacle 'Bullshot' (1983).
In 'A Handful of Dust' (1988)
Christopher Godwin-imdb
Labels: Astronauts, Bullshot, Christopher Godwin, Handful of Dust, Holding the Fort, My Family, My Family and
Other Animals, Porridge, Return to Waterloo
T h u r s d a y, 2 6 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 3
Alan David
Alan David:
A dour bollard of an actor with hidden depths. This trim, ascetic-looking Welshman has had a
long career in television, but I first remember him in 'The Squirrels', an officesitcom created
by 'Rising Damp' writer Eric Chappell (although some episodes were written by Phil Redmond
and others by Kenneth Cope). He played the unlikeable Harry, a snarky expert at office
politics, forever putting one over on his fellow workers, Ken Jones, Bernard Hepton and Patsy
Rowlands among them.
'TheSquirrels'
GivingamedicalopiniontoTrevorEvein'Shoestring'
Other TV work includes a full house of 'Coronation Street', 'EastEnders' and 'Emmerdale', 'A
Perfect State', the Boycie and Marlene spin-off 'The Green Green Grass', and the '60s-set 'Foxy
Lady' as a chauvinist foil to Diane Keen's lady reporter. To that you can add 'Bulman',
'Inspector Morse' and 'Cracker' as well as the Eccleston-era'Doctor Who' story 'The Unquiet
Dead', a Dickensian spooker written by Mark Gatiss.
Did I mention 'The Sweeney' and 'Minder'? No need really, but of course he was in both.
In 'The Painted Veil (2006)
As Clement Atlee in the time-travel

dram-com 'Goodnight Sweetheart'
He's been in a few films (see imdb link below), but perhaps has a stronger liking for the
stage. He was in the 2009 West End hit 'Jerusalem' with Mark Rylance, and has
previously appeared in RSC productions of 'Coriolanus' and 'Richard II'. He also took
part in the legendary 1970 art/theatre happening 'Come Together' at the Royal Court
Theatre with the Alberts and performed with the Ken Campbell Roadshow.
In 'Inspector Morse'
Alan David-imdb
Labels: Alan David, bald, Diane Keen, Doctor Who, EastEnders, Eccleston, Gatiss, Harry, Jerusalem,Morse, Painted
Veil, Rylance, Squirrels, Sweeney, Welsh
We d n e s d a y, 2 5 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 3
Douglas Wilmer
Douglas Wilmer:
Jan 8th 1920 Mar 31st 2016
With his powerful, craggy features, just a fraction too exaggerated for romantic leads,
Douglas Wilmer, now 92, has enjoyed a fantastic career as a character actor without ever
quite becoming a household name. The list of classic films he appeared in is pretty
impressive and includes sword and sandal favourites 'El Cid' (1961), 'Cleopatra' (1963),
Jason and the Argonauts' (1963), and 'Fall of the Roman Empire' (1964).
It was about this time that he was chosen to play Sherlock Holmes in a TV adaptation of
'The Speckled Band' which led to a further 12 stories screened in 1965, briefly making
him a popular television celebrity. He was seen in a number of quality shows of the '60s
and early '70s, such as 'The Avengers', The Saint', 'The Baron', 'Mogul', 'UFO', 'Space:
1999' and, cleverly, as Professor Von Dusen in 'The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes'.
As Sherlock Holmes in the popular mid-'60s TV adaptation
As King Pelias who sends Jason on his mission in the

Ray Harryhausen epic 'Jason and the Argonauts' (1963)
There was still plenty of movie work on offer: see for example his turn as Baron Hartog in the
fabulous Hammer negligee-ripper 'The Vampire Lovers' (1970) with Peter Cushing, George Cole
and a bevy of fanged females including Ingrid Pitt and Madeline Smith.
Douglas Wilmer-imdb
Labels: actor, Avengers, Cleopatra, El Cid, Jason & the Argonauts, Roman Empire, Sherlock Holmes, Shot in the
Dark, The Saint, UFO
Tu e s d a y, 2 4 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 3
Paul Bown
Paul Bown:
Chirpy sort of actor, with that Stan Laurel-esque flick-switch between his happy face and his
sad face. He got a start in acting during the '80s, with connections to comedy theatre bods
like Mel Smith and Bob Goody. His first parts were in films: a fairly substantial one in 'Morons
from Outer Space' (1985), then 'The Assam Garden (1985) and the unappealing Clive Barker
horror 'Underworld' (1985).
In 'Morons from Outer Space' (1985)

This led to a primetime regular-guy role as Malcolm in the moderately popular '80s sitcom
'Watching' opposite Liza Tarbuck and Emma Wray. He also starred in the nostalgic AA-
patrolman comedy 'The Last Salute' which failed entirely to catch on, despite ticking a lot of
'Hi-De-Hi', 'Heartbeat' and 'Darling Buds of May' boxes.
Since then he seems to have tiptoed around the perifery of TV with small roles indrama
serials, the usual cop and hospital series and a couple of sitcoms: 'The Green Green Grass' and
'My Family'.
As Colin Cakeworthy in 'The Green Green Grass'
He also appears fleetingly as Brighton & Hove Albion chairman Mike Bamber in 'The Damned
United' (2009), who briefly secures the services of Brian Clough. Although he looks like a shoo-
in when they come to cast 'The Michael Parkinson Story'.
In 'The Damned United' 2009
And here's a tasty little morsel of '80s nostalgia. Click here.
Paul Bown-imdb
Labels: Damned United, Emma Wray, Green Green Grass, Liza Tarbuck, Morons from Outer Space, Paul Bown, The
Last Salute, toffee crisp cash machine, underworld, Watching
M o n d a y, 2 3 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 3
Kate Williams
Kate Williams:
Recently back on TV screens playing Liz Turner in 'EastEnders', she is still probably best known
for the un-PC ITV favourite, 'Love Thy Neighbour' as Jack Smethurst's long-suffering wife, Joan,
or possibly for her role in the Euston-films drama series 'Widows'. Film credits include 'Poor
Cow' (1967), 'Melody' (1971), 'Til Death Us Do Part' (1969), and Jimmy's mum in 'Quadrophenia'
(1979). My personal favourite might be her role as Blakey's nurse and girlfriend in 'Holiday On
The Buses' (1973). It's probably not hers.
Modelling for the camera club in 'Poor Cow' (1967)
With the irresistible Reg Varney in 'On the Buses'

Footnote:
Incidentally, I was sure that she played Frankie Abbot's mum in 'Please Sir!' but that was the
excellent BARBARA MITCHELL, who died in 1977. Sadly there isn't much on the internet about
her, but she deserves a salute anyway.
http://www.kingstononline.co.uk/reviews4.htm
Kate Williams - imdb profile
Labels: EastEnders, Holiday On the buses, Kate Williams, Love thy Neighbour, Melody, Please Sir, Poor
Cow, Quadrophenia
T h u r s d a y, 1 9 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 3
Margaret Nolan
Margaret Nolan:
Prodigiously busty blonde actress and glamour model who features prominently (ahem) in
some classic and not-so-classic British cinema of the '60s and '70s. The iconic opening titles of
'Goldfinger' (1964) feature scenes from the film projected on to her gold-painted body and
lam bikini, and she appears early in the film as Bond's Miami masseuse, and at the other end
of the spectrum she is imprinted on the collective psyche as Dawn Brakes in 'Carry On Girls'
(1973), wrestling with Miss Fircombe beauty contest rival Barbara Windsor, but wearing a
silver bikini this time.
'Carry On Girls' (1973)
With Wilfrid Brambell in 'A Hard Day's Night' (1963)
Despite all the cheesecake and Carry Ons, she definitely proved comfortable with speaking
roles and gave creditable performances in more serious TV favourites like the tough gangster
serial 'Fox' and things like 'The Sweeney', 'The Persuaders' and 'Budgie'. More often than not,
though, it was cheeky dollybird roles that beckoned, such as 'Q9', 'Whatever Happened to the
Likely Lads', 'Steptoe & Son' and even the third-ever episode of 'Last of the Summer Wine'
from 1973.
As old flame Jackie in 'Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads'
With Valerie Leon in 'No Sex Please, We're British' (1975)
In recent years, she has taken up photo-montage, mainly working with glamour images of
herself, which is an intriguingly empowering twist on a career defined by the male gaze.
Check out her gallery here: Click here
Margaret Nolan-imdb

Labels: Barbara Windsor, Beatles, busty, Carry On Girls, Dawn Brakes, Dink, glamour, Goldfinger, James
Bond, Likely Lads, montage, No Sex Please, Playboy, Q9, Sean Connery, Steptoe, Sweeney, Valerie Leon,Wilfrid
Brambell
Tu e s d a y, 1 7 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 3
Terrence Hardiman
Terrence Hardiman:
Steely-eyed, cadaverous, Christopher Lee type. He was memorable looming out of TV screens
as Abbot Radulfus in 'Cadfael', and has appeared in 'The Demon Headmaster', 'Poirot' and
'Secret Army'. Rather less fearsomely, he took the classic comic role of Mr Pooter in the 1979
television version of 'Diary of a Nobody', with Sheila Steafel as his long-suffering wife. He was
also in the 2010 'Doctor Who' episode 'The Beast Below', the one with the horrible Smilers.
In fact, there seems to be hardly a TV genre that he hasn't conquered. Drama: in 'Colditz',
'When The Boat Comes In', 'Prime Suspect 3', and 'Hannay'. Comedy: in 'Home to Roost',
'Surgical Spirit' and the Dickens pastiche 'The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff'. And a fair bit of kids'
TV: 'Chucklevision', 'The Worst Witch', and 'Magic Grandad'.
In an episode of 'Colditz'
I don't remember 'Skorpion', a well-received BBC terrorist thriller series from 1983 that he
starred in, but which seems to have been consigned to the corporation's deeper basements. A
pity, as it sounds pretty good.
As Abbot Radulfus in 'Cadfael'

In full 'Dr No' mode as 'The Demon Headmaster'
He crops up in a few feature films; 'Pope Joan' (1972), 'Running Scared' (1972), and as Ramsay
MacDonald in 'Gandhi' (1980) and Thomas Cromwell in the Tudor thriller 'God's Outlaw'
(1986).
Terrence Hardiman - imdb
Labels: Abbot Radulfus, Cadfael, Demon Headmaster, Diary of a Nobody, Doctor Who, Matt Smith,Poirot, Secret
Army, Skorpion, Smilers, Terrence Hardiman, The Beast Below, Worst Witch
F r i d a y, 1 3 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 3
Christopher Beeny
Christopher Beeny:
A chirpy and genial middle-aged pixie of an actor, who was a schoolboy star as Lennie Grove
in the prototype soap opera of the '50s, 'The Grove Family'. To viewers of a more recent
generation, he's familiar as Billy Henshaw, Thora Hird's long-suffering nephew in the
undertaker sitcom, 'In Loving Memory' (see also Colin Farrell). Or perhaps as Edward the
footman in 'Upstairs Downstairs' getting perpetual reprimands from Gordon Jackson's dour
butler, Mr Hudson.
Other TV roles incude 'The Rag Trade', 'Miss Jones and Son' (with Paula Wilcox), as well as
'Minder', 'The Sweeney' and 'Dixon of Dock Green'. He also had a regular part as Morton in the
late 2000s dregs of 'Last of the Summer Wine', but in the Burt Kwouk/ Brian Murphy/ Russ
Abbott era, long after the departure of his old colleague Thora.
'Miss Jones and Son'
'The Little Kidnappers' (1953)
He hasn't done much on the big screen: a few child parts in the early '50s, 'The Long Memory'
(1953), 'The Little Kidnappers' (1953), and 'Child's Play' (1955), but not much as an adult: an
uncredited turn in 'Doctor in Distress' (1963) and a Children's Film Foundation romp 'Pop
Pirates' (1984) which also features Roger Daltrey!
Christopher Beeny - imdb
Labels: actor, Christopher Beeny, Colin Farrell, In Loving Memory, Minder, miss Jones and Son,Sweeney, The Grove
Family, The Rag Trade, Thora Hird, Upstairs Downstairs
We d n e s d a y, 11 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 3
Barbara Murray
Barbara Murray:
Sultry, heavy-lidded, but frightfully British actress who appeared in a few popular films in the
'50s and '60s, but never quite attained full-blown stardom. She's in the Ealing classics 'Passport
to Pimlico' (1948) and 'Meet Mr Lucifer (1953), both with Stanley Holloway, she was James
Robertson Justice's unlikely love interest in 'Doctor in Distress' (1963), and she's in the
portmanteau horror 'Tales From The Crypt' (1972).
As the Brit B-movie studios closed and TV took over in the '60s, she won parts in kitsch
favourites like 'Danger Man', 'The Saint', 'Department S' and 'Jason King', but was more at home
in period melodramas and serious TV plays. Big successes were the modern political intriguer
'The Power Game' and the Anthony Trollope adaptation 'The Pallisers', in which Murray played
major roles. But she was also able to play comedy, as in the Frankie Howerd entendre-fest 'Up
Pompeii' (1971).
In 'The Power Game'
In 'The Pallisers'
By the later '70s she was an occasional sighting on British screens, with a rather mixed bag
including 'Doctor Who' (Peter Davison era story, 'The Black Orchid'), 'Robin's Nest', and the
rarely-recalled 1987-89 serial 'The Bretts' - a sort of 'Upstairs Downstairs' of theatre folk set in
the '20s.
Barbara Murray - imdb
Labels: Barbara Murray, Crypt, Danger Man, Jason King, Passport to Pimlico, the Bretts, The Pallisers,The Power
Game, The Punch and Judy Man, The Saint, Up Pompeii
M o n d a y, 9 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 3
Peter Greene
Peter Greene:
Here's a difficult one. I'm assuming with fingers crossed that Mr Greene is still with us, but I
haven't been able to verify it. Things are confused by the fact that there is another Peter Greene
in the movies (the American one who played bad guy Zed in 'Pulp Fiction').
The one I'm saluting here is the lanky red-headed chap you've seen playing the clueless chaplain
of St Swithin's Hospital in ITV's 'Doctor in Charge', or perhaps as Grace Brothers' resident
boffin, demonstrating a dummy that drops its own trousers in 'Are You Being Served?'.
Chrissie's pipe-smoking boyfriend in 'Man About the House'
He appeared in two episodes of 'The Young Ones': as a teacher in a 'Grange Hill' spoof scene
with Ben Elton; and as the vicar in Rik's favourite sitcom 'Oh Crikey!'
The trail goes cold with this sketchy imdb snippet from 2002: 'Works for an independent
research company, but still does corporate work and directs local shows.'
Any info gratefully received, but let's assume he's still fit and working.
Peter Greene (II) - imdb
Postscript and apologia:

In my initial post, I inexcusably gave Mr Greene the credit for one of British cinema's finest
'Fwooooaarr!'s as Henry the clumsy ambulance driver in 'Carry On Doctor' (1967). Click
here. This is of course the late Peter Gilmore. I'm indebted to r lewis for the correction.
Labels: ambulance driver, Carry on Doctor, cyberman, Doctor Who, ginger, glasses, Man aout the house, Peter
Greene, tall, What's up nurse, What's up superdoc
We d n e s d a y, 3 0 O c t o b e r 2 0 1 3
Peter Blake
Peter Blake:
The tall dark and handsome type, from the same shelf as Paul Nicholas and David Essex
perhaps, but not destined for top billing. Peter Blake is probably most remembered as the
insufferably cocky Kirk St Moritz in the lonely hearts sitcom 'Dear John' with Ralph Bates and
Belinda Lang. I seem to remember it being a genuinely jaw-dropping plot twist when Kirk was
revealed to be the alter-ego of a timid sad-sack who lived with his elderly mother at the end of
the series.
Other solid TV credits include 'Minder', 'The Professionals', 'Shoestring', 'Out', 'Bergerac',
'Agony' (as sleazy DJ Andy Evol), 'A Very Peculiar Practice' and a short stint in 'EastEnders' in
2010, playing Peggy Mitchell's love interest Ken Tate.
With Belinda Lang and the late Ralph Bates in 'Dear John'
With Barabara Windsor in 'EastEnders'
After drama school he started out in trendy stage productions like 'Jesus Christ Superstar',
'Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' and 'Rocky Horror', while snagging TV extra
roles and working as a stage manager in Soho strip clubs. Perhaps his contacts there led to his
first film part in the sex comedy 'Intimate Games' (1976) a typical affair with the usual mix of
goose-pimpled dollybirds and veteran character actors (in this case, Mary Millington meets
George Baker, Hugh Lloyd, Queenie Watts, and Johnny Vyvyan).
Probably seeing some bosoms in 'Intimate Games' (1976)
In the forgotten office sitcom, 'Fiddlers Three'. A re-jigged version of 'The Squirrels'
An interesting aside: He was Eddie, the rock'n'roll revival Pepsi drinker in their
successful '70s advertising campaign. Like this one.
There was even a spin-off single here's his performance on 'Top of the Pops'Lipsmackin'
Peter Blake - imdb

Labels: Agony, Andy Evol, Dear John, EastEnders, Fiddler's Three, Kirk St Moritz, Pepsi, Peter Blake,Peter
Denyer, Ralph Bates, Taggart, The Bill
M o n d a y, 2 1 O c t o b e r 2 0 1 3
Yvonne Romain
Yvonne Romain:
The delightful Ms Romain (billed as Yvonne Warren pre-1960) appeared in a number of mid-
fifties to mid-sixties movies and TV shows, impressively handling 'icy and sophisticated' as
easily as 'sultry and sensual'. Sadly, there are few classics among them, with Hammer's 'The
Curse of the Werewolf' (1961) probably the best known. Her character doesn't live to see her
son grow up into the werewolf (played by a young Oliver Reed) but the marketing appeal of
her curvy figure ensures that she is shown cowering from his fangs on all the publicity
material anyway.
A young Ollie Reed prefiguring the middle-aged Ollie Reed
in 'Curse of the Werewolf' (1961).
She's teamed up with Oliver Reed again in 'The Night Creatures' (1962) a retelling of the Dr
Syn/Vicar of Dymchurch smuggling yarn starring Peter Cushing and Patrick Allen. Other
interesting cinema parts include the Boris Karloff drug-addict/bodysnatcher shocker 'Corridors
of Blood' (1958), Melina the lion-tamer in Circus of Horrors' (1960), b-movie fare like 'Devil
Doll' (1964), the Ann-Margaret permissive society comedy 'The Swinger (1966). And then of
course, there's the even-worse-than-usual Elvis Presley movie 'Double Trouble' (1967) with a
rapidly declining Elvis involved in some silly European skullduggery.
In the Peter Vaughan insurance mystery 'Smokescreen' (1965)

Twistin' in the shlocky ventriloquist horror 'Devil Doll' (1964)
On TV she shows up in 'Danger Man', 'Top Secret' and 'The Saint', but she fades from the screen
after that making a last brief movie appearance as the corpse in the star-studded 'The Last of
Sheila' in 1973.
Just about to be mauled by a lion in 'Circus of Horrors' (1960)
She's married to the Oscar-winning composer and lyricist Leslie Bricusse, so perhaps appearing
in these lack-lustre productions lost its appeal. In some ways it's a shame, because she came
perilously close to stardom - who knows what the rest of the '70s and '80s could have had in
store if she's carried on acting.
Yvonne Romain-imdb

Labels: Ann-Margaret, Boris Karloff, Curse of the Werewolf, Devil Doll, Elvis Presley, James Mason,Lesley
Bricusse, Oliver Reed, Romaine, The Swinger, Yvonne Romain
We d n e s d a y, 1 6 O c t o b e r 2 0 1 3
Diane Langton
Diane Langton:
A successful belter of stage musicals who has made a few forays into TV and movieroles since
the early '70s. She was in a few moderately saucy movies during the depressing drizzly decline
of the old school British cinema industry: 'Confessions of a Pop Performer' (1975), 'Carry On
England' (1976), and one slightly surprisingly example of its renewal, 'The Cook, the Thief, His
Wife & Her Lover' (1989).
With Linda Regan (right) as the Climax Sisters in
'Confessions of a Pop Performer' (1975)
As Private Easy in 'Carry On England' (1976)
On the small screen, she's been in the 'Carry On Laughing' TV spin-off, as a sort ofersatz
Barbara Windsor, 'Only Fools and Horses' as Del's old flame June, and in the revival of 'The Rag
Trade' in the '70s. She's also had some regular drama roles, in 'Heartbeat', 'EastEnders' and
'Hollyoaks', for instance.
As Ruby Rowan in 'Heartbeat'
Diane Langton-imdb
Labels: Bergerac, Boon, Carry On England, Confessions of a Pop Performer, Diane

Langton, EastEnders,Heartbeat, Hollyoaks, Only Fools and Horses, Rag Trade, She Loves Me, The Bill
M o n d a y, 1 4 O c t o b e r 2 0 1 3
John Flanagan
John Flanagan:
Firm of jaw and steely of eye, John Flanagan has played a lot of coppers in his acting career.
He had his own series in the early '70s, 'Parkin's Patch' in which he played keen young PC Moss
Parkin, but he also pounded the beat in 'The Sweeney' (as DS Matt Matthews), 'Softly Softly:
Task Force', 'The Bill', 'Casualty' and films including 'The Naked Civil Servant' (1975) and 'The
Medusa Touch' (1978).
In Alan Plater's 1973 TV play, 'The Land of Green Ginger'
Rather older and more serious in 'Inspector Wycliffe Mysteries'

I enjoyed the Play for Today from 1973 that he stars in with Gwen Taylor Alan Plater's 'The
Land of Green Ginger'. It's a real period piece, but can be found in its entirety on YouTube: Click
here.
He's also in Terry Gilliam's 'Brazil' (1985), but I had play around with the pause button to find
him.
John Flanagan - imdb
Labels: Brazil, Casualty, Heartbeat, John Flanagan, Parkins Patch, Softly Softly: Task Force, Sweeney 2,The
Bill, The Land of Green Ginger, The Medusa Touch, The Naked Civil Servant
We d n e s d a y, 9 O c t o b e r 2 0 1 3
Hugh Walters
Hugh Walters:
March 2nd 1939 - February 13 2015
Compact, birdlike actor with a knack for careful speech patterns. He has turned these to good
use playing officious, prissy and occasionally camp comedic roles. In drama, he sticks in the
memory for his bravura turn as the wheelchair-bound Vic in 'Survivors' which was neither
funny nor fussy, and he was in several 'Doctor Who' stories ('The Chase', 'The Deadly Assassin'
and 'Revelation of the Daleks'), as well as episodes of 'Z Cars', 'The New Avengers', 'A Fine
Romance', 'The Miss Marple Mysteries', 'Rumpole of the Bailey', 'All Creatures Great and
Small', 'Lovejoy' and 'Boon'. He was also Alison's father in the clever Simon Callow/Brenda
Blethyn comedy 'Chance in a Million'
In the Miss Marple TV mystery 'The Body in the Library'

With Eleanor Bron in the 1985 'Doctor Who'
story 'Revelation of the Daleks'
He appears in a few interesting movies: '1984' (1984), 'Brimstone & Treacle' (1982), 'The
Missionary' (1982), the floppy Alan Price sequel to 'Alfie', 'Alfie Darling ' (1976), right back to
the Terry-Thomas steampunk romp 'Rocket to the Moon' (1967), 'and the Dave Clark Five
movie 'Catch Us If You Can' (1965).
In 'The New Avengers'
Hugh Walters-imdb
Labels: Alfie Darling, All Creatures Great and Small, Chance in a Million, Daleks, Doctor Who, Heartbeat,Hugh
Walters, Lovejoy, Miss Marple, Rocket to the Moon, Rumpole, Survivors, The Missionary, The New Avengers, Z Cars
Tu e s d a y, 8 O c t o b e r 2 0 1 3
Madge Hindle
Madge Hindle:
A modern archetype of the frumpy Northern busybody, largely thanks to the Lancastrian
actress's two longest-running roles: as Renee Roberts (Bradshaw as was) in 'Coronation Street'
and as Hylda Baker's stooge Lily Tattersall in pickle sitcom 'Nearest and Dearest' with her
mute, infirm husband Walter ('Has he been?') played by Eddie Malin.
As Lily in the film version of 'Nearest and Dearest' (1972)

Since poor Renee met her end in a car crash in 'Coronation Street' in 1980, Madge Hindle has
appeared in a sprinkling of roles on TV, such as the modern melodrama 'The Rector's Wife', and
better than average comedies 'All Quiet on the Preston Front' and the Gwen Taylor vehicle
'Barbara'.
Renee Bradshaw weds Councillor Roberts in 'Coronation Street'
Trivia corner: Madge's daughter, Charlotte Hindle, was co-presenter of wacky 1980s Saturday
morning schedule-filler 'Get Fresh', with Gaz Top and oozing alien puppet Gilbert. Gilbert was
voiced by Phil Cornwell and made by 'Spitting Image' duo Fluck & Law. As part of the design,
they recycled the lips from a discarded Ringo Starr puppet.
Madge Hindle-imdb
Labels: All Quiet on the Preston Front, Barbara, Bradshaw, Casanova 73, Charlotte Hindle, Coronation Street, Gaz
Top, Gilbert, Lily, Madge Hindle, Nearest and Dearest, Open All Hours, Renee Roberts,Walter
T h u r s d a y, 3 O c t o b e r 2 0 1 3
Donald Sumpter
Donald Sumpter:
Severe-looking character actor offering broken-nosed toughness combined with an aura of
intelligence, which allows him to play parts that depict deep wisdom or lowcunning with
equal veracity. His only cinema starring role was as real-life murderer Dennis Neilson in the
rather tasteless 'The Black Panther' (1977), but he also appears inbetter-known movies like
the Hammer monster romp 'The Lost Continent' (1967), the sexploitative 'Groupie Girl' (1970),
'Sunday Bloody Sunday' (1971), 'Stardust' (1974), 'Enigma' (2001), 'The Constant Gardener'
(2005), and 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' (2011). He's also in the early Mike Leigh film
'Bleak Moments' (1971) and the strange-looking David Hemmings movie 'The Walking
Stick' (1970).
In sleazy rocker mode in 'Groupie Girl (1970)
In spiritual mode in 'Meetings with Remarkable Men (1979)
His TV portfolio is substantial, and ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous, or from 'Black
Mirror', 'Our Friends in the North' and 'Jesus of Nazareth' to 'Merlin', 'Game of Thrones' and
'Holby City'. A fine all rounder.
In the teen horror series 'Being Human'
Donald Sumpter - imdb

Labels: actor, Black Mirror, Bleak Moments, Boon, Donald Sumpter, Groupie Girl, Jesus of nazareth,Meetings with
Remarkable Men, Midsomer Murders, Minder, Queen's Nose, The Bill, Wallander
M o n d a y, 1 8 N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 3
Veronica Doran
Veronica Doran:
Back in 1983, Veronica Doran's character, Marion Willis, was part of several key storylines in
the ever-popular UK soap, 'Coronation Street'. Engaged to be married to lovable dustbin man
Eddie Yeats, and caught in the battle of wills between her floozy flatmate Suzi Birchall and
their fading femme-fatale landlady Elsie Tanner, she led 15 million viewers on a rollercoaster
ride through rough-diamond romance and backstreet bitch-fests.
But apart from that little twinkle in the prime-time firmament, she has tended to blend a
little into the background in a string of mousy comedy and dramatic roles in popular shows
like: 'The Liver Birds', 'Man About the House', 'Crown Court', 'Upstairs Downstairs' and 'The
Pallisers'.
Longer stints include a recurring part in the Thora Hird comedy 'In Loving Memory', as Cynthia,
bigamous bride of the hapless Billy (see Christopher Beeny, Colin Farrell). She was also in the
hardly-remembered nostalgic comedy 'Funny Man', with veteran comic Jimmy Jewel as head
of a music-hall family in the '20s.
As Marion, the future Mrs Eddie Yeats in 'Coronation Street' circa 1983
A rather regrettable scene from 'Escort Girls' (1975)
Movie-wise, she was in the enjoyably 'groovy' Tigon gorefest 'Horror House' (1969) with Frankie
Avalon, and the movie spin-off of the Irene Handl series, 'For the Love of Ada' (1972), before
popping up in a couple of lame '70s smutbombs 'Escort Girls' (1975 - see also David Dixon) and
'Sex Thief' (1974 - see also Diane Keen).
Veronica Doran-imdb
Labels: amicus, Brittas Empire, Coronation Street, Eddie Yeats, Escort Girls, For the love of Ada,Haunted House of
Horror, horror, In Loving Memory, Marion, Sex Thief, tigon, topless, Veronica Doran
Tu e s d a y, 1 2 N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 3
David Horovitch
David Horovitch
A very dependable British actor with a look somewhere between Bob Hope and Droopy, He's
possibly best known as eternally on-the-wrong-track Inspector Slack in'Agatha Christie's Miss
Marple', but his lugubriously expressive style has found a place in 'The New Avengers',
'Bulman', 'Boon', 'A Touch of Frost', 'Just William', 'Drop the Dead Donkey', 'Peak Practice',
'Foyle's War' and dozens of others.
The results of sneaking up on Steed at the billiard table in 'The New Avengers'
Listening to Miss Marple explain where he went wrong yet again.

On the silver screen, he's been much less ubiquitous, but can be spotted in the Disney sequel
'102 Dalmatians' (2000) as Cruella DeVile's shrink, and in the odd British-set Woody Allen
movie 'Cassandra's Dream' (2007) with Ewan MacGregor and Colin Farrell.
Something a bit different in the star-studded 1983 series

'The Cleopatras' as Chickpea, one of the many Ptolemys
In a long and distinguished theatre career, including work with the RSC and Manchester's Royal
Exchange Theatre, he's covered much of the canon, from 'Charley's Aunt', 'An Inspector Calls'
and 'The Importance of Being Earnest' to Ibsen, Sheridan, and of course Shakespeare.
David Horovitch-imdb
Labels: 102 Dalmations, Agatha Christie's Westbeach, Boon, Bulman, Cleopatra, Drop the Dead Donkey,Foyle's
War, Horovitch, Just William, Miss Marple, New Avengers, Peak Practice, Slack
M o n d a y, 2 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3
Kenneth Cope
Kenneth Cope:
'Jeff! Wake up, Jeff!'
I'm including Kenneth Cope on here, although I'm aware that to a lot of TV viewers who are
British and over 40, he's probably a bit of a star. For you youngsters and non-UK types, lovable
rogues are a speciality of this popular Liverpudlian actor. His knack for combining cheeky
confidence and nervous agitation has stood him in good stead in roles that have made him a UK
cult favourite and a primetime perennial. Playing the ghostly Marty Hopkirk in the unique '60s
detective show 'Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)' imprinted his face on the British psyche
forever an immaculate mod-suited spirit with childish emotions tempered by deadpan
humour. He was the perfect foil to hard-boiled, two-fisted investigator Jeff Randall, as played by
the late Mike Pratt.
AssuperstitiouspropertydeveloperJackVictorin'Catweazle'
Before that, he'd made a bit of a splash as the likeable petty villain Jed Stone in 'Coronation
Street' in the very early days of the series, appearing first in 1961 and making comebacks in
1966 and 2008. That was followed by a period on the legendary satirical series 'That Was The
Week That Was', which further ensured his '60s credentials. Other cult TV connections
are 'Catweazle' ('Touch not the Wogle Stone...'), 'Doctor Who' (Tom Baker era story 'Warrior's
Gate'), and two episodes of 'The Avengers' in 1967 and '68. The '80s and beyond saw him
much in demand for the likes of 'Minder', 'Bergerac', 'Lovejoy' etc, and a stint on 'Brookside'.
IntheSmallFacespop/crimecaper'DatelineDiamonds'(1965)
AsshopstewardVicSpannerin'CarryOnatYourConvenience'(1971)
In'MissMarpleInvestigates'
His movie roles include a bunch of late-'50s teen b-pictures and swinging '60s efforts where
his Beatle-esque accent (often accompanied by a Beatle-esque wig) was a bonus. See for
example: 'Naked Fury' (1959), the Tony Newley vehicle 'The Lady Is A Square' (1959), 'Jungle
Street' (1960), 'The Criminal' (1960) with Stanley Baker, Joseph Losey's 'The Damned' (1963),
and playing the Small Faces' manager in the pirate radio heist movie 'Dateline Diamonds'
(1965). Later would come a string of 'Carry Ons' ('...Dick','... Matron' and '...At Your
Convenience'), and the inevitable saucy comedies 'She'll Follow You Anywhere' (1971),
'Rentadick (1972) and the movie version of 'George and Mildred' (1975).
Kenneth Cope-imdb
Labels: actor, Carry On, Catweazle, Coronation Street, Doctor Who, Jed Stone, Kenneth Cope, Randall and Hopkirk
Deceased, Rentadick, Small Faces, Tom Baker, Warriors Gate
S u n d a y, 2 6 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 4
Valerie Lilley
Valerie Lilley:
Joan Littlewoods Arts Workshop in London was a groundbreaking theatre in the early sixties,
taking talented people from far outside the traditional drama-school system and setting them on
careers on the stage. Northern Irish actress Valerie Lilley passed through those doors and
worked with a number of budding actors including Stephen Rea.
After a few small roles on TV, she got a big break with Stewart Parkers 'Iris in the Traffic, Ruby
in the Rain', starring Frances Tomelty. Also in 1982, Lilley appeared in two other televised plays,
'Potato Head Blues' and the troubles rooted 'Billy Boy' with 'Z-Cars' star James Ellis. Lilley was
also a regular in ITV's ill-fated soap opera 'Albion Market'. She went on to appear in a wide
variety of television, from 'Minder', the 2009 adaptation of 'Emma' and 'Hetty Wainthrop
Investigates', to 'Grange Hill', 'The Famous Five' and 'The Catherine Tate Show'.
In the 1983 Agatha Christie adaptation 'The Man in the Mist'

In the young women offenders drama 'Scrubbers' (1983)
Film work has included 'Scrubbers' (1982), 'Ascendancy (1983), 'Priest' (1994), and 'The Terence
Davies Trilogy' (1983).
Her biggest recent TV role has been as Patty Croker in the Mancunian drama 'Shameless', but
she was also excellent in my very good friend Vic Templar's 2006 radio play 'Good Morning Mr
Borg' about the long hot summer of 1976 and a Wimbledon Championship played out in a
suburban back garden.
Valerie Lilley - imdb
Labels: actress, Agatha Christie, Albion Market, Ascendancy, Borg, Joan

Littlewood, Priest, Scrubbers,Shameless, Vic Templar
We d n e s d a y, 2 2 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 4
Brian Grellis
Brian Grellis:
A tall Northern actor with a distinctive, slightly crumpled face and often unruly hair, who
pops up in quite a few small roles as coppers and servicemen, but making something of a
speciality of the befuddled passer-by. You might recall him as the likeable, cricket-loving
vegetable pilferer in 'The Good Life', or as the unfortunate stranger lured to Terry's surprise
birthday party in 'Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?'.
In the WWII actioner 'Submarine X-1' (1968)

In the Tom Baker era Doctor Who adventure 'The Invisible Enemy'
A stalwart character actor, appearing in a number of stalwarts of British television: 'Minder',

'Z-Cars', 'Softly Softly', 'Bergerac', 'The Gentle Touch', etc. The chances are you've never
particularly noticed him, but he's been there all the same. Some middle-brow dramas too,
'Anna Karenina', 'War and Peace' and 'A Tale of Two Cities'. His cult TV tally includes 'Doctor
Who' (two stories from the Tom Baker era, one with Peter Davison), plus 'Jason King', 'The
Frighteners' and 'Survivors'.
Waiting for the big bang in the nuclear bomb drama 'Threads'
Sightings on the big screen are mostly in the war and spy genres, and often uncredited: 'On
Her Majesty's Secret Service' (1969), the forgotten Len Deighton story 'Only When I Larf'
(1968), and 'Submarine X-1' (1968), although he does get a speaking role in the latter.
Get your hair cut... Working at the Ministry
in 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' (1969).
He doesn't seem to have done much since the late-'80s, but I trust he is alive and well.
Brian Grellis-imdb

Labels: Bergerac, Brian Grellis, Get Some In, Good Life, Jason King, Likely Lads, Minder, On the Buses,Softly
Softly, Submarine X-1, The Frighteners, Threads
Tu e s d a y, 1 4 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 4
Kenneth Colley
Kenneth Colley:
A rather serious, flinty-looking character actor, verging on the hangdog at times, Ken Colley
has been a highly accomplished TV and film fixture for three decades, without ever quite
becoming a celebrity. His roles in big films include 'The Empire Strikes Back' (1980) and
'Return of the Jedi' (1983), Ken Russell's 'The Devils' (1971), 'Mahler' (1974) and 'Lisztomania'
(1975). He was the contract killer in Ari Karausmaki's 'I Hired a Contract Killer' (1990), and he
appears in the Slade movie 'Flame' 1975'. It's also him in the middle distance as the hardly-
audible Jesus in 'The Life of Brian', surely one of the classic bit-part credits of all time.
In the surprisingly gritty Slade rock saga, 'Flame' (1975)
Getting his collar felt by Patrick Mower in 'Special Branch' in 1974

His impressive TV resum includes some brilliant and varied work. In the '60s he went from
'The Avengers' - to playing Hitler in an 'Omnibus' special - to fronting children's programme
'Look and Read' as the quietly likeable Mr Moon. By the '70s he was to be spotted in 'The Rivals
of Sherlock Holmes', 'The Sweeney', 'The Protectors', 'Ripping Yarns' and 'Arthur of the
Britons', as well as paying the mortgage with the odd 'Crown Court', 'Z-Cars', 'Hazell' and
'Target'. And that's him as the haunted derelict accordion man in Dennis Potter's 'Pennies from
Heaven'.
Bringing information to the cunning and unscrupulous private detective,

Dorrington (Peter Vaughan) in 'The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes'
In more recent years, there are fewer highlights, perhaps, beyond the mini-series 'I Remember
Nelson', ironically now little-remembered, in which he played the great hero of Trafalgar. For
the most part it's a lot of 'Holby City', 'Midsomer Murders', 'Peak Practice', etc, and a stint on
'EastEnders'.
Here's an interesting oddity though, Ray Davies of the Kinks puts his nostalgic daydreamer's
view of London on to celluloid as the director of this hour-long movie:'Return to Waterloo'
(1984). Clichd to the point of self-parody, but Ken Colley is good.
Kenneth Colley-imdb
Labels: Avengers, Devils, Empire, Jedi, Ken Colley, Leia nude, Life of Brian, Lisztomania, Mahler, Nelson,Pennies
from Heaven, Ray Davies, Ripping Yarns, Slade Flame, Star Wars
S a t u r d a y, 11 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 4
Pauline Challoner
Pauline Challoner:
Slightly ashen and spooky doll-faced actress with a high forehead and expressive eyebrows,
unmemorable except perhaps as the spoilt Catalina in 'The House that Screamed' (1970),
where she got on the wrong side of sadistic finishing school head Lilli Palmer in full-on Joan
Crawford mode. She was another bratty type in 'The Gates of Paradise' (19 ), with a young
Jenny Agutter as her put-upon counterpart. In 'Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush' (1968)
she was in more conventional dolly-bird territory as Gloria, one of Barry Evans's passing
fancies.
Whining again, in the Crusades drama 'The Gates of Paradise' (1968)
As the daughter of Violette Szabo (Virginia McKenna) in

'Carve Her Name With Pride' (1958)
After a few cherubic child roles in the late '50s (her sister Carla was also a child actor), Pauline
seems to have found jobs a little thin on the ground. Perhaps her slightly disconcerting good
looks were a bit out of step with the fun-loving mini skirted girls who populate the swinging
output of the following decade, although she does appear in 'Here We Go Round the Mulberry
Bush' (1968) with the cheeky, pre-'Mind Your Language' Barry Evans. But rather as Barbara
Steele found success in the Italian horror market, Pauline Challoner seems to have appealed to
the makers of lurid thrillers in Spain, and her last f'ilm appearances include the aforementioned
'The House That Screamed' (aka 'La Residencia', 1969), 'La Ultima Viage' (1974), and 'Tocata Y
Fuga de Lolita' (1974). After that, she appears to have given up acting altogether.
'The House That Screamed' (1974)
Pauline Challoner-imdb
Labels: Carve Her Name with Pride, Hammer, Jenny Agutter, Lilli Palmer' Here We Go Round The Mulberry
Bush, Pauline Challoner, Residencia, Szabo, The Gates of Paradise, The House that Screamed,topless
T h u r s d a y, 9 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 4
Gary Watson
Gary Watson:
The cool, calculating and slightly malevolent gaze of Gary Watson was memorably employed
in 'The Avengers' - in four different stories between 1961 and 1968: 'Death on the Slipway',
'Immortal Clay', 'Lobster Quadrille' and 'Wish You Were Here'. He also shows up
in other ITC favourites of the '60s such as 'The Saint' and 'Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)', and
the 1967 Doctor Who adventure 'The Evil of the Daleks'. Other high-end TV productions
include the Anthony Hopkins 1972 version of 'War And Peace', the crime thriller series 'The
Hanged Man' and 'The Pallisers'.
In 'Murder Most English: The Flaxborough Chronicles'
He played the inscrutable Mr Ross in the BBC version of Colin Watson's 'Murder Most English'
and took the role of Aramis in 'The Three Musketeers' with Brian Blessed and Jeremy Young.
In the 'Thriller' drama series episode 'Once the Killing Starts''

In impressive whiskers for a UK/Canadian TV version of
the Sherlock Holmes story 'Silver Blaze'
A TV stalwart then, from the late '50s until the late '80s, but as far as I can tell, Gary Watson
never appeared in a feature film. He was to have been in Billy Wilder's 'The Private Life of
Sherlock Holmes' (1970), but his scenes were among many removed from the final cut. He
was, however, much employed as a reader and narrator after retiring from the screen, featuring
in dozens of commercials throughout the '80s and '90s, for British Transport Films, Lloyds Bank
and Nescafe amongst others.
Gary Watson-imdb
Labels: Aramis, Avengers, Billy Wilder, Colin Watson, Flaxborough, Gary Watson, Murder Most English,Randall and
Hopkirk, Sweeney, voiceover
We d n e s d a y, 8 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 4
Pauline Yates
Pauline Yates:
June 16, 1929 - January 21, 2015
Perhaps the ultimate sitcom housewife, an unobtrusive foil to comic turns from the late great
Leonard Rossiter in 'The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin' and, to a lesser extent, Robert
Gillespie in 'Keep it in the Family'. Pauline Yates became something of a middle aged pin-up
during the '70s (unbelievably, she was born in 1929) for her combination of sweet wifely loyalty
and brisk, unflappable sexiness.
In 'The Strange Report'

Earlier TV includes 'Emergency Ward 10' and 'My Honourable Mrs' an unlamented sitcom with
Derek Nimmo as a man whose wife enters Parliament. Ha ha, imagine that. She also had the
lead role in 'Harriet's Back in Town', a daytime soap made by Thames TV back in the early
'70s. She was in some old favourites of the time, like 'Bootsie and Snudge', 'The Strange
Report', 'The Human Jungle', 'Maigret', and some comedy like 'Hark at Barker' and 'Hancock'
('The Eye-Witness').
About to get the heave-ho from Dirk Bogarde in favour of

Julie Christie in 'Darling' (1965)
In the '80s and '90s she was seen in 'Rumpole' and the usual second-string dramas of 'Casualty',
'Kavanagh QC' and 'Doctors' as well as the strangely redundant post-Leonard Rossiter series
'The Legacy of Reginald Perrin' in 1996, in which the original cast members seem to wander
aimlessly around in search of their lost star.
'Harriet's Back in Town' with William Russell
There were a few film roles, but the only notable production was 'Darling' (1965). Pauline
Yates's finest professional moments have almost all been on the small screen and almost all
in 'Reggie Perrin', but it's a measure of that programme's lasting appeal that she is such a well-
loved actress. In real life, her husband was the respected actor Donald Churchill, who died in
1991, and their daughter Jemma Churchill is also an actress.
Update Jan 2015: Sad to hear that Pauline Yates died earlier this week.
Pauline Yates-imdb
Labels: Bootsie, Darling, Dirk Bogarde, Emergency Ward 10, Fall and Rise of Reginald
Perrin, Hancock,hippo, Human Jungle, Julie Christie, Keep It In The Family, Leonard Rossiter, Ronnie
Barker, Strange Report
M o n d a y, 6 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 4
Roy Dotrice
Roy Dotrice
A venerable and serious actor, but for some reason, not quite a superstar, despite an
acting CV that goes back to WWII and a who's who of co-stars. Although a member of the RSC
since it was called the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford, he is now probably better
known in the US, after moving there in the late '70s. As a result, he can be seen cropping up
in the likes of 'Remington Steele', 'Babylon 5', 'The A-Team', 'Hart to Hart', 'Magnum P.I.' and
'Murder She Wrote'. He was also in 'The Equalizer' with Edward Woodward - his real-life son-in-
law, husband of his daughter Michelle Dotrice of 'Some Mother's Do 'Ave 'Em' fame. A recent
boost has come through his portrayal of Hallyne in 'Game of Thrones'.
In 'Game of Thrones'
In earlier years, he was a regular on British screens, playing Charles Dickens in the much
admired 1976 TV series 'Dickens of London' and appearing in quality stuff like 'Clochemerle',
'The Wars of the Roses' and 'The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes' as Guy Boothby's raffish burglar
Simon Carne. As well as a steady stream of television plays, he also found time to appear in
fluffier stuff like 'Sykes', 'Space:1999' and even 'Jackanory'.
As the irascible Commissioner Simmonds in 'Space:1999'

As Israel Tonge in the strange 1978 BBC2 Play of the Week,
'Stargazy on Zummerdown' with Toni Arthur
In the execrable 'Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers' (1984)
His film credits also fall into two periods, the Pinewood and the Hollywood. He appears in 'The
Criminal' (1960), 'The Heroes of Telemark' (1965), Lionel Bart's 'Lock Up Your Daughters'
(1969), and the groovy sci-fi romp 'Toomorrow' (1970), with a bubblegum pop soundtrack by
Mark Barkan who wrote the Banana Splits theme. After heading to the states, he lends his
gravitas to some big (but not always classy) productions ranging from 'Amadeus (1984) and 'The
Scarlet Letter' (1996) to 'Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers' (1984), 'Hellboy II'
(2008) and of course the Hulk Hogan classic, 'Suburban Commando' (1991).
Roy Dotrice - imdb


Labels: Amadeus, Carmilla, Corsican Brothers, Game of Thrones, Michelle Dotrice, Space: 1999,Stargazy on
Zummerdown, Telemark, The Criminal, Toomorrow
S a t u r d a y, 4 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 4
Tim Barlow
Tim Barlow:
Somewhat ogre-ish in appearance with his deep-set eyes, heavy brows and broken nose, Tim
Barlow was, for a long time, one of the few profoundly deaf actors on our screens. His
deafness, caused while testing a rifle in the army during the '50s, leant his speech a
distinctive hollow timbre while his careful diction added a menacing, other-worldly element
to his characters when required. He must have been a shoo-in for the part of 'The BFG' in the
stage version produced at Wimbledon's Polka Dot Theatre, for example.
That facility was put to use in some of his TV appearances, notably 'Doctor Who' (as Engineer
Tyssan in the Tom Baker-era story 'Destiny of the Daleks') and in television dramas from 'The
Nearly Man', 'Wire in the Blood' and 'Secret Army' to 'Gormengast', 'Cracker' and 'My Uncle
Silas'. More lightweight fare includes 'Grange Hill', 'Crown Court' and 'Mike Bassett: Manager'.
His comedy roles include 'Inside Victor Lewis Smith', 'In Loving Memory' and Ricky Gervais's
slightly misjudged sitcom effort 'Derek'.
In the 1979 Doctor Who story 'Destiny of the Daleks'
In the cinema, you might have seen him in 'The Tall Guy' (1989) where he played a blind man
allergic to his guide-dog. Or more recently in 'Hot Fuzz' (2007) playing Mr Treacher, the
innocent-seeming old chap strolling the streets of Sandford. He also appears in 'The Eagle Has
Landed' (1976), the Liam Neeson version of 'Les Miserables' (1998) and a classic bit-part as
'samurai head slice zombie' in the comedy horror 'Cockneys vs Zombies' (2012).
As the landlord in 'The Eagle has Landed' (1976) with Donald Sutherland
I first saw him performing his one-man show 'My Army' while I was working at the Old Bull Arts
Centre in Barnet, North London. He was slightly intimidating at first, but turned out to be
thoroughly charming. As an aside, it's interesting to note that his hearing was partially restored
by cochlear implant in 2008.
Here's his showreel.
Tim Barlow-imdb
Labels: BFG, deaf, Destiny of the Daleks, Doctor Who, Grange Hill, Hot Fuzz, My Army, ogre, Old Bull Arts
Centre, shotgun, Tall Guy, The Eagle has Landed, Within These Walls
F r i d a y, 2 8 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 4
Robin Driscoll
Robin Driscoll:
One of the eminences grises of the British comedy establishment, Robin Driscoll is a key
part of the 'Mr Bean' franchise, which he co-writes, but he also turns up on-screen once in a
while. He's occasionally seen in 'Bean' episodes, often uncredited, as a 'man in queue',
'patient in waiting room' or 'ticket collector', fulfilling the need for an expert foil for
Atkinson's rubbery star turn.
A fare-dodging Mr Bean (Rowan Atkinson) attempts
the nonchalant approach on Robin Driscoll
You might also remember him as one of 'The Fat Sweaty Coppers' - the piss-take of 'The Bill'
on 'The Fast Show', which neatly recalled his rare starring role in the '80s police sitcom
'Mornin' Sarge' in which he played Ted, a fat sweaty copper of the old school. An earlier
comedy series with many of the same cast members was the 1984 sci-fi spoof, 'They Came
From Somewhere Else'. It's dated now, but behind the student politics, hair gel and clonky
'Comic Strip' satire, there's a lot that points the way towards the comedy of Simon Pegg and
Co that was to follow. (You can watch it in all its murky VHS glory here.)
In 'They Came From Somewhere Else'

In a 'Mornin Sarge' episode from 1989
His TV comedy connections have seen him pop up in a few small roles over the years, such
as 'Alas Smith and Jones', 'Colin's Sandwich', 'Murder Most Horrid', 'The Smell of Reeves &
Mortimer', and 'Chef', which seems to suggest that he's a fun bloke to have on set as well as a
comedic craftsman.
Robin Driscoll-imdb
Labels: Colin's Sandwich, Fat Sweaty Coppers, Mornin Sarge, Morons from Outer Space, Mr Bean, Only Fools and
Horses, Ramondo, Robin Driscoll, The Fast Show, Vic Reeves
Tu e s d a y, 2 5 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 4
Elissa Derwent
Elissa Derwent
What became of Elissa Derwent? An attractive bit-part actress of the early '70s, who turns up
in a few BBC comedies like 'Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads', 'The Liver Birds', 'Some
Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em' and 'Open All Hours' (pictured above, looking a bit like Jenny Agutter and
making Granville fall off his bike), her last documented TV appearance was in a small role in
'Forgive Our Foolish Ways' a 1980 BBC drama about a girl who falls for a German POW in at the
end of the war.
Mistaking Colin (Brian Grellis) for Terry in the 'Birthday Boy'

episode of 'Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads'
Another misunderstanding. As the librarian dealing with

apparent sex-pest Frank Spencer in 'Some Mothers...'.
Further researches draw a bit of a blank, but I wonder if she's the same Elissa Derwent who
wrote this book on spiritualism:
'For Whom the Cup Has Flowed: Received from the Spiritual and Angelic Realms Through the
Mind of Elissa Derwent'. (Currently out of stock at Amazon).
Heaven knows.
Elissa Derwent-imdb
Labels: Doctor on the Go, Likely Lads, Open All Hours, Some Mothers Do Ave Em, spiritualism,spiritualist, Within
These Walls
F r i d a y, 1 4 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 4
Roger Ashton-Griffiths
Roger Ashton-Griffiths:
The name might mean nothing to you, but pale and jowly Roger Ashton-Griffiths has appeared
in a number of high-profile films, including Terry Gilliam's 'The Brothers Grimm' and 'Brazil',
Martin Scorsese's 'Gangs of New York' (playing Phineas T Barnum), Roman Polanski's 'Pirates',
Peter Greenaway's 'The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover' and Woody Allen's 'You Will
Meet a Tall Dark Stranger'.
Originally trained as a singer, he was a member of the ENO before making his TV debut as a
red-painted demon in an episode of 'The Young Ones' alongside the late David Rappaport. This
seems to have led directly into a steady stream of work from the mid-'80s onwards.
As Orgo the Demon in 'The Young Ones'
As well as the big cinema names listed above, he was seen in a roll-call of some of the most
popular, if not always primetime, television of the last three decades: ' Young Indiana Jones
Chronicles', 'Cadfael', 'The Darling Buds of May', 'C.A.T.S. Eyes', 'Lovejoy', 'Grange Hill' and
inevitably, 'The Bill'. Recent interesting parts have included 'Torchwood' and that great
salvation for the British character actor, 'Game of Thrones' in which he plays high
lord something-or-other Mace Tyrell.
In the Matthew Holness short 'A Gun for George' (2011)

As Dr Johnson in 'Samuel Johnson: The Dictionary Man'
Other appearances include the very dark comedy short (by 'Garth Marenghi's Darkplace'
maverick Matthew Holness) 'A Gun For George'. He is also cast as Alfred Hitchcock in Olivier
Dahan's forthcoming 'Grace of Monaco' (2014), which sounds interesting, not least for having
Robert Lindsay playing Aristotle Onassis.
Roger Ashton-Griffiths-imdb
Labels: A very British Sex Scandal, actor, Brazil, Cadfael, Game of Thrones, Gangs of New York, Grace of
Monaco, Greenaway, Ivanhoe, King Ralph, Orgo, Polanski, Samuel Johnson, Shadowlands, The Young
Ones, Torchwood
Tu e s d a y, 11 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 4
Gay Soper
Gay Soper:
Multi-talented actress and singer Gay Soper is a doyenne of the musical theatre, but has a few
interesting points of contact with British TV and film. Her stage career includes the original
London production of 'Godspell' with David Essex, Julie Covington, Marti Webb and Jeremy
Irons, and playing Mme Thenardier in 'Les Miserables' on the West End.
As Janice, the short-sighted barmaid in 'Bless This House'

Eee, it's 'The Flumps'. Oh Pootle, you are silly.
On TV, she can be seen in the later series of 'Romany Jones', when the writers brought in a
posh neighbour couple in place of the late James Beck. Played by Gay Soper and Jonathan
Cecil, they provided the comic contrast to rough-and-ready Arthur Mullard and Queenie
Watts, with city clerk Cecil bringing in a measly 22 a week and Mullard on five times as much
as a manual labourer with a few scams on the side.
Jonathan Cecil seems less keen on leaving his mother's house

for the romantic caravan lifestyle, in 'Romany Jones'.
She also appears in several sitcoms: 'Bless This House', 'Never The Twain', and she co-starred
in 'Rude Health' as the wife of put-upon GP John Wells. But perhaps her most lasting claim to
television fame came with her narration and singing for the tiny tot series 'The Flumps', about
a family of fuzzy Yorkshire gonks living in a desolate moorland cottage.
With John Wells in Channel 4's 'Rude Health'
Movie-wise, there's not too much to report, although she does get to do a striptease for Dickie
Attenborough and get spanked by Bob Todd in 'The Ups and Downs of a Handyman' (1976)
which starred her then-husband, Barry Stokes. Perhaps unsurprisingly, neither it, nor the X-
rated 'Love is a Splendid Illusion' (1970), gets a mention on her website.
Gay Soper-imdb
Labels: Bless this House, Bob Todd, Father Dear Father, Gay Soper, John Wells, Love is a Splendid Illusion, Romany
Jones, Rude Health, sex comedy, The Flumps, Ups and Downs of a Handyman
S a t u r d a y, 1 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 4
Duggie Brown
Duggie Brown:
A popular turn on the club circuit in the late '60s and early '70s, chubby-faced comic Duggie
Brown made an unusual transition to cinema and TV in serious and comedy roles after his brief
appearance in Ken Loach's 'Kes'. He went on to feature in some of the typically gritty TV plays of
the early '70s including 'Another Sunday and Sweet FA', 'Rank and File', Play for Today 'The
Price of Coal', and 'The Hard Word'. All the while, he was also appearing on Granada
Television's 'The Comedians' performing the presumably less blue parts of his club act for
teatime TV audiences.
He had the title role in kitchen-sink doyenne Shelagh Delaney's six-part BBC series 'The House
That Jack Built', which appears to be a victim of the corporation's disastrous tape-wiping
stinginess. Shame if it hasn't survived, sounds like something of a lost gem.
In the 1977 Play for Today, 'The Price of Coal'
I first recall him in the rather downbeat modelling-agency sitcom, 'The Glamour Girls', written
by Reggie Perrin creator David Nobbs. It also featured our old friend James Warrior, not to
mention Brigit Forsyth as a slightly neurotic model constantly at odds with her bubbly blonde
colleague played by Sally Watts.
In a recent TV interview.
Less chubby of face these days, he has also had parts in 'The Bill', 'All Creatures Great and
Small', 'Minder', 'Ellington' 'Heartbeat', 'Common as Muck' and is one of the few actors to have
appeared in 'Coronation Street', 'Brookside' and 'EastEnders'.
Trivia: He helmed the ITV Saturday morning kids' show 'The Mersey Pirate' - a desolate relation
of Tiswas - filmed on board a cold and draughty boat on Liverpool Docks.
More trivia: His sister, the late Lynne Perrie, was famous as Ivy Tilsley on 'Coronation Street'.
The family resemblance is quite marked.
Duggie Brown-imdb
Labels: Comedians, Coronation Street, Duggie Brown, EastEnders, Glamour girls, House That Jack Built,Kes, Lynne
Perrie, Minder, Shelagh Delaney, The House of Cards, The Price of Coal
We d n e s d a y, 2 6 M a r c h 2 0 1 4
Dominic Jephcott
Dominic Jephcott:
Elegant and refined-looking actor who got his first biggish break in the 1979 TV film version of
'All Quiet on the Western Front' as one of the comrades of Richard Thomas (of John-Boy
Walton fame) in the Imperial German Army. He also makes an appearance in the British low-
budget 'Alien' cash-in, 'Inseminoid' (1981) although he comes a cropper about five minutes in.
In 'All Quiet on the Western Front' (1979)

'Inseminoid' (1981)
For the greater part of his acting career, he has been a TV stalwart, seen in everything from
soaps and potboilers like 'Emmerdale', 'Holby City', 'Casualty' and 'Doctors', to cosy crime
classics 'Midsomer Murders', 'Ruth Rendell Mysteries' and 'Agatha Christie: Poirot'. My
particular favourite is Hobson, his enthusiastic graduate policeman in the 'Beiderbecke' series.
With his bewildered theories on individualists and 'unusual, possibly illegal' behaviour, he
provides the perfect antagonist to Alan Plater's easy going liberal heroes played by James
Bolam and Barbara Flynn.
In 'Midsomer Murders'
Dominic Jephcott -imdb

Labels: A Fine Romance, All Quiet on the Western Front, Beiderbecke Affair, Beiderbecke Connection,Beiderbecke
Tapes, Inseminoid, Jewel in the Crown, Midsomer Murders
Tu e s d a y, 1 5 A p r i l 2 0 1 4
Nicholas Smith
Nicholas Smith:
5 March 1934 6 December 2015*
Some actors are so strongly associated with one character that their own name becomes
almost irrelevant. Such is the case with Nicholas Smith, or Mr Rumbold, as you almost
certainly said when you opened this page. As the ineffectual menswear department manager
of Grace Bros, he was the stooge and feed man for the endless innuendo and banter of the
cast of 'Are You Being Served?'. The pilot episode was originally rejected by the BBC, but was
screened as filler during the 1972 Olympics following the Black September terrorist attack. A
series followed and it ran for ten seasons until finally getting the axe in 1985. He also showed
up for the dreary spin-off, 'Grace and Favour'. Perhaps he gets the last laugh though, as he is
the only regular member of the cast still with us in 2014.
An unlikely bad guy in 'The Avengers'
He's done other stuff, of course. He appears in the early 'Doctor Who' story 'Dalek Invasion of
Earth' with William Hartnell, and he had a regular mid-'70s stint in 'Z-Cars' as PC Yates. He's
in a couple of classic 'Avengers' (the Mrs Peel era 'Escape in Time' and the Tara King episode
'The Super Secret Cypher Snatch'), as well as 'The Champions' and 'The Saint' (including the
long-forgotten, low-budget 1968 movie spin-off 'The Fiction Makers').
Coming a cropper after failing to assassinate Alexandra Bastedo

in an episode of 'The Champions'
To that we can add, 'The Frost Report', 'The Freewheelers', 'Ace Of Wands', 'The Sweeney',
'The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes' and 'Budgie'. Recently he has provided voices for the 'Wallace
& Gromit' movies, but earlier on there were a few visible cinema roles, including 'The Twelve
Chairs (1970), John Huston's 'A Walk with Love and Death' (1969), and the Sammy Davis
Jr/Peter Lawford romp 'Salt & Pepper' (1968), although perhaps after the success of 'Are You
Being Served?' it became difficult to cast him against type, ie Rumbold.
In the Mel Brooks comedy 'The Twelve Chairs' (1970)
*update Dec 7, 2015: Really very sad to mark the passing of Nicholas Smith. He was one of
the most fascinatingly underrated of the actors I researched for this blog.
Nicholas Smith - imdb

Labels: Are You Being Served, Avengers, Champions, Daleks, Dear Sexy Knickers, Mel Brooks, Mr Rumbold, Nicholas
Smith, Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, Salt & Pepper, Sammy Davis Jr, Twelve Chairs
S u n d a y, 1 3 A p r i l 2 0 1 4
Sally Geeson
Sally Geeson:
Ah yes. The almost impossibly pert Sally Geeson, always giving Sid James attacks of fatherly
apoplexy in 'Bless This House' with her mini skirts and innocent entendres. Perhaps of all the
dolly-bird era stars, Sally Geeson has most consciously elected to preserve her image in
amber, having vanished from our screens in 1976.
In 'Man In A Suitcase'
The younger sister of Judy Geeson, she was in three Carry On films - although just a nameless
extra in Carry On Regardless (1963) - being more memorable in 'Carry On Girls' (1974) and
'Carry On Abroad' (1972), two of the coarser late efforts in which she shines as the wholesome
variety of 'crumpet'. I can hardly bring myself to recall the dreadful Norman Wisdom vehicle
'What's Good for the Goose' (1967), with the middle-aged star as a supposedly urbane married
businessman who is drawn into the 'bewildering amoral world of free love'. The period detail
is interesting - including R&B wildmen The Pretty Things in a club scene - but you still expect
him to start shouting 'Mr Grimsdale!' despite the ponderous soul-searching and Carnaby Street
clobber. Hats off to Miss Geeson for her gleeful performance in the face of such a
challenge. And while we're on the subject of horrors, she also appears in 'The Oblong Box'
(1969) and more fleetingly in 'The Cry of the Banshee' (1970), both featuring Vincent Price.
One of the excruciating bedroom scenes in the painfully awkward Norman Wisdom
meets Swinging London comedy 'What's Good for the Goose' (1967)
As the rather reckless maid in 'The Oblong Box (1969)
On the small screen, it's mostly sunny smiles and hot pants to the fore in 'Bless This House',
after a few roles in things like 'Man In A Suitcase', The Strange Report' 'Z-Cars', and 'Softly,
Softly'. She still looks lovely and, according to her website, she's planning a comeback -
hopefully something even more substantial than her current role as the face of Anglian Home
Improvements. Let's hope so.
A sweet young thing in 'The Strange Report'
Sally Geeson-imdb
Labels: '60s, '70s, Bless this House, Carry On Abroad, Carry On Girls, Cry of the Banshee, dolly bird, hot pants, Man
in a Suitcase, mini skirt, Norman Wisdom, Oblong Box, What's Good for the Goose'
F r i d a y, 11 A p r i l 2 0 1 4
Tony Caunter
Tony Caunter:
Broad and brawny actor, now most familiar as Roy Evans in 'EastEnders' - the genial car
salesman who stepped into the shoes of his rogueish counterpart Frank Butcher (Mike Reid) -
in fact Tony Caunter has played his small part in some of the best of British cinema and
television.
Tony Caunter in 'The Likely Lads': a classic tragicomic moment. Terry reluctantly
joins the Army to stick with his mate Bob, who is sent home because of his flat feet.
You could, for example, have seen him in a host of cult classics, from 'The Avengers', 'The
Saint' and 'The Champions' in the '60s, through to 'The Professionals', 'The Sweeney' and
'Minder', not to mention fanboy favourites like 'Catweazle', 'Blakes 7', and of course 'Doctor
Who' (in three stories: 'The Crusade', 'Colony in Space' and 'Enlightenment') .
As Kenneth Cope's exasperated site manager in 'Catweazle'.
'He that moves the Wogle Stone, all alone shall moan and groan.'
He's in some well-regarded drama, including 'Pennies From Heaven', as well as more
humdrum stuff such as 'London's Burning', 'Home to Roost', 'Queenie's Castle', 'Howards' Way',
'Lovejoy', 'May to December', 'Boon', 'Heartbeat', 'Z-Cars', 'Juliet Bravo', 'Holby City', 'The Main
Chance', and the short-lived BBC seaside family-feud 'Westbeach'.
Keeping an eye on Harry Palmer in 'The Ipcress File' (1965)
In the cinema, he crops up in the harrowing military prison drama 'The Hill' (1965) with Sean
Connery and Ian Hendry, and has an appropriately blink-and-you'll-miss-it role as a
surveillance man in 'The Ipcress File' (1965). All pretty cosy compared with life in Albert
Square with Pat Butcher and family.
'EastEnders' with Pam St Clement.
Tony Caunter - imdb

Labels: Avengers, Blakes 7, Boon, Catweazle, Doctor Who, EastEnders. Roy Evans, Ipcress File, Likely
Lads, Lovejoy, Minder, Pennies from Heaven, Sweeney, The Hill, Titanic, Westbeach
We d n e s d a y, 9 A p r i l 2 0 1 4
Jennifer Daniel
Jennifer Daniel:
In the era of the dolly-bird actress, Jennifer Daniel radiated a seriousness and intensity that set
her aside from other attractive blondes of the period. She was often cast in roles in thrillers and
horrors that required a lot more reaction to disquieting situations and creeping paranoia than
swinging a plastic bag down fun-loving, fancy-free Carnaby Street.
Early television roles included literary fare such as her portrayal of Ophelia in the 1961 ITV
version of 'Hamlet' opposite Barry Foster, and as Dolly Varden in the previous year's 'Barnaby
Rudge'. Her dignified good looks also found her playing Beauty in 'Beauty and the Beast' and
Lady Edith in 'Richard the Lionheart'. As the '60s rolled on, there were more cop shows and
ITC action series like the almost forgotten 'Ghost Squad' as well as 'Gideon's Way', 'Adam
Adamant Lives!' and 'The Mask of Janus' with her then-husband Dinsdale Landen. She was
also the female lead in the Francis Durbridge-penned detective serial, 'A Man Called Harry
Brent' of which nothing seems to have survived.
In the 'Thriller' episode 'Spell of Evil'
The British film industry's mini-boom of the '60s saw her appear in Hammer favourites like
'The Kiss of the Vampire' (1963) and 'The Reptile' (1966) in which she represented the opposite
of her sensually dangerous co-star Jacqueline Pearce. As often seems to be the case with
Hammer's female stars, a long period in the film wilderness followed, and perhaps persists,
despite recent roles in the Juliette Binoche 'Wuthering Heights' (1992) and the film version of
Ray Cooney's farce 'Run for Your Wife' (2012) with (shudder) Danny Dyer and Denise van
Outen.
As Mrs Lennox, bewildered by Hyacinth in 'Keeping Up Appearances'.
As the '60s gave way to the '70s, a slew of middlebrow and mid-table TV appearances came and
went, including: 'Doomwatch', 'Softly, Softly'-spinoff 'Barlow', 'Duchess of Duke Street', the
interesting boarding-house drama 'Rooms', and the RF Delderfield's wartime saga 'People Like
Us'. Less prestigious were her regular role in the medical soap 'General Hospital' and hectic kid's
favourite 'Here Come the Double Deckers!'
More recently she's been seen in the Customs & Excise drama 'The Collectors', 'Keeing Up
Appearances' and 'Rumpole of the Bailey'. She still seems to be working and I'm surprised she
hasn't been snapped up by the 'Game of Thrones' or 'Downton Abbey' machines for her
diamond-edged gravitas. Maybe that will come.
Jennifer Daniel - imdb

Labels: Adam Adamant, Clemens, Dinsdale Landen, Duchess of Duke Street, Hammer, Jacqueline Pearce,Kiss of the
Vampire, Run for Your Wife, The Reptile, Thriller, Van der Valk
M o n d a y, 2 6 M a y 2 0 1 4
Josephine Tewson
Josephine Tewson:
A charming perennial of British TV comedy, Josephine Tewson is probably most easily spotted
these days in the perpetual repeats of 'Keeping Up Appearances', in which she plays the
sensitive and genteel Elizabeth, driven to the edge of neurotic despair by her appalling social-
climbing neighbour.
In an episode of 'The Champions'
Her early career led from RADA to Bristol rep in the late '50s, where she met and married
Leonard Rossiter in 1959, although they divorced in 1961. The first half of the '60s saw her in
a few serials and television plays, but by the end of the decade she had carved a niche
playing opposite comedians. Charlie Drake, Dick Emery, Jimmy Tarbuck, satire-period David
Frost and, above all, Ronnie Barker, cast her regularly in their TV series, utilising her
effortless ability to play everything from glamorous countesses to goggling charladies
Soon to be bumped off by dashing serial killer Michael Jayston in the

Brian Clemens 'Thriller' episode, 'A Coffin for the Bride'.
The '70s and '80s saw her make her mark in sitcom-land, the better of those being the
splendidly cynical 'Shelley' with Hywel Bennett, and old pal Ronnie Barker's curiously
understated period piece 'Clarence'. Some of the less splendid include 'Terry & June', 'No
Appointment Necessary' (something of a flop, despite starring Roy Kinnear), and the pitiful
'Odd Man Out' with John Inman as the hapless boss of a seaside rock factory. Fortunately,
Hyacinth and her endless gaffes were just around the corner. The geriatric japes of 'Last of
the Summer Wine' have been a more recent development, with a regular role as Miss
Davenport the librarian.
Not sure what to make of Ronnie Barker's coarse but sincere
removals man in the first episode of 'Clarence'.
There are a couple of small roles in interesting, if not particularly funny, comedy films on her CV
too. She's in the now generally forgotten Cleese and Chapman effort 'The Strange Case of the
End of the World as We Know It' (1977), and she plays a nun of the Order of St Beryl, as Pete
and Dud milk their old gag in the misfiring Holmes spoof 'The Hound of the Baskervilles'
(1978).
Josephine Tewson - imdb

Labels: Baskervilles, Clarence, Dick Emery, Hywel Bennett, Josephine Tewson, Keeping Up Appearances,Peter
Cook, Ronnie Barker, Roy Kinnear, Shelley, Tarbuck, Wilt
Tu e s d a y, 2 0 M a y 2 0 1 4
Denis Lill
Denis Lill:
New Zealander Denis Lill has worked his trademark combination of 'tache and balding pate
into some of the most popular British TV since the early '70s. There are some iconic period
dramas, like 'Edward VII', 'Lillie', 'Fall Of Eagles', 'The Gathering Storm' and 'Madame Bovary'.
Then there are the popular action series, including 'Z-Cars', 'Softly Softly Task Force',
'Survivors', 'The Professionals' and 'Van Der Valk'.
A rare appearance without the trademark moustache in
the TV sensation of 1976, 'Rock Follies'.
In 'Fall of Eagles' as Prince Frederick III, son-in-law of

Queen Victoria and father of the future Kaiser Wilhelm
He has a talent for comedy too. There have been roles in some of the better class ofgentle
humour, such as 'Moody & Pegg' (with Judy Cornwell), the rarefied delights of 'Mapp & Lucia',
'Blackadder III', 'Yes, Prime Minister', 'Outside Edge' and Paul Merton's rather pointless
revisiting of Galton and Simpson's 'Impasse' sketch from 'The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins'
(1971), in which he took the Keith Smith part as the RAC Man.
As the permanently sozzled Major Benjy Flint in 'Mapp & Lucia'. Seen here with
the great character actor Geoffrey Chater, playing Mr Algernon Wyse.
Unusually, there have been a comparatively few run-of-the-mill soapy dramas and duff
comedies, it's mostly inoffensive primetime stuff and the repeat fees must be continually
landing on his doormat. See for example, 'The Royal', 'Only Fools and Horses', 'Red Dwarf',
'Casualty' and 'Heartbeat'.
As senior surgeon Mr Rose in 'The Royal'
Trivia point: he was in 'Batman' (1989), perhaps in the unique instance of a stand-in for a
cameo. Original Batman creator Bob Kane was cast as the cartoonist on the Gotham Globe but
couldn't make the filming.
Denis Lill-imdb
Labels: bald, Batman, Denis Lill, Edward VII, Evita, moustache, New Zealand, Only Fools and Horses,Outside
Edge, Rock Follies, The Royal
We d n e s d a y, 1 4 M a y 2 0 1 4
Deddie Davies
Deddie Davies:
Veteran Welsh character actress, of the type to be cast in the role of the tearful spinster,
timid housekeeper, prim postmistress or faithful nurse. She was pretty ubiquitous during the
'70s and '80s, but still pops up occasionally, for example in the Ruth Jones comedy, 'Stella'.
Her best known roles were in that perennial family favourite 'The Railway Children' (1970) and
the rather less well loved 'The Amazing Mr Blunden' (1972), and since then films have been
few and far between. You probably missed the Richard E Grant luvvie-com 'Food Of Love'
(1997) - and Martin Freeman in 'Swinging With The Finkels' (2008) - and the star-studded,
Michael Palin-scripted misfire 'Consuming Passions' (1988).
As Mrs Perks in 'The Railway Children' (1970)
In 'The Hosptial', an episode of 'Some Mothers do 'Ave 'Em'
On television, she was picked up for some prestigious and popular drama series, such as
'Clochemerle', 'The Forsyte Saga', 'The Pickwick Papers', 'Vanity Fair' and 'The Mayor of
Casterbridge' - and TV movies like 'The Canterville Ghost'. At the same time, her nervy and
birdlike characters were much in demand for prosaic comedies like 'The Rag Trade', 'My
Husband and I', 'My Old Man', 'Some Mothers...' etc. Better things were in store with a post-'80s
spurt that included 'Jeeves & Wooster', 'Waiting For God' and a sprinkling of cosy crime
favourites via Agatha Christie to Midsomer. Not forgetting some bravura sniffling as Brenda
Blethyn's mother in 'Chance In A Million'.
Following on from the good vibes of 'The Railway Children', she has been a stalwart of kids' TV
for many years. Keep an eye out for her among the eye-ache inducing video effects of 'The
Phoenix and the Carpet', plus 'Just William', 'Grange Hill' and more recently 'Woof!' and
'Bernard's Watch'.
Deddie Davies-imdb
Labels: Amazing Mr Blunden, Chance in a Million, Deddie Davies, Get Some In, Grange Hill, Rag Trade,Ruth
Jones, Stella, the Railway Children, Welsh, Zimmers
We d n e s d a y, 2 5 J u n e 2 0 1 4
Robert East
Robert East:
A trim and businesslike character actor, probably still familiar to many as Edmund's elder
brother, the smug Prince of Wales in the first incarnation of 'The Black Adder'. By that time
(1983), Robert East had been seen in a fair number of television roles. He was in the BBC's
1972 adaptation of 'Emma' as the rakish Frank Churchill, and in 'Warship', 'Churchill's People',
and 'Napoleon and Love'. A smattering of comedy parts includes; 'Dave Allen at Large', 'Moody
& Pegg', 'Happy Ever After' and the long-lost Stephen Potter-inspired comedy 'One-Upmanship'
with Richard Briers and Peter Jones.
In the 'did you fart?' sketch from 'Dave Allen at Large'
As he matured in looks, casting directors found him a popular choice for more patrician
characters, and he can be seen in 'Rumpole of the Bailey', 'Miss Marple' and 'London's Burning',
while still handling a wide range of comedy from the sophisticated: 'Yes, Minister', 'Yes, Prime
Minister' and the aforementioned 'The Black Adder', to the more infantile: 'The Kenny Everett
Television Show', 'Rentaghost', and 'Allo Allo'.
The steely face of the establishment, as Dolby in 'Spooks'
In recent years, the dull potage of potboiler cop and doctor drama series ('Heartbeat', 'Peak
Practice', Holby City')has been peppered with tastier morsels such as the 2003 modernised
version of 'Canterbury Tales' and the silly but entertaining secret service series 'Spooks', or 'MI-
5' as it now calls itself.
Robert East-imdb
Labels: Black Adder, Dave Allen at Large, Dolby, Emma, MI-5, Moody & Pegg, Napoleon, One
Upmanship,Rentaghost, Robert East, Spooks, Twe Minister, Warship
F r i d a y, 2 0 J u n e 2 0 1 4
Stephen Bent
Stephen Bent:
Yes, that one
Apart from being the genius behind this classic single, he's a rarely-idle character actor with a
stocky build, and often a droopy moustache, who has been spotted in an impressive array of
comedy and drama on our screens over the years. To give you an idea, he's been in 'Doctors'
about once every couple of years, playing six different characters so far.
As the car dealer only able to offer 'Blue Marigold' Toyah Willcox
900 for her E-Type Jaguar in 'Tales of The Unexpected'
In the '70s he was typically cast as a long haired youth, in the likes of 'Follyfoot', 'The Lovers', 'Z
Cars' and Jack Rosenthal's amateur football play 'Sunday Morning and Sweet FA', but as he
filled out a little he became associated with a string of parts as workmen, uniformed plod,
barmen, prison warders, petty criminals and shortlived boyfriends in shows including 'The
Sweeney', 'The Professionals', 'Angels', 'Target' and 'The Liver Birds'.
In 'City Slacker' (2012), wedged between Tom Conti and Christopher Ryan
In the '80s he seemed to be in almost everything: 'Minder', 'Bergerac', 'Lovejoy', 'Tales of the
Unexpected', 'Juliet Bravo', 'Brush Strokes', and 'Casualty'. Then there were the soaps of
course, a fairly full set of 'Crossroads' (ATV were connected via the show 'New Faces' to the
Bradley's record label who released 'I'm Going To Spain'), 'Coronation Street', 'EastEnders' and
latterly 'Emmerdale' in which he played the seemingly ordinary chap who turns out to be a
rapist, Derek Benrose. Since then, you can add 'Truckers', 'My Family', 'Wire In The Blood' and
'Life On Mars' among others.
As the creepy Derek in 'Emmerdale'

He was in a few feature films, 'McVicar' (1980), the Vinnie Jones prison football nonsense 'Mean
Machine' (2001), 'Ali G In Da House' (2002), 'Les Miserables' (2012), and City Slacker (2012),
and he appeared in that supremely odd TV series 'Kinvig' with that other character actor
somewhat in the same vein, Tony Haygarth.
But mainly, this:

'I'm Going To Spain'
Stephen Bent-imdb
Labels: Ali G, ATV, Blue Marigold, Crossroads, Emmerdale, I'm Going to Spain, mcvicar, Stephen Bent,Steve
Bent, Sweeney, Tales of the Unexpected, The Fall, Toyah
F r i d a y, 1 3 J u n e 2 0 1 4
Pauline Moran
Pauline Moran:
As far as I can ascertain, Pauline Moran is only now about to appear in her first big screen
role, in Alan Rickman's period drama, 'A Little Chaos'. As well as directing, Rickman appears as
Louis XIV and Kate Winslet plays Versailles landscape architect Madame Sabine De Barra. I
don't know what part the most excellent Pauline Moran will play but, after a long career in
television, it seems overdue.
AstheestimableMissLemoninanepisodeof'Poirot'
Best known as Hercule Poirot's resourceful and efficient secretary, Miss Lemon, in 32 episodes
of the long-running series of dramatisations starring David Suchet, she has given the part a lot
more sassiness than Agatha Christie wrote into the rather severe and spinsterish character.
Which isn't to say that there isn't a touch of severity about Ms Moran's attractive features. Her
austere good looks have graced such roles as the memorable Cleopatra Berenike in the
slightly hysterical 1983 BBC series 'The Cleopatras', while other famous actors made poor
headway against the tide of comical costumes and novel video tricks.
A first glimpse of 'The Lady In Black'

In the 1981 version of Ford Madox Ford's 'The Good Soldier'
She was cast as the disquieting spectre in the 1989 TV version of 'The Lady In Black', but also
as the frail and vulnerable Maisie Maiden, deceived by the suave Jeremy Brett in the
Edwardian period drama 'The Good Soldier'. Other appearances include 'Nicholas Nickleby'
(the 1977 Nigel Havers one), DH Lawrence's 'The Trespasser', and an episode of Jim Henson's
'The Storyteller' that saw her play the kindly queen to evil king Philip Jackson, later to be
Poirot's Scotland Yard connection, Inspector Japp.
A year before her Poirot debut, with Philip Jackson in 'The Storyteller'
Trivia: In her early twenties she was the bass player in the all-girl rock group She
Trinity (sometimes known in Europe as British Maid), and nowadays she is also a professional
astrologer. Get your own personal chart from her here.
With all-girl rock group
She Trinity in the late '60s.
Pauline Moran - imdb

Labels: A Little Chaos, British Maid, Cleopatras, David Suchet, Griffin, Lady In Black, Miss Lemon,Nickleby, Pauline
Moran, Poirot, She Trinity, The Good Soldier, The Storyteller
We d n e s d a y, 11 J u n e 2 0 1 4
Peter Bland
Peter Bland:
An unassuming name for an accomplished actor who has managed to become a highly
recognisable TV fixture without ever achieving widespread fame. With his fleshy, expressive
face and hefty build, he has appeared in a wide variety of roles from foreign potentates and
hearty policemen to dishevelled drunks and sleek confidence tricksters. He was born in
Yorkshire, but emigrated to New Zealand in the '50s. In addition to acting, he is a well known
poet and playwright in his adopted homeland, founding the Downstage Theatre Company in
Wellington before heading back to London at the end of the '60s.
There have been a few movie roles; starting with saucy '70s British comedies 'A Touch of The
Other' (1970) and 'Don't Just Lie There, Say Something!' (1973), and more recently as a major
player in some New Zealand-produced films, such as 'Came A Hot Friday (1985), 'Dangerous
Orphans' (1985), 'Queen City Rocker', and 'Savage Play' (1995).
In the popular New Zealand movie 'Came A Hot Friday' (1985)
The '70s was a busy time for him, having joined the Bristol Old Vic, meeting farceur Brian Rix
and finding his feet in television comedy and drama. He appeared in Rix's political sitcom
series 'Men of Affairs', and in 'Dave Allen at Large', as well as the groundbreaking black family
comedy 'The Fosters' and the BBC adaptation of 'The Old Curiosity Shop' which starred Trevor
Peacock as Mr Quilp.
As Charlie the shotgun-toting Greek-Cypriot in 'Minder'
The '80s extended his repertoire, with roles in 'Minder', Victorian police procedural 'Cribb',
and light comedy in the regular casts of 'Kelly Monteith' and 'Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV'.
He was also the guv'nor in the Steve Frost and Mark Arden (you remember, 'I bet he drinks
Carling Black Label') cop spoof 'Lazarus & Dingwall'.
As the music hall proprietor Samuel Plunkett in 'Cribb'
To find out more about Peter Bland's poetry, click here.

Peter Bland-imdb
Labels: Came a Hot Day, Cribb, Dangerous Orphans, Don't Just Lie There, Downstage, Lazarus and
Dingwall, Minder, Murder Most Horrid, New Zealand, Peter Bland, Say Something, Shillingbury Tales
S u n d a y, 8 J u n e 2 0 1 4
Jeffrey Segal
Jeffrey Segal:
A true veteran actor, born in 1920, who made his film debut in the sympathetic British version
of 'Jew Suss' (1934) with Conrad Veidt. Now generally sullied and overshadowed by the
antisemitic version made by the Nazis in 1940, it was London-born Jeffrey Segal's only
appearance until the late '50s when he began to act for television.
Not convinced by Commander Straker's accounts in 'UFO'
By the mid-'60s he'd been seen in such popular shows as 'Emergency-Ward 10', 'No Hiding
Place', the BBC adaptation of 'Barnaby Rudge', 'The Forsyte Saga', 'Softly Softly' and a single
episode of 'Coronation Street'.
As the '60s turned into the '70s, more favoured names of British television were added to his
CV; 'Callan', 'UFO', The Power Game', 'Dad's Army', 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum', Are You Being
Served?, 'The Sweeney', 'Fawlty Towers' (in 'Gourmet Night' with the horrible kid who wants
proper salad cream) and my old favourite 'The Flaxborough Chronicles: Murder Most English'.
Another dissatisfied customer in 'Are You Being Served?'
With the '80s came a stint as the Meaker's unfortunate neighbour, Mr Perkins, in the kids'
series 'Rentaghost', plus a smattering of period dramas and a roll-call of primetime favourites,
including 'Bergerac', 'Minder', Terry & June', and 'Yes Minister', which sounds like a typical '80s
evening avoiding homework to those of my generation.
'A collar stud? I thought they went out with Clement Attlee'
With George Cole in an episode of 'Minder'.
His most recent outing was in 'Jonathan Creek' in 2003, but I trust he is enjoying a well-
deserved retirement after a very long and interesting career.
AsaboyintheBritishfilmof'JewSss'(1934)
In 'Dad's Army', as the man from the Ministry, come to

see a demonstration of the Big Wheel secret weapon.
Jeffrey Segal - imdb
Labels: Are You Being Served?, Dad's Army, Jeffrey Segal, Jew Suss, Jud
Suss, Minder, Rentaghost,Sweeney, UFO, Yes Minister
T h u r s d a y, 3 1 J u l y 2 0 1 4
The All-Time Greats
'What do you mean, 'I'm not in it?'
The top ten greatest British character actors

of all time?
A purely personal choice.
I've chosen to leave out some of my all-time favourite actors from this list on the basis that they
are bona fide 'film stars'. Otherwise I would definitely have had to find room for 'top billing'
names like Alastair Sim, Terry-Thomas, Margaret Rutherford, Peter Sellers, Sid James and
others of the golden era.
I've also excluded living actors who are already saluted elsewhere in this 'Familiar Unknown'
blog, which cuts out the likes of Dudley Sutton and Aubrey Morris.
So here are ten actors who brighten any film when they unexpectedly appear in supporting roles,
rather like bumping into an old friend in a strange town, or finding a tenner in your coat pocket.
1. James Robertson Justice
2. Richard Wattis
3. Athene Seyler
4. Hattie Jacques
5. Sam Kydd
6. Wilfrid Hyde White

7. Eric Barker
8. Arthur Lowe
9. Esma Cannon
10. Michael Ripper
On another day I might have picked a different ten. Where are Irene Handl, Thorley Walters,
George Cole, Herbert Lom and Harry H Corbett? What about Roy Kinnear, Denholm Elliot and
Ronald Lacey? Perhaps a top 100 is called for.
Whom would you have chosen?

Feel free to submit your own top ten in the comments box below.
Labels: Alastair Sim, Arthur Lowe, Esma Cannon, Harry Fowler, Hattie, James Robertson Justice,Michael
Ripper, Richard Wattis, Sam Kydd, Terry-Thomas, Thorley Walters
Tu e s d a y, 2 9 J u l y 2 0 1 4
Valete
Curtain calls...
By way of a change, I thought I'd share a few of my favourite character actors who would
certainly have been high on my list, but who fell outside of my self-imposed restriction of
including only actors who are still alive (at time of writing at least - some of the posts on here
have subsequently become obituaries - see Eric Sykes, Graham Stark, Ken Jones, Stella
Tanner, Philip Madoc, et al).
Sykes and Stark are possibly more properly thought of as comedy stars than as 'mere'
character actors, and there are a few more of their ilk gone since this started: Richard Briers,
Clive Dunn, Frank Thornton, Roger Lloyd-Pack and Rik Mayall, for example, all of whom I'd
have liked to have included even if they were not at all 'unknown'.
Rik Mayall (1958-2014)
In any case, in belated tribute, here are some others who have sadly died since I started
this project in April 2010, a few of whom I'd actually started to prepare as entries, but
who passed away before I got round to them.
I salute you.
Ingrid Pitt (1937-2010)

Graham Crowden (1922-2010)
Barbara New (1923-2010)
Joe Melia (1935-2012)

Pamela Green (1929-2010)
John Horsley (1920-2014)

Malcolm Tierney (1928-2014)
Angus McKay (1926-2013)

Robin Davies (1954-2010)
Cy Grant (1919-2010)
Patricia Gage (1940-2010)

Trevor Bannister (1934-2011)
Nosher Powell (1928-2013)
I'd be interested to hear other suggestions for recently deceased (post 2010) character actors
who would have made interesting entries on the Familiar Unknown blog. I will probably run
another of these 'Curtain calls...' posts.
Let me know via the comments box below.

Labels: Angus McKay, Barbara New, Clive Dunn, Cy Grant, Eric Sykes, Graham Crowden, Ingrid Pitt,John
Horsley, Malcolm Tierney, Nosher Powell, Pamela Green, Patricia Gage, Rik Mayall, Robin Davies,Roger Lloyd Pack
S u n d a y, 2 7 J u l y 2 0 1 4
John Owens
John Owens:
It seems that lanky, long-chinned actor John Owens has appeared in a lot of my favourite TV
programmes over the years, but has always somehow flown just under my recognition radar.
Looking at his resum on the ever-useful imdb website, I notice that he has had a lot of no-
name roles that suggest the fringes of extra-dom; 'waiter', 'salesman', 'man in cupboard',
'jumble donor' and quite often 'vicar'. This does him little justice.
'Oh Crikey!' It's Rik's favourite TV show in 'The Young Ones'
He's in one of the most classic of 'Doctor Who' stories for a start, 'The Daemons' from 1971
(see picture at top of page), as well as classic serials 'Nicholas Nickleby' and 'Sense and
Sensibility', period dramas like 'To Serve Them All My Days', 'The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes'
and 'The Monocled Mutineer'. You might also catch a glimpse of him in lots of popular early-
evening stuff like 'Lovejoy', 'Shoestring', 'The Professionals' and 'Reilly Ace of Spies'.
One of several vicar roles, this one in the gentle police sitcom 'Rosie'
Plenty of comedy too. He was a regular on 'The Dick Emery Show' and 'The Two Ronnies' (in
fact, he works the slightly weak visual punchline of the famous 'four candles' sketch) plus a
sprinkling of sitcoms that includes 'Terry & June', 'Whatever Happened to the The Likely Lads',
'Please Sir', 'Potter', 'Rosie' and 'Rings On Their Fingers'. And some of the more whimsical and
sophisticated '70s and '80s offerings, such as 'Fairly Secret Army', 'Mister Pye' and 'Mapp &
Lucia', before brushing with alternative comedy, satire and dark humour via 'The Young Ones',
'Time Trumpet', 'Look Around You' (as Teddy Clarke, leader of the vegetable orchestra) and
'Nighty Night'.
Trying to sell insurance to Hyacinth in 'Keeping Up Appearances'
Not too much cinema work. But he's in 'Oh! What a Lovely War' (1969), 'An American Werewolf
In London' (1981), and 'From Hell' (2001).
As a gangland gunman in 'Clegg' aka 'The Bullet Machine' (1970)
John Owens- imdb


Labels: Bullet Machine, Clegg, Daemons, Doctor Who, Four Candles, John Owens, Keeping Up
Appearances, Lovejoy, The Bill, The Two Ronnies, The Young Ones, Thorpe, Z Cars
S u n d a y, 1 3 J u l y 2 0 1 4
Trevor Peacock
Trevor Peacock:
'No, no, no, no, no...'
But yes, 'The Vicar of Dibley's endearingly speech impeded Jim Trott is the most widely known
of the many TV characters played by this fascinating veteran actor, born in London in 1931,
but he's been equally prolific on the stage, particularly with the RSC and the Royal Exchange
in Manchester. He has acted with a star-studded roll-call of luvvies including (deep
breath) Kenneth Cranham, Judi Dench, Barry Foster, Michael Gambon, Brian Glover, Nigel
Havers, Patricia Hayes, Michael Hordern, Martin Jarvis, Anna Massey, Geraldine McEwan, Julia
McKenzie, Bill Nighy, Diana Quick, Ralph Richardson, Paul Scofield, Fiona Shaw, Imelda
Staunton, Maggie Steed, Zoe Wanamaker, Billie Whitelaw, Penelope Wilton and David Yelland
- to name but a few.
Looking uncannily like his son Daniel Peacock in
the Adam Faith comedy 'What A Whopper!' (1961)
In the early days he seems to have knocked about Tin Pan Alley with RADA-trained 'Oh Boy!'
producer Jack Good and the early stars of the British rock'n'roll scene.
He wrote this mostly forgotten 45, but a jukebox burst on the

soundtrack of 'Victim (1961) might have raised a few guineas
He is credited as a scriptwriter on 'Six Five Special', 'Oh Boy!' and the less well remembered
'Wham!'. When Jack Good put together the 'Around The Beatles' TV special in 1964, he got
Peacock to lead the Fab Four in their Midsummer Night's Dream skit. And not many people
know that Trevor Peacock wrote the winsome pop novelty 'Mrs Brown You've Got a Lovely
Daughter', later a hit for Herman's Hermits, as well as Billy Fury's 'Stick Around', and the lyrics
for the vocal numbers on the 'Beat Girl' (1959) soundtrack.
In the 1964 TV special, 'Around The Beatles'
On TV, he was in a number of serious dramas and classic serials: 'Edward VII', 'The Borgias',
'The Old Curiosity Shop' (as Quilp, BBC 1979), 'Henry VI', 'Pericles', 'Titus Andronicus' and Neil
Gaiman's 'Neverwhere', but was also seen in comedy shows ranging from 'Father Dear Father'
to 'The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer'. Not forgetting the dipsomaniac human cannonball,
Captain Zero, in 'Last of the Summer Wine'. The pre-Dibley mainstay has been from the
better end of popular primetime drama. See for example 'Minder', 'Boon', 'Underworld', 'Van
Der Valk', 'Lytton's Diary', 'Jonathan Creek' and so on.
As old lag and golf caddy, Previous, making things tricky for
Arthur at the golf club in a '90s episode of 'Minder'
On the big screen, a few fleeting glimpses: 'Hamlet' (1990) as the gravedigger, 'The Trial'
(1993) prosecuting Anthony Hopkins as Joseph K, 'Sunshine' (1999), and 'Fred Claus' (2007). A
couple of London-centred films sound really interesting, but I don't know if they are available
these days, 'The Barber of Stamford Hill' (1962) and 'Tersons Were There' (1967). Any
information gratefully received.
Arranging a pugilistic contest for a rather flimsy Lord Byron

(Richard Chamberlain) in 'Lady Caroline Lamb' (1972)
Trivia: When he appeared on 'The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer', he played a Vox Continental
organ while wearing a red catsuit in Uncle Peter's Band.
The father of Daniel Peacock.
Trevor Peacock-imdb
Labels: Beat Girl, Boon, Captain Zero, Daniel Peacock, Dibley, Herman's Hermits, Jack Good, Jim Trott,Lady
Hamilton, Magic Grandad, Minder, Oh Boy!, RSC, Summer Wine, The Beatles, Trevor Peacock
Daniel Peacock
Daniel Peacock:
An actor often associated with the energetic, twitchy delivery much in vogue in the youth
theatre of the '80s, Daniel Peacock has played brash, belligerent and brainless characters,
mostly in the worlds of comedy and children's TV. Early film appearances in 'Quadrophenia'
(1979), 'Porridge' (1979) and 'Gandhi' (1982) were followed by a rich seam of films springing
from the alternative comedy scene through the '80s, including: 'Party Party' (1983), 'The
Supergrass' (1985), 'Eat The Rich' (1987), 'Whoops Apocalypse' (1988), and the misjudged alt-
com shipwreck, 'Carry On Columbus' (1992).
As angry young inmate Rudge, in the film version of 'Porridge' (1979)

In 'Party Party' (1983), which he also co-wrote
On TV, he balanced a close relationship with the Comic Strip crowd with a steady stream of
parts in more mainstream comedy. He was in 'The Young Ones' and some of the most
memorable 'Comic Strip Presents' episodes, notably the spoof 'Famous Five' trilogy 'Five Go
Mad In Dorset', 'Five Go Mad on Mescalin' and the recent reunion 'Five Go Mad in Rehab', in
which he reprised his Toby Thurlow role. He was also in 'Strike', 'The Beat Generation', and 'A
Fistful of Travellers Cheques'.
In the British thriller 'A Landscape of Lies (2011)
Meanwhile, he cropped up in the likes of 'Only Fools and Horses', 'Birds of a Feather', 'The
Kenny Everett Television Programme', 'One Foot in the Grave' and the very weak and silly
sketch show 'Assaulted Nuts' with Tim Brooke Taylor and Cleo Roccos. He wrote and appeared
in 'Men of the World', a strangely old-fashioned sitcom set in a travel agency, which starred
John Simm and David Threllfall. There has also been some light drama, ranging from 'C.A.T.S
Eyes', 'Casualty' and 'The Bill' to 'Shine On Harvey Moon', 'Boon' and 'Doctor Who'.
The return of Toby Thurlow in 'Five Go Mad in Rehab'
Children's television, both as an actor and a writer, takes up a good bit of his CV and runs
from traditionally jolly fun like 'SuperGran' and 'Mr Majeika' to a string of more zany and
irreverent kids' series which reflect his old Comic Strip connections, such as 'Teenage Health
Freak', 'Billie, Girl of the Future' and 'Demolition Dad'.
Not a high point. 'I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle' (1990)
An oddity is the ultra low-budget comedy horror 'I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle' (1990) which
was apparently produced and shot by the cast of 'Boon' (Neil Morrissey, Michael Elphick, etc)
during gaps in shooting and using many of the same locations. Peacock makes a pretty revolting
appearance as a demonic talking turd.
Son of Trevor Peacock.

Daniel Peacock-imdb
Labels: Assaulted Nuts, Beeps, Comic Strip, Daniel Peacock, Five Go Mad, Men of the World, Party
Party, Porridge, Quadrophenia, Teenage Health Freak, Toby Thurlow, Vampire Motorcycle
T h u r s d a y, 1 0 J u l y 2 0 1 4
Sheila White
Sheila White
Probably still best known from the ever-popular screen version of 'Oliver!' (1968) in which she
played Nancy's good hearted friend Bet, the name of pretty and talented actress and singer
Sheila White is not as familiar as perhaps it should be.
As Paula, seen here with Barry Evans, in 'Here We
Go Round The Mulberry Bush' (1967)
As well as 'Oliver!', she appears in quite a few films, including the pretty rotten (not through her
fault) 'The Ghost Goes Gear' (1966) with Nicholas Parsons and the Spencer Davis Group, 'Here
We Go Round the Mulberry Bush' (1967) with Barry Evans, 'Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely
Daughter' (1968), 'Villain' (1971), 'Alfie Darling' (1976) and 'Silver Dream Racer' (1980), Walt
Disney's 'The Spaceman and King Arthur' (1979), she also played the non-saucy role of Rosie
Noggett in various Robin Askwith 'Confessions' films.
As the insatiable Empress Messalina, about to

get down to business in 'I, Claudius'
On TV, there is high-end popular drama like 'I, Claudius', the pre-raphaelite artists bonkbuster
'The Love School' and 'Poldark' alongside a good mixture of lighter fare, variety and comedy.
She was quite memorable as Arthur's singer protge in 'Minder', and is credited as originating
the Rodney Bewes comedy series 'Dear Mother... Love Albert' in which she also starred for a
couple of seasons. To this, add boatyard sitcom 'Don't Rock The Boat', the Paul Shane talent
agency comedy 'Very Big Very Soon' and a brief stint in 'EastEnders' as adopted Sharon Watts's
hard-hearted birth mother, Carol.
Making a bid for ye-ye pop stardom.
She also had a bit of post-'Oliver!' success in France as a pop star in the clean-cut Pet Clark
mould. Check her out in this Gallic TV curiosity. My Tailor is Rich. (Apparently, that's the first
phrase you learn from an English textbook in French schools.)
Sheila White-imdb
Labels: Alfie Darling, Bet, Confessions, Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush, I
Claudius, Messalina,Minder, Oliver, Penny For Your Thoughts, Sheila White
S a t u r d a y, 5 J u l y 2 0 1 4
Paul Copley
Paul Copley:
Ubiquitous and adaptable Yorkshire actor with a gentle, burry voice, massively in demand for
his ability to convince in roles ranging from the jolliest of uncles to the grimmest of villains,
in everything from suburban sitcoms to heavyweight period drama. One of his biggest recent
jobs has been playing Mr Mason, one of the few likeable characters in 'Downton Abbey', but
his television CV from the early '70s to today is quite exceptional in its scope and quality.
As honest farmer Mr Mason in 'Downton Abbey'
As well as 'Downton', he pops up in some other flag-waving series of the British television
renaissance of the last decade, like 'Life on Mars', Torchwood' and 'Shameless'. And picking a
few TV highlights from further back, you'll see him in Alan Plater's Chaucer-goes-Rugby-League
series 'Trinity Tales', the Ben Kingsley 'Silas Marner', the 1977 BBC 'Treasure Island', the
influential 'Cracker', 'Queer as Folk', 'The Lakes' and as the irascible seaman Matthews in the
long-running 'Hornblower' franchise (photo top).
Perhaps not too convincing with the Cockney accent as
one of Terry's old schoolmates in 'Minder'
A quick run-down of his more everyday appearances would include everything from 'Tenko' and
'Secret Army' to 'Minder' and 'Strangers', with the inescapable cop and hospital stuff such as
'Heartbeat', 'Holby City', 'Peak Practice', 'Casualty', 'The Bill' and 'Doctors'.
Turning informant in 'New Tricks'
In the movies, his younger days saw him cast in war movies 'A Bridge Too Far' (1977) and 'Zulu
Dawn' (1979), the controversial TV movie 'Death of a Princess' (1980) and later a supporting
role in 'The Remains of the Day (1993). He has appeared in a number of shorts and low-budget
films, including 'The Day My Nan Died' with Alison Steadman and Deddie Davies.
Under a mop of '70s curls in n 'Alfie Darling' (1976) with
Alan Price and Vicki Michelle
Trivia: Fans of kids' TV might remember him from the spooky 'Ghost In The Water' which is
now apparently lost to posterity, 'Gruey', 'Grange Hill' and a few schools' programmes.
He also provided the voiceover for the horrible bleach-sloshing paranoia fest 'How Clean Is Your
House?'.
Paul Copley - imdb
Labels: A Bridge Too Far, Alfie Darling, Downton Abbey, Grange Hill, Gruey, Hornblower, Minder, New Tricks, Paul
Copley, Queer as Folk, Remains of the Day, Shameless, Tenko, The Lakes, This Life,Torchwood
F r i d a y, 2 2 A u g u s t 2 0 1 4
Selina Cadell
Selina Cadell:
The sister of the late Simon Cadell, who played the endearingly shy and anxious Mr
Fairbrother in 'Hi-De-Hi!', Selina Cadell has similarly made a number of popular comedy roles
her own. Most recently, she has been playing the infatuated pharmacist Mrs Tishell in 'Doc
Martin', constantly mooning over Martin Clunes' insensitive doctor.
As the lovelorn Mrs Tishell in 'Doc Martin'
Other comedy roles include: 'French & Saunders', 'Victoria Wood', 'This Is David Lander', 'Birds
of a Feather', 'A Bit of Fry & Laurie', 'Jeeves & Wooster', 'Bremner Bird & Fortune', 'The
Catherine Tate Show' and a leading role in the curious laboratory sitcom 'Lab Rats'. She seems
also to have been much in demand for kids' shows in the '80s and '90s, cropping up in 'Just
William', 'Bodger & Badger' (as the nice hippy teacher Miss Moon), 'T-Bag', and 'The World of
Peter Rabbit'.
Brother and fellow actor Simon Cadell, who sadly died in 1993.
In 'Prick Up Your Ears' (1987) pictured with her

fellow outraged librarian, played by Charles McKeown
Light television drama is another of her strengths, as evidenced by roles in 'Lovejoy', 'Miss
Marple', 'Midsomer Murders', 'Jonathan Creek', 'Kavanagh QC', etc. She has also appeared in
quite a few feature films, including 'Prick Up Your Ears' (1987), 'Mrs Caldicott's Cabbage War'
(2002), Clint Eastwood's 'Hereafter' (2010), the Vanessa Redgrave film version of 'Mrs Dalloway'
(1997), and a couple of Martin Freeman's less well-regarded films, 'Confetti' (2006) and
"Nativity!' (2009).
BBC publicity shot for 'Lab Rats'
Trivia: From a theatrical family, she is also the cousin of actor Guy Siner, Lieutenant Gruber
from 'Allo Allo', and she's apparently best pals with Sigourney Weaver.
Selina Cadell - imdb

Labels: Bodger and Badger, Doc Martin, French & Saunders, Lab Rats, Miss Moon, Miss Tishell, Poirot,Selina
Cadell, Sigourney Weaver, Simon Cadell
S u n d a y, 1 4 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4
Bridget Brice
Bridget Brice:
A great choice for a role needing some glamour but with a confident, business-like edge, Ms
Brice may be familiar as Cowley's secretary from 'The Professionals', or from some other cop
shows of the '70s including 'Z-Cars' and 'The Sweeney'.
Damsel in distress in 'Department S'
Further TV appearances include 'Department S' and three different characters in the long-
running private detective series, 'Public Eye' starring Alfred Burke. In addition to those Euston
Films secretary roles, she also appears in 'Doctor at Sea', 'Doctor in Charge', 'Howard's Way',
'Coronation Street', 'Man at the Top' with Kenneth Haigh, and was memorable as Sal
Hawke, a criminal mistress-mind in 'Dick Turpin' with Richard O'Sullivan. She also has the
distinction of playing the unlikely girlfriend, Pippa, in 'Sorry!', who finally rescues Ronnie
Corbett's timid Timothy Lumsden from his manipulative mother.
With Richard O'Sullivan in 'Dick Turpin'
Movie-wise you can catch her, uncredited, among the British talent in Mel Brooks' 'The Twelve
Chairs' (1970), the ecologically apocalyptic 'No Blade of Grass' (1970), and forgotten caper
movies 'Loophole' (1981) and 'Real Life' (1984), as well as a fleeting role in the movie version
of 'George & Mildred' (1980).
With a dashing Frank Langella in 'The Twelve Chairs' (1970)
Bridget Brice-imdb
Labels: Betty, Bridget Brice, cheekbones, Cowley, Department S, Dick Turpin, Frank
Langella, glamour,Loophole, Mel Brooks, No Blade of Grass, Professionals, Real
Life, Sorry!, Sweeney, topless, Twelve Chairs
We d n e s d a y, 1 0 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4
Alan Dobie
Alan Dobie:
Alan Dobie seems a rather dour, astringent sort of actor, but perhaps that's because I find it a
little difficult to separate him from the character of Inspector Cribb, as seen in the '80s
Victorian detective series of that name. His career on the big screen has been one interesting
oddities, with early roles including 'Captured' (1959), originally an army training film about
resisting interrogation that has come to be seen as a classic POW drama, and the Brit-noir
'Seven Keys' (1961) in which he plays an ex-con unravelling a mystery while seeking hidden
loot.
In 'Captured' (1959), a military training film that remained
unseen by the general public until 2004
He also appears in the popular Disney adventure serial, later released as a feature film, 'Dr
Syn, Alias The Scarecrow' (1963) opposite Patrick McGoohan as the eponymous smuggler, and
he's in the curiously seedy Kenneth More drama, 'The Comedy Man' (1964).
In the Walt Disney adventure serial 'Dr Syn' (1963)
For much of the '60s and '70s, he became a stalwart of the television play, appearing in
various strands such as 'The Wednesday Play', 'BBC Sunday-Night Play', 'Theatre 625', and 'Play
For Today'. He also in some heavy drama serials like 'Resurrection', 'The Plane Makers', 'War
and Peace' and 'Hard Times', before getting the starring role in 'Cribb', itself a spin-off from an
original play. Other highlights of the '80s include the post-'Secret Army' series 'Kessler', the
highbrow, but rather fleshy, drama-documentary about the life of Ingres, 'Artists and Models',
and the tour-de-force portrayal of Rabbi Moses Ben Nachman in the medieval religious debate
of 'The Disputation'.
As Prince Bolkonsky in the 1972 BBC epic 'War and Peace'
As befits such an accomplished actor, he's more often been seen on the stage and is a regular of
the Peter Hall Company at the Old Vic Theatre in London and the Theatre Royal, Bath.
Alan Dobie - imdb

Labels: Alan Dobie, Captured, Christopher Lee, Cribb, Dr Syn, Ingres, Kessler, Romney Marsh, Seven Keys, The
Disputation, War and Peace, White Mischief
T h u r s d a y, 4 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4
John Castle
John Castle:
A serious actor, strikingly handsome in a sullen way, looking rather like a cross between Derek
Jacobi and Oliver Reed. Trained at RADA, he hit the acting scene with a modest bang,
securing early appearances in 'Blow Up' (1966), 'The Lion in Winter' (1968), and the most
talked-about TV show of the day, 'The Prisoner', though he didn't seem to quite grab the
public imagination like some of his illustrious young contemporaries. He played Caesar in
Charlton Heston's unloved film version of 'Antony & Cleopatra' (1972) and the Duke in 'The Man
of La Mancha' (1972), but then things seemed to go a little bit quiet.
As Number 12 in 'The Prisoner' episode 'The General'
At the circus with Charlton Heston in 'Antony & Cleopatra' (1972)
There was a certain amount of television drama in the late '60s and early '70s, such as Johnny
Speight's 'If There Weren't Any Blacks You'd Have to Invent Them' and a sprinkling of one-offs
like 'ITV Sunday Night Theatre', and 'The Wednesday Play'. His next high profile role was as
Postumus in the BBC's toga-ripper 'I, Claudius', which seemed to kick-start another spate of
varyingly prestigious work. There are quite a few costume dramas and period pieces, which
seem to suit his austere, brooding presence, such as 'The Fight Against Slavery', 'King John',
'Lillie', 'Penmarric' and a Jeremy Brett 'Sherlock Holmes'. He also plays Teddy, the destructive
love-interest in 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie' with Geraldine McEwan. There were also a few
action and police jobs like 'Strangers', 'The New Avengers', 'Softly, Softly' and 'The
Professionals'. Not much in the way of comedy.
In the BBC's 2013 Christmas ghost story, MR James's "The Tractate Middoth'
The '80s and beyond have seen more of the same on TV, with the emphasis on providing some
slightly sinister class to cosy crimes, ho-hum hospitals and political potboilers. Less cosy,
perhaps, was the unenviable job of portraying racist historian David Irving in 'The Holocaust on
Trial'. The big screen has also not been as forthcoming with good parts as one might hope,
offering only the likes of 'RoboCop 3' (1995), Finnish mid-ocean thriller 'Merisairas' (1996), the
Richard Gere Old Testament epic, 'King David (1985) and a few others.
He is, however, in the excellent Mark Gatiss adaptation of the MR James ghost story, 'The
Tractate Middoth', which is where I was reminded of his great presence and ability.
Salvte.
John Castle - imdb

Labels: Blow Up, I Claudius, John Castle, Lillie, Lion in Winter, Lovejoy, Penmarric, Poirot,Professionals, RoboCop
3, Sherlock Holmes, Speight, Strangers, The Prisoner, Tractate Middoth
M o n d a y, 6 O c t o b e r 2 0 1 4
Graham Seed
Graham Seed
Perhaps it's too much of a stretch to suggest that, like Leonard Nimoy's autobiography, 'I Am
Not Spock', Graham Seed's one-man stage show, 'Don't Call Me Nigel', attempts to free the
actor from the shackles of his most famous role. This pixie-faced, genteel actor - or at
least, his voice - is best known in the UK for playing Nigel Pargetter in the everlasting radio
serial 'The Archers' between 1983 and 2011. In fact, of course, he's acknowledging the
popularity of 'The Archers', but it's true that he's been less championed for appearing in some
of the better TV and film of the last four decades.
AsBritannicus,intheclassic1976BBCserial,'I,Claudius'
His boyish looks and public school accent and manners were put to use in popular TV dramas
including 'Wings', 'The Agatha Christie Hour', 'Good and Bad at Games', 'Band of Brothers' and
'Brideshead Revisited', as well as showings in good old 'Midsomer Murders', 'Juliet Bravo',
'Bergerac' and 'Doctors'. He has also turned his hand to comedy, with the banalities of 'Allo
Allo' and the silliness of 'The Kenny Everett Television Show' being substantially outweighed by
quality like 'Jeeves & Wooster' and a number of Victoria Wood projects.
IntheTVdrama'BandofBrothers'
On the film front, he can be spotted in 'Gandhi' (1982), 'Little Dorrit' (1988), These Foolish
Things (2005), and 'Wild Target' (2010).
Aboguscuratejewelthief,thwartedbyJeevesin'Jeeves&Wooster'
Graham Seed - imdb
Labels: Allo Allo, Band of Brothers, Brideshead revisited, Chatterley, Cleopatras, Derek Jacobi, Gandhi,Graham
Seed, I Claudius, Jeeves, Midsomer Murders, Nigel Pargetter, Ptolemy, The Archers
S a t u r d a y, 2 2 N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 4
Janet Henfrey
Janet Henfrey:
With her rather severe features - somewhere between Edith Sitwell and Geoffrey
Bayldon - Janet Henfrey has been called on to play forbidding schoolmarms and formidable
aristocrats, although she also has a nice line in charming English eccentricity. You may
remember her from the schoolroom flashbacks in Dennis Potter's 'The Singing Detective', or
have seen her quite recently in 'Dr Who' or 'Toast Of London'.
Another scary Dennis Potter schoolteacher. This one from

'Stand Up Nigel Barton', a BBC Wednesday Play from 1965
She has a long association with the RSC and the Oxford Playhouse and her TV and film
appearances were relatively sparsely distributed in the period from the early '60s until the
early '80s. TV work has seen a variety of period dramas from 'Silas Marner' to 'Tipping The
Velvet', and lots of Dickens adaptations. Lighter drama and comedy jobs include 'Jeeves &
Wooster', 'Boon', 'Lovejoy', 'Father Brown', 'Agatha Christie's Marple', and a regular turn in 'As
Time Goes By' with Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer.
Less than a second to live... In the 2014 'Dr Who'

episode 'Mummy On The Orient Express'
Film appearances include 'Reds' (1981), 'The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover' (1989),
'The Man Who Knew Too Little (1998), 'Les Miserables' (1998), 'Metamorphosis' (2012), and her
earliest role, in Tommy Steele's 'It's All Happening' (1963).
As girls' school headmistress, Miss Mapleton, extracting Bertie from

the police station in 'Jeeves & Wooster', thanks to Jeeves's intervention
She has appeared in a substantial number of kids' shows, such as 'Chocky', 'Simon & The Witch',
'Mr Majeika', 'The Famous Five', 'The Worst Witch' and 'Mike & Angelo'. She also has the
distinction of having been in two Dr Who stories, the Sylveste McCoy era 'Curse of Fenric' and
the Peter Capaldi episode 'Mummy On The Orient Express.
Looking a bit more contemporary in the 1988 BBC

children's show 'Simon & The Witch'.
Janet Henfrey-imdb
Labels: Agatha Christie, Alleyn, As Time Goes By, Boon, Capaldi, Dr Who, Fenric, Janet Henfrey, Jeeves &
Wooster, Judi Dench, Marple, Mrs Bale, Randall & Hopkirk, Singing Detective, Toast, Tommy Steele
S a t u r d a y, 2 7 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4
Stephen Lewis
Stephen Lewis:
Dec 17 1926 Aug 12 2015
'What's this bus doing here? You're due at the cemetery gates in four minutes! Oh my good
gawd! I hate you, Butler!' Etc, etc...
Another of the great cohort of working class acting talent brought to prominence by Joan
Littlewood's Theatre Workshop in the late '50s. This hulking ex-merchant seaman proved to be
a talented writer, creating the play, and later screenplay, for 'Sparrows Can't Sing' (1960), a
unique slice of London kitchen sink comedy-drama with the young Barbara Windsor, Roy
Kinnear, Brian Murphy, Murray Melvin and James Booth.
An early role as a heavy in 'The Frightened City' (1961). At this point he was
using the stage name Stephen Cato, but soon after reverted to his own name
A fleeting appearance as a scrap dealer in the gloomy and pretentious
'Negatives' (1969), which starred Glenda Jackson and Peter McEnery
His further acting and writing ambitions appear to have been effectively sidelined when his
gawping characterisation of Blakey, the miserable bus company inspector in the grimly dim-
witted sitcom 'On The Buses', proved so popular that the programme became a ratings-topping
British institution. His performance as Blakey was in such demand that it led to not only a
direct spin-off, 'Don't Drink the Water' with Pat Coombs, but a series of near-identical
portrayals of sketch-show park keepers, station masters, and traffic wardens. There were
also extended spells in the nostalgic Perry & Croft railway sitcom 'Oh Doctor Beeching!' and as
'Smiler' in the long-running 'Last of The Summer Wine', both of which saw him finessing his
woebegone Blakey character.
In a typical 'On The Buses' set up with cheeky middle-aged lothario/sex-pest
Stan Butler (Reg Varney, left) and one of the endless unlikely dolly-bird
conductresses or 'clippies' in thrall to his giggly Brylcremed charms
There were a few small cinema appearances. As well as his own 'Sparrows Can't Sing' (1961),
he crops up in a few Brit b-movies including a Soho thug in 'The Frightened City '(1961) and a
military policeman in the Army heist movie 'A Prize of Arms' (1962). Naturally, he reprised his
role as Blakey in the money-spinning big screen adaptations from the OTB franchise - 'On The
Buses' (1971), 'Mutiny On The Buses' (1972) and 'Holiday On The Buses' (1973), as well as
similar jobsworth personas in star-studded farces like 'Some Will Some Won't' (1970) and 'The
Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins' (1971).
Something a bit different was a turn as a blonde gay pick-up for Rex Harrison in the
excruciating Stanley Donen camp-fest 'Staircase' (1968) with Richard Burton, to complete
a spectacular hat-trick of miscasting.
'Staircase' (1968) A blonde and booted Lewis finds himself in the middle of
another ridiculous mincing tiff between Rex Harrison and Richard Burton
These days, he has hung up his raincoat and clipboard, and is apparently comfortably retired
from acting - born in 1926, he is approaching 90 after all. At one time he was regularly spotted
having a quiet lunch at Peter Jones department store off Sloane Square. Long may he continue
to do so.
Update Aug 2015: So sad to hear that Stephen Lewis has passed on at the age of 88. He was
one character actor that I had hopes of meeting one day. That won't now happen, but I thank
him here for his quirky contributions to British cultural identity.
Stephen Lewis-imdb
Labels: Blakey, Butler, dead, Last of the Summer Wine, Littlewood, Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins,obituary, Oh
Doctor Beeching, On the Buses, Reg Varney, Roy Kinnear, Sparrows Can't Sing, Staircase,Stephen Lewis
Robert Putt
Robert Putt:
Very distinctive moon-faced character actor who flits occasionally across our screens, having
progressed from non-speaking extra and minor roles. He's racked up an impressive list of TV
programmes from 'The Sweeney' and 'The Professionals' to 'The Monocled Mutineer', 'Martin
Chuzzlewit' and 'Our Friends In The North'. He's also blown bubbles at The Rutles in 'All You
Need Is Cash' and chased a nun around Holby General with his flies undone.
In an episode of 'The Professionals'
Some other memorable appearances include playing East End killer Mad Danny Durbridge
opposite Steve Pemberton in the oddball detective show 'Whitechapel' and the bloke who
keeps a cricket ball down his pants - to hold his hernia in check - in 'Doc Martin'.
In 'Ruby In The Smoke'

Inadvertently striking the exact mid point between John Bluthal and
David Lodge, in the Enid Blyton children's series 'Castle of Adventure'
The big screen has beckoned for roles in Mike Leigh's 'Naked' (1993) and 'Vera Drake' (2004), as
well as 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' (1984), 'A Fish Called Wanda' (1988), and such varied fare as the
movie of 'Porridge' (1979), 'Hawk The Slayer' (1980), 'Mike Bassett: England Manager' (2001)
and our old favourite 'Confessions of a Driving Instructor' (1976). A classic all-rounder.
Reading Imelda Staunton her rights in 'Vera Drake' (2004)
Robert Putt-imdb
Labels: Casualty, Holby, Martin Chuzzlewit, Midsomer Murders, naked, Professionals, Robert Putt, Ruby In The
Smoke, Rutles, Sweeney, Vera Drake
Ellis Jones
Ellis Jones:
Here's a slightly elusive one. As an energetic and distinctively beaky young actor, Ellis pops up
in a swathe of TV in the early '70s. These days he's a respected senior drama coach and
creative bigwig at RADA, although he has continued to make sporadic appearances on our
screens over the years.
In an episode of the BBC naval drama 'Warship'
With the late Ken Jones in an episode of Eric Chappell's

office sitcom, 'The Squirrels', from 1975
I particularly enjoyed his turn as the office ingnue in 'The Squirrels', an unfairly overlooked
minor classic from the pen of 'Rising Damp' creator Eric Chappell. He also shows up in
'Warship', 'Z-Cars' and 'Doctor Who' (he is, in fact, the first person to appear in 'Doctor Who' in
colour, in the opening Pertwee-era story, 'Spearhead from Space' in 1969) and a number of
Shakespearean roles including the Fool in the Thames TV production of 'King Lear' with Patrick
Magee, much shown in school English classes.
In 'Spearhead from Space', the first Jon Pertwee story of 'Doctor Who'
In the 'Cadfael' mystery, 'A Morbid Taste For Bones'
So perhaps it's ironic that he's probably best remembered by many for playing the hapless Hal
Adden (geddit) in 'Pardon My Genie' with Hugh Paddick as the crabby and obtuse spirit of the
lamp, rather than for helping the acting careers of Tom Hiddleston, Ben Whishaw, Eve Best,
Sally Hawkins, Gemma Arterton and Matthew Macfadyen, to name but a few.
Ellis Jones-imdb
Labels: Burke, Cadfael, Ellis Jones, Fool, Hal Adden, King Lear, Pardon My Genie, RADA, Squirrels,Warship, Wilfred
& Eileen
S u n d a y, 2 5 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 5
John Cairney
John Cairney:
Dark, broodingly handsome Scots actor, largely associated with his memorable portrayals of
the poet Robert Burns. His lasting association with Burns began in 1965 with Tom Wright's solo
play "There Was A Man" at the Traverse, Edinburgh, and at the Arts Theatre, London. From
Burns, he moved on to other solo pieces on William McGonagall, Robert Service and Robert
Louis Stevenson.
In the full Rabbie Burns get-up.

Though his movie career began in the mid '50s, it appears that his TV heyday was probably the
mid '60s to late '70s, after which he moved to New Zealand. His many television parts include
other literary figures, like Branwell Bronte and Edgar Allan Poe, and other famous Scots, like
Robert the Bruce. He has featured in programmes as varied as 'Dr. Finlay's Casebook', 'Secret
Agent', 'The Avengers', 'Man In A Suitcase', 'Jackanory', 'The Persuaders', 'Elizabeth R', and
'Taggart'. He'd probably be better known if the BBC hadn't wiped his starring role in the 1966
Scottish drama series 'This Man Craig' in which he played an idealistic teacher. (Incidentally, his
son in the programme was played by the young Brian Pettifer, saluted here earlier.)
With Glenda Jackson in the acclaimed 1971 BBC series 'Elizabeth R'
In 'Jason & The Argonauts' (1963), second from right, just

over Laurence Naismith's shoulder
Feature film appearances include 'Lucky Jim' (1957), the Titanic story 'A Night To Remember'
(1958), 'Victim' (1961), 'Jason & The Argonauts' (1963), Cleopatra' (1963), and the Sherlock
Holmes meets the Ripper movie 'Study In Terror' (1965).
In the low-budget British sci-fi adventure 'Spaceflight IC-1' (1965)
He made some TV movies in New Zealand during the '80s and '90s as well as writing a number
of books on Burns and other great Scottish figures Robert L Stephenson and Charles Rennie
Mackintosh.
John Cairney-imdb
Labels: Argonauts, Avengers, Brian Pettifer, Elizabeth R, Jamie, John Cairney, New Zealand,Persuaders, Robert
Burns, Spaceflight IC-1, Study In Terror, This Man Craig, Victim
M o n d a y, 1 9 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 5
Zienia Merton
Zienia Merton:
With her elegant gamine good looks and sophisticated demeanour, Anglo/French/Burmese
actress Zienia Merton was cast in a number of 'vaguely exotic' roles in her early days, including
the 'Marco Polo' story strand from the William Hartnell-era Doctor Who (now sadly wiped), a
Kashmiri girl in 'Tales from Rudyard Kipling', and as the middle-eastern Zeba Hameed in an
episode of the 'Strange Report'. On the big screen, she turns up as an Indian priestess in 'Help!'
(1965 ), and as Maoist Mata Hari, Ting Ling, in the Gregory Peck spy romp, 'The Most
Dangerous Man in the World', aka 'The Chairman' (1969).
In 'The Most Dangerous Man in the World' (1969)
Dennis Potter's (very racy for the time) 'Casanova' in 1971 saw her playing Cristina to a world-
weary Frank Finlay's eponymous libertine. Although the screenplay was intended to highlight
the sadness, religious guilt and regrets behind his great romantic reputation (it is Dennis
Potter, after all), most people, Mary Whitehouse included, tended to remark on the indulgent
use of nudity (did I mention Dennis Potter?).
In 'Casanova', the BBC's most talked-about drama of 1971
However, it was the Gerry Anderson sci-fi drama 'Space: 1999' which ran for two seasons of 48
episodes and gave her international exposure. Playing sensitive officer Sandra Benes, she
featured in most of the show's heavy-handed plots, as the Andersons attempted to prove that
it wasn't a children's show. Personal melodramas and cod-mystic astro-psychedelia vied for
prominence, as the kids waited patiently for some explosions and spaceships.
Since her Moonbase days, she has been in an interesting mix of mundane and fantasy fare,
from 'EastEnders', 'Coronation Street', 'Casualty' and 'The Bill', to 'Hammer House of Mystery &
Suspense', 'Dinotopia', 'Wizards vs Aliens' and 'The Sarah Jane Mysteries', which ties in nicely
with her early adventures in 'Doctor Who'.
Zienia Merton officiating at the wedding of Sarah Jane Smith (the late Elizabeth Sladen),
until the Doctor (in this case Tennant) arrives to stop her marrying Nigel Havers
Zienia Merton-imdb

Labels: Benny Hill, Casanova, Dinotopia, Doctor Who, Doctors, Dr Who, Frank Finlay, Help!, Ian
McShane, Lovejoy, Mary Whitehouse, nude, Sarah Jane, Space: 1999, Strange Report, The Beatles,topless, Zienia
Merton
Benjamin Whitrow
Benjamin Whitrow:
A very well respected character actor, probably best known for his portrayal of the peaceable Mr
Bennett in the much admired 1995 BBC version of 'Pride & Prejudice', though he has had a quite
slow-building TV career. After serving in the Army, he secured a few roles through the '60s
before finding his feet in the popular period dramas of the early '70s, such as 'The Pallisers', 'The
Bronte's of Haworth', and 'Clayhanger'.
Losing his patience with his cheeky mod employees in 'Quadrophenia' (1979)
His officer experience made him highly convincing in roles requiring gravitas and authority,
either in actual military dramas like 'Wings' and 'Danger UXB', or as a string of headmasters,
politicians and politicians. He played Amundsen in 'Shackleton', Superintendent Braithwaite in
'The Sweeney' and aristocratic socialist Paddy O'Rourke in 'The New Statesman' as well as one-
offs in the likes of 'Minder', 'Boon', 'Bergerac', 'Perfect Scoundrels' and 'Rumpole'.
In 'The New Statesman' with the late Rik Mayall
He has done a fair number of classic dramas and serials, from 'A Man For All Seasons' to 'The
Merchant of Venice', and after the mega-success of the Colin Firth-powered 'Pride &
Prejudice', there were others in the same vein, including Squire Allworthy in 'The History of
Tom Jones'. And lots more primetime drama and comedy throught the '90s and '00s, like
'Jonathan Creek', 'Monarch of the Glen', 'New Tricks', 'Doc Martin' and recently, 'Toast of
London'.
As Julie Walters's accountant and client in 'Personal Services' (1987)
In the cinema, you can see him as Jimmy's boss in 'Quadrophenia' (1979), in the John Cleese
vehicle 'Clockwise' (1986), and in 'Personal Services' (1987), Louis Malle's 'Damage' (1992), and
the Val Kilmer movie of 'The Saint' (1997). He also voices Mr Fowler in the hit Ardman
animation 'Chicken Run' (2000).
Benjamin Whitrow-imdb

Labels: Benjamin Whitrow, Boon Sweeney, Chicken Run, Danger UXB, Man for All Seasons, Morse, Mr
Bennett, Personal Services, Pride & Prejudice, Quadrophenia, The Saint, Toast of London
Tu e s d a y, 1 3 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 5
Michael Percival
Michael Percival:
2015*
Many people's principle memories of Michael Percival date from when he played the sardonic
form-teacher Mr Mitchell in the heyday of the popular BBC school series 'Grange Hill'. He's
another of those actors who used to show up regularly, but are infuriatingly difficult to place.
Perhaps you can spot him in feature films like 'Marat/Sade' (1967), 'No Blade of Grass' (1970),
and the John Cleese trio 'Clockwise' (1986), 'A Fish Called Wanda' (1988) and 'Fierce Creatures'
(1997),
Unusually casual behind the bar in an episode of 'Inspector Morse'
TV appearances include 'Boon', 'Rosemary & Thyme', 'Inspector Morse', 'Kavanagh QC', and 'My
Uncle Silas'. He's also in 'Doctor Who' (Matt Smith episode 'Vampires of Venice'), 'Lovejoy' and
comedies 'Me and My Girl' and 'Allo Allo', as well as a regular role in the strange secret service
sitcom, 'The Piglet Files' starring Nicholas Lyndhurst.
As an art dealer in 'Allo Allo'. As you'd imagine, he has just
purchased the 'Portrait of the Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies'.
Having his car stolen by John Cleese in 'Clockwise' (1986)
*Sorry to see Michael Percival's name included in the 'In Memoriam' section of Equity
magazine's Winter 2015 issue. I can find no further details at the moment.
Michael Percival - imdb

Labels: '60s, Allo Allo, Clockwise, Doctor Who, Fierce Creatures, Fish called Wanda, Grange Hill,Inspector
Morse, Michael Percival, Mr Mitchell
S u n d a y, 11 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 5
Marcia Warren
Marcia Warren:
A very accomplished, indeed award-winning, stage actress, often seen in Alan Ayckbourn's
comedy plays but equally at home with Shakespeare, Chekhov and Beckett, she has
nevertheless been able to fit in a number of memorable film and TV roles. She might be
familiar as William Gaunt's troublesome neighbour, Vera Botting, from the '80s BBC comedy
'No Place Like Home', or possibly from the more recent 'Vicious' with Derek Jacobi, Ian
McKellen and Frances De La Tour - all of whom she has acted with on various prestigious
stages.
BrilliantlyportrayingthegreatcharacteractressEsmaCannoninarecreationof
'CarryOnCabby'fromtheTVdrama'Hattie'.RuthJonesplaysHattieJacques
Equally adept at playing duchesses and dogsbodies, Marcia Warren has also appeared in some
good quality television drama, see 'The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes', 'The Father Brown
Mysteries' and 'The History of Mr Polly', as well as a lot of average primetime series such as
'Holby City', 'The Bill', 'Midsomer Murders', 'Doctors' and 'Casualty'.
AstheunworldlyPenelopeinthecampsitcom,'Vicious',
starringDerekJacobiandIanMcKellen
Sitcoms have been a staple of her TV career, including the generally forgotten 1983
Larbey and Esmonde effort 'Now and Then', 'September Song', 'Life Of Riley', 'Searching', 'Jam
& Jerusalem', 'Miracles Take Longer' and 'Keeping Up Appearances'.
Asthewidowofthemildmanneredlotharioin'MrLove'(1985)
BehindheristhelatePatsyByrne,Nursiefrom'Blackadder'
Films include 'Mr Love' (1985), 'Don't Get Me Started' (1994), 'Unconditional Love' (2002),
'Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont' (2005), 'Leap Year' (2010)
Marcia Warren-imdb
Labels: Boon, Esma Cannon, Holby General, jam and Jerusalem, Keeping Up Appearances, Leap Year,Marcia
Warren, Mr Love, N Place Like Home, Ruth Jones, Shakespeare, Vicious
Bill Wallis
Bill Wallis:
20 November 1936 6 September 2013
A great unsung character actor whose Pickwickian features appear in some of my favourite TV
and film of the golden age from the '60s to the '90s, as well as some great radio including
'Week Ending' and the original series of 'Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy'. He can be seen in
cult classics like 'The Avengers' and 'The Beiderbecke Tapes' on television, and fleetingly in
absurd masterpieces like 'The Bed Sitting Room' (1969) and 'Brazil' (1985).
He was memorable as the scrofulous jailer Mr Ploppy in 'Black Adder II', and the unscrupulous
Minister for Sport in 'Yes, Prime Minister'. He is in the first ever episode of 'Midsomer Murders',
Pete & Dud's 'Not Only But Also' and performs on Ivor Cutler's 'Prince Ivor' album.
Well done, that man.

