A Tribute to the late, great Bill Maynard

The news broke today that the legendary actor Bill Maynard has passed away at the age of 89. Bill was a fixture on the small screen, big screen, radio airwaves and in theatres around the country for decades and his sad passing sees another tangible link with the glory days of British film and television. 

Bill Maynard was a familiar face to us all. He had a career dating back to the 1950s, appeared in countless British films, including five Carry Ons, worked with many wonderful comedians....but he will forever be remembered as the loveable rogue Claude Greengrass in the nostalgia fest that was ITV's Heartbeat.

Bill played that role for eight years before a series of strokes put him out of action for a long time. It has forever placed him in the nation's affections though and that series remains extremely popular to this day. So what about his Carry On appearances? 

Well, Bill was a regular supporting player in the series during the early 1970s. While never being a leading man, he did have memorable roles. His first appearance came in 1970, in a cameo role as Mr Dreery, who attends marriage guidance with his wife (Patricia Franklin) but is less than happy with the advice he receives from Kenneth Williams! Bill returned to Pinewood later than year to film a supporting role as Guy Fawkes in Carry On Henry. In 1971, Maynard made two further Carry On appearances, first as Fred Moore, the wife of Chloe (Joan Sims) and then later in the bigger role as Freddy, one of Sid James' gang of crooks in Carry On Matron.

In 1972 Bill Maynard filmed a supporting role as Mr Fiddler, the boss of Wundatours in Carry On Abroad. Despite filming scenes with Kenneth Williams, Patsy Rowlands and Gail Grainger, his entire performance was cut as the film went over time. What a shame! Bill made his final Carry On appearance in 1974, with his role as the Landlord of The Old Cock Inn in Carry On Dick.

Away from Carry On, Bill also appeared in the film version of Bless This House in 1972, playing Oldham, a man Diana Coupland and Patsy Rowlands encounter when they go into business together selling antiques. 

Bill Maynard was a regular face in British film for over forty years. He was involved in another highly successful film comedy franchise during the 1970s - the horrid Confessions films which starred Robin Askwith. Bill appeared in all four of the films between 1974 and 1977, playing Askwith's father. He also clocked up appearances in Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall (with Jim Dale) in 1972, the big screen version of Man About The House (1974), Robin And Marian (1976) - which also co-starred Peter Butterworth and It Shouldn't Happen To A Vet (1975) - which starred John Alderton as James Herriot. 

On television Bill Maynard got his first big break in 1953, appearing in an episode of Henry Hall's Face The Music. He went on to form a memorable double act with Terry Scott, starring in Great Scott, It's Maynard for several years. In the early 1970s, Maynard starred alongside comedy legend Ronnie Barker in his series Seven of One. The mid-1970s also brought two regular roles in sitcoms for Yorkshire Television. One, as Selwyn Froggitt in Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt! and the other as Fred Moffat in The Gaffer. 

Other television roles included guest spots in Till Death Us Do Part, The Sweeney, The Royal (reprising his role as Greengrass), Kisses at Fifty and Dalziel and Pascoe. Bill also played a cameo role in Coronation Street, working with Violet Carson as the legendary Ena Sharples. Bill went on to host a weekly radio show for BBC Radio Leicester for five years until 2008. 

Apparently BIll also entered the political arena in 1984. He stood as an independent Labour candidate against none other than Tony Benn. Benn won the seat in Chesterfield with Maynard coming in fourth place. 

Bill Maynard was born Walter Frederick George Williams in October 1928. He took his stage name from the famous wine gums manufacturer. Born in Surrey, he soon made Leicestershire his home. He married Muriel Linnett in 1949 and together they had two children. Muriel sadly died in 1983. Bill re-married in 1989, to Tonia Bern, the widow of the the famous record breaker, Donald Campbell. Following a prolonged bout of ill health in he early 2000s, Bill Maynard was forced to temporarily retire. He had made appearances since however, on television chat shows, on radio and more recently in a documentary about Sid James in 2012. 

