Talking Pictures: Great British Comedies

This afternoon BBC2 repeated a great little documentary first shown a few years back. Talking Pictures, not to be confused with the brilliant Talking Pictures TV channel, is a series profiling well known names from the past in classic films both in Britain and beyond. Narrated by screen icon Sylvia Syms, this particular edition looked back at the glory days of British film comedy.

Featuring rarely-seen interviews and classic clips from the BBC archives, this episode sees many of our favourite stars take a bow. From the early pre and post war days of George Formby to the classic Ealing comedies, Carry On fans won't be disappointed as eventually both the Doctor and the Carry On series are covered. There is some archive footage of leading man Dirk Bogarde, giving a revealing and insightful interview for the BBC series Omnibus in 1983 and black and white clips of a young Joan Bakewell chatting with the legendary actor James Robertson Justice.

The programme then goes on to talk about the Carry Ons. Here we get some classic interviews from the 1970 Carry On Forever documentary which went behind the scenes of Carry On Up The Jungle. I've featured this show before, but it's always great to see the likes of Gerald Thomas, Sid James, Joan Sims and Charles Hawtrey out of character and relaxed as themselves. It's a rare treat. 

The programme also touches on Peter Sellers' work on the Pink Panther films and later comedy efforts from the Monty Python films, the John Cleese picture A Fish Called Wanda and more recent films like Four Weddings and a Funeral. Anyway, never mind these also-rans, tune in for the classic clips of Bogarde, James and Sims. It's superb.

You can watch the programme here: Great British Comedies.

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Samira Ahmed on why Carry Ons are better than Shakespeare

The writer and broadcaster Samira Ahmed is a self-confessed Carry On fan. I've followed her tweets for some time now and always find her interesting. Only the other day I found out Samira had actually recorded a podcast for the BBC on why she considers the Carry On films to be just that little bit better than the works of William Shakespeare! Intrigued, I had a listen to what she had to say.

The podcast, part of "The Boring Talks" series presented by James Ward, is fantastic. Samira clearly knows her stuff and I felt a surge of affection towards her stance as soon as she began to so eloquently put forward her argument. Reconnecting with the Carry Ons during a binge-watching session before interviewing Jim Dale a few years ago, Samira realised just how epic the Carry On comedies were and how they achieved things even Shakespeare did not.

While never overlooking the occasionally suspect aspects of the Carry Ons, particularly the treatment of women and the likes of Terry Scott's Dr Prodd in Carry On Matron, preying on young student nurses, I found Samira's take refreshing. She even shows some of these scenes to film studies students to show how the comedy can both shock and still amuse. A good section of the podcast covers the Carry Ons' love of drag and revelling in the likes of Kenneth Williams, Kenneth Cope, Charles Hawtrey and Kenneth Connor dragging up as well as my own particular favourite - Bernard Bresslaw in Carry On Girls. It also looks at female characters, such as the one played by Juliet Mills in Carry On Jack, dragging up as a man.

What I also enjoyed was the focus on the sweetness and innocence that ran through the Carry Ons. The romantic pairings of Jim Dale and Angela Douglas and Kenneth Cope and Barbara Windsor being amongst the best. As well as discussing both the Carry Ons and Shakespeare, Samira also talks about some of the great series regulars who crossed over and performed Shakespeare so successfully, such as Jim Dale, Bernard Bresslaw and Kenneth Connor. 

Anyway, it's a terrific listen and you can find it here

And you can find Samira Ahmed on Twitter @SamiraAhmedUK

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Listen: The Late Carole Shelley on BBC Life Story

Yesterday I brought you the very sad news that the actress Carole Shelley had passed away at the age of 79. Carole, a long-time resident in the United States, was a prolific star on the Broadway stage and made many film and television appearances.

Born in London in August 1939, Carole first made her mark as an actress on this side of the Atlantic in the late 1950s. Early roles included parts in Carry On Regardless, Carry On Cabby, No My Darling Daughter and on television in The Avengers and Brian Rix Presents… Carole made her name in the United States playing Gwendolyn in the stage production and film and television versions of The Odd Couple. 

On stage she shone in productions of Absurd Person Singular, As You Like It, The Elephant of Man, Stepping Out and more recently, Wicked and Billy Elliott. In 2015 she took part in an interview for a BBC Radio show called BBC Life Story. Interviewed by Alex Belfield, Carole is on tip top lively form as she discusses her career.

You can listen to the short but sweet chat here:

Rest in Peace, Carole. 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Julian Holloway joins the BBC's Summer of Rockets

The BBC have announced a new six part drama series set in the Cold War era, from writer Stephen Poliakoff. Titled Summer of Rockets it will star Keeley Hawes, Toby Stephens, Linus Roache and Timothy Spall. The series is set to be broadcast on BBC2. 

So why am I telling you this? Well the cast of the production features none other than Carry On favourite Julian Holloway, playing a Mr Richardson. Julian of course playing in eight Carry Ons from Follow That Camel in 1967 through to Carry On England in 1976 and also popped up in various different costumes during the 1973 Carry On Christmas television special. 

I recently interview Julian for the blog and you can find that here and here.

This from the BBC:

Set in the UK during the Cold War period and tumultuous year of 1958, fear and excitement of the future permeates the lives of all.

Samuel, played by Toby Stephens (Lost In Space, Die Another Day, Black Sails), is a 40 something Russian Jewish émigré, inventor and designer of bespoke hearing aids, whose clients include former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill. The series follows Samuel and his family, wife Miriam and children Hannah and Sasha, as he is approached by MI5 to demonstrate his work.

Yet it is not his inventions the operatives require - instead Samuel is tasked with the secret mission of obtaining information about his charming, newly acquired friends Kathleen, played by Keeley Hawes (Line Of Duty, Bodyguard) and her husband Richard Shaw MP, played by Linus Roache (Vikings, Homeland) through whom Samuel also meets the impressive Lord Arthur Wallington, played by Timothy Spall (Mr Turner, The Street). As Samuel’s life becomes more and more intertwined with his mission, how far is he willing to let things unravel for his cause? And who can he truly trust?

Set against the backdrop of Britain testing its first hydrogen bomb, the Prime Minister declaring that “most of our people have never had it so good”, the Soviets launching their first ballistic missile and beating the Americans by successfully sending a Satellite into space, the series written and directed by the multi-award-winning Stephen Poliakoff will offer a personal insight into this unforgettable time in British history, through a lens very close to his heart.

Sounds an interesting production! No details yet on when it will air but I'll update you when I know more. It'll be great to see Julian back on our screens, on this side of the Atlantic! 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Long Lost interview with Sid James found after 42 years

This is just lovely. I tweeted about this piece of news yesterday afternoon after hearing it briefly mentioned on the BBC News Channel. A long lost interview with Carry On legend Sidney James has been discovered in a loft after 42 years.

The interview with Sid was recorded during the star's UK theatre tour of The Mating Season in 1976 and experts have confirmed this is the last-known recording of our wonderful Sid before he passed away. The clip below shows a brief snippet of interview with both the man who kept the tape all these years and some precious brief moments of the man himself. The Sid recorded in 1976 sounds gentle, charming and relaxed, discussing his love of fishing, keeping fit and his love of making so many Carry On films!

Rather sweetly, the tape has been played to both Sid's daughters for the very first time. It's a delightful, very emotional story of one of our very favourite comedy stars. I understand the full report will be broadcast on BBC South Today this evening. And if you don't have access to that programme live, I'm sure it will be available on the BBC iPlayer.

You can watch a segment of the report and hear some of the lost interview here


You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Whatever Happened to Mr Big?

Now here's a television comedy series I've never heard of before. Until now. I came across a brief mention of Mr. Big online last night and although it doesn't seem to have gone on to much success, it's pedigree suggests it can't really have been that bad surely?

Created by and starring that wonderful comedy actor Peter Jones, Mr. Big also stars Fawlty Towers legend Prunella Scales as Peter's wife, Carol Hawkins as their daughter Norma and Ian Lavender as her boyfriend Ginger. Now as you'll probably know, three of these leading actors have Carry On history. Peter Jones played the vicar who married Frankie Howerd and Joan Sims in Carry On Doctor, before returning nine years later to play the dreadfully unfunny brigadier in the equally unfunny Carry On England. Carol Hawkins meanwhile had roles in both Carry On Abroad and Carry On Behind as well as a couple of appearances in Carry On Laughing on television, while Ian Lavender joined Carol in Behind, playing Joe Baxter.

Mr. Big tells the story of Eddie (Jones) who would like to see himself as a mastermind of the criminal fraternity but then he sees his family and his bubble is burst. His wife Dolly (Scales) believes in people helping themselves, as she does - but only from the very best shops. Their daughter, Norma (Hawkins), lives for her feckless boyfriend, Ginger (Lavender), who has one ambition in life - to be a scrounging layabout. With this picture of domestic trivia, Eddie plans his bank jobs and post office raids with all destined to be bungled and only good fortune keeping them from prison. 

Little else is known about the series although it did span two series, both broadcast in 1977 on BBC1. The idea for the show came out of a single half hour which formed part of the Comedy Playhouse season for the BBC in 1974. As well as coming up with the idea for the series, Peter Jones wrote many episodes alongside Christopher Bond. And the producer of the series was none other than BBC comedy legend Dennis Main Wilson. 

The series also featured guest roles for other Carry On actors, such as Norman Rossington, Penny Irving, Victor Maddern, Elizabeth Knight and Geoffrey Hughes. 

Mr. Big doesn't seem to ever have been repeated and I don't know of a video or DVD release so it's hard to judge the quality of the production. Does anyone remember the series and if so, was it any good?



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Listen Again: Fenella Fielding on Front Row

Today's birthday girl Fenella Fielding was a guest on BBC Radio 4's arts and culture show Front Row last night. The BBC describes the programme as a "live magazine programme on the world of arts, literature, film, media and music" and it's surely the perfect place for Fenella to discuss her newly published memoirs. 

Fenella has featured in several big name publications over the past week as the publicity around her hotly anticipated memoirs grows. Already released as an audio book, this print copy promises the same unique feel as the audio version, with some interesting new additions and some photos from Fenella's private collection.

As we celebrate Fenella's 90th birthday today, why not listen in to her appearance on Front Row. You can find it 'on demand' on the BBC Front Row Website

And you can find out more about Fenella's memoirs here

You can order a signed copy of the book via Fenella's website: www.fenellafielding.com alternatively the book is available on Amazon and in all good bookshops.


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

Live in Colour with Art & Hue's new TV pop art prints

 

In 1967, the colour was switched on for the first time in Great Britain, literally and metaphorically.

The BBC broadcast the first colour pictures in July 1967 before BBC 2 started broadcasting in full colour from December of the same year.

Additionally, society at large, and the British cultural landscape, seemed more colourful when homosexuality was decriminalised on the July 27th 1967.

Referencing the colourful progress in Great Britain 50 years ago, Art & Hue has created a group of four pop art prints to add style to the iconic rainbow as well as a contemporary take on retro television for your walls.

Available in three sizes and 28 colour options, choose from Rainbow, Pastel Rainbow (a delicate ice-cream palette), RGB (the three colours of the vintage TV screen spectrum), CMYK (the colours of printing), as well as 24 other colour choices.

Exclusively by Art & Hue, all pop art prints are printed on museum-quality archival card of 310gsm, made from 100% cotton, using fine art pigment inks which last hundreds of years. 

Visit www.artandhue.com/tv to see the full collection of pop art prints.

 

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

Live in Colour with Art & Hue's new TV pop art prints

In 1967, the colour was switched on for the first time in Great Britain, literally and metaphorically.

The BBC broadcast the first colour pictures in July 1967 before BBC 2 started broadcasting in full colour from December of the same year.

Additionally, society at large, and the British cultural landscape, seemed more colourful when homosexuality was decriminalised on the July 27th 1967.

Referencing the colourful progress in Great Britain 50 years ago, Art & Hue has created a group of four pop art prints to add style to the iconic rainbow as well as a contemporary take on retro television for your walls.

Available in three sizes and 28 colour options, choose from Rainbow, Pastel Rainbow (a delicate ice-cream palette), RGB (the three colours of the vintage TV screen spectrum), CMYK (the colours of printing), as well as 24 other colour choices.

Exclusively by Art & Hue, all pop art prints are printed on museum-quality archival card of 310gsm, made from 100% cotton, using fine art pigment inks which last hundreds of years. 

Visit www.artandhue.com/tv to see the full collection of pop art prints.

 

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

Come on BBC, what about The Dame June Whitfield Story?

I blogged earlier in the week that Channel 5 would be broadcasting a documentary called The Barbara Windsor Story (which went out last night) on the lead up to Dame Babs turning 80 years young. This got me thinking. Isn't it about time that someone chronicled the life of Dame June Whitfield? I think so - so come on BBC, let's have the Dame June Story!

I know June Whitfield has been lauded and celebrated in many ways during her long and successful career in the acting profession, however her well-deserved and long overdue Damehood suggests it's time for a new television special looking at the life and career of the lovely June. June has been on our radio airwaves, our television screens, our cinema screens and in the nation's theatres for eight decades now and is still active in the business in her 92nd year. June has worked with so many wonderful, talented comedy actors and comedians from the post-war era, through the satire boom and heady days of British comedy and light entertainment and on to alternative comedy and the modern day.

I know there is a certain amount of rewarding June because she is still around while many of her contemporaries have passed on to the big comedy society in the sky, however the length, depth and breadth of her career marks out June from the rest. June has been involved in so many of our classic, fondly remembered comedy moments, from Tony Hancock's blood donor sketch to clowning around in the back gardens of suburbia with Terry Scott; from Eric Morecambe's comedy shorts to Carry On Girls' prim and proper Augusta Prodworthy; from Jennifer Saunders' bonkers, light-fingered mother in Absolutely Fabulous to the cheeky, bottom-pinching pensioner in Doctor Who. 

Who else around today or indeed ever can claim to have worked with both Wilfred Pickles AND Julian Clary? 

 

Many comedy talents wouldn't be around today if it wasn't for performers like Dame June Whitfield. She led the way, doing what she did, competently, patiently, with skill and talent while egos and attitudes around her peaked and troughed. June has lived through a fascinating period in our history, growing up between the two World Wars, learning her craft during the blitz and the air raids, making her way at the BBC at a time when men with Bryl Cream and pipes ruled the roost and yet through all that, she could still quite easily be your friend's nan or the sweet lady down the road. 

So how's about setting aside some time on the BBC for The Dame June Whitfield Story? What do you think?

 

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

Sykes - The Complete Series on DVD!

Those lovely people at Network Distributing will soon be releasing Sykes: The Complete Series on DVD! The set will be available from 26 June and it will contain every episode from the 1970s BBC relaunch of this wonderful comedy series.

Starring Eric Sykes (The Others, Harry Potter) and Hattie Jacques (Carry On films) as twins living and ever so slightly surreal life in this BBC comedy series. Eric and Hattie annoy their snobbish neighbor Mr Brown (Richard Wattis) and aggravate the local PC Corky Turnbull (Deryck Guyler) and generally make a nuisance of themselves in this long running BBC sitcom which aired between 1972 – 1979 and followed Sykes and Jacques previous collaborations Sykes and a… (1960-1965) and Sykes and a Big, Big Show. 

Showcasing Eric's whimsical, slightly anarchic sense of humour, Sykes saw Eric playing an alternate version of himself - just one step removed from normality! Sharing a house with his twin sister Hat, Eric has to suffer the slings and arrows of everyday life, something he invariably does with bad grace and obstinacy. With snobbish neighbour Mr Brown and nosey local PC "Corky" Turnbull always on hand to help turn a drama into a crisis, it's no wonder Eric spends half his time fantasising and the other half coping with catastrophe!

The series features appearances from a whole host of British comedy talent including Peter Sellers, Joan Sims, Roy Kinnear, John Le Mesurier, Bernard Bresslaw, Joan Hickson and Bill Pertwee. 

Now, for the first time this new DVD set contains all seven series, 68 episodes in total.

You can find out more here: www.networkonair.com 

With thanks to Tom at Blue Dolphin PR. For now I'll leave you with the wonderful intro from the series...

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

My Review of Sykes: The Complete Series

 

As I've previously blogged, Network On Air will be releasing the Complete Sykes on DVD, tomorrow 26 June! Sykes has always been one of my very favourite classic comedy series and I was thrilled when offered the chance of a sneak preview of the new DVD set. The set comprises all 68 episodes of the colour series broadcast on the BBC between 1972 and 1979. The first colour series from 1972 was issued on DVD some years back however this is the first time every episode from the relaunched programme has been available for fans to own.

Sykes is a glorious semi-surreal domestic sitcom which at the heart is all about the joyous chemistry between long time collaborators Eric Sykes and Hattie Jacques. As twins Eric and Hat, life at Sebastopol Terrace, East Acton, was always full of surprises. While the series features a host of well-known, colourful guest stars, for me it's all about Sykes and Jacques. Sykes, who also wrote all the episodes, is playing the slightly pompous arrogant little man, finding himself in a host of tricky situations. Jacques meanwhile steps away from the bombastic Matron persona of the Carry Ons to play a softer character who is normally the voice of reason when her brother gets above himself. I always loved Sykes for the fact the writing very very rarely touched upon Hattie's size, something which could sometimes dominate in the Carry Ons. Sykes features by far some of my favourite performances from Hattie, surely one of our all-time greatest comic actresses.

 

For me the first series from 1972 features the best quality scripts and stories. Many of them are simply remade from the original 1960s black and white Sykes and A ... which ran from 1960 to 1965. That doesn't matter - if they feel at all familiar it's only in a comforting sense. My all-time favourite episode has to be the one featuring Peter Sellers as the escaped convict Tommy Grando. This episode, "Stranger" features a rare television performance from Sellers, who obviously goes back a long way with Eric. The chemistry between the three lead actors is superb and it's clear they can hardly keep a straight face throughout. The studio audience reaction is catching and the whole episode a complete joy.

Sykes also features other regular characters. The peerless Richard Wattis plays the snooty, snobbish next door neighbour Mr Brown, very much Eric's nemesis. The pair work brilliantly against each other. Such a shame that Wattis passed away during the run - his absence from the later series is keenly felt. Also along for the entire run is Please Sir! favourite Deryck Guyler as P.C Corky Turnbull. Corky is probably the world's most incompetent police constable but Guyler brings along a breezy sense of comedy and easy going charm and is a vital part of the series' success. Making several appearances throughout the run is Carry On favourite and Hattie's best friend, the wonderful Joan Sims. As bakery owner Madge Kettlewell, Joan is Eric's love interest and very nearly marries him at one stage! Joan is great as Madge and there are some fantastic bloopers included of Joan cracking up on set with Eric and Hattie which show Sims' tremendous sense of fun. It's just a shame she didn't feature more often in the show.

 

A host of other brilliant, well-known talent features in the series. The likes of Bernard Bresslaw, Roy Kinnear, John Le Mesurier, Joan Hickson, Dinah Sheridan, Sheila Steafel, Michael Ripper, Derek Francis, Les Dawson, Chic Murray, Hugh Paddick and Bill Maynard all appear throughout the run. The quality of the writing and the performances from all these wonderful talents really does make Sykes a cut above many other comedy series of the time.

The DVD set isn't cheap however it contains pristine versions of all 68 episodes, totaling nearly 2000 minutes of classic BBC comedy, of the kind they just don't make any more. The set has some interesting extras. They include a special interview with the late, great Eric Sykes; a special Spotlight programme on the comedian; behind the scenes footage from the studio as the series was filmed and an extensive booklet of extra information on the series written by television historian Andrew Pixley. 

 

The chance to own a complete set of this classic comedy is just too good an opportunity to miss. I grew up catching repeats of this series on BBC2 and sadly it appears yet another one of those shows that is just never broadcast on the television any more. This newly presented DVD box set is the perfect opportunity to relive some classic comedy and see some of our favourite comedy stars doing what they do best!

Sykes: The Complete Series is available from tomorrow, Monday 26 June.

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

Sykes - The Complete Series on DVD

 

Those lovely people at Network Distributing will soon be releasing Sykes: The Complete Series on DVD! The set will be available from 26 June and it will contain every episode from the 1970s BBC relaunch of this wonderful comedy series.

Starring Eric Sykes (The Others, Harry Potter) and Hattie Jacques (Carry On films) as twins living and ever so slightly surreal life in this BBC comedy series. Eric and Hattie annoy their snobbish neighbor Mr Brown (Richard Wattis) and aggravate the local PC Cork Turnbull (Deryck Guyler) and generally make a nuisance of themselves in this long running BBC sitcom which aired between 1972 – 1979 and followed Sykes and Jacques previous collaborations Sykes and a… (1960-1965) and Sykes and a Big, Big Show. 

 

Showcasing Eric's whimsical, slightly anarchic sense of humour, Sykes saw Eric playing an alternate version of himself - just one step removed from normality! Sharing a house with his twin sister Hat, Eric has to suffer the slings and arrows of everyday life, something he invariably does with bad grace and obstinacy. With snobbish neighbour Mr Brown and nosey local PC "Corky" Turnbull always on hand to help turn a drama into a crisis, it's no wonder Eric spends half his time fantasising and the other half coping with catastrophe!

The series features appearances from a whole host of British comedy talent including Peter Sellers, Joan Sims, Roy Kinnear, John Le Mesurier, Bernard Bresslaw, Joan Hickson and Bill Pertwee. 

Now, for the first time this new DVD set contains all seven series, 68 episodes in total.

You can find out more here: www.networkonair.com 

I have just taken delivery of the DVD set and will be blogging a review of the series soon, so watch out for that!

With thanks to Tom at Blue Dolphin PR. For now I'll leave you with the wonderful intro from the series...

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

My thoughts on Babs

Last night the BBC's much-heralded feature length Barbara Windsor biopic Babs was finally broadcast. There has been a whole heap of publicity about this project, coming as it does in Barbara's 80th birthday year. 

I sat down to watch it last night full of anticipation. I knew Barbara had been involved in the project, that the cast included the wonderful Samantha Spiro, an actress with a track record of playing Barbara really well and that the whole thing had been scripted by the talented Tony Jordan. That being said, I did wonder how this new drama could bring a fresh approach to Barbara's story. Barbara's life and times are extremely well documented through several books, documentaries, chat show appearances and of course Terry Johnson's play Cleo, Camping, Emmannuelle and Dick and the television play that followed, Cor Blimey. 

Could the BBC's drama give us something new? Well, in part, yes it could. The theatrical staging of the play provided a fresh approach and it was quite novel. The use of flashback sequences is not new in storytelling on the box, but this worked well. Many of us know about Barbara and her father and the fractured relationship there so it was touching that the main conversation running through Babs was between father and daughter. 

 

I don't want to give too much away in case you haven't seen it yet - get to the BBC iplayer if you haven't - but the 90 minute drama covers the period from Barbara's early family life, through her war years, entering the world of showbiz, relationship with Joan Littlewood who guided her career at Stratford East and her association with the likes of Ronnie Knight and the Kray twins. It is all dealt with fairly sympathetically although it doesn't shy away from the sometimes uncomfortable truth of the decisions Barbara (and those around her) made. As a fan of the Carry Ons and their stars, not much of this was new to me but I enjoyed the way it was portrayed on screen.

And yes, the Carry Ons did get a look in. Barbara's first experience with the team, Carry On Spying, was featured with a scene from the film played out showing the first meeting of Barbara and Kenneth Williams. It is faithful to the original script and worked pretty well. We also see a brief mention of Barbara in Carry On Doctor but sadly we don't see any more of her famous Carry On colleagues. I think ending the story in the late 1960s was very wise as the previous drama, Cor Blimey, covered the 60s through the late 1970s. This was very much a separate tale and worked well in its own right.

I must praise the sublime Samantha Spiro who once again played Babs quite brilliantly. This was a different portrayal, with Spiro playing Barbara in middle age and it was funny, touching and very real. There were moments - looks, gestures, phrases - which were quite uncanny. She is almost more Babs than Barbara! However this was so much more than an impersonation. It was a towering dramatic performance. Credit also to Nick Moran for tackling the difficult role of Barbara's father. Moran and Spiro had some good chemistry and what might have been awkward actually worked well.

 

My other stand out performance is the fantastic Zoe Wanamaker as the legendary Joan Littlewood. Joan was such an iconic figure so casting this part must have been really tricky. Zoe grabs the role with both hands and has terrific fun with it. She sparkles every time she appears and she left me wanting more. BBC, could we please see The Joan Littlewood Story, starring Ms Wanamaker? 

What didn't I like? Sometimes the number of Babs on screen was confusing! I know there was a lot to cover but it did feel that some aspects of Barbara's life and career were glossed over rather quickly. I also wasn't sure we really needed an appearance from Barbara herself. I think her cameo in Cor Blimey back in 2000 actually worked better than this. I'm not sure what it added to Babs. And the ending was quite sweet but again, I'd rather have seen the film end on Samantha Spiro's beautiful performance.

 

So all in all, I enjoyed Babs. What did you think?


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

Samantha Spiro on Playing Babs

Actress Samantha Spiro was interviewed on BBC Breakfast this morning about reprising one of her most famous roles, as everyone's favourite Cockney sparrow, Dame Barbara Windsor. Samantha is one of three actresses to portray Barbara in the new BBC biopic "Babs" due to be screened this coming weekend.

Samantha is a terrific actress and comes across really well in person. She is obviously really fond of both Barbara and her association with the Carry On star. Samantha first played Barbara nearly twenty years ago in the stage play "Cleo, Camping, Emmannuelle and Dick". This play focussed on the relationship between Barbara, Sid James and Kenneth Williams during the making of the Carry On films. It was made into a television film, Cor Blimey, which was broadcast on ITV back in 2000. 

Samantha spoke of how much she enjoyed playing Barbara again for the new drama, written by Tony Jordan. Without giving too much away, Samantha plays an older Barbara, in her fifties and the drama uses Samantha's portrayal to tell Barbara's story through flashback sequences. Samantha spoke of the fresh challenge of playing a different Barbara at a very interesting time in her life, when times were hard and friends were few. She also praised Barbara for going with a version of the script that tells it how it was, warts and all. 

I was immediately looking forward to this new drama when I heard Samantha had been cast. Her portrayal of Barbara is spot on and it lends gravitas to the production. I for one cannot wait to see her back in the role. 

You can view the trailer for Babs here:

 Babs will be broadcast on BBC1 this Sunday, 7 May at 8pm.



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BBC Reveal Babs Trailer

The BBC have just released the first trailer for their new Barbara Windsor biopic. The 90 minute drama, apparently to be called Babs, will be broadcast later this year to tie in with Barbara's 80th birthday. Having just written that I can't quite believe she will turn 80 this year! Anyway, Babs will be scripted by former EastEnders writer Tony Jordan, a man with a fine pedigree in drama productions at the Beeb. 

The biopic will start in the 1990s, presumably at the height of Barbara's renaissance in Albert Square and look back at her life and career. I'm not quite sure how they will depict all of Barbara's colourful and dramatic life in just 90 minutes however as it's on the BBC at least there won't be advert breaks.  The production will feature at least three different actresses playing Barbara from her early life and career right through to middle age and EastEnders stardom.

There has been a kind of Barbara biopic before with the Terry Johnson play Cleo, Camping, Emmannuelle and Dick which eventually became the ITV drama Cor Blimey. That told the story of Barbara's affair with her Carry On co-star Sid James and also featured a terrific performance by Adam Godley as the sublime Kenneth Williams. Samantha Spiro was terrific as Babs in both the stage and television productions and I can't wait to see her tackle the role again. I'll also be interested to hear how much of Barbara's Carry On career will feature and how many of the actors will be depicted in the show. How much of Barbara's infamous private life is covered will also be up for speculation!

You can view the trailer here:

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook