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

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

The actress Carole Shelley has died

Sad news to report this evening. Blog reader Garry has been in touch to let me know that the actress Carole Shelley has died at the age of 79. Carole, although born in the UK was a long time resident in the United States and passed away at her home in Manhattan on 31 August.

Carole Shelley made her first appearance in a Carry On in Carry On Regardless in 1961. Carole played Mrs Delling in scenes which saw her come home early while her husband (Jimmy Thompson) was asking Liz Fraser's Delia King to try on some new frillies on her behalf. Delia was of course from The Helping Hands agency. Much farce ensues, involving Liz, a cupboard and a dodgy man's accent.

Carole came back to join the Carry On team again in the classic 1963 series entry, Carry On Cabby. Carole plays the dreadfully titled Dumb Driver in this film. She is really one of the many glamorous Glam Cab drivers, first seen in the line up alongside Amanda Barrie. Again it is a cameo role but her gift for comedy is clear for all to see. So what else did Carole Shelley get up to in her acting career?

Carole Shelley began her career in Britain, starring in several other films at the time she made her Carry On appearances. She played a typist in No My Darling Daughter in 1961 and Mrs Smith in Michael Winner's The Cool Mikado in 1963. She also turned up in episodes of the BBC Sunday Night Play and The Avengers. For whatever reason after this point, Carole relocated to the United States where the majority of her career has played out.

In 1968 she co-starred in The Odd Couple, a vehicle for Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. She would reprise the role in the television series screened in 1970. Also in 1968 she went on to appear in the Tony Curtis film, The Boston Strangler. Later film roles include Some Kind of Nut (1969); The Whoopee Boys (1986) and most recently the big screen version of Bewitched, released in 2005 and starring Nicole Kidman. On American television, Carole has appeared in the likes of The Cosby Show, All My Children and Frasier. 

The majority of Carole Shelley's career has been on stage. Shelley made her Broadway debut as Gwendolyn in The Odd Couple in 1965 (the role she went on to play on television and on film. She went on to appear in such diverse productions as As You Like It, Absurd Person Singular, Billy Elliot, Show Boat and Cabaret. Carole won a Tony Award in 1979 for her performance in the stage production of The Elephant Man and was nominated again in 1987 for Stepping Out. In 2003 she created the role of Madame Morrible in the original production of Wicked.  

A talented actress with a wide career on both stage and screen, on both sides of the Atlantic, my condolences to Carole's family and friends. 


You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

The Silent Stars of Carry On

We all love hearing from those involved with the Carry On films, especially those who appeared in front of the camera. Sadly many of the original cast are now, as Bernard Cribbins referred to it as "in the bar upstairs", however there are still plenty of interesting characters around with stories to tell.

It is always great to hear from the likes of Bernard, Jim Dale, Shirley Eaton and Fenella Fielding, however there are many other Carry On actors who we rarely (if ever) hear from. While some actors may not want to (or enjoy) being interviewed or others may prefer not to discuss their involvement in the Carry Ons, there are a few who have stayed silent for no known reason.

Back in the day, there just weren't the same kind of opportunities for actors to be interviewed. When Hattie, Peter and Sid were still with us there were only three television channels and the internet was a long way off. 

So who would I like to hear more from these days? The actress Ann Firbank is still working today in her early 80s and although she only appeared in one Carry On, it was the marvellous Carry On Nurse. Together with her colleague in that film Susan Beaumont, they are rare surviving members from those early days. It would be great to hear their recollections of working on that wonderful medical Carry On.

Another actress I'd love to hear from is the great Carole Shelley. Carole has gone on to a highly successful career in stage and screen in the United States however she began her career in Britain and with supporting roles in two early Carry Ons, Regardless and Cabby. Much later on in the lifespan of Carry On, but another actress who left for work over in America is Judy Geeson, star of Carry On England. While we often see her sister Sally Geeson interviewed or appear at film conventions, Judy has never spoken about England (to my knowledge). 

Staying with the later Carry Ons, one figure who has stayed silent on her appearance in Emmannuelle is Suzanne Danielle. It would be fascinating to hear Suzanne's memories of working on this controversial film and on working so closely with Kenneth Williams. 

If Carry On Abroad actress Gail Grainger is out there, I'd love to hear from her on her work with the team on what many consider the last truly great film in the series. She appears to have completely disappeared but I'd love to track her down. 

Two stars of Carry On Behind who are both very definitely still around have never really spoken about their involvement in the series. International guest star Elke Sommer has long been based in Hollywood but wouldn't it be fascinating to hear what she made of her few weeks filming with Williams, Connor and Sims in the orchard at Pinewood? Also, legendary star of the small screen Windsor Davies has been retired for several years now, but it would be lovely to hear what he thought about stepping into Sid James' shoes for his role as butcher Fred Ramsden.

Finally, one more actor I'd like to hear from is the infamous Trisha Noble who played Sally in Carry On Camping. Legend has it that this young Australian actress didn't quite fit with what the Carry On team at Pinewood expected and the role was cut back as a result. It would be great to hear her take on all that!

It is possible we'd one day here from these actors on their times making the Carry On films. After all, some years back it was thought Margaret Nolan had retired into obscurity somewhere in the Spanish countryside. Now, back in London it was great to see her take part in Carry On Forever last year. So here's hoping more of these names break their silence!

So who would you like to hear more from?

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan 

My Favourite Scene: Carry On Cabby

I have been writing a series of blogs which look to find my favourite scene in each of the original Carry On films made between 1958 and 1978. I think I'm about half way through this project so far, having written about everything from Carry On Nurse and Regardless right through to England and Emmannuelle.

Today I am going to take us all back to the glorious Carry On Cabby, released in 1963. I rated it my all time favourite Carry On film on this blog earlier this year and it's one of films I can watch again and again and never get bored. It's very much my comfort blanket Carry On. So how to decide which is my favourite scene in a film I love so much? 

Well it was relatively easy. The high point for me in Cabby revolves around Hattie Jacques' decision to start up her own rival cab film to take on husband Sid James' Speedee Cabs. Hattie's Peggy Hawkins is fed up playing second fiddle to Charlie's business. Although he undoubtedly loves his wife, he very much takes her for granted so she fights back. Peggy, together with the diminutive Flo Sims (Esma Cannon) start up Glam Cabs, a cab firm that only uses brand new fancy Ford Cortinas and hires only gorgeous, glamorous and highly capable women. Chaos ensues as Sid and the boys struggle to keep pace with their rivals!

My favourite scene in the film comes half way through as Peggy and Flo unveil their new workforce. Eric Rogers wrote a wonderful theme for this scene, the music used as the camera pans along the Glam Cab drivers in their uniforms is just fantastic and really captures the spirit of the film. Peggy has last minute nerves, her conscience bothering her as she prepares to steal her husband's business. Buoyed on by Flo, she tells the girls to get on with it. After a few choice remarks from some of the drivers (namely Carole Shelley and the glorious Amanda Barrie), the love heart cab signs are turned out and it's wagons roll!

It's a truly wonderful moment in a delightful early Carry On. Yes I know, the women need rescuing from the villains at the end and Sid's macho pride is left intact but his character is a changed man as a result of his wife's actions. Cabby provides Hattie Jacques with her stand out role in the series. She is sublime and it makes you realise how few opportunities Hattie was given to show what she was made of. 

So dig out your DVD of Carry On Cabby, sit back and enjoy as those Glab Cab drivers give Sid a taste of his own medicine!

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook

Clicking on the adverts helps to keep this blog going.

Whatever Happened To ... Carole Shelley?

I have been running an occasional series of blogs looking at some of the familiar faces who graced many Carry On films without necessarily gaining star billing. One of my main reasons for setting up this blog was to turn the spotlight onto these wonderful actors who worked for years in supporting roles in British film or whom just never seem to receive the publicity they are due.

Today I am going to write about an actress who starred in two early 1960s black and white Carry On films. Carole Shelley first appeared in Carry On Regardless in 1961. Carole played Mrs Delling in scenes which saw her come home early while her husband (Jimmy Thompson) was asking Liz Fraser's Delia King to try on some new frillies on her behalf. Delia was of course from The Helping Hands agency. Much farce ensues, involving Liz, a cupboard and a dodgy man's accent.

Carole came back to join the Carry On team again in the classic 1963 series entry, Carry On Cabby. Carole plays the dreadfully titled Dumb Driver in this film. She is really one of the many glamorous Glam Cab drivers, first seen in the line up alongside Amanda Barrie. Again it is a cameo role but her gift for comedy is clear for all to see. So what else did Carole Shelley get up to in her acting career?

Carole Shelley began her career in Britain, starring in several other films at the time she made her Carry On appearances. She played a typist in No My Darling Daughter in 1961 and Mrs Smith in Michael Winner's The Cool Mikado in 1963. She also turned up in episodes of the BBC Sunday Night Play and The Avengers. For whatever reason after this point, Carole relocated to the United States where the majority of her career has played out.

In 1968 she co-starred in The Odd Couple, a vehicle for Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. She would reprise the role in the television series screened in 1970. Also in 1968 she went on to appear in the Tony Curtis film, The Boston Strangler. Later film roles include Some Kind of Nut (1969); The Whoopee Boys (1986) and most recently the big screen version of Bewitched, released in 2005 and starring Nicole Kidman. On American television, Carole has appeared in the likes of The Cosby Show, All My Children and Frasier. 

The majority of Carole Shelley's career has been on stage. Shelley made her Broadway debut as Gwendolyn in The Odd Couple in 1965 (the role she went on to play on television and on film. She went on to appear in such diverse productions as As You Like It, Absurd Person Singular, Billy Elliot, Show Boat and Cabaret. Carole won a Tony Award in 1979 for her performance in the stage production of The Elephant Man and was nominated again in 1987 for Stepping Out. In 2003 she created the role of Madame Morrible in the original production of Wicked.  

Now 75, Carole Shelley continues to live and act in the United States. Most recently, in 2014, she took over the role of Miss Shingle in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. So many big roles in American film, television and stage seem a far cry from the Dumb Driver in Carry On Cabby!

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook

Clicking on the adverts helps to keep this blog going