Bill lived a long life and a very full life, experiencing highs and lows, as we all do. He was due to celebrate the milestone of turning 90 this October and it's a great shame he won't  now see it. This Summer Bill was due to return to Borehamwood, a town he knew well, having worked regularly at the film studios there back in the 1970s. On a personal note, I was also due to feature an interview with Bill this year but sadly I won't now get the great pleasure of hearing from the man himself about his rich, varied and celebrated career.

Rest in peace, Bill, and thanks for all the laughs.

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Three Years and Counting: My Carry On Blogging Highlights So Far

 

It's not normally very British to blow your own trumpet (Matron!) however I wanted to do a little blog post as a round up of Carry On Blogging highlights so far. It's been quite a journey since I started blogging back in 2015 and I've loved every minute of it!

I'm thrilled that the blog has now received nearly 850,000 page visits since I set it up in March 2015! March this year was the most visited month so far with over 70,000 views!

The blog Twitter account now has over 14,000 followers and nearly 700 of your have "liked" my Facebook page. Thank you to everyone who tweets, follows, likes and comments - it's always great to hear from you!

 

I have published a series of blogs covering each of Joan Sims' 24 Carry On performances, giving my own opinions on the roles she played.

I have carried on this theme by publishing a series of blogs covering each of Hattie Jacques' 14 Carry On performances and all 9 of Barbara Windsor's roles.

I have started a project of blogs running through some of the lesser known Carry On supporting actors in an A - Z feature.

I have cast the net out far and wide for a range of guest blog posts to bring in different opinions on the Carry On films.

I got a sneak preview of Sarah Miller Walters' new book Joyce To The World

I visited the London Film Convention back in Spring 2016 where I had the great pleasure of meeting Carry On actors Jacki Piper and Fenella Fielding. You can read about that here 

 

One of the biggest developments has been the start of my Carry On Blogging interview series. So far I have interviewed several Carry On actors, authors and interesting folks connected to the series and British comedy:

- I interviewed the lovely Angela Douglas - you can read that here 

- I caught up with the delightful Valerie Leon to discuss her new Forever Carrying On show - you can read that here 

- I interviewed the wonderful Jacki Piper - you can read that here 

- Carry On writer and historian Robert Ross answered my questions and celebrated twenty years since the publication of The Carry On Companion here 

- I learned more about Steve Lilly's wonderful British comedy art work when I interviewed him - read that here

 

- I asked the brilliant Simon Sheridan all about his book Keeping The British End Up and the saucier side of British film comedy here

- I found out more about the fantastic Sid's Place blog in an interview with Stuart Ball - you can read that here

- I interviewed screen legend Fenella Fielding about her new audio book of memoirs - you can catch up with that here  

- I published an interview with Odysseas from the superb Art and Hue, celebrating the best of British film and television in Pop Art! You can read that here

- I interviewed the lovely Louise who runs the fantastic Joan Hickson tribute Twitter account and you can read that here

- I interviewed the brilliant Craig Deeley and you can read that here

 

- I caught up with the fabulous Judy Matheson for a chat about Hammer Horror, Robin Askwith and all things Carry On and you can read that here

- I interviewed Stuart Morriss from the terrific Misty Moon Film Society and you can catch up with that one here

- You can read my blog interview with Peter Reed, Senior Producer at the BBC Radio station 4 Extra by clicking here

- I had the great pleasure of visiting Elstree Studios to meet and interview Morris Bright and I even got to sit at Sid's piano! You can read Part 1 and Part 2 by following these links. 

