Carrying On with Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)

Scrolling through the countless television channels the other evening in a desperate search for something to watch, I stumbled upon an episode of the 1960s series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). I watched repeats of this series avidly as a child but haven't seen the show for at least twenty years now. As with other classics like The Saint and The Avengers, it has a wonderful charm and quality that sets it apart from many others which means it's still very watchable today.

Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) was a private detective series starring the late Mike Pratt and the brilliant Kenneth Cope, fresh from his fame in Coronation Street (as Jed Stone). The series was created by Dennis Spooner and was first broadcast in 1969 and 1970. Interestingly, when broadcast in the United States the show was renamed My Partner the Ghost. I wonder if American audiences were a tad squeamish back then?

In the very first episode Hopkirk (Cope) is murdered during an investigation but returns as a ghost. Randall is the only character who is ever able to see or hear him, although certain minor guest characters did so during the series. A single set of 26 episodes were produced by ITC between 1968 and 1969 and the first episode went out in the September of 1969. As I was now reacquainted with the marvellous series from days gone by, I wondered if I could write a blog on any Carry On connections with the show. As with so many other classics of the era, many familiar character actors appeared throughout the run, so without further ado, let's take a closer look at some of them.

I have to start with the wonderful Kenneth Cope who excels in the pivotal role of Marty Hopkirk. Appearing in all 26 episodes, Kenneth is amazing throughout, always seen in his ghostly white suit. It was not long after this major starring role that Kenneth joined up with the Carry On team for two madcap adventures. First of all, as shop steward Vic Spanner in Carry On At Your Convenience and then later in 1971 as the softer character, Cyril Carter in Carry On Matron. 

Playing a supposed reincarnation of Marty in the 1969 episode "The Man from Nowhere" was Carry On Abroad guest actor Ray Brooks. Ray of course played Peter and Hattie's son Georgio, who romances June Whitfield's Evelyn Blunt, in the Elsbells adventure. Another instantly recognisable face to appear, this time in the episode "The House on Haunted Hill" was Peter Jones. Peter played a character called Frederick P Waller. Peter Jones popped in for two Carry On cameos during the original run of films. In 1967, two years before he shot Randall and Hopkirk, Peter played the hilarious tone-deaf vicar in Carry On Doctor. And nearly a decade later he returned to play the dreadfully unfunny Brigadier in the 1976 series entry Carry On England.

The 1970 episode entitled "It's Supposed to be Thicker than Water", which sees members of the Crackan family gather to find out which one will be the heir, stars a very familiar Carry On face indeed. First broadcast on 13 February 1970, the sublime Liz Fraser guest stars as Fay Crackan. Liz is best known for her many comedy film roles which include parts in Carry On Regardless (as Delia King); Carry On Cruising (as Glad Trimble), Carry On Cabby (as Sally) and Carry On Behind (as Sylvia Ramsden). 

Appearing in the very first episode of the series, "My Late Lamented Friend and Partner", as a Night Porter, is reliable character actor Harry Locke. Harry played similar working class roles in three medical Carry Ons - Nurse in 1959 in which he played orderly Mick; Doctor in 1967 which saw him appear as ambulance driver Sam and finally as the porter in Again Doctor in 1969. Also appearing in that very first episode is another familiar supporting player, Anthony Sagar. Playing a hotel proprietor, Sagar cropped up in several Carry Ons - Sergeant, Nurse, Constable, Regardless, Cruising, Screaming and finally Loving in 1970.

Playing Calvin P Bream in the 1970 episode "When the Spirit Moves You" was sitcom star in the making Anton Rodgers. Anton would go on to star in Fresh Fields, French Fields and May to December, but before all that he appeared in small roles in two Carry Ons. In 1962 he played a young man opposite Dilys Laye in Carry On Cruising and the following year he was  Hardy in the very first scene of Carry On Jack. The episode which aired on 21 December 1969, "Who Killed Cock Robin?" featured another very familiar Carry On face. David Lodge, who must have appeared in nearly every series at around this time, played the character of Beeches. David made his first appearance in the Carry Ons as a wine tasting patron in 1961's Carry On Regardless. After a lengthy gap he returned for a run of four more films with the team, starting with Carry On Girls in 1973, playing the Police Inspector. Further roles followed in Carry On Dick, Carry On Behind and Carry On England as well as several starring roles in the 1975 ATV Carry On Laughing series.

The 1970 episode entitled "A Sentimental Journey" features not one Carry On face but four. The superb Victor Maddern (Constable, Regardless, Spying, Cleo, Emmannuelle) plays Det. Sergeant Watts while Billy Cornelius (best known as Oddbod Junior in Carry On Screaming) plays Albert. Larry Taylor, who played tough guys in Follow That Camel, Up The Khyber and Carry On Dick also appears in the role of a Man in a Phone Booth. Finally, the actor Anthony Baird, who played a Guard in Carry On Spying, turns up playing a character called Hamilton. Baird was also, for a time, the boyfriend of a certain Joan Sims.

The rather bizarrely titled "That's How Murder Snowballs" which originally aired on 19 October 1969 co-starred a young actress who had already made four Carry On appearances. Playing Kay was the gorgeous Valerie Leon. Another glamorous presence in the series was Carry On Cowboy and The Big Job star Edina Ronay. Edina played Sandra in "Never Trust a Ghost". That same episode featured the super character actor Brian Oulton, playing Dr Plevitt. Brian appeared in Carry On Nurse, Constable, Cleo and Camping. 

Future Carry On At Your Convenience and Coronation Street actor Geoffrey Hughes co-stars as Harper in the 1970 episode, "Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave". At the end of January 1970 the episode "Money to Burn" was broadcast. Co-starring in that story was the actress Olga Lowe. Olga made a brief appearance as Madame Fifi, the brothel owner in 1972's Carry On Abroad. South African born Olga was one of the first people a certain Sidney James looked up on his arrival in London after the war. In a bizarre twist of fate, Olga was also on stage with Sid in The Mating Game the night he very sadly died in 1976.

And finally, if the internet is correct, a certain Robin Askwith made a very early television appearance in the same episode of Randall and Hopkirk as future Carry On Girls co-star Valerie Leon. Robin had a small part (if you pardon the expression) as an Act Pageboy. 

So if you haven't seen Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) before or if it's just been a while since you last caught it, I hope this blog has been a bit of a nostalgic trip back in time. Next time you see it in the schedules, give it a watch! 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Carrying On with You Rang M'Lord?

I have recently been enjoying repeats of one of the later Perry and Croft comedy series on GOLD. You Rang M'Lord? was originally broadcast on the BBC in the early 1990s and spanned four series, following a pilot in 1988. Focussing on life above and below stairs in a  respectable London house in the 1920s, this was their comedic take on the classic period drama, Upstairs Downstairs.

The series starred several actors who were by then well known for their work with Jimmy Perry and David Croft. Hi-de-Hi stars Paul Shane, Jeffrey Holland and Su Pollard all played key members of the below stairs staff. I remember the series with great fondness, watching it as a child when it was first shown. While not as popular as some of their earlier hits, I think the show has aged rather well. The production values are high, the period is an attractive one and the comedy works on several levels. There is the broad knockabout slapstick we've come to expect, there is a regular suggestion of innuendo and also some more subtle pokes at the class divide and issues from the era. It's still a satisfying watch although I believe when it was first shown, audiences were slightly put off by its longer running time (almost an hour) and some of the main characters being portrayed as not 100% loveable. Paul Shane's head butler is rather a rogue!

Despite this, I maintain a fondness for the series and have fallen in love with it all over again. There are also a number of significant Carry On connections in You Rang M'Lord? so without further ado, let's take a look!

Let's begin with a Carry On connection we can hear but never actually see in You Rang M'Lord? The rather catchy theme tune, written by Jimmy Perry and Roy Moore and performed with an authentic 1920s style orchestra, was sung by none other than Bob Monkhouse. It's only through watching the repeats that I've realised that was Bob although I don't know why I'm surprised as we all know what an endlessly talented man he was. Over thirty years earlier Bob had starred in the very first Carry On, Carry On Sergeant.

Of the main cast, several played notable roles in the Carry On series. Playing the head of the household, Lord Meldrum, was the late actor Donald Hewlett. Donald is probably best remembered today for his role in the Perry and Croft classic It Ain't Half Hot Mum, in which he played Colonel Charles Reynolds. Back in 1975, Donald had appeared in the cameo role of the University Dean in Carry On Behind. He starred in an early scene outside Maidenhead Town Hall with Kenneth Williams and Elke Sommer. Playing Hewlett's love interest in You Rang M'Lord was a lovely actress called Angela Scoular. While Angela never actually appeared in a Carry On, she was married to the legendary star Leslie Phillips from 1982 until her sad death back in 2011. 