SingingtheinterminablepraisesofAlanADaleon'NotOnly
ButAlso',withJohnWells,DudleyMooreandPeterCook
Workingonthemailtrainin'Robbery'(1967)
Update: Largely unreported at the time, I didn't realise that Bill Wallis passed away in 2013. I
salute him posthumously.
Bill Wallis-imdb

Labels: Bed Sitting Room, Bill Wallis, Black Adder, Brazil, Hitch Hikers, Ivor Cutler, Not Only But
Also,Robbery, Sweeney, Week Ending
Tu e s d a y, 6 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 5
Perry Benson
Perry Benson:
Baby-faced and usually bespectacled cockney actor - almost like a junior Johnny Shannon -
often seen in comedy roles where he seems to make a virtue of a slightly wooden acting style
to awkward comic effect. You might have seen him in a number of '80s alternative sitcoms,
such as 'The Young Ones', Filthy Rich & Catflap', and 'Dream Stuffing', before he settled things
down a little with 'The Black Adder', 'You Rang M'Lord', 'Oh Doctor Beeching!' and more
recently 'Benidorm'.
In the largely forgotten 1983 sitcom, 'Dream Stuffing'
You have been watching... 'Oh Doctor Beeching!'
As a contrast to the comedy has been a darker strain of film and TV dramas in which his flat
London vowels have lent a banal gangster menace or fearful snivelling to the proceedings, see
for example 'Scum' (1977), the harrowing Ray Winstone/Jude Law movie 'Final Cut' (1998), 'Mr
In-Between' (2001), 'and 'Capital Punishment' (2003). Even bleaker was the relentlessly
horrible 'Mum and Dad' (2008), a domestic psycho-gore horror set near Heathrow Airport.
Scary in the grim suburban horror, 'Mum & Dad' (2008)
The '80s comedy and cult film connections are still there though, and he can be seen
in interesting stuff like '15 Stories High' (as the neighbour with a horse in his flat), Shane
Meadows's 'Somers Town' (2008) and his 'This Is England' (2006) and the TV series 'This Is
England '86'. He also seems to appear in a lot of short movies, none of which I've seen, but
which suggest that he is somehow involved at the grass roots of the industry.
As 'Spaz' in the 'Young Ones' brief piss-take of 'Grange Hill',

with Ben Elton and our old friend Peter Greene
He's also in the generally unconvincing punk movie 'Sid & Nancy' (1986) playing a chunky
version of Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook, although I think Graham Fletcher-Cook who plays
pre-Pistols frontman Wally Hairstyle looks much more the part. My 2d worth, anyway.
Perry Benson-imdb

Labels: 15 storeys high, benidorm, Dream Stuffing, Hi-De-Hi, Mum & Dad, Oh Doctor Beeching!, Perry
Benson, Scum, Sid & Nancy, Somers Town, THis Is England, You Rang M'Lord
F r i d a y, 1 3 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5
Patricia Brake
Patricia Brake:
A British perennial with that winning mix of dolly-bird prettiness and an ear for comic dialogue,
Patricia Brake might be familiar from the sitcom classic 'Porridge' as Fletcher's daughter Ingrid.
She made an impression in one episode for her bra-less visit to Slade Prison, and later when she
proves that she is wearing a bra by lifting her top up. She also appeared in the spin-off series
'Going Straight', but despite Barker and Beckinsale's best efforts the magic was noticeably
absent.
In the forgotten US TV comedy 'The Ugliest Girl in Town'
As a sweet young British actress, she had been cast in the strange 1968 ABC sitcom, 'The Ugliest
Girl in Town', the American network's attempt to tap into the swinging London phenomenon
with Peter Kastner in drag following a London model over the pond. I don't think it was ever
shown in the UK and it has come high in some 'worst TV shows of all time' lists, none of which is
the fault of Patricia Brake who is glamorous and fun in it.
As Ingrid in 'Going Straight' with Ronnie Barker
Very busy throughout the '60s and '70s, she appeared in dramas ranging from 'Lorna Doone'
and 'Nicholas Nickleby' to the now lost David Hemmings serial 'Home Tonight' and 'No Hiding
Place'. On the comedy front, she's in some you don't hear much about these days like 'Second
Time Around' and 'Forget Me Not', as well as the more memorable; 'A Sharp Intake of Breath',
'Life Begins at Forty', the 1979 reboot of 'The Glums' and the aforementioned 'Porridge' and
'Going Straight'. I'm also intrigued by the sound of 'Mann's Best Friends' from 1985, with an
impressive cast that features Fulton McKay, Bernard Bresslaw and Liz Smith, but I can't find
anything much out about it.
As Eth in the 1979 TV revival of the '50s favourite 'The Glums'.
Ian Lavender plays her ever-gormless beloved, Ron
As the '80s progressed, she moved toward soap opera and potboiler dramas with roles in
'Emmerdale', 'EastEnders' and 'Coronation Street' (as Mike Baldwin's old flame/sister-in-
law), also getting one of the main parts in the BBC's shortlived 'Eldorado'. After that, there's the
predictable round of 'Midsomer Murders', 'Casualty', 'Holby City', 'Doctors' and 'The Bill', but
also 'The Bounder'.
In a 2005 episode of 'Coronation Street' with Johnny Briggs
Movie roles include the oddball Peter Sellers piece 'The Optimists of Nine Elms' (1973) and
the wrinkly romance 'Love/Loss' (2010). In 'My Lover My Son' (1970), she played the girlfriend
of an unusually timid Dennis Waterman (she seems more comfortable with her fully nude
scenes than Dennis does in his y-fronts), who is trying to escape the cloying influence of his
mother, played by Romy Schneider.
Dennis Waterman needs a bit of encouragement
for a change in 'My Lover My Son' (1970)
Patricia Brake-imdb
Labels: ABC, bra, Coronation Street, Eldorado, Going Straight, Ian Lavender, Kastner, nude, Patricia
Brake, Porridge, Ronnie Barker, The Glums, topless, Waterman
We d n e s d a y, 4 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5
Barry Stanton
Barry Stanton:
A classical actor who knows his way around his 'King Lear' and his 'Hamlet' (he plays Claudius
in the bizarre Quentin Crisp 1976 version), but also an archetypal 1970s 'big bloke', often playing
a plain clothes copper who's a bit handy in a scrap, or the sort of hefty hard-nut who gets up
slowly in a pub to show his size, before getting an unlikely duffing-up from a leading man. Barry
Stanton appears in a fair bit of TV drama from the late-'60s on, such as 'The Saint', 'Z Cars', 'The
Baron', 'Manhunt', 'Survivors', 'The Protectors', 'The Sweeney', 'Minder', and 'The
Professionals'. He also turns up in the sadly-lost supernatural drama serial 'Witch Hunt' from
1967, high on many TV collector's list of BBC holy grails.
As Noma in the 'Doctor Who' story 'The Twin Dilemma'
As Jim Hacker's press officer in 'Yes, Prime Minister'
In more recent years, he has been given less generic TV roles, such as his turns as a Jacondan
alien in the first Colin Baker story for Doctor Who', 1984's 'The Twin Dilemma', and as Tory
press officer Malcolm Warren in 'Yes, Prime Minister'. There was also the Shakespeare play
cycle 'The Wars of the Roses' televised in 1990.
As Claudius in the adventurous 'Hamlet' (1976) which featured Helen
Mirren as both Gertrude and Ophelia, and Quentin Crisp as Polonius
Film roles are also more varied: aside from 'Sweeney 2' (1978), there was Hammer horror
'Demons Of The Mind' (1972), 'Leon the Pig Farmer' (1993) and 'Robin Hood' (1991) - not the
Kevin Costner 'Prince of Thieves' one from that year, another one starring Patrick Bergin and
Uma Thurman. He's in the Jackie Chan kung-fu in Victorian England romp, Shanghai Knights
(2003), and portrays the playwright/MP Sheridan in 'The Madness of King George' (1994).
As the Lord Chancellor in, 'Shanghai Knights' (2003)
A rare leading role came in the Roy Clarke sitcom 'Mann's Best Friends' in which he appeared
with the likes of Fulton McKay, Patricia Brake, and Bernard Bresslaw. Sadly, it seems to have
disappeared without a trace. He's also the splendidly over-acting postman who delivers the
vampire Alexei Sayle in the 'Young Ones' episode 'Nasty'.
As miserly boss Mr Grayson in 'Tucker's Luck'
Barry Stanton-imdb
Labels: Barry Stanton, Colin Baker, Doctor Who, Hamlet, Mann's Best
Friends, Minder, Nasty, Peri,Professionals, Shanghai Knights, Sweeney, The Madness of King George, The
Saint, Tucker's Luck, Twin Dilemma, Young Ones
S u n d a y, 1 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5
Zara Nutley
Zara Nutley:
It's unfortunate in a way that this New Zealand-born actress is best known for two of British
televisions least lamented '70s sitcoms. She played the imperious and disparaging Miss
Courtney in 'Mind Your Language', and the curious figure of Aunt Joan in 'Never The
Twain'. Other roles include the Widow Attacliffe in an episode of 'Last of the Summer Wine',
and one-offs in 'Grange Hill', 'Lovejoy', 'Terry & June' and 'Metal Mickey'.
The highly unflattering depiction of Zara Nutley from the opening

titles of the noticeably unreconstructed sitcom 'Mind Your Language'.
Hints of something better include roles in 'Within These Walls', 'Tales of the Unexpected',
Victoria Wood's television shows - VW almost always has a good eye for actors - and an early
part in Jack Rosenthal's 'Spaghetti Two Step' when it was televised by Yorkshire TV in 1977.
She certainly deserves a salute.
Zara Nutley-imdb
Labels: Grange Hill, Last of the Summer Wine, Lovejoy, Mind Your Language, Miss Courtney, Never The
Twain, racist, sexist, Zara Nutley
T h u r s d a y, 2 6 M a r c h 2 0 1 5
Michael Cochrane
Michael Cochrane:
Another familiar face, equally often seen with a villainous sneer as with a cheerful grin. Michael
Cochrane's expressive mouth and narrow eyes, combined with his suave manner, have seen him
cast in a range of upper-class roles over the years. Seemingly able to convincingly embody the
quick-tempered brooding bully or the likeable silly ass, he has appeared in a long list of popular
British TV dramas over the years, from 'The Pallisers' in the early '70s, to its modern
counterpart 'Downton Abbey'.
In an episode of the dogfight drama 'Wings' from 1977
After 'The Pallisers', another early success came with the popular WW1 drama 'Wings' following
the early days of the Royal Flying Corps, in which he played young officer Charles
Gaylion. Throughout the '80s and beyond, he was ubiquitous in quality TV drama such as 'The
Life & Times Of David Lloyd George', 'The Citadel', 'The Far Pavilions', 'Nancherrow', and 'Holy
Flying Circus' in which he played Malcolm Muggeridge. Cult TV fans will clock him in two
'Doctor Who' stories from the '80s - and Radio 4 stalwarts will know his voice as that of
permanently exasperated country gent Oliver Sterling from 'The Archers'.
Well played Doctor! As a cricketing aristo congratulating Peter Davison

in the 1982 'Doctor Who' story 'Black Orchid'
More 'Doctor Who'. Proposing to blow Sylveste McCoy's head off
with an elephant gun in the 1989 story 'Ghost Light'
More lightweight fare includes 'Jonathan Creek', 'Spooks', 'Pie In The Sky' and a briefcase-full of
police procedurals, whodunnits and courtroom dramas. The comedy strand is a decently varied
collection stretching from 'The Two Ronnies', 'Shelley' and 'To The Manor Born' to 'Keeping Up
Appearances', the Ardal O'Hanlon sitcom 'Big Bad World' and even an episode of 'Love Thy
Neighbour'.
As the ever-unpleasant Sir Henry Simmerson in 'Sharpe'
Movie work has been regular, but there isn't a career-defining role among his appearances in
'Escape To Victory' (1981), 'Return Of The Soldier' (1982) and 'Iron Lady' (2011), or a host of
forgettable titles like 'Ascendancy' (1983), 'Real Life'(1984), spy spoof 'Number One Gun' (1991)
and the Val Kilmer take on 'The Saint' (1997).
His most recent recognition has come through 'Downton Abbey' in which he plays the
enthusiastically Anglican village vicar, Reverend Travis.
Michael Cochrane-imdb
Labels: Archers, Country Wife, Darling Buds of May, Doctors, Downton Abbey, Michael Cochrane, Oliver
Sterling, Pallisers, Python, Ruth Rendell, Saint, Sharpe, Shelley, Taggart, Two ronnies, Tynan, Val Kilmer,Wings
M o n d a y, 1 6 M a r c h 2 0 1 5
Peter Elliott
Peter Elliott:
In the David Hughes pseudo-documentary 'Missing Link' (1988)
The go-to guy for gorillas in the British film industry, Peter Elliott is one of the world's most
accomplished animal actors, specialising in the movements of apes and ape-like creatures.
Putting his face on, in 'Buddy' (1997)
And if he's done anything, he's done apes donning the monkey suit for 'Greystoke: The
Legend of Tarzan, Lord Of The Apes' (1984), Gorillas In The Mist' (1988), 'Congo' (1995), The
Island Of Doctor Moreau (1996), Fierce Creatures (1997), and 'King Kong Lives' (1986).
On all fours again, but no fun-fur this time. As one of
the sinister Wheelers in 'Return To Oz' (1985)
In the days before CGI, this is how you did scenes of utter devastation and carnage.
A man in a gorilla suit treading on a model Lamborghini in 'King Kong Lives' (1986)
He's also been in Red Dwarf as a chimp and he played Bollo the gorilla, from 'The Mighty
Boosh' - but only in the episodes set in Dixon Bainbridge's zoo.
The more domesticated Bollo from the later series of 'The Mighty Boosh'
isn't played by Elliott, but by Dave Brown
Peter Elliott-imdb
Labels: ape, Bollo, Congo, Fierce Creatures, Gift Of Fire, Greystoke, King Kong Lives, Mighty Boosh,Peter
Elliott, Red Dwarf, Return To Oz, The Island Of Doctor Moreau
M o n d a y, 9 M a r c h 2 0 1 5
Denis Lawson
Denis Lawson:
Compact and suavely handsome in a slightly weasely way, Scottish actor Denis Lawson is a
stalwart of British television, but probably known only to the wider world - or the nerdier
portion of it - as Wedge Antilles, one of the heroic X-Wing pilots of the original 'Star Wars'
trilogy. Extra galactic trivia points are doubtless also accrued by being the uncle of Obi Wan
Kenobi, Ewan McGregor.
As Launcelot Gobbo in the 1973 ITV version of
'The Merchant of Venice'
'Survivors': an episode called 'The Future Hour' from 1975

Up until 'Star Wars' (1977) or whatever they call it now, he had been in an interesting grab-bag
of serious drama, typified by the televised version of the NT 'Merchant of Venice' with Laurence
Olivier, late night plays like 'Ms Jill or Jack' and 'The Paradise Run', and middle-brow TV
hits like 'Survivors', and 'Rock Follies'.
Starring in the DJ sitcom 'The Kit Curran Radio Show'
made by Thames Television in 1984.
The '80s were a bit of a boom time and he appeared in memorable stuff like the quirky time-
travel TV play 'The Flipside of Dominick Hyde' and the prescient neo-noir conspiracy crime
serial 'Dead Head' as well as getting the starring role in the lightweight sitcom 'The Kit Curran
Radio Show'.
As a jet-setting assassin in 'Bergerac'
There was also some day-to-day drama and comedy to fill the diary too, 'Boon' and 'Bergerac',
'Robin Hood' and 'Miss Marple', and 'The Good Companions' and 'Victoria Wood: As Seen On
TV'. More recently, he had the key role of Jarndyce in the BBC's adaptation of 'Bleak House', as
well as major parts in the ghost tale 'Marchlands', 'Criminal Justice' and now 'New Tricks'. I also
enjoyed the bleak slapstick of the 'Inside No 9' episode where he played the victim of Shearsmith
and Pemberton's hapless art thieves.
Aside from the George Lucas gigs, his film credits include a rare Scottish part in 'Local Hero'
(1983) and Jack Rosenthal's clever class vignette, 'The Chain' (1984). He also appears alongside
his nephew in 'Perfect Sense' (2011), an example of that under-represented genre, romantic
Scottish epidemic-apocalypse sci fi.
Dennis Lawson-imdb
Labels: Bleak House, Boon, Denis Lawson, Dennis Lawson, Dominick Hyde, Empire Strikes Back, Ewan
MacGregor, Kit Curran, Rock Follies, Star Wars, Survivors, The Chain, Wedge Antilles
S u n d a y, 5 J u l y 2 0 1 5
Nicholas McArdle
Nicholas McArdle:
As a regularly recurring sight on the TV screens of the UK during the '70s-'90s, Nicholas
McArdle's trademark drooping moustache and bald pate are so much more familiar than his
name. His perennially middle-aged image has been lent to roles as politicians, council
functionaries and dignitaries, accountants, army officers and a vast swathe of policemen of
every rank from cloddish constable to chief inspector. See, for example, various coppers in 'Z-
Cars', 'Crown Court', 'The Sweeney', 'The Professionals', 'Taggart' and 'Softly, Softly Task
Force'.
In 'The Sweeney' episode 'Hearts and Minds'

In the last series of 'It Aint Half Hot Mum'
It hasn't all been flashing lights and blue serge drama though. He is an accomplished comedy
actor, with sitcom appearances in the likes of 'Happy Ever After' and 'Terry & June', 'To The
Manor Born', 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum', 'No Place Like Home', 'Are You Being Served?', 'Butterflies',
'Time Of My Life' and 'Citizen Smith' - although he was actually playing a policemen in the last
three of those. He also crops up in various comedians' light entertainment shows: see 'Kelly
Monteith', 'The Mike Reid Show', 'Marty Amok', and 'The Howerd Confessions'.
'Porridge' (1979) giving Mr McKay a hard time in the movie version
In the cinema, his name has appeared in the lower credits for movies such as 'Porridge'
(1979), 'Dance With A Stranger' (1985), 'Sir Henry At Rawlinson End' (1980), and the sex
comedy 'Can You Keep It Up For A Week?' (1975) - not as saucy as it sounds, it's about an
accident-prone young chap trying to keep a job for seven days so that he can get married.
Valerie Leon and Richard O'Sullivan also feature.
'Can You Keep It Up For A Week?' (1975)
Fans of cult TV may recall seeing him in the 1978 'Doctor Who' adventure 'The Stones Of Blood'.
He is also in the anthology chiller series 'The Supernatural', the sci fi drama 'The Flipside Of
Dominick Hyde' and both 'The Goodies' and its forgotten 1968 forerunner 'Broaden Your Mind'.
Does a lot of voiceover work these days. Check out the commercial sound clips at this site for a
hint of his range.
Nicholas McArdle-imdb
Labels: Doctor Who, Goodies, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, McCardle, Nicholas McArdle, Porridge, Rawlinson End, sex
comedy, St Trinians, Stones Of Blood, Sweeney, Valerie Leon
S a t u r d a y, 1 5 A u g u s t 2 0 1 5
Robert Lee
Robert Lee:
A versatile veteran East Asian British character actor. I'd guess he is of Hong Kong Chinese
descent, but he has been cast by British studios as Japanese and Korean almost as often. In
any case, he is probably only second to the ubiquitous Burt Kwouk in cornering 'oriental' roles
on British screens.
His early film work involves a few uncredited roles and non-speaking parts in budget
adventure and soho detective movies, with titles like 'Outcast Of The Islands' (1951), 'The
Desparate Woman' (1954), 'The World Of Suzie Wong' (1960), 'Visa To Canton' (1961), and 'The
Sinister Man' (1961).
In the 1963 'Avengers' story, 'The Golden Fleece'

In the 1978 TV series 'Hammer House Of Mystery And Suspense'
The burgeoning world of television in the early '60s offered a steady stream of work,
in primetime favourites ranging from 'The Avengers', 'Danger Man' and Dixon Of Dock Green' to
comedy like 'The Arthur Askey Show' and 'Hugh & I' with Terry Scott and Hugh Lloyd.
In a science fiction-y episode of the weird detective

gameshow 'Whodunnit' hosted by Jon Pertwee
As the '70s rolled into the '80s, Mr Lee made his big leap into the nation's consciousness with
his role as Japanese businessman Mr Nagazumi in the problematic but popular sitcom 'Mind
Your Language'. Other work that came his way included 'The Bill', 'Reilly Ace Of Spies' and
predictable appearances in 'Tenko' and 'The Chinese Detective'. There were also various movie
bit-parts such as Harry Grout's tailor in 'Porridge' (1979), the Chinese Ambassador in 'Half
Moon Street' with Michael Caine and Sigourney Weaver, and Mr Banzai in Lindsay Anderson's
scattergun 'Britannia Hospital' (1982).
Portraying Japanese Admiral Togo in 'Reilly Ace Of Spies'
I don't know when he was born, but he must be getting on a bit now, having made his uncredited
film debut in 1944, and his last recorded appearance is from 2010.
Whatever he's doing now, he deserves this small bow of honour.
Robert Lee-imdb
Labels: Britannia Hospital, Casino Royale, Chinese Detective, Danger Man, Dixon of Dock Green, Grange Hill, Mind
Your Language, Porridge, Professionals, Robert Lee, Rollerball, Tenko, The Avengers,Tomorrow People
S u n d a y, 1 3 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5
Ian McNeice
Ian McNeice:
Over the years, Ian McNeice has physically expanded to something like Fred Emney
proportions, but his cold, regarding eyes have kept him well supplied with roles on the slightly
sinister side of the street. Graduating from LAMDA and joining the RSC in the early '70s, he
made a breakthrough into TV with the newly-created Channel 4's star-studded 'Nicholas
Nickleby'. There followed a role in the also ambitious, but now horribly dated 1983 mini-series
'The Cleopatras'.
As Harcourt in 'Edge Of Darkness'

The mid-'80s saw him hit the big screen, in comedies like 'Top Secret!' (1984), 'Personal
Services' (1987), and 'Whoops Apocalypse' (1988), but also in dramas such as '84 Charing Cross
Road' (1987), Cry Freedom' (1987) and with Bob Hoskins in 'The Lonely Passion of Judith
Hearne' (1987) and 'The Raggedy Rawney' (1988).
As an antique dealer, straight from central casting in 'Lovejoy'
Television also beckoned, with light everyday fare ranging from 'Bergerac' and 'CATS Eyes' to
'Lovejoy' and 'Minder'. There's also a fair bit of detective doings, including 'Cadfael', 'Midsomer
Murders', 'Murder Rooms: The Casebook Of The Real Sherlock Holmes' and Jonathan Creek.
Perhaps more impressively, there was the memorable double act with Charles Kay in the
acclaimed conspiracy drama 'Edge Of Darkness'.
The '90s and early '00s saw an increased demand from the cinema, both home-grown and in
Hollywood, with roles in 'The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill And Came Down A Mountain
(1995), 'Ace Ventura:When Nature Calls' (1995), 'From Hell' (2000), The Fourth Angel (2001),
'Town & Country' (2001), and 'Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason' (2004).
He appears as Winston Churchill in several Matt Smith-era
'Doctor Who' episodes, including 'Victory Of The Daleks'
As the '00s and '10s have rolled on, there have been good parts in popular TV movies and shows
including 'Longitude', the BBC/HBO series 'Rome', 'Doctor Who' - reprising his characterisation
of Churchill - and the regular looming presence of Bert Large in 'Doc Martin'.
Ian McNeice-imdb
Labels: Ace Ventura, Bridget Jones, Doc Martin, From Hell, Ian McNeice, Longitude, Minder, Personal Services, Pie
in the Sky, Top Secret!, Whoops Apocalypse
Tu e s d a y, 1 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5
Carol MacReady
Carol MacReady:
An adaptable actress with expressive eyes and a face made to convey every nuance of doubt
and disapproval, Carol MacReady has been a regular presence on the small screen since the
early '70s.
Some prestigious dramas include the 1968 Peter Cushing series of 'Sherlock Holmes', 'The
Flame Trees Of Thika', 'Mapp And Lucia' 'The Six Wives of Henry VIII', the Michael Hordern
'Christmas Carol' from 1977, as Mrs Cratchitt, and a regular role in the 1975 Thames series
'Couples'.
As the sister of Anne of Cleves (played by Elvi Hale, right) in

'The Six Wives of Henry VIII'
There were also roles in sofa-filling favourites like 'The Sweeney', 'Tales Of The Unexpected',
'The Darling Buds Of May', 'Heartbeat', and more recently 'Doc Martin'. Outright comedy and
sitcom shows have included 'Victoria Wood', 'Waiting For God', 'The Vicar Of Dibley', 'Birds Of A
Feather' and the dreaded 'Never The Twain'.
As Kath the Aussie barmaid in an episode of 'The Sweeney'
From 'Never The Twain' it's a short hop to children's television. A big success seems to have
been the kids' series 'Bodger & Badger' which was a bit after my time, a patently low-budget
slapstick affair that makes 'The Sooty Show' look like PG Wodehouse. Her other children's TV
appearances include 'The Return Of The Psammead', 'Danger: Marmalade At Work', and
feature films like '102 Dalmations' and 'A Feast At Midnight'.
In the kids' show 'Bodger & Badger', mid '90s.

Alongside comedy and children's TV, she seems to have made a speciality of crime drama, with
roles in 'Poirot', 'Inspector Alleyn Mysteries', 'Midsomer Murders', Love Lies Bleeding', and the
excellent Dorothy L Sayers adaptation 'Gaudy Night' with Harriet Walter. All good solid stuff.
Carol MacReady-imdb
Labels: Bodger and Badger, Carol MacReady, Christmas Carol, Mapp & Lucia, Quills, Six Wives of Henry
VIII, Sweeney, Tales of the Unexpected
M o n d a y, 2 8 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 5
George Costigan
George Costigan:
With a winning smile, tempered by a knack for portraying sarcasm and sleaziness, character
actor George Costigan has a huge body of interesting work stretching back to the mid-'70s.
Behind pebble specs, but about to be rumbled by Jeremy Brett in
the mid-'80s Granada series 'The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes'
As 'Philip the Bastard' in the 1984 TV version of 'King John'. A dispute over inheritance is
judged by the king (Leonard Rossiter). His half brother (Edward Hibbert, right) loses out.
A favourite for me might be his cheerfully caustic copper from Alan Plater's 'The Biederbecke
Connection', and he sticks in the mind as the randy lead in the (now probably unwatchable)
'Rita Sue and Bob Too', that jolly comedy look at grooming impressionable teenagers for sex.
Different times indeed. With Michelle Holmes and Siobhan Finneran in the
Bradford-based schoolgirl sex comedy 'Rita Sue & Bob Too' (1987).
He has also enjoyed a longish run in several shows including 'Emmerdale', 'Happy Valley',
'Holby City' and 'City Central'. Police roles have been usefully forthcoming, in the likes of 'Ruth
Rendell Mysteries', 'The Long Firm' and 'See No Evil: The Moors Murderers'. Other popular
primetimers have included 'Hetty Wainthrop Investigates', 'Bergerac', 'Inspector Morse', 2nd-
generation 'Minder', Tennant-era 'Doctor Who', and dear old 'Midsomer Murders'. He's also in
the movie 'Calendar Girls' (2003) as Penelope Wilton's husband Eddie.
In the Christmas Day episode of 'Doctor Who' from 2007,

'Voyage Of The Damned' as Max Capricorn
Comedy has included 'The Riff Raff Element', 'Coogan's Run', 'Murder Most Horrid' and the
rather antiquated ghost comedy, 'So Haunt Me', in which he played the harassed dad of a
family pestered by Miriam Karlin as a spectral Jewish grandmother.
With Sean Scanlon, as the cynically comedic coppers on an
overtime-generating stake out in 'The Beiderbecke Connection'
George Costigan-imdb

Labels: Biederbecke Connection, Doctor Who, George Costigan, Hereafter, Max Capricorn, Rita Sue Bob Too
S u n d a y, 6 D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 5
Edward Kelsey
Edward Kelsey:
Still going strong at 85 as the voice of the rascally Joe Grundy on the BBC Radio 4 serial 'The
Archers', Edward Kelsey is a stalwart actor with a list of TV and film credits stretching back to
the late '50s. He appeared in several of those timeless series which we now like to call 'cult',
including both 'The Avengers' and its '70s rehash 'The New Avengers', as well as 'Colditz',
'Doomwatch', 'The Saint', 'The Tripods' and three different Dr Who stories; the Hartnell-era
'Slave Traders', 'The Power Of The Daleks' with Patrick Troughton, and alongside Tom Baker in
'The Creature From The Pit'.
Colonel K in 'Danger Mouse'
A popular voice actor, he is also known for providing the bluster of Danger Mouse's boss Colonel
K and his arch enemy Baron Greenback, and creating a pastiche of his own Joe Grundy role as
Mr Growbag in the Wallace & Gromit film, 'The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit'. Other animations to
benefit from his low growl include 'The Wind In The Willows', 'The Reluctant Dragon' and the
Terry Pratchett-penned 'Truckers'.
In an early (1962) episode of 'The Avengers'
In an episode of the Peter Davison cosy crime

favourite, 'Campion' from 1990
Not very much comedy, save for a spot in 'The Vicar Of Dibley' and 'Minder', but lots of
mainstream TV drama over the past four decades. Highlights include 'The Plane Makers',
'Cranford' and 'Anna Of The Five Towns', with more everyday stuff like 'The Cedar Tree', 'Softly
Softly', 'Penmarric', 'Z-Cars', 'Angels' and the ever-present 'Casualty'.
It's not how I'd pictured Joe Grundy really, but that's him.
Edward Kelsey-imdb
Labels: Colditz, Dangermouse, Joe Grundy, Shoestring, Softly Softly, The Archers, The Avengers, The Saint, Were
Rabbit, Z Cars
F r i d a y, 2 2 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 6
Rosemarie Dunham
Rosemarie Dunham
Probably best known for her portrayal of the Edna, the sensual, if slightly careworn, landlady
in 'Get Carter' (1971), Scottish actress Rosemarie Dunham had previously appeared in a
smattering of TV dramas, such as 'The Avengers', 'Z-Cars', 'No Hiding Place' and 'Gideon's Way',
as well as a less-expected 'Benny Hill Show'.
Rosemarie Dunham (left) with Mary Kenton in a 1964

episode of the Victorian detective series 'Sergeant Cork'
Vamping it up with Benny Hill in 1965

As a no-nonsense waitress in the first episode of 'Budgie'
After 'Get Carter' there were a few more feature films, such as 'The Divine Sarah' (1976) and
'Croupier' (1999), but more often straight-to-video stuff like 'Tai-Pan' (1986) and 'Lady Oscar'
(1979).
Getting a little frisky with Jack Regan (John Thaw) deep

undercover as a hard-of-hearing chauffeur, in 'The Sweeney'
In an episode of the Kenneth More TV series of 'Father Brown'
Her later TV roles were a mixed bag too. From 'The Sweeney', 'The Return Of The Saint',
'Father Brown', 'Shoestring' and 'Bergerac', to soaps and daytime serials like 'Coronation
Street', 'Crown Court', and 'The Cedar Tree'. Mostly she seems to have played tough,
confident types, but in an impressive sweep from dowds to duchesses, including an
impressively realist 'Play For Today' performance in 1973's 'Kisses At Fifty' with Bill
Maynard.
As boutique owner Sylvia in 'Coronation Street', dealing with

nightmare customer Hilda Ogden (Jean Alexander) in 1976
Now over 80, I assume she is enjoying retirement somewhere. I hope so.
Rosemarie Dunham - imdb

Labels: Avengers, Benny Hill, Bergerac, Budgie, Coronation Street, Croupier, Get Carter, landlady,Michael
caine, nude, Sewell, shotgun, Sweeney
Peter Martin
Peter Martin:
Distinctive, spud-nosed actor. Played the gaffer looking for building supplies in those 'They've
got the Jewson lot!' TV ads from the '90s. Born in Accrington, he has cornered a small part of
the market for playing Northerners of various sorts, from canny barmen and no-nonsense
farmers to daft ha'porths and confused customers.
In fact, a run through his CV takes you on a whistle-stop tour of Northern comedy and drama
since the late '70s.
He's got a list.
Take for instance: 'The Liver Birds', 'A Bit Of A Do', 'The Gaffer', 'First/Last Of The Summer
Wine', 'Dinnerladies' and various other Victoria Wood shows, plus 'The Royle Family', 'Rosie', 'In
Loving Memory' and the 'Beiderbecke' trilogy.
Enjoying Christmas with 'The Royle Family'
To this, add a smattering of soaps and light dramas, to whit: 'Emmerdale', 'Coronation Street',
'Bergerac', Dalziel & Pascoe', 'Strangers', and so on...
Peter Martin-imdb

Labels: All Creatures, Beiderbecke, Coronation Street, Dad's Army, Emmerdale, Jewson, Peter Martin,Royle
Family, Victoria Wood
M o n d a y, 4 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 6
Rosalind Ayres
Rosalind Ayres:
She probably doesn't relish being referred to as Mrs Martin Jarvis, but Rosalind Ayres, despite
being in some of Britain's best loved drama series and a few interesting comedies is less of a
household name than her husband, who is something of a fixture on TV and especially BBC
Radio 4.
In the quirky 'Little Malcolm & His Battle Against The Eunochs' (1974) with
John Hurt and David Warner. An Apple film, financed by George Harrison
As the innocent Clarissa, daughter of Dick Emery's vicar
For one thing, she appears in the famous Dick Emery sketch with Emery as the vicar who
has made up his own words for 'crumpet' ("the word, in this house, is dibble"), 'tart' and
'boob'. The '80s and '90s saw roles in 'Agony', 'The Bounder', 'Juliet Bravo' and 'Casualty'.
In 'That'll Be The Day' (1973) with David Essex
Film appearances include 'That'll Be The Day' (1973) and 'Stardust' (1974) as the slightly wan
poppet, Jeanette. There's the star-studded curiosity, 'Little Malcolm and his Struggle Against
the Eunochs' (1974), the portmanteau horror 'From Beyond The Grave (1974), then rather a
long quiet period until Hollywood beckoned for 'Titanic' (1997) and 'Gods & Monsters' (1998).
This also led to some US TV work, in 'Sabrina The Teenage Witch' and 'Chicago Hope'.
As Gran in 'Outnumbered'
More recent TV has seen her appear in the Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner family improv-
sitcom, 'Outnumbered', and the Adult Swim doctor-comedy 'Childrens Hospital'.
Rosalind Ayres - imdb
Labels: Gods and Monsters, Martin Jarvis, neanderthal, Outnumbered, Penmarric, Rosalind Ayres,Sabrina, That'll
Be The Day, The Bounder, The Lovers, Titanic
S u n d a y, 3 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 6
David Calder
David Calder:
Super-familiar, classically-trained, all-purpose character actor, perhaps bearing a resemblance
to the late Iain Cuthbertson. You might have seen him - in fact it would have been hard to avoid
him - in a raft of popular light-middleweight cop and spy dramas over the last four decades.
Consider the likes of 'Bergerac', 'Midsomer Murders', 'Dalziel & Pascoe', 'Spooks', 'Heartbeat',
'Boon', 'Widows', 'Widows 2', 'New Tricks', etc, and perhaps better stuff such as 'Cracker',
'Waking The Dead', the oddball sci-fi drama 'Utopia', and the 1981 precursor to the Alan Plater's
Beiderbecke trilogy, 'Get Lost', with Alun Armstrong.
He also had the lead role in the late-'80s sci-fi serial 'Star Cops' which has become a minor cult
phenomenon in some corners of the internet, although it failed to catch on with a wider
audience. He's never done a 'Doctor Who' though, something of a rarity for these pages.
On the cover of the Radio Times in the guise of Nathan Spring

from the 1987 sci fi series 'Star Cops'
Other fertile areas include period drama, with appearances in 'Bramwell', 'Mr Selfridge',
'Houdini' (as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle), 'The Mayor Of Casterbridge', 'Beethoven', 'Miss Marple',
the recent 'Father Brown Mysteries' and commanding the ill fated liner in the 2012 TV mini-
series 'Titanic'.
In 'Hitler: The Rise Of Evil (2003)
As a TV comedy fan, you might have spotted him in the supermarket-set 'Trollied' or in the
Greg Davies vehicle 'Cuckoo', or perhaps 'The New Statesman' or 'The Wrong Mans', but that
seems like a minor section of his CV.
In 'Waking The Dead: Cold Fusion II'
On the big screen he has some mildly impressive credits, such as 'The World Is Not Enough'
(1999), 'Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer' (2006), 'The Lady In The Van' (2015), and the
Chinese addition to the Mummy franchise, 'The Mummy: Tomb Of The Emperor' (2008). He's
also in the Hunt-Lauda F1 movie 'Rush' (2013). But, despite what imdb seems to claim, I'm
pretty sure it's not him in the little-known US gay exploitation flick 'The Meat Rack' (1970)...
A typical role, tweeded up in 'Midsomer Murders'
By way of consolation, here he is brazenly impersonating a Crime Prevention Officer in a Public

Information Film, using an intermittent all-purpose reassuring Northern accent.
David Calder-imdb
Labels: Bergerac, Bramwell, Cold Blood, David Calder, Hitler, James Bond, Meatrack, Midsomer
Murders,Mummy, Nathan Spring, New Statesman, Professionals, Star Cops, Titanic, Utopia, Waking The Dead,World
Is Not Enough
M o n d a y, 2 2 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 6
Avril Elgar
Avril Elgar
A splendidly severe-looking actress, yet impressively versatile, her long career encompasses
roles as varied as society ladies and exhausted servants, via a slew of nouveau riche
harridans, cruel nurses, shy spinsters and nosy neighbours.
In 'Ladies Who Do' (1963)
Although Imdb suggests that she is best known for three feature films, 'Room At The Top
(1959), 'Betrayal' (1983) and 'Wilde' (1997), her contribution to these is worthy but minimally
memorable. Better perhaps to remember her turn in 'Spring And Port Wine' (1969) as Mrs
Duckworth next door, or even the slightly strained comedy 'Ladies Who Do' (1963) in which,
with fellow City office cleaning ladies Peggy Mount, Miriam Carlin and Dandy Nicholls, she
indulges in some lucrative insider dealing. She's also briefly in 'The Medusa Touch' (1978)
with a cursed Richard Burton.
I don't know if it still exists but I would love to see the Ken Russell-directed silent movie
version of 'Diary Of A Nobody' made for the BBC's 'Monitor' arts programme in 1964, which saw
her play Mrs Pooter in a great little cast that also included Murray Melvin, Jonathan
Cecil and Brian Murphy. Particularly as it has music by Ivor Cutler.
As Lou Evans in the Nina Bawden adaptation 'Carrie's War'

a major BBC family drama success of 1974.
Publicity shot for 'The Three Sisters' with George Cole.

She's a highly respected stage actress with previous at the National Theatre, and a successful
and widley publicised 1967 run of Chekhov's 'Three Sisters' at the Royal Court Theatre with
Glenda Jackson and Marianne Faithfull. But it's probably in television that she's most familiar.
Sitcom fans will immediately spot her as Yootha Joyce's social-climbing sister Ethel in the
popular 'Man about The House' spin-off, 'George & Mildred'. She had a slightly similar role in
one of Roy Clarke's gentle Northern comedies, 'Rosie', as the young copper's monstrously
overbearing mother.
In George & Mildred' as the social climbing Ethel with wealthy hubby
Humphrey, played by king of the sitcom bosses, the late Reginald Marsh.
Other television includes 'Campion', 'Agatha Christie: Poirot', 'Midsomer Murders', 'A Taste For
Death', 'Shoestring', two episodes of 'Tales Of The Unexpected', 'Minder', 'New Tricks' and a
good few more. Quite revealing as to her range is the fact that she has appeared in three
episodes of 'Doctors' as three very different characters between 2004 and 2011. Sterling work.
Trivia note: After 20 years, Avril Elgar appeared in 'The Moles', an episode of 'Tales Of The
Unexpected', alongside Harry H Corbett, her co-star in the film 'Ladies Who Do'. It was to be his
last role and was screened a month after his death in 1982.
Avril Elgar-imdb
Labels: Avril Elgar, Betrayed, Campion, Diary of a Nobody, Doctors, George & Mildred, Midsomer
Murders, Minder, Poirot, Room At The Top, Rosie, Shoestring, Tales of the Unexpected, The Medusa Touch
We d n e s d a y, 1 0 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 6
Godfrey James
Godfrey James:
You've probably seen Godfrey James's face many times in films and television without
realising it, as aside from his distinctive dimpled chin (often hidden by a beard), there's
nothing particularly memorable about his broad, even-featured countenance. Quite possibly
we fail to do justice to this ubiquitous actor for that very reason, despite his appearance in
some of our most beloved cult favourites, from 'Department S', and 'The Strange Report' to
'UFO', 'Space: 1999' and 'Doctor Who'.
A fleeting appeareance as the chauffeur in

'Sance On A Wet Afternoon' (1964)
Starting in the early '60s, he has had a varied acting career, kicking off with an interesting
role in the first season of 'The Avengers'. He's in 'The Frighteners', the only episode to survive
intact from that run. His powerful frame saw him grab a series of parts as intimidating
heavies and brusque coppers, interspersed with prosperous businessmen, yeoman farmers and
faithful retainers. His '60s and '70s TV work includes 'Z Cars', 'Softly Softly', 'Dixon Of Dock
Green', The Forsyte Saga', 'Black Beauty', and 'The Onedin Line'.
In 'Witchfinder General' (1968)
In the cinema, he makes appearances in some classic Brit horror, including 'Witchfinder
General' (1968), 'The Oblong Box' (1969), 'Cry Of A Banshee' (1970) and 'Blood On Satan's Claw'
(1971). He's also in the '70s family adventures 'At The Earth's Core' (1976) and 'The Land That
Time Forgot' (1975).
As the father of Angel Blake in 'Blood On Satan's Claw' (1971)
As the '70s rolled into the '80s, he proved popular with casting directors of primetime TV,
leading to parts in 'The Sweeney', 'Minder', 'Bergerac', 'Dempsey & Makepeace' and
'Bulman'. He's also in the episode of 'Tales Of The Unexpected' in which John Gielgud's sneaky
antique dealing vicar gets his comeuppance when he discovers a rare Chippendale
sideboard.
As Mr Bumble the beadle in the 1985 BBC adaptation of
Oliver Twist. With June Brown as Mrs Mann.
In slightly more recent times, you might have spotted him in anything from 'Agatha Christie:
Poirot' or ''The Darling Buds Of May' to 'The Tripods' and 'The Return Of The Antelope'.
Very sound stuff in general, but here he is in full silly alien splendour in 'Space: 1999'. They
don't make 'em like that any more.
The 'Space: 1999' episode 'The Rules Of Luton'. Yes, really.
Godfrey James-imdb
Labels: Banshee, Blood On Satan's Claw, Doctor Who, Gerry Anderson, Minder, Oblong Box, Oliver
Twist,Professionals, Seance on a Wet Afternoon, Space 1999, Sweeney, Tripods, UFO, Witchfinder General

The Familiar Unknown British Character Actors

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The Familiar Unknown British Character Actors

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familiar unknown

a miscellany of British character actors who are still with us

International Movie Database

An early role, in 'Dandy in Aspic' (1967)

In the '80s sitcom 'Me and My Girl'

Richard O'Sullivan - imdb profile

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Labels: Avengers, Emmerdale, John Woodvine, Shameless, Young Winston

As Biles in 'If' (1968)

Brian Pettifer - imdb profile

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She also has a choochie face

Anna Quayle - imdb profile

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Tony Haygarth - imdb profile

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Labels: Kinvig, Rosie, Tony Haygarth, Wilmot

Julian Holloway - imdb profile

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Labels: David Daker, Stardust, Time Bandits, UFO, Z-Cars

Jeremy Lloyd - imdb profile

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In the sitcom 'Waiting for God'

Janine Duvitski - imdb profile

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George Innes - imdb profile

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Michael Jayston - imdb profile

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In 'The Au Pair Girls' (1972)

A less typical role, as a bubble-wrapped, eye-shadowed alien

John Standing - imdb profile

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Jo Rowbottom - imdb profile

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Labels: Claudius, James Beck, Jo Rowbottom, Queenie Watts, Romany Jones

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In Michael Winner's star-studded but so dreary

Derek Deadman - imdb profile

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With Michael Caine in 'Get Carter' (1971)

Petra Markham - imdb profile