 

- I blogged an interview with the lovely Ben Peyton, which you can read here 

- And I've also published a blog interview with the legendary actress Francoise Pascal  

- In September I enjoyed a wonderful chat with the lovely Madeline Smith and you can read the blog interview of that encounter here

- I interviewed the brilliant film director and Carry On fan Jason Figgis and you can read that here

 

- I published a guest blog by Carry On fan Adam Endacott who is currently writing The Kenneth Williams Companion. You can read that here

- I interviewed Carry On Super Fans Robert Jervis Gibbons and Callum Phoenix about their love of the films and their stars. You can read that here and here

 - I caught up with Please Sir! actor and author David Barry and you read all about that here

- I published a fantastic guest blog by Dr Laura Mayne on the relationship between two of the leading lights of Carry On - Producer Peter Rogers and writer Talbot Rothwell. You can read that here

- I interviewed Bless This House and Carry On star Sally Geeson and you can find that blog here

I most recently interviewed Carry On actress and all round entertainer Anita Harris about her time with the team making Carry On Follow That Camel and Carry On Doctor in 1967. You can read about that here

At the start of November I had the great privilege to catch up with the lovely Robin Le Mesurier, a true gentleman who answered my questions on life with his wonderful parents, Hattie Jacques and John Le Mesurier. You can read that interview here

 

In January this year I interviewed the lovely actress and author Josephine Bailey about her time as a child actor, studying at the Corona Academy and of making Carry On Teacher. You can read that here

I also had the great pleasure of interviewing the glorious Amanda Barrie about her long and successful career which of course has included two Carry Ons and Coronation Street. You can read that here

Most recently I spoke to the delightful Judy Buxton about her career as an actress, her time with the Royal Shakespeare Company and of meeting and working witht he great Joan Sims on the series On The Up. You can read that here

Last October I celebrated reaching 1000 blogs. I invited many of those who have contributed to Carry On Blogging over the past eighteen months to tell me what Carry On films mean to them. I was thrilled that so many people took part, including the likes of Fenella Fielding, Robert Ross, Sherrie Hewson, Jessie Wallace, Jacki Piper, Francoise Pascal, Angela Douglas and Madeline Smith. You can catch up with these special blogs here:

Part 1
Part 2 
Part 3 

In March I celebrated Frankie Howerd's centenary by interview his agent and long-time friend Tessa Le Bars. You can read that interview here

I also spoke to the actor Mark Farrelly about his love of Frankie and his plans for a new one man show telling Howerd's story. Read this here.

Paul Taylor-Greaves told me all about his love of blogging and podcasting and that can be found here 

 

Carry On Nurse actress Christine Ozanne spoke to me earlier this month about her long and varied career and her new memoir, The Tome of the Unknown Actor. Find out what Christine had to say here

And more recently I interviewed Jennie Linden on her long stage and screen career, finding out what it was like to work with Kenneth Williams on the play My Fat Friend. Read more from Jennie here 

To celebrate my second anniversary, on 29 March this year I interviewed my blogging colleague and Coronation Street Blog Editor Glenda Young about blogging, Corrie and of course, Carry On. You can check that out here.

Having written about all of Joan and Hattie's Carry On adventures, I have also started blogging about Barbara Windsor's nine Carry On roles as part of the run up to Barbara's 80th birthday in August. You can read the first of those blogs here 

I'm also now beginning a new series of blogs looking back at all of Kenneth Connor's Carry On performances in the lead up to his centenary next June. You can read the first of these blogs here.

Earlier this summer saw comedy historian Robert Ross embark on a special Carry On Cruise with some very familiar faces. Robert very kindly answered some questions on his European jaunt with Valerie Leon, Jacki Piper, Anita Harris and Richard O'Callaghan. You can find that article here 

Having interviewed the fabulous Madeline Smith last year it was a thrill to finally meet her in person in June. I attended "From Biba to Bond: An Evening with Madeline Smith" at the Stow Roses Women's Institute in North London. You can read about my encounter with the lovely Maddie here 

Another great moment in June was interviewing the writer Mark O'Connell on his long association with Pinewood Studios and his love of all things James Bond. You can read that interview (and find out more about Mark's book Catching Bullets) here

Also, omething I have been blogging about and calling for since I started Carry On Blogging actually happened in June (an apt month). Yes, June Whitfield was finally made a Dame. You can read my thoughts on this wonderful news here 

I was thrilled to receive an exclusive chance to review Network's newly released The Complete Sykes on DVD last month (many thanks again to Blue Dolphin). You can read that review here.

