Carrying On with … Confessions of a Pop Performer!

I've written before about the Confessions series of bawdy comedy films from the 1970s but really only from the perspective of the effect they had on the slightly more innocent Carry On films we all cherish. The Confessions films have suffered the same fate as the Carry Ons in that they have frequently been looked down on, written off or just plain criticised.

However these films all featured a superb range of actors and provided entertainment to the masses during years when perhaps the country sometimes didn't have that much to laugh about. What interests me a great deal about these films is how they represent the changing face of British society. By the time Confessions of a Window Cleaner burst onto cinema screens up and down the land in 1974, censorship had been relaxed and a whole new generation were much more liberally minded. 

Last time, I focussed on the hugely popular Confessions of a Window Cleaner, the sexy comedy film which burst onto cinema screens across the country back in 1974 and catapulted leading man Robin Askwith to lasting fame. Today I thought I would move on to the following year and another big hit, Confessions of a Pop Performer. Many of the same original team from Window Cleaner returned for this second outing with recurring actors Bill Maynard, Sheila White and Tony Booth appearing again as the traditional sitcom style family around Robin's Timmy Lea. They provide the grounding and the basis for much of the comedy in between the racier material. Sadly Dandy Nichols did not return to play Mrs Lea after the previous film but she was ably replaced by fellow sitcom legend Doris Hare. Doris would go on to appear in both further Confessions films. 

Val Guest, that legendary British film director, chose not to make another Confessions film, allegedly because his wife wasn't keen on him being on set with so many scantily clad nubile young actresses! Columbia Pictures, the big name backer of these low budget comedies and clearly cleaned up with Window Cleaner (as it were) and were keen for more antics. And Mr Askwith was only too happy to oblige! Pop Performer sees Booth's wheeler dealer character become manager to a dubious pop group called Kipper and Timmy gets involved too. The usual slapstick and naughtiness follows as I'm sure you'll already know.

There are several Carry On links to this film and not just in front of the camera. The brilliant cinematographer Alan Hume, who worked on countless Carry Ons as well as big budget pictures in the Star Wars and James Bond franchises, worked on Pop Performer. Frank Bevis, Production Manager on this film, was also involved in many Carry Ons. Frank was Production Manager on Carry On Sergeant, Nurse, Teacher and Constable and later worked as an Associate Producer on Cabby, Jack, Spying, Cleo, Cowboy and Screaming!

In front of the camera, we've of course got the brilliant Robin Askwith, who had already made a name for himself as Larry in Carry On Girls and as Sid's son Mike in the film of Bless This House. And Bill Maynard, there once again as Mr Lea, appeared in supporting roles in five 1970s Carry Ons. Playing a major supporting role in Pop Performer is the lovely Carol Hawkins as the rather proper journalist, Jill Brown, object of Timmy's affections. Carol had already appeared in Carry On Abroad by this stage, playing Marge and the same year worked with Robin in Bless This House. 1975, the year Pop Performer was made, also saw Carol return to Carry On for a major supporting role as glamorous camper Sandra in Carry On Behind as well as co-starring in two episodes of the ATV series Carry On Laughing. Despite the raunchier material in the Confessions film, Carol maintains her dignity throughout, I hasten to add!

Also appearing is that wonderful comedy character actor Peter Jones. Playing a rather obvious send up of a notorious television host, Peter rather over eggs it as Maxy Naus. Another recruit from the world of television comedy is the great Ian Lavender in a cameo turn as Rodney, which involves a lot of funny business with a pantomime horse! Say no more. Ian  was still appearing as Private Pike in Dad's Army at the time and also in 1975 he cropped up in Carry On Behind as Adrienne Posta's husband. Clearly in the Jim Dale persona, sadly Ian suffered from a lack of screen time. Ian's Dad's Army co-star, the late great Bill Pertwee also pops in for a brief cameo in Pop Performer as the stereotypical angry husband who chases Robin's Timmy off with the help of a javelin! 

Two future Carry On girls made quite an impact in Pop Performer as the aptly named Climax Sisters, a truly awful singing double act! Giving a rather spirited performance are Diane Langton and Linda Regan as Ruby and Brenda Climax. Diane would go on to appear in Carry On Laughing on television the same year and in 1976 would take on the Barbara Windsor persona in the awful Carry On England. Joining Diane in England was Linda Regan who several years before had a small part in one of the Carry On Christmas television specials.

Playing Augustus is that instantly recognisable character actor Robert Dorning. Robert would join what was left of the Carry On team three years later to play The Prime Minister in Carry On Emmannuelle. Also look out for Darth Vader himself, Dave Prowse in a brief cameo as a Man in the Cinema. Dave had played a small role as a Bearded Torturer in Carry On Henry five years earlier. Playing Mr Barnwell is the small screen comedy actor Bob Todd, who had already played two small Carry On roles. He had a wordless cameo as a patient in Again Doctor on the big screen and played two small parts in Carry On Again Christmas in 1970. And finally Carry On Behind cameo player, the Danish born actress Helli Louise, plays Eva, one of Timmy's conquests. We see rather a lot of her here, as did Peter Butterworth in yet another shocking Carry On shower scene also in 1975 when she popped up and out in Carry On Behind. 

Pop Performer clearly cashed in on the very best of British comedy talent from both the big and small screen and followed the pattern started with Window Cleaner in casting a mix of 'interesting' young starlets alongside some instantly recognisable and well respected comedy performers. The content might have dated and may not be for everyone but it's all lighthearted fun and exists today as a fascinating time capsule of a Britain in tumult undergoing great social and cultural change. Watch out for a small cameo from future leading lady Rula Lenska as a rather harrassed receptionist and even a fairly major supporting turn from a pre-The Gentle Touch Jill Gascoine, revealing rather a lot as Mrs Barnwell. 

If the sight of legendary character actress Rita Webb running about a freezing cold Borehamwood housing estate screaming "Have you seen my Fanny?" gives you the giggles, Confessions of a Pop Performer is definitely for you!! As far as I'm concerned, anything that gives us plenty of Bill Maynard, Carol Hawkins and Peter Jones is fine by me. And Robin does what only Robin could. And he does it with aplomb! 

Compared to some of the content we see on our screens these days, Pop Performer is relatively tame but watching it again, it's clear times have certainly changed! It's quite possibly the most gloriously Seventies film I've ever seen. And that's a compliment! 


You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Remembering the Greats

The past six months or so has brought lots of sad news for fans of classic British comedy. I've found myself writing tributes to far too many great comedy actors who we have all watched on our screens, seen on stage or listened to on the radio for decades. 

Writing blog posts about the recently departed isn't something I ever relish and although I only do this as a hobby and a love of writing, I do take this side of it seriously. Some of these actors still have a media profile when they leave us, others have long since retired and left the public eye. No matter what their status, they deserve a great deal of respect when they depart. The past year has seen many familiar faces leave us, from the likes of Bill Maynard and Liz Fraser, to Fenella Fielding, June Whitfield and most recently, the brilliant Windsor Davies.

Although it's very sad, these actors do share one common trait - they all lived long lives. The fact they passed on in their eighties or nineties doesn't make it any easier for those closest to them, but they've all lived full, successful lives and brought pleasure and joy to so many. It gives us all a chance to reflect on their wonderful careers and all those performances they've left us to cherish for years to come.

I was struck once again just the other day by the surge of affection for these legends of comedy. Windsor Davies was an actor who made his name in the 1960s and was in his prime in the 70s and 80s, thirty or forty years ago. Despite retiring from the spotlight fifteen years ago and rarely giving interviews since, the outpouring of affection and sadness was really quite something. Hundreds of people shared memories of the great man on Twitter and many of you took the time to read my blog tribute - and a big thank you from me for doing that.

In these difficult times, with people at each other's throats over all sorts of nonsense, it's heart warming to see people from all over the place take the time to remember an actor like Windsor. So Carry On, you know it makes sense! 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Remembering those we lost in 2018

Without wanting to put a dampener on this most festive time of year, I thought it was also important to remember some of the familiar Carry On faces we so very sadly lost in 2018. As always, the older the Carry On series becomes, the less links we have left with past glories. The joy of the series is that we can still enjoy so many timeless performances from the very best of British actors, even once they've gone to the Pinewood Bar upstairs.

Back in March the news broke that we had lost the great actor Bill Maynard. Bill was 89 and remained a vibrant personality with many stories to tell. He was due to appear at a special event in Elstree in the Summer and there were plans afoot for a Carry On Blogging interview that very sadly didn't happen. In his 90th year, Bill was still in excellent form. You can read my tribute to him here.

In May, the actor Peter Byrne very sadly passed away at the grand old age of 90. Peter, best remembered for his twenty year stint in Dixon of Dock Green on television, had several associations with Peter Rogers Productions in the early 1960s. Peter had small parts in Raising The Wind, Watch Your Stern, The Iron Maiden and finally, Carry On Cabby in 1963. You can read my tribute to Peter here.

September was a dreadful month for Carry On fans with some well-loved actors taking their final bows. We said farewell to the British born American star of stage and screen Carole Shelley. Carole had started her career in Britain with supporting parts in Carry On Regardless and Carry On Cabby. She was 79. Read more about Carole here.

Very shortly after the news of Carole's death came the news that actress Jacqueline Pearce had passed away at the age of 74. Best known for her iconic role in the BBC's sci-fi series Blake's 7 from the late 1970s, Jacqueline had made a brief appearance in Carry On Don't Lose Your Head with Charles Hawtrey back in 1966. Read more here. 

More sadness followed when the legendary Liz Fraser died suddenly at the age of 88. I had been fortunate enough to see Liz in conversation at the Museum of Comedy just a month before, little knowing it would be her last public appearance. She was in great form and I'll treasure the memory and the fact I got to say hello and shake her hand. What a woman. Read my tribute to Liz here and my blog on my five favourite Liz performances here.

The unique, memorable, superbly talented Fenella Fielding had been in poor health for a short time before her death in September at the age of 90. A wonderful star of stage and screen and forever remembered for her iconic performance in Carry On Screaming, Fenella had enjoyed a career resurgence thanks to her beautiful memoirs and live performances at a range of venues up and down the land. Awarded the OBE in recognition of her long and successful career, sadly Fenella wasn't able to have her day at the Palace. At least she knew how much she was loved. Read my tribute to her here.

Just last month, the actor John Bluthal very sadly left us aged 89. Forever remembered for the BBC comedy series, The Vicar of Dibley, John had a long, diverse and varied career across all mediums and several continents, dating back to the 1950s. He was still acting earlier this year. He had supporting roles in Carry On Spying, Carry On Follow That Camel and Carry On Henry. Read my tribute to John here.

November also saw us say farewell to another instantly recognisable face. The actor George A Cooper may not have appeared in a Carry On but he did work with many of the team in film and on television. He also had a great role in the big screen version of Bless This House in 1972, working opposite Sid James, Terry Scott, Carol Hawkins and Robin Askwith. To my generation, he'll always be the caretaker Mr Griffiths in Grange Hill. Read more here.

And finally, only the other day, on 28 December we lost the irreplaceable Dame June Whitfield. June had reached the grand old age of 93 on 11 November and while seemingly retired from acting, was still seen from time to time at events and of course received her damehood in 2017. It's impossible to sum up June's contribution to British culture and British comedy but I tried in this tribute post from just yesterday, which you can read here. I'm sad she has left us but what a life, what a legacy.

Gone but definitely not forgotten, we'll not see their like again. Thankfully we have so many glorious performances from the very best of British film and TV to remember these wonderfully talented people by. So as the year ends, I'm raising a glass to each and every one of them. Thank you for everything.


You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Guest Blog: Rich & Craig from Sitcom Delights!

I'm delighted to bring yet another guest blog to Carry On Blogging. Rich and Craig are behind the 'Sitcom Delights' Twitter feed and organise events celebrating the very best of classic British comedy. Rich and Craig have both written about what the Carry On films mean to them.

One way or another, "Carry On" has a daily impact on my life. It could be a friend sending me a voice recording of a line from a film which when opened if strolling along in public receive some odd looks when the likes of "I tried it once and didn't like it", "Poor Old Pratt" or "Not the Cross Voice,The Daddy Voice" come roaring out the speaker! It's always a welcome chuckle.Then it could be something completely at the other end of the spectrum, at the moment we are working with the wonderful David Kernan who played Nicholas in Carry On Abroad, David is putting the finishing touches to his autobiography and news of the release date will be coming soon.

I'm sure many will agree that one of the toughest questions a Carry On Fan can be asked is "What is your favourite Carry On Film?" It is pretty much impossible to pick one selection from that amazing franchise. 

So I'll make it easier and give you a top five ( in no particular order! )

Convenience,Abroad,Matron,Dick & Behind.

Matron has become quite special to me as I was privileged to represent the late, great Bill Maynard in the final year of his life. I had some memorable conversations with Bill regarding his time in the Carry Ons. He especially enjoyed playing poker with Sid during breaks in filming!

In "Matron" the performance of the group of crooks - Sid James, Bernard Bresslaw, Bill Maynard and Kenneth Cope is truly outstanding along with that sinister piece of music which plays in prelude to some of their scenes. One particular scene, at the table discussing Bus routes is priceless.

Bill was always baffled as to why his name wasn't on the Carry On Matron poster, especially as it was a big supporting role. Unfortunately there's probably nobody around to shed light on that.

Someone who always deserves a special mention is Peter Butterworth. Whether he had a major or minor role in the film he always stood out. The facial expressions, the body language, the delivery of his one liners and I have to single out his performance as Barnes in "Behind". It is so believable that he is an odd job man and hasn't washed in god knows when!!

There is nothing like Carry On. It has captured the hearts of generations. Here we are sixty years later and still absolutely mad about it. On that fact, you have to tip your hat to the writers and cast. We are still hooked.

Hooked so much that we head out to filming locations in the middle of nowhere. Everyone who has done this will tell you how much of a buzz it is,t o walk the same ground those legendary cast members walked. When you're there you feel the goosebumps.

I've a picture somewhere running out the gates of St Mary's Church in Hitcham, Buckinghamshire, a la "Reverend Flasher".

Bonkers? Of Course!

A huge thanks to Graeme for having us as guest bloggers. The work he does keeping the memory of Carry On alive is amazing and everyone appreciates it.

Rich @sitcomdelights 

-----------------------------------

Carry On films are like a member of the family. They have been around all of my life. I grew up watching the exploits of comedy legends such as Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Hattie Jacques, Peter Butterworth, Kenneth Connor, Joan Sims, Charles Hawtrey, Jim Dale and Barbara Windsor. 

The franchise was a brainchild of film producer Peter Rogers and he, along with director Gerald Thomas created something very special. A series of films stretching over five decades laced with double entendres, innuendo and saucy postcard humour that today are sadly frowned upon in a politically correct age we live in. However, they still have a cult following across the globe. 

As for which Carry On is my personal favourite, that has changed over the years. Carry On Camping is the one that made its mark on me as a youngster and brought home to me how much I love the films. However one has grown on me to a degree that I would now call it my favourite and that film is Carry On At Your Convenience. It upset many at the time due to it being a direct dig at the unions at a time when trade unions were at their strongest and it bombed at the box office but today it is widely regarded as one of the very best. 

My favourite Carry On moment is a close call with Peter Butterworth as Brother Belcher in Up The Khyber when he loses the plot saying 'Strawberry Mousse' as the residence is under siege in the film's fabulous finale. Also the great delivery of Kenneth Connor in Carry On Abroad as the Spanish police officer makes a gesture to which he replies dryly: 'Damned filth.'

I have now adopted that line in every day life. The Carry Ons continue to make me laugh and always will until I take my last breath. Thank you Graeme for this opportunity to share my love of this great film franchise.

Craig @sitcomdelights

A big thank you to both Rich and Craig for taking the time to write this brilliant guest blog for me. If you would like to have a go, please do get in touch via Twitter or by emailing me at carryonfan15@gmail.com. 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

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

Carry On Blogging Interview: Patricia Franklin (Part 2)

 

It was an absolute joy to ring up the actress Patricia Franklin for a good old natter yesterday afternoon. Patricia will be familiar to Carry On fans for her appearances in five films in the series between 1968 and 1976 as well as the big screen version of Bless This House. I wanted to find out more about Patricia's time making the films but also a whole lot more about her acting career. 

I published Part One of our interview yesterday and you can read that here

I wanted to ask you about your role in Carry On Loving. You filmed a scene with Bill Maynard (as Mr and Mrs Dreery) with Kenneth Williams. What are your memories of that?

I remember we went through the scene and both Gerald Thomas and Kenneth kept saying "more, more!" make it coarser! So I did! I'd just been at the Royal Court doing a very controversial play called Saved by Edward Bond and they all knew about it as it had been in the papers. I remember Kenneth saying to me "We don't want any of your Royal Court naturalism round 'ere!" He was lovely to me. I remember being with Joan Sims in Barbara Windsor's dressing room during the making of Carry On Camping and Kenneth was walking up and down the corridor outside. I asked Joan to introduce me and she said "I won't darling as I don't know how he's going to be. He knows who you are and he'll be in here in a minute." Sure enough, a few minutes later he was in the dressing room saying "Who is she then?"

 

After we had filmed the scene for Loving I was going off to lunch with Bill Maynard and his son who had come to the studios and suddenly Kenneth appeared and took me by the arm. I told him I was going to lunch and he said "Noooo, come with us!" So I ended up at the big Carry On table at Pinewood with the rest of the main team, sitting next to Kenneth. I think he quite took to me! At lunch other actors who were in the restaurant came over to join in the fun - people like Roger Moore and Kenneth More and his wife Angela Douglas. It was great.

I always remember Kenneth taking Gerald to one side after that scene in Loving and saying to him "She reminds me of Mags!" - what a compliment to be compared to his great friend Maggie Smith!

In 1973 you worked on Carry On Girls with June Whitfield and Patsy Rowlands. Was that fun to do and what were they like to work with?

Oh June was just gorgeous. A gorgeous woman, such a good actress and she had beautiful skin and eyes. A stunning lady. She was also so jolly and good fun and I think that came out in the performance. I remember she lived in Wimbledon at the time and she used to give me a lift each day after filming as she could drop me off on the way. My daughter has recently given me a copy of June's autobiography and I'm reading it at the moment. I'll always remember the bra burning scene with June and Patsy. We all just screamed with laughter, such good fun to do.

 

Patsy was a wonderful actress and such a nice woman. So very talented. I think she was adored really. I remember seeing her in the West End in a period piece with Fenella Fielding and they were both so good. I think I really aspired to Patsy's style of acting. At one time Patsy and I had made plans to get the rights to This Happy Breed and do a theatre production with Patsy playing the grandma and me in the Celia Johnson role but it didn't work out in the end. She was a brilliant actress. I've since met Patsy's son and he was lovely too.

I wanted to ask you a bit more about your theatre career as I don't think many Carry On fans will know a lot about it. What have been some of your favourite parts?

I've been so lucky with the roles I've had in the theatre. I spent about four years as part of the company at the National Theatre. I've worked with directors like Peter Gill, Richard Eyre and David Hare. I did a season of Edward Bond plays at the Royal Court which was quite something as I was pretty much fresh out of RADA. Saved, as I've already mentioned, was very controversial as it involved the stoning to death of a baby in its pram. They had to do a special Sunday night performance in the Royal Court's theatre club and the Lord Chamberlain came to see it. It made so many headlines and people were quite against it but all the big theatre names came round to see us afterwards to congratulate us - actors like Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud. Extraordinary. I was in the Bond season with actors like Nigel Hawthorne and Kenneth Cranham.

 

I worked with Nigel Hawthorne again in a play called The Ruling Class. I also did Pravda at the National which starred Anthony Hopkins who was great to work with. Another production I remember very clearly was The Government Inspector which starred Rik Mayall. When I was at the National all the big names were there - people like Anthony Hopkins and Judi Dench and everyone was always so kind and lovely to be with. Albert Finney was another great actor I met but sadly never got to work with. He'd been at RADA a few years before me and was part of the new wave of working class actors at the time. I remember seeing him do Billy Liar in the theatre and it was quite a funny story.

Go on...

Well when I had decided I wanted to go to RADA I remember getting my father to watch a programme on television called Face to Face and Finney and Tom Courtenay were on it. I think that clinched it. Anyway, I went to see Finney in Billy Liar and I wanted to get his autograph after the show. My father had said I had to be home by 11 and the show didn't finish until about 10.15 so I couldn't afford to wait outside the stage door. It was the last performance and I really wanted to meet him, so I went to the stage door and told the man it was Miss Patricia Franklin to see Mr Albert Finney. Albert appeared at the top of the stairs in a towel and obviously thought I was part of the crowd attending the post-show party! I quickly told him that I wasn't, I just wanted his autograph on my programme and I couldn't wait as my dad would be cross if I was late home!

I told him I wanted to go to RADA and he said he recommended it and hoped we'd meet again one day in the profession. Well years later, my best friend was going out with the actor Brian Cox and every year they would throw a big party of New Year's Eve. Albert was there and I sat next to him and told him the story of that night at the stage door! Sadly I've not managed to work with him. I still can't believe I had the gall to do that that night!

 

Going back to Carry On - you appeared in two of the later films in the series, Behind and England. You teamed up with Liz Fraser in Behind. What was she like?

Oh she was lovely and I was in awe again as she'd had such a great career. She had worked with people like Irene Handl (who I adore) and Margaret Rutherford. I remember when we were making Behind Liz got cross with me as we'd both recently filmed separate episodes of a television anthology drama series, all written by different people. She was cross as my episode was getting much more publicity than hers but I think it was down to be being written by Dennis Potter, rather than who was in it!

I remember the day we filmed the scene outside the butcher's shop. It was 24 March, my father's birthday, and it started snowing! We waited for Marks and Spencer to open so the dresser could go and buy cardigans for us to wear! Then we carried on filming. I met Liz at one of the convention signings a few years back and recalled that filming and she said "Oh I can't remember any of that!" but she's a sharp cookie and hasn't changed!

Carry On England, I think I just had one line as a cook. I think there was more dialogue but it got cut for some reason. I know a lot of people weren't too keen on the material as they thought it went a bit far and I wasn't going to do it but Gerald convinced me and we still had fun that day. I think my one line was probably the best one in the film!

 

If you had to pick from all the roles you've played on stage and screen which has been your favourite and why?

I would probably choose Saved, the Edward Bond play as it made a huge impact and meant a lot. I also loved doing a play called The Garden of England. It was all about the Miners' Strike and was made of of testimony from women who went through it all. The interviews were focussed on before, during and after the strike and it was very powerful to speak those words. Maggie Steed played the interviewer. It was a wonderful piece to be a part of. 

Finally, why do you think the Carry On films are still so popular after all these years?

Well I think they are very good clean fun really! They can be quite witty and some of the scripts were very good but most of all they featured some terrific actors and Gerald was a master director. He knew exactly what he wanted. I remember it as a hive of creativity - everyone knew what they were doing and those actors were at the top of their game. I was doing quite a serious German play in the theatre once and one of company came to me one day and said, "What are you doing in the Carry Ons!?" He'd been watching one on the television with his young son and I had appeared. He couldn't believe it! I loved them and I was very grateful for the range of different parts I was given to play in them.
  

I'd like to thank Patricia for agreeing to the interview. And also many thanks to Sarah at Beresford Management and to the lovely Andrew Lynford for helping to set it all up!

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

Scott On?

Terry Scott was an interesting addition to the Carry On team. I can understand why Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas wanted him involved in the mayhem at Pinewood. By the late 1960s, Scott was a celebrated star on the small screen with his own series and a fruitful partnership with Bill Maynard still in recent history. 

Terry had made a small appearance in the original, very first Carry On film, Carry On Sergeant in 1958. Back then he was a supporting player in many British films of the period but was yet to become a star. A decade later he was invited to play a supporting role in the classic Carry On Up The Khyber and the rest is history. I'm never quite sure whether to include Scott as a full on member of the gang as while he did have starring roles in several memorable films, he only appeared regularly over a three year period and starred in just seven films. 

His arrival back into the Carry On fold came at an opportune moment. Jim Dale, the dashing romantic lead in the franchise throughout the 1960s, had taken a year out to concentrate on his blossoming stage career. While Roy Castle would take on Jim's part in Khyber and Julian Holloway would play "Jim" Tanner in Camping, by Up The Jungle in 1969, Terry was picking up those roles. The main problem I continue to have with this is fairly simple, I just don't really like him as a comedy performer.

I do think Terry is superb in Up The Jungle as the clumsy, Tarzan like character opposite Jacki Piper. He does an awful lot with a part that is largely dialogue free. Terry is also on good form in Carry On Camping as Betty Marsden's put upon husband Peter Potter and his final role in the series, as the gloriously named Dr Prodd in 1971's Carry On Matron, is deliciously filthy! There's just something missing though as far as I'm concerned. I feel the same way about Jack Douglas, they are talented at what they do but I'm just not really won over by them. 

I think my main problem with regards to Terry Scott is my loathing of Terry and June. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of middle class, middle of the road sitcoms from that era and I absolutely adore June Whitfield. I just find Terry's character overwhelming, over-bearing and well, over played. I don't think I'm alone in this. Perhaps being aware of what followed with decades of suburban sitcom antics, I just turned off to Terry in the Carry Ons. 

I'm sure there are plenty of Terry fans out there so why don't you get in touch and tell me why you love him, either in the Carry Ons or in Terry and June. I'd love to hear from you. 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan

Connor Carries On ... As Lord Hampton of Wick!

Next June will mark Kenneth Connor's centenary. This feels like the right time to celebrate the man's legacy and what better a legacy that his seventeen glorious performances in the Carry On films. As I've already done with the three main leading ladies of the series, I plan to embark on a series of blogs profiling each of Kenneth's roles in the Carry Ons, giving my own take on his contributions.

Kenneth is another one of those actors who worked steadily, prolifically and across all mediums throughout his career. From his very early days in film before the outbreak of World War Two, through the 1950s which saw him become an integral part of British radio comedy to the Carry Ons and his unforgettable roles in several 1980s sitcoms, Connor was an incredibly gifted actor. He worked right up until his death at the age of 75 in November 1993. However unlike Sid, Kenneth Williams or Barbara Windsor, I feel that Connor never really got the credit he deserved. He didn't have an outrageous private life, no scandals to be told. He shunned the limelight and his many performances as the ordinary man in the street mirrored his own life away from the cameras. 


Kenneth was also one of the precious few actors who's career spanned pretty much the entire run of the Carry Ons. He was there at the very beginning in Carry On Sergeant and, a five year gap in the mind 1960s aside, remained loyal to the films until the very end of the original run in 1978. Connor, along with Williams and Eric Barker were the only actors to appear in the very first and the very last of the series. Kenneth was still around when Columbus was made in 1992 but declined to take part, probably very wisely. This new series of blogs will be a celebration of all those wonderful comedy performances in the Carry Ons - from bumbling romantic lead through to crumbling character parts, Kenneth could play them all.

So let's continue with Kenneth's tenth role in the series, as Lord Hampton of Wick in the 1970 film, Carry On Henry!

Henry, the twenty first Carry On film to go into production, was a rather lavish film, at least by Carry on standards. The setting, the costumes, the dance routines, everything was a cut above. This retelling of the story of Henry VIII went into production at an extremely fortuitous time for Peter Rogers, with a renewed interest in the famous monarch in the early 1970s, both on the small and the big screen. The film provides Sid James with one of his best ever roles and as Henry he chews up the scenery was comedic relish, whether it's throwing over tables in the dining room, showing the likes of Terry Scott and Kenneth Williams who is the boss or chasing buxom wenches in the form of Margaret Nolan and Barbara Windsor, Sid is definitely in charge.

The film is a comic retelling of Henry's story, although initial scenes depicting Patsy Rowlands going to the block to have her head chopped off did commence proceedings with a dash of realism. It's not long though before Williams and Hawtrey are mincing about the palace and Joan Sims is attempting to convince the King that garlic is an aphrodisiac... Good luck with that one! Joan plays Henry's new French queen, Marie, and although they get off to a promising start, soon the odour of garlic puts the tin lid on any consummation. So, Henry does what he always does and start to look around for a replacement wife. Of course Marie's French heritage throws a spanner in the works, especially when her brother Francis (Francie!) comes to visit. This provides Peter Gilmore with one of his biggest and most outrageous Carry On supporting turns and his double act with Sid is a joy.

Kenneth Connor meanwhile has one of his smallest roles in the Carry On films. As Lord Hampton of Wick, Kenneth only really appears about half way through the film and the role of Hampton is played pretty straight. The majority of Henry is dominated by the likes of Sid, Joan, Terry Scott and Kenneth Williams. This is not to say Kenneth Connor puts in a bad performance, far from it. He is very believable in the role of Hampton, just unfortunately does not have a huge amount to do. Compared to earlier roles in the likes of Teacher, Nurse and Cruising, Carry On Henry marks a significant seachange for Connor as he transitions from leading man to character player.

As Lord Hampton, Connor is a rather dark, backroom schemer who Kenneth Williams' Thomas Cromwell calls upon to help him oust Queen Marie (Sims) by kidnapping the King (James). Unfortunately the plot is bungled and Cromwell is sent to the Tower. Connor's scenes are mainly with Kenneth Williams and the other members of his gang which include reliable supporting actors Bill Maynard (in his second Carry On) and Norman Chappell (returning the series for the first time since Carry On Cabby in 1963 (although he had filmed a cameo for Carry On Loving which was cut). Connor the serious actor definitely puts in a strong appearance in Henry and the costumes, the sets and his dramatic turn really does add kudos to the production. I just wish he'd had a bigger part, as it were.

At the end of the film, while Williams and Scott meet a sticky end at the hands of a great big chopper, King Sid is reunited with his Queen and Kenneth's Lord Hampton becomes Sid's right hand man.

Stay tuned for my blog on Kenneth Connor's next role in the series, in the 1971 film Carry On Matron. 

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