The wonderful actor Bill Pertwee, probably most famous as ARP Warden Hodges, the thorn in Captain Mainwaring's side in Dad's Army, was a series regular in You Rang M'Lord? Bill played neighbourhood policeman, Wilson. Bill appeared in two Carry On films back in the early 1970s. In 1970 he played the role of the barman who encounters Jacki Piper, Richard O'Callaghan and Sid James in Carry On Loving. Apparently Bill was back at Pinewood the following year to play the owner of The Whippit Inn in Carry On At Your Convenience but his scenes were cut as it was felt the role was too similar to his part in Loving. Despite this Bill did go on to make one more Carry On. In 1973 Bill played the Fire Chief in Carry On Girls in a scene which saw Kenneth Connor's Mayor Bumble lose his trousers!

Another You Rang M'Lord? regular who had a small role in Carry On Girls was the actress Brenda Cowling. Brenda, in something of a homage to Hattie Jacques, played the maternity hospital Matron in Girls. Brenda returned to Pinewood two years later for an uncredited role as a lady in the audience at Professor Crump's (Kenneth Williams) accident prone lecture at the start of Carry On Behind. In You Rang M'Lord? Brenda played the wonderful role of Mrs Lipton, the cook. 

You Rang M'Lord? also boasted a fine array of guest actors during its three series run. Two mainstays of the Carry On series guest starred in the series. Appearing in two 1991 episodes as the character of Myrtle was none other than Barbara Windsor. Barbara of course starred in nine Carry On films between 1964 and 1974. The other Carry On legend to pop in for a guest role was the superb Kenneth Connor. Following on from his work as Sammy Morris in Hi-de-Hi, Kenneth was asked to play the role of Professor Heinrich Van Manheim in the 1990 episode "Labour of Love". Kenneth was one of the longest serving Carry On actors, starring in seventeen of the films. He was also one of only three actors to span the entire run of films from 1958 to 1978, the others being Kenneth Williams and Eric Barker.

Playing the part of Perkins in the 1993 episode "Come to the Ball" was reliable character actor Norman Mitchell. Norman had enjoyed a long association with the Carry On films dating back to 1963 when he played a bespectacled businessman in Carry On Cabby. The following year Norman played a Native Policeman in Carry On Spying. Later in 1964 Mitchell played a Heckler in the classic Carry On Cleo. In 1966 Norman played Joan Sims' Cabby in the Hammer Horror pastiche Carry On Screaming. After many years away, Norman rejoined the team for the last of the original run in 1978 film Carry On Emmannuelle, playing a drunken husband.

The wonderfully talented and much-missed Geoffrey Hughes, probably best remembered for his role as bin man Eddie Yeats in Coronation Street and Onslow in Keeping Up Appearances, guest starred as Fred Kendall in You Rang M'Lord. He appeared in the episode "Royal Flush". Twenty years earlier Geoffrey had played the supporting role of factory employee WIllie in Carry On At Your Convenience. Fellow Convenience actor Davy Kaye played King Boris of Dalmatia in the very same episode. As well as playing Sid's bookmaker Benny in Convenience, Davy had also co-starred as the rather enthusiastic undertaker Josh in Carry On Cowboy.

One final Carry On connection before I go and it's not in front of the camera this time. Jeremy Connor, the son of the legendary Kenneth worked on two series of You Rang M'Lord? In 1991 he worked as the Assistant Floor Manager while two years later Jeremy was the show's Production Manager. As well as being Kenneth's son, Jeremy also acted in the Carry On films in his own right. Way back in November 1958 at the age of three Jeremy played Bernie Bishop's son in the closing scenes of Carry On Nurse. Bernie was of course played by Kenneth Connor. Sixteen years later Jeremy returned to the series for a run of three further films. He played a Footpad in the Dick Turpin adventure Carry On Dick in 1974, an accident prone student with an ice cream which ends up in Alexandra Dane's dress (!) in Carry On Behind and finally in 1976, Jeremy was Gunner Hiscocks. 

So there you have it, some cracking Carry On connections with a really great, classic British comedy series. So why not check out the reruns of You Rang M'Lord? on GOLD? It's definitely worth a watch!


You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Carry On Blogging Interview: Hugh Futcher (Part 2)

On Thursday I had the great pleasure to chat with the actor Hugh Futcher about his long career as an actor on stage and screen. Hugh is well known to Carry On fans for his appearances in seven Carry Ons. Following his debut in Carry On Spying on a bed of nails, Hugh went on to appear in Don't Lose Your Head, Again Doctor, At Your Convenience, Abroad, Girls and finally Carry On Behind in 1975. Hugh also popped up in the film Bless This House in 1972.

On Friday I published the first part of our interview and you can read that here

In Carry On At Your Convenience, you joined the cast for a trip to Brighton. What was that like?

We went down to Brighton for a full week and to be honest it wasn't easy! We stayed in the Albion Hotel and I felt Kenneth Williams in particular was not very happy. Every evening after supper we'd gather in the lounge for drinks and people would all tell stories and jokes. Eventually someone said it was my turn so I told probably the only joke I knew and people laughed. Kenneth got up, came over to me and pinched my cheek rather venomously and said "will you please remember that I'm the funny one" and with that he was off to bed. The other thing I remember is that Dora Bryan would pop in to see us every day as she had a hotel nearby at that time. 

You worked with Geoffrey Hughes on that film. What do you remember about him?

I remember that he still owes me petrol money for all the lifts I gave him to and from the studios when we made Convenience! I don't think I'm going to get it back now. He did very well for himself and I still see him on television in repeats of Heartbeat. Every time he comes on the screen I get told off for moaning that he stlll owes me that money!

What are your memories of filming the scene in the jail in Carry On Abroad?

I don't remember that much about it but I know I was with that very good actor Alan Curtis. I think he's still around but not in the best of health now. A few years ago I was at a signing with Barbara Windsor and Alan was there, looking quite poorly. He was quite a suave character back then.

In Carry On Behind I think you had a few days working with Peter Butterworth, one of my favourites. What was he like?

Oh he was such a nice man. A very good actor who got on with everyone, didn't take sides. He just came in and got the job done. Bernard Bresslaw was like that too, he was a very quiet, sincere, serious actor and totally professional. Sid was too and Jim Dale was always very down to earth and pleasant to be with. Kenneth Williams and Joan Sims were always sat together and enjoyed a bit of a gossip more than the rest of them. 

You've recently had roles in The Crown on television and as Quince in a new film of A Midsummer Night's Dream. How do you think the industry has changed since you first started out as an actor?

I have to say that film is probably the most positive thing I've done in the last few years. I've heard they've got a rough cut of it all now and it looks beautiful and I've been told I'll be delighted with my part as Quince. Sadly I don't think the acting profession is as professional as it once was. When I was training we had classes every week from an actor called Peter Barkworth, who taught us theatre etiquette and it was so valuable. I don't think it's given as much importance today as it should. 

Finally, why do you think the Carry On films are still so popular after all this time?

I think we all still like what they call rib-tickling humour! They are still fun for people to watch. I also think they feature a lot of actors that people feel they actually know. They have that special quality. I remember being at that signing with Barbara and people came up to her as if they already knew her. I think that has a lot to do with it. 

I'd like to thank Hugh for agreeing to the interview. And also many thanks to Sarah at Beresford Management and to the lovely Andrew Lynford for helping to set it all up!

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan on Facebook and on Instagram

Carry On Blogging Interview: Hugh Futcher (Part 1)

Yesterday I had the great pleasure to chat with the actor Hugh Futcher about his long career as an actor on stage and screen. Hugh is well known to Carry On fans for his appearances in seven Carry Ons. Following his debut in Carry On Spying on a bed of nails, Hugh went on to appear in Don't Lose Your Head, Again Doctor, At Your Convenience, Abroad, Girls and finally Carry On Behind in 1975. Hugh also popped up in the film Bless This House in 1972.

First of all, I'd love to know what made you want to become an actor?

Quite simply I liked the attention as a child. I got a lot of pleasure from being the centre of attention and my parents weren't really against it. My mother didn't mind my interest in acting but she still wanted me to go back to school. I wasn't sure what to do with my life but through a contact of one of my teachers I was taken on to do window displays for John Lewis and I spent a very happy three years working there.

I still dreamt of becoming an actor though and during this time I became what's known as a bit of a Stage Door Johnny. i used to hang about outside the local theatre in Hampshire where I grew up. Lots of stars passed through the theatre in those days and one day it was that great actress Diana Dors. One night she invited me in to her dressing room and she talked to me while she was putting on her make up. I told her I was keen to become an actor and she advised that I wrote to RADA to express an interest. I did that, they sent me application forms and I took an entrance exam. I was offered a place but until this point I hadn't told my parents. We were just an ordinary working class family and while they weren't against me going to RADA, there was no way they could afford the fees. RADA suggested I contact my local council to see if they could help but I was told they only had funds to help people who wanted to become a doctor or a solicitor. 

So I went back to RADA and explained by predicament. Fortunately for me they allowed me to audition again, this time for a scholarship, which I got, and the rest is history. The Principal of RADA at the time was John Fernald and he never believed in me. He had no confidence that I would succeed and told me I'd struggle until my forties and would have to settle for being a character actor. As a young man of about 20, that wasn't a great thing to hear. When I got my first big part at the Royal Court I went back to see him and proved him wrong!

Was that role at the Royal Court your big break do you think?

Without a doubt. I played the role of Dodger in Chips with Everything for eight weeks at the Royal Court and then for a full year when it transferred to the Vaudeville Theatre. I really think that part opened the door for me to do lots of television and parts in films. I think people underestimate the importance of having a good agent to find you parts. My first agent took me on straight from RADA, a lady called Marjorie Armstrong. She was new to the business and I was one of her first signings. Some of her other clients at the time were Julian Glover and Henry McGee. Henry became a close friend and remained so right up until his death. 

Marjorie was responsible for bringing lots of casting directors to see me when I was at the Vaudeville and that's how I started to get parts in television and in the cinema.

How did you first come to join the Carry On team?

Well that was down to Marjorie again. She had been in touch with the casting agent at Pinewood Studios, I think it was Weston Drury Jr, and I was asked to come down to Pinewood to discuss what I'd been up to. The next thing I knew I was told I had a part in the next Carry On which was Carry On Spying. I remember Marjorie telling me that she hoped I was looking good as I'd be required to strip off for the part! Fortunately it was only a Carry On and I was playing a guy on a bed of nails in a short scene with Bernard Cribbins. That was the first time I met Barbara Windsor and sadly the only time I've ever met or worked with Bernard.

What was Gerald Thomas like as a director?

He was tough! He didn't say very much on the set. Peter Rogers said even less but he was always watching the clock. Peter was the money man and he would always appear at the end of the day to make sure we didn't go over time! They dreaded any actor asking if they could do a scene again as time cost money! I remember one time on set when an actress, who I won't name, quite loudly stated that she wasn't getting enough close ups as it was obvious they were focusing on the younger talent. After that little incident she was never asked to make another Carry On.

You filmed a scene with Sid James for Carry On Again Doctor in 1969. What was he like to work with?

Sid really took to me. He'd noticed me in a couple of parts before and even asked for me, saying to Gerald and Peter "is there anything for Hugh?" in the scripts. We got on very well and shared a common passion for the horses! We talked about the racing every morning and really bonded over that. We were always putting bets on while we were on set. The other thing that went on between takes was competing to see who could do The Times crossword first! It was normally Hattie, Sid and Bernard Bresslaw. Sid also always had his head in a copy of The Sporting Life. 

Another film you appeared in around this time was the Roman Polanski horror picture, Repulsion, with Catherine Deneuve. What are your memories of that?

It was a great film to have on my CV. The casting director liked me and asked me to go down to Shepperton Studios where they were going to make the film. I went into a little cabin and there was Polanski - very small and quiet, hardly said anything. I knew of him as he'd caused quite a stir with his film Knife in the Water. They were really just looking for faces and mine fitted. I was told that no English director would have cast me as they wanted Chelsea types. The actor I played scenes with was called James Villiers and he was quite posh. He raised an eyebrow at my casting in the part. Anyway it was quite a strange film in the end and I remember my mother could take it and walked out during the premiere, she had to wait in the foyer! 

Around that time I also met the legendary Charlie Chaplin, did you know that?

No I didn't, tell me about it...

I went down with five other actors to be seen for a short scene in a film he was making in England, A Countess from Hong Kong. When we got to the studios we were lined up while Chaplin and the Assistant Director walked up and down. The other four were then told they could go and I was told, "Hugh, you're working today." When we broke for lunch I was told I was done and could go. Sadly I didn't get the chance to meet the stars of the film Marlon Brando and Sophia Loren! As Chaplin and his entourage left the stage he suddenly turned round and walked backwards back towards me. He looked me in the eye and said "thank you so much" and was gone. It was quite a moment.

Watch out for Part Two of my interview with Hugh Futcher, coming up soon. Find out what she had to say about returning to the Carry Ons to work on the likes of Carry On Abroad and Behind and what it was like to go on location with the gang to Brighton for Carry On At Your Convenience.

I'd like to thank Hugh for agreeing to the interview. And also many thanks to Sarah at Beresford Management and to the lovely Andrew Lynford for helping to set it all up!

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan on Facebook and on Instagram