I was absolutely delighted to be contacted recently by Patrick Purcell, son of the late great Irish actor Noel Purcell. We had a smashing interview and you can read all about that here 

Only the other day I interviewed actor and writer Jack Lane about his passion for the work of Sir Norman Wisdom and Jack's one man show, Wisdom of a Fool. You can read that interview here

In July published my interview with the lovely Georgy Jamieson, passionate comedy fan, BBC Suffolk presenter and Director of the British Comedy Society. You can read our interview here

Also that month I enjoyed a hysterical hour on the phone with British film legend Robin Askwith. You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here  

I celebrated Carry On legend Barbara Windsor's 80th birthday with a series of blogs at the beginning of August - you can read the main one here

I started a new series of blogs in August asking some of my favourite people to write in about the five greatest influences on their careers. You can read Judy Matheson's blog here, Sarah Miller Walters' blog is here, Stuart Ball's blog is here and you can read the blog from Jason Figgis here

Also in August I had the great pleasure of chatting with television legend Derek Griffiths and you can read my blog interview with him here  

In September 2017 I travelled to Elstree Studios for a celebration of the very best of 1960s and 70s British television. Hosted by Morris Bright and featuring classic clips and interviews with Dame Diana Rigg and Carry On actors Angela Douglas and Valerie Leon, you can read my review of the evening here.

Last November I had the great pleasure of interviewing actress and artist Jayne Bickerton about her varied career and her association with the late, great Bob Monkhouse. You can read that here

A few days later I also interviewed the actress, singer and cake maker extraordinaire, Kathy Jones who spoke to me about her time in Coronation Street and her love of Carry On. You can check that out here

Later in November I featured a fascinating interview with singer and writer Ty Jeffries talked to me about his own career and that of his late father, the brilliant actor Lionel Jeffries. That interview can be found here

December saw me publish a fantastic guest blog from David Powell on Frankie Howerd's film The House in Nightmare Park

I also had the pleasure of interviewing actor, director, writer and agent Andrew Lynford about his varied career and the various Carry On actors he's worked with. You can read it here

January 2018 started off with a wonderful trip to see Kenneth Williams' legendary diaries at the British Library. You can read my blog on Kenneth's 1951 diary here and his 1952 diary here

I also ventured out to the Victoria and Albert Museum in January for a special Evening with Dame June Whitfield where the legendary actress discussed her decision to donate her archive to the museum. You can read about that wonderful evening here

I also started off a couple of new series in tribute to the 60th year of Carry On. I began profiling the stars of the original Carry On, Carry On Sergeant. You can read the first of those blogs here and I have recently began counting down my own Top 20 Favourite Carry On Actors

February also saw John Hewer write a terrific guest blog on the Carry On links with the classic situation comedy series, Steptoe and Son. That can be found here

My first interview of the year was with the author Kaye Crawford who spoke to me about her brilliant biography of the late, great Beryl Reid. You can read that again here

A couple of weeks ago I travelled to the British Film Institute to view some of the Gerald Thomas Archive. I have several blogs on this trip coming up but for now, you can read the first of these here

And last week I interviewed two more actors with connections to the Carry On films. First up was the super lovely Patricia Franklin who told me all about appearing in the likes of Carry On Camping, Loving and Girls. Part One of the interview is here and Part Two can be found here

I have also recently spoken to the actor Hugh Futcher, who appeared in the likes of Carry On Spying, Carry On Again Doctor and enjoyed a trip to the seaside with Carry On At Your Convenience. Part 1 One of my chat with Hugh is here and Part Two is here.

A huge thanks to everyone who's kindly taken the time to answer all my questions - it has brightened many a day and been completely and utterly enjoyable.  

