Whatever Happened To … Penny Irving?

As you may know, I've been blogging a wide ranging series of blogs for the past three years or so now, all under the banner of "whatever happened to…". These blogs take a look at some of the perhaps less well known, yet still instantly recognisable actors and actresses who appeared in the Carry On films over the years. 

Today I am going to write about an actress and model who, although only appearing in one Carry On film during her career, enjoyed a rather interesting acting career worthy of further discussion. Penny Irving had already been acting for a couple of years when she was offered the part of one of the Birds of Paradise troupe in 1974's Carry On Dick. Working alongside Linda Hooks, Laraine Humphrys and Eva Reuber-Staier, Penny was seen throughout the film performing in The Old Cock Inn. Penny is definitely eye-catching in the role and it's a shame she didn't return for further Carry Ons with the team. So what else did she get up to during her career?

Penny Irving was born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire in 1955. Penny first came to prominence as a model, her breakthrough coming in 1972. She graced the front cover of a Top of the Pops compilation LP in the autumn of that year with further modelling work seeing her appear in various magazines and national newspapers. 1972 also saw Penny's very first television appearance, as an extra in an episode of The Benny Hill Show. The following year Penny had an uncredited role as a Girl at a Pool Party in the Anouska Hempel film Tiffany Jones. Also that year Penny played Maggie in the Linda Marlowe adventure film, Big Zapper. 

From 1973 - 1974 Penny had the recurring role of Yvonne in three episodes of the television comedy series, Beryl's Lot, which also featured a certain Mr Robin Askwith. Later in 1974 Penny played the small role of Ann-Marie Di Verney in the Pete Walker horror film House of Whipcord, which also co-starred Carry On Abroad actor Ray Brooks. The same year Penny worked for Peter Rogers, she also appeared in a comedy film for Peter's wife Betty Box. Percy's Progress, which featured familiar Carry On actors such as Carol Hawkins, Diane Langton, Judy Geeson, Elke Sommer and Harry H Corbett, saw Irving play Chiquita. 

Comedy certainly dominated Penny's acting career. As the 1970s progressed she gained more and more roles in well-remembered series. She played a Chambermaid in the 1975 Dad's Army episode My Brother and I, which saw Arthur Lowe play the dual role of both Captain Mainwaring and his roguish brother Barry. Two years later Penny guest starred in an episode of the comedy series Mr Big, playing Linda alongside Peter Jones, Ian Lavender, Carol Hawkins and Prunella Scales. She also played two small roles in a couple of episodes of the iconic The Two Ronnies with Ronnie Corbett and Ronnie Barker between 1975 and 1977. A rare semi-serious role came along later in 1977 when Penny made a brief appearance as a lady of questionable virtue, Pam, in the very first episode of the classic action series, The Professionals - "Private Madness, Public Danger".

Perhaps Penny Irving's most famous roles came in two long running and well loved situation comedies from the late 1970s and early 1980s. First up was her long association with the classic BBC comedy series, Are You Being Served? Between 1976 and 1979, Penny appeared in 22 episodes in the role of Mr Grace's Secretary, Miss Bakewell. Penny also provided support in the 1977 big screen version of the department store comedy. In the film she played Miss Nicholson. From 1980, Penny appeared as yellow coat Mary in the English holiday camp comedy Hi-de-Hi! which made stars of Ruth Madoc, Paul Shane and Su Pollard. Penny appeared in seven episodes of the series, bowing out in 1981. 

And that, as they say, was that. According to the internet, Penny has since retired from the entertainment industry and is now happily living a life away from the limelight in London. Well Penny, if you're out there and you fancy having a natter about your career, get in touch, as I'd love to hear from you! 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Carry On Faces in Different Places: Percy's Progress

Here we go with another in my series of blogs looking at some of the cream of British comedy film making from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Although this blog is all about the Carry Ons, believe it or not, there were some other joyous comedy films made away from Peter Rogers Productions. However, given the quality of the actors Peter employed to make his series, it's no wonder that most of them popped up elsewhere.

So far I've looked at the wonderful 1959 crime caper Too Many Crooks , the 1954 domestic comedy starring Dirk Bogarde, For Better For Worse , the big screen spin off Please Sir! and the wonderful Up Pompeii and the brilliant John Gregson and Diana Dors vehicle, Value for Money. 
  
More recently I blogged about the Sid James and Kenneth Connor comedy horror What A Carve Up! and the the Gordon Jackson drama, Floodtide. 

I've also looked at the Carry On links with the wonderful film I'm All Right Jack

Recently I blogged about the Billy Fury and Amanda Barrie musical film I've Gotta Horse , the classic 1954 school comedy The Belles of St Trinian's and the 1959 romantic comedy from the Betty Box and Ralph Thomas stable, Upstairs and Downstairs. You can also check out my blog on the 1956 drama Lost. 

Today I am going to write about a 1974 comedy sequel which saw one of the last films from a producer-director double act of legendary proportions (Betty Box/Ralph Thomas) : Percy's Progress.

What's it about?

Percy is well known in England as the man who had the world's first penis transplant, and is exceptionally well endowed. His rampant conquests of married women cause him to escape incarceration by local authorities.

A chemical is accidentally released into the world's water supply rendering all men impotent. Percy is unaware that he is the only man on earth who can achieve an erection because he was in hiding from the law at sea, drinking nothing but champagne.

When Percy goes ashore to relieve his year-long sexual tension at a brothel, he garners the attention of the British press and subsequently the British government, who then want to use him to repopulate the world. An international pageant is held to find each country's "Miss Conception" representative. At the same time, a team of doctors work to find an antidote to the effects of "P.S.- 123".

Who's in it?

Leigh Lawson heads the cast as Percy. Other well known actors to appear include Denholm Elliott as Sir Emmanuel Whitbread, Vincent Price as Stavos Mammonian, Julie Ege as Miss Hanson, Ronald Fraser as Bleeker and Anthony Andrews as Catchpole. 

Carry On Faces?

Many! Although playing a different character in the previous Percy film, Elke Sommer is back for the sequel this time playing Clarissa. She would lead the cast of Carry On Behind the following year. Another future one off Carry On star to appear in this film is Judy Geeson as Dr Fairweather. Judy would go on to star in Carry On England in 1976.

Carry On Screaming star Harry H Corbett co-stars as the Prime Minister (a spoof of Harold Wilson if ever there was one!). Elke's Carry On Behind colleague Adrienne Posta also co-stars here as PC 217 (Iris). And look out for that wonderful Irish actor Milo O'Shea playing Dr Klein. Nearly ten years before he had the supporting role of Len in my favourite Carry On, Carry On Cabby.

Carry On Matron cameo player Madeline Smith makes another guest appearance in this film, as Miss UK. Gertan Klauber, a small part player in several Carry Ons, also pops up playing Pablo. Two other Carry On faces making small, uncredited appearances in Percy's Progress are Norman Chappell as a Valet and who else but Marianne Stone playing a Reporter.

And before I go, there is of course much glamorous support from a bevy of lovely actresses. Carry On Abroad and Behind star Carol Hawkins plays Maggie; Carry On Dick Bird of Paradise Penny Irving crops up as Chiquita and future Carry On England actress Diane Langton takes the role of Maureen Sugden. Also look out for Carry On Blogging favourite, the actress Judy Matheson, who plays Maria. 

Did you know?

In the United States, the film was released as It's Not the Size that Counts.

Leigh Lawson replaced Hywel Bennett, who had played Percy in the original film of that name three years before. Bennett did not want to reprise the role.

Harry H. Corbett also co-wrote the film, along with Ian La Frenais and Sid Colin (who had contributed to the script of Carry On Spying in 1964). 

Betty Box said they only agreed with Nat Cohen to make a sequel to Percy if he financed The Reckless Years, a film of the Byron-Shelley story. However, Cohen reneged on the deal once Percy's Progress was made.

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram