Wogan's Radio Fun: Molly Weir and Deryck Guyler

Every Christmas I post a series of special blogs on the run up to the big day. This year I posted a different festive image from the Carry Ons every day up until Christmas Day. In addition to this, I've also found some wonderful old clips to share this festive season.

The wonderful, late great Terry Wogan hosted his famous chat show on the BBC for several years during the 1980s and early 1990s. Those were the days of great guests, intelligent conversation, wit and warmth. Well, most of the time. Until the BBC rather unwisely pulled the plug to make way for the soap Eldorado (remember that?) Terry was the best possible replacement for Parky. 

This Christmas marks thirty years since a very special festive show which celebrated the very best of radio comedy. Terry reunited many classic stars from a bygone era and sadly, for some, it would be the last time we would see them perform. Amongst these big names were several actors with Carry On connections, so over the next few days I'm going to share some great clips from "Wogan's Radio Fun", originally broadcast back in December 1987.

We continue today with some lovely memories from two actors who made their names on radio and dropped by at Pinewood for some Carry On cameos. First up is the smashing Molly Weir, the Scottish actress who popped up in Carry On Regardless as a confused lady surprised by Bill Owen who turns up to collect her birds. And then we hear from the legendary Deryck Guyler, best remembered for his small screen comedy roles in the likes of Please Sir! and Sykes. Deryck played a rather shaky surgeon opposite Kenneth Williams in the 1967 comedy Carry On Doctor and before that worked for Peter and Gerald in two other cracking comedy films - Nurse On Wheels as Juliet Mills' driving instructor and The Big Job as a rather pompous policeman.

Both Molly and Deryck joined the cast of ITMA (It's That Man Again), which starred Tommy Handley and future Carry On great, Hattie Jacques:

Stay tuned for more in this series coming up soon!

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

Carry On Faces in Different Places: Please Sir!

Here we go with a brand new series of blogs looking at some of the cream of British comedy film making from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Although this blog is all about the Carry Ons, believe it or not, there were some other joyous comedy films made away from Peter Rogers Productions. However, given the quality of the actors Peter employed to make his series, it's no wonder that most of them popped up elsewhere.

So far I've looked at the wonderful 1959 crime caper Too Many Crooks and the 1954 domestic comedy starring Dirk Bogarde, For Better For Worse 

Today we're moving away from the 1950s to cover another classic British comedy film, this time from 1971. The hit school-based sitcom Please Sir! had been running very successfully on the small screen since 1968. This being the era of the big screen spin off, it was only a matter of time before Please Sir! made its way to the cinema. 

 

Who's in it?

Please Sir! stars John Alderton as teacher Bernard Hedges and features a supporting cast of Noel Howlett, Joan Sanderson, Erik Chitty, Richard Davies, Peter Cleall and David Barry. 

Carry On Faces?

Deryck Guyler reprises his role as the janitor Potter. He appeared in a cameo role in Carry On Doctor as well as featured roles in Nurse On Wheels and The Big Job. Carol Hawkins grabs her first starring role in a film here as Sharon, going on to enliven Carry On Abroad, Behind and two episodes of Carry On Laughing. Patsy Rowlands, already part of the Carry On team by this stage, plays domestic science teacher Angela Cutforth. There are also cameos from Jack Smethurst (who played a recruit in Carry On Sergeant) and Brenda Cowling (Carry On Girls and Behind).

 

What's it about?

The film expands on the same themes from the television series. A bunch of overgrown, unruly inner city London school children battling through life with the help of their green around the gills teacher, Hedges. Bernard Hedges continues to battle against the strict authority of Miss Ewell (brilliantly played by the peerless Joan Sanderson). The film takes the established characters out of their usual classroom based surroundings at Fenn Street as the cast goes on an outward bound week where they clash with rival schools and cause all sorts of havoc. The outward bound location looks very much like Black Park, next to Pinewood Studios ;) The film also introduces Bernard's future wife Penny (Jill Kerman, who would go on to play Maggie, the florist who came between Ken and Mike in Coronation Street) while he bats off the advances of a very eager Miss Cutforth - Patsy Rowlands on terrific form. The film is harmless early 70s fluff, entirely good natured and suitable for all. 

Best Bit?

For me the highlight of the film is the unrequited love Patsy Rowlands' character has for Hedges. It runs throughout the film and it's deftly, affectionately played comedy brought to life by two great actors in Rowlands and Alderton. Sadly Patsy wasn't a regular in the television series as I'm sure she would have added a great deal! It's also good to see Patsy given more to do in a film - at the time her roles in the Carry Ons were very uneven and often reduced to a maddeningly small amount of screen time. In Please Sir!, Patsy is a joy.

 

Did you know?

Carol Hawkins replaced Penny Spencer who had played the character of Sharon in the original television series. After her breakthrough role in this film, Carol would play Sharon again in the Please Sir! spin off The Fenn Street Gang, which followed the antics of the Fenn Street pupils in the world after school. It ran until 1973.

Also, watch out for a very brief appearance from future EastEnders actor Todd Carty as a young school boy who has a bit of an accident in the assembly at the very start of the film!

The film also boasts a very catchy theme tune, very much of its time:

 

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Tonight on Talking Pictures TV: The Big Job

 

Talking Pictures TV are showing yet another classic British comedy film this evening, so set your videos! The Big Job is a wonderful black and white crime caper from the typewriter of Talbot Rothwell and it's rarely shown these days so this is well worth watching! 

In 1950 a gang of robbers led by the self-proclaimed George the 'Great' Brain rob a bank, stealing £50,000. However, due to a mix-up, they are pursued and caught by the police. He manages to stash away the money in the trunk of a hollow tree, before he is collared. The gang are then sentenced to serve fifteen years in Wormwood Scrubs prison.

Upon their release in 1965, the gang go back to the spot where they had left the money, only to find it is now a new town, and a housing estate has been built around the tree. To their chagrin they find that the tree is now in the grounds of the local police station, invitingly close to the wall. George and his gang take up rooms in a nearby house rented by a widow and her daughter. In order to provide a respectable front, George is forced to marry his longtime girlfriend Myrtle Robbins who is not so enamoured about the idea of recovering the loot, and wants George to settle down with her.

 

The incompetent criminals fail in their numerous attempts to get over and under the wall, all the while trying to conceal their true activities from their landlady, her daughter and a local police constable who also stays there. Eventually when the men have botched an attempt to tunnel into the grounds, the frustrated women hatch their own plot to gain the money.

The Big Job is a Carry On in all but name. Produced by Peter Rogers and directed by Gerald Thomas, the cast is headed up by series favourites Sid James, Joan Sims and Jim Dale with excellent turns from Sylvia Syms, Dick Emery and Lance Percival. Watch out also for eye-catching support from Edina Ronay (who also appeared in Carry On Cowboy the same year) and Please Sir and Sykes favourite Deryck Guyler. 

The Big Job is on Talking Pictures TV tonight at 6.30pm. 

 

You can watch Talking Pictures TV on: Virgin 445 / Freeview 81 / Sky Channel 343 / Freesat 306 / Youview 81

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

The Wonderful World of Sebastopol Terrace

In the first of a series of blogging re-posts this week, here is a blog from earlier in the Summer where I sing the praises of Eric Sykes' classic 1960s and 70s television situation comedy, Sykes.

I would like to begin a series of blogs looking at the long running sitcom roles taken on by some of our favourite Carry On actors. Many of the Carry On team were incredibly prolific television comedy actors and managed to fit in series on television with their annual trips to Pinewood to rejoin the Carry On team.

One of my all time favourite British situation comedy is the BBC series Sykes, which starred the wonderful and much-missed comedy genius Eric Sykes. Playing his twin sister in the series was Carry On regular Hattie Jacques. Eric and Hattie enjoyed a wonderful working relationship and had superb shared chemistry and comic timing. Sykes ran first of all from 1960 until 1965 and then returned, in colour, from 1972 until 1979. No doubt the series would have continued had it not been for Hattie's sad death in October 1980.

The premise of Sykes was quite simple. It was all about the lives of Eric and Hat, who lived at Sebastopol Terrace in Acton, London. On the surface it was just another domestic sitcom, however the writing frequently surreal and fairly wacky and the unexpected often happened! Eric was always the outlandish, stubborn, accident prone character the action and plot tended to focus on while Hattie was the sensible, patient, clever sister who smoothed things over.

Eric and Hattie were joined for many of the episodes by some regular co-stars. Richard Wattis, a wonderful light comedy actor, played their snobbish neighbour, Mr Brown, while Please Sir favourite Deryck Guyler played local policeman Corky. Joan Sims also made several appearances as Eric's love interest Madge, who ran the local bakery and kept Eric in constant supply of doughnuts!

Interestingly, and probably unlike many other comedy series, over forty of the episodes produced when the show returned in the 1970s were remakes of scripts broadcast during the original run of the series in the early 1960s! It didn't really matter though as so many of Eric's legendary scripts were instant classics and audiences loved them.

Sykes featured many wonderful supporting actors during the years. Peter Sellers appeared as an escaped convict in the classic 1972 episode Stranger. Other guest stars included Hattie's ex-husband John Le Mesurier, Roy Kinnear, Bernard Bresslaw, Sheila Steafel, Jimmy Edwards, Les Dawson, Dinah Sheridan, Joan Hickson, Chic Murray and Graham Stark.

What I loved most of all about Sykes was that the scripts hardly ever focused on Hattie's weight. In Sykes, Hattie was graceful, funny, warm and supportive. The shows frequently showcased Hattie's abilities as a wonderfully talented comic actress. Eric and Hattie enjoyed a wonderful partnership on stage and screen lasting many years and you could tell they got on well together. Eric often told the story of when he first saw Hattie, performing at The Players Theatre in London. She was delivering a typically robust music hall number and at the end of the routine she went into the splits and earned a huge round of applause. Apparently Eric was dumbstruck and new he had to meet and work with her. And who can blame him?

I loved so many of the classic Sykes episodes. The scenarios have often been repeated since, but they were the masters. Whether it be Eric, with his big toe stuck in the bath tap, Hattie and her ongoing conversations with Peter, who lived in the cuckoo clock or Eric's ongoing arguments with pompous Mr Brown, the series presented many surreal situations which allowed the combined genius of Eric Sykes and Hattie Jacques to flourish. 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan 

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The wonderful world of Sebastopol Terrace

I would like to begin a series of blogs looking at the long running sitcom roles taken on by some of our favourite Carry On actors. Many of the Carry On team were incredibly prolific television comedy actors and managed to fit in series on television with their annual trips to Pinewood to rejoin the Carry On team.

One of my all time favourite British situation comedy is the BBC series Sykes, which starred the wonderful and much-missed comedy genius Eric Sykes. Playing his twin sister in the series was Carry On regular Hattie Jacques. Eric and Hattie enjoyed a wonderful working relationship and had superb shared chemistry and comic timing. Sykes ran first of all from 1960 until 1965 and then returned, in colour, from 1972 until 1979. No doubt the series would have continued had it not been for Hattie's sad death in October 1980.

The premise of Sykes was quite simple. It was all about the lives of Eric and Hat, who lived at Sebastopol Terrace in Acton, London. On the surface it was just another domestic sitcom, however the writing frequently surreal and fairly wacky and the unexpected often happened! Eric was always the outlandish, stubborn, accident prone character the action and plot tended to focus on while Hattie was the sensible, patient, clever sister who smoothed things over.

Eric and Hattie were joined for many of the episodes by some regular co-stars. Richard Wattis, a wonderful light comedy actor, played their snobbish neighbour, Mr Brown, while Please Sir favourite Deryck Guyler played local policeman Corky. Joan Sims also made several appearances as Eric's love interest Madge, who ran the local bakery and kept Eric in constant supply of doughnuts!

Interestingly, and probably unlike many other comedy series, over forty of the episodes produced when the show returned in the 1970s were remakes of scripts broadcast during the original run of the series in the early 1960s! It didn't really matter though as so many of Eric's legendary scripts were instant classics and audiences loved them.

Sykes featured many wonderful supporting actors during the years. Peter Sellers appeared as an escaped convict in the classic 1972 episode Stranger. Other guest stars included Hattie's ex-husband John Le Mesurier, Roy Kinnear, Bernard Bresslaw, Sheila Steafel, Jimmy Edwards, Les Dawson, Dinah Sheridan, Joan