Finally, a massive thank you to everyone who reads my blog. I only do this as a hobby and your kind comments and observations keep me going even when the chips are down and I think I'm too tired to Carry On! 

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

Favourites in Five: Morris Bright MBE

To celebrate my third year of blogging about my beloved Carry On films, I have a special blog to post today. Morris Bright has been a supporter and friend to this blog since it started and his kindness, encouragement and enthusiasm is second to none. So who better to write me a guest blog on his greatest influences in the business on this special day? Over to Mr Bright:

What better time to write about my favourite five figures from the world of entertainment than the 60th anniversary of the start of filming on what became the Carry On film series and the third anniversary of this wonderful Carry On Blogging site. I have so much time and admiration for both. 

Picking five is far harder than it sounds and I have been incredibly self-indulgent by choosing five people who were heroes, who I then met in real life and who were still heroes after that. Five who lived up to everything that I could have hoped for in a perfomer who’d brought me so much joy, laughter and tears, in my formative years. So I’m not missing out Will Hay or Tony Hancock because they are not among my favourites. Far from it. I still enjoy watching and listening to them today. It’s just I have to be disciplined. And those of you who know me will know that’s no mean feat. 

NORMAN WISDOM 

Norman Wisdom was that rarest of creatures and no I don’t mean a huge star in Albania. Which of course he was. Norman was a true clown. He could make you laugh and he could make you cry. He wasn’t just the little man in the ill-fitting suit, he was a talented performer who could turn his hand, his voice and body to anything in an effort to entertain and take the audience with him on a journey full of laughter and pathos. While his films and their 1950’s shtick may now seem to some a little dated, I challenge anyone not to watch his first BAFTA-award winning big screen outing, Trouble in Store, without laughing out loud and shedding a tear too when he sings Don’t Laugh At Me. I was honoured to know Norman for the last 20 years of his long and productive life. I visited him at his homes in Epsom and on the Isle of Man. I organised a 50th anniversary in Showbusiness tribute to Norman at Pinewood Studios in 1997 and took Norman back to Pinewood one last time when he was in his early 90s. A final opportunity to say thank you Norm for all the joy. I still miss him. 

THORA HIRD 

If ever there was master of the acting craft it was Thora Hird. In a career that spanned over 80 years, Thora learnt her stock in trade from her family who were on the stage as well as appearing in hundreds of plays and dozens of films playing both straight and comedic roles with equal aplomb. By the late 1950s Thora was the highest paid performer in Blackpool being paid £1000 a week. Thora went on to become one of the most well regarded actresses of the 20th century and won the BAFTA for Best Actress in television drama two years in a row when she in her late 80s. I first met Thora when she came to the tribute I ran for Norman Wisdom at Pinewood in 1997. She said: “I hope we’ll stay friends!” And we did for the next 15 years until she died. I put on an evening with her in London and would spend many hours in her Bayswater Mews flat talking about the old days. And I’d push her round in a wheelchair while out and about on location for Last of the Summer Wine. The public loved coming up to her and saying hello. They felt they knew her: “They think I’m Beryl Reid you know!” she used to quip. 

LESLIE PHILLIPS 

What can I say about Leslie Phillips that hasn’t already been said. Leslie was a cockney having been born within the sound of Bow bells though elocution lessons ensured he will be forever associated with typical plummy Englishman roles throughout his career, from cad to silly arse. But he has shown himself to be far more than a farcical actor who squeezes out a laugh by a flash of the bum or dragging up to the nines. His straight roles in Chekov and other plays won him great and much deserved acclaim. And that’s because Leslie Phillips is, first and foremost, a bloody good actor. 

I adored him in the early Carry Ons and his Doctor film outings and will forever remember him in his BAFTA nominated role opposite Peter O’Toole, in Venus four decades later. He was a hero to me from a very young age. I always felt happy when I was watching Leslie on screen or hearing him in shows such as The Navy Lark. To get to know the man was a joy. To have him at my wedding in 2006 was an honour. One of my happiest ever evenings was sitting in a restaurant in Solihull when I had taken Leslie and his friend and mine, actress Angela Douglas to a memorabilia convention in 2006. Just the three of us, talking and laughing about the industry and the old days. Just being who they really were away from acting. Thoroughly lovely people. 

JACK LEMMON 

It’s noticeable that three of my top ten films star one of the greatest American actors, Jack Lemmon. My favourite film remains Some Like it Hot. And in that list too is The Apartment and the big screen version of The Odd Couple. If my list extended to 20 films or so, it’s highly possible Glengarry Glen Ross, Days of Wine and Roses, and Avanti would, all starring Jack Lemmon, be in there also. Even when a film wasn’t always brilliant, his performance either comedy or serious would lift a production. He gave it his all. A consummate professional, worthy Oscar winner and I had heard he was one of the nicest guys in the business. 

So getting to meet Jack Lemmon the night I got engaged (for the first time) back in 1989 was always going to be make or break for me in the hero expectation stakes. Would he be as I hoped/dreamt/imagined? Jack was appearing onstage at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London’s West end in a drama called Veterans Day, also staring Michael Gambon. After the show to celebrate our engagement, my fiancée and I drank champagne with Jack in his dressing room. “What did you think of the play?” he asked. He saw I looked a little uncertain how best to answer and he smiled and quickly put me out of my misery. “Did you actually understand it?” (I hadn’t really if truth be told.) “Cos, I’ve been in it for three weeks and I still don’t know what’s going on!” And we laughed. He couldn’t have been lovelier. Jack Lemmon truly was a great actor and even greater guy. 

KENNETH WILLIAMS 

And so I leave my absolute number one favourite to the end. Kenneth Williams was always my entertainment hero. The man with the funny voices and the deepest of intellects. The man who could make you laugh uproariously but who led such a sad private life. I can never remember a time when he wasn’t my favourite. I recall at school the English teacher asking us to write an imaginary letter to someone who we would want to come to school speech day. I wrote mine to Kenneth Williams. I was 11. 

I loved him in the Carry Ons. If Sid James was the Father of the Carry Ons, Kenneth was the Master of the series. I still listen in my car to Ken in classic editions of Just A Minute and adore watching his interviews with the likes of Michael Parkinson alongside Maggie Smith and Sir John Betjeman, where he showed himself to be more than just a master of mimicry. In 1985, while a student, I saved up my money and bought my first ever hard back book, Just Williams, Ken’s autobiography. It was the week it came out and at a recording of Just A Minute I queued eagerly for him to sign it. He turned to me and smiled and said: ” ‘ere… you’re a bit previous aren’t you. A bit keen. The book only came out yesterday.” And he signed it and gave me a copy of his previous book Acid Drops as a gift! I met Kenneth Williams a few more times in the late 1980s before he died. I went to drama school with Clement Freud’s niece and we would sit in the front row of the Paris Theatre where the shows were recorded, next to Ken’s Mum, watching him with deep adoration. He left a great legacy of laughter for me and future generations to enjoy. I shall always be thankful to him for being so entertaining but also being so nice when I met him. He’s still my hero.


I'd like to thank Morris ever so much for taking the time to write this wonderful guest blog to help celebrate my three years online. I interviewed Morris back in 2016 and you can read that again here and here

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

What a Carry On this Easter Monday!

This Easter weekend sees ITV3 once again roll out several classic Carry On films for your viewing pleasure. In what has become a bit of a tradition on the ITV station, any bank holiday weekend seems the right time to trot out some tried and trusted Pinewood favourites and why not?

Over the course of Saturday, Sunday and Monday, ITV3 will be showing a range of wonderful Carry On films, so stay tuned to the blog for the low down on which films will be showing and when.

07.05 - Carry On Cowboy (1965) 

Carry On Cowboy is the eleventh in the series to be made. It was released in 1965, and was the first film to feature series regulars Peter Butterworth and Bernard Bresslaw. Series regulars Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Jim Dale and Joan Sims all feature, and Angela Douglas makes the first of her four appearances in the series.

Further reading: Carry On Blogging: My Favourite Scene - Carry On Cowboy 
Carry On Blogging Interview: Angela Douglas 

08.55 - Carry On Behind (1975) 

I have such a soft spot for this one, pretty much Carry On Camping: The Revenge! Swapping a bunch of holidaymakers in tents for a bunch of holidaymakers in caravans, this is probably the most 70s of all the Carry Ons made in that very dodgy decade! With the likes of Hattie Jacques, Barbara Windsor and Sid James absent from in front of the camera and Talbot Rothwell handing over his writing duties to Dave Freeman, times were a-changing. Glamorous, exotic international guest star Elke Sommer adds some fresh talent to proceedings while then current stars of the small screen such as Ian Lavender, Adrienne Posta, Sherrie Hewson and Windsor Davies bolster the slimmer than usual ranks of top class Carry On talent. Don't worry, the broad comedy is still ably delivered by Kenneths Williams and Connor, Joan Sims, Peter Butterworth and Bernard Bresslaw while Patsy Rowlands grabs her last major supporting role and Liz Fraser pops in her for her first appearance in the series since Cabby twelve years before.

Further reading: Carry On Blogging: Carry On Behind, A Guilty Pleasure
Carry On Blogging: My Top Ten Carry Ons - Carry On Behind


10.45 - Carry On Dick (1974)

Not one of my favourites by any means, but Dick is a memorable milestone in the history of the Carry Ons, although perhaps not for all the right reasons. This period feature, providing a comic retelling of the legend of Dick Turpin, stars Sid James, Barbara Windsor and Hattie Jacques, all in their last roles in the film series. Sid grabs the impressive dual role of Big Dick and the Rev Flasher and in many ways it's a bit of a retread of Don't Lose Your Head. It's still a great acting performance though. Kenneth Williams works well with Jack Douglas the law enforcers trying to capture Big Dick however stalwarts Joan Sims, Patsy Rowlands and Peter Butterworth are all given little to do. This was also the last film written by Talbot Rothwell as ill health prevented any further involvement in the series. 

Further reading: Carry On Blogging: Carry On Dick - A Fitting Farewell?
Carry On Blogging: Barbara Carries On as Harriet
Carry On Blogging: Joan Carries On as Madame Desiree

 12.30 - Carry On At Your Convenience (1971) 

The first Carry On to fail at the box office, this one is now hailed as a classic of its kind. Tackling the thorny issue of trade unions put off the films' core audience when the film was released but Convenience is arguably the purest Carry On of them all. A wonderful prime cast of favourites headed by Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Joan Sims, Bernard Bresslaw, Hattie Jacques and Charles Hawtrey and a bigger than usual supporting turn from fan favourite Patsy Rowlands make this toilet factory farce hard to resist! Throw in a memorable trip to Brighton and you're all set for a joyous lesson in labour relations!

Further reading: Carry On Blogging: My Top Ten Carry Ons: Convenience
Carry On Blogging: Why Was Convenience Such a Flop? 
Carry On Blogging: My Favourite Scene in Convenience 

14.15 - Carry On Henry (1971) 

Carry On Henry is the 21st in the series of Carry On films to be made and was released in 1971. It tells a fictionalised story involving Sid James as Henry VIII, who chases after Barbara Windsor's character Bettina. James and Windsor feature alongside other regulars Kenneth Williams, Joan Sims, Terry Scott, Charles Hawtrey and Kenneth Connor. This was the first time that Williams and Connor appeared together since Carry On Cleo seven years previously. The original alternative title was to be Anne of a Thousand Lays, a pun on the Richard Burton film Anne of a Thousand Days, and Sid wears exactly the same cloak that Burton wore in that film. 

Further reading: Carry On Blogging: Barbara Carries On as Bettina

Carry On Blogging: Carry On, Henry 


You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram