I love Bernard Cribbins as the bumbling leading man in both Carry On Jack and Carry On Spying. Although Bernard only appeared in two of the original run of films (Jack and Spying) I think he was an excellent addition to the series. He takes over from where Kenneth Connor left off and does well with his material. He's also quite physical in the same way as Jim Dale would be in later films. Bernard is also incredibly entertaining in both his Carry On audio commentaries, forming a truly delicious double act with the late, great Dilys Laye on the commentary for Spying.
This made me realise just how fab Bernard is and how many classic projects he's been involved with over the years. There's his association with Doctor Who - both in classic 1960s film and much more recently in the revamped BBC series. He's been in Coronation Street as Wally Bannister (paired with the wonderful Maggie Jones as Blanche). He's worked with Peter Sellers in the classic comedy film Too Way Stretch and Barbara Windsor in Crooks in Cloisters. Bernard has made comedy records with the legendary producer George Martin. He's starred opposite Ursula Andress in the Hammer film She and Dinah Sheridan and Jenny Agutter in The Railway Children. He also famously played the deeply irritating Mr Hutchinson in Fawlty Towers. He has even worked with Alfred Hitchcock in the film Frenzy in 1972.
And who can forget his long association with two classic children's television series: The Wombles between 1973-75 and over one hundred appearances on Jackanory between 1966 and 1991, making him the record holder for most appearances.
Bernard is just one of those famous faces who has been a constant in so many of our lives and means so many things to different generations. Thankfully he's still going strong in his 90th year. Isn't it time it was Sir Bernard Cribbins though?
What do you think?
Find out more about Bernard's newly published autobiography here and you can listen again to Bernard's recent radio interview with Danny Baker right here
Bernard Cribbins was a leading character in Daleks Invasion 2150 A. D. film in 1966.
ReplyDeleteHe returned to the TV series of Doctor Who in 2006.
He also was temporarily a companion of the tenth Doctor, when he inadvertently caused the demise of David Tennant.
He is the only actor to have played two different companions, and the only actor featured alongside the Daleks, in both the TV and cinema versions of Doctor Who.