This is part of a brand new series of blogs where I will take a purely personal look at my favourite Carry On actors. I will be doing a countdown of my top twenty actors and actresses in this, the sixtieth anniversary year of Carry On. So why top twenty? Well top ten didn't allow me to include all my favourites and any more than twenty and I'd be at it forever, as it were.
This top twenty will be a mix of regular top team actors and many of those instantly recognisable supporting actors who popped in and out of the series, adding superb cameos here and there. You will probably agree with some of my main choices and be vehemently opposed to others, but it's meant to encourage debate!
So here we go with Number Sixteen: that excellent, talented cheeky chappie - Julian Holloway.
Julian Holloway, as with Marianne Stone, Patsy Rowlands and Peter Gilmore, inhabited that grey area between supporting actor and main team member. He first appeared in the series in a small role as a ticket collector in Follow That Camel in 1967. Obviously catching the eye of Peter and Gerald, he was soon back for another small cameo as the man carrying out the xray on poor Frankie Howerd in Carry On Doctor. 1968 proved a big year for Julian as he peaked in the Carry Ons, playing his two biggest roles - as Shorthouse in Up The Khyber and Jim Tanner in Carry On Camping.
The absence of Jim Dale from the main team line up meant Julian had more to do than usual and it would seem he was even considered as a replacement in the role of young male romantic lead. Camping was the only time Julian was billed as a main team member however sadly some of his scenes with Tricia Noble (playing his love interest) were cut from the film and the role was reduced. Julian played eight roles in the Carry On films and also played several roles in the 1973 Carry On Christmas television special.
Julian was always worth watching in the Carry Ons and had that mischievous twinkle that made him the perfect fit for the bawdy, very British comedies. He made a great right hand man for Sid James in Carry On Henry, memorably flirted with Imogen Hassall in Carry On Loving and was a much-needed familiar face in the otherwise dreadful Carry On England in 1976. Despite never quite making the official top team, I can't imagine the Carry On films without him.
So Julian Holloway comes in at Number 16 in my top twenty list of favourite actors. Who'll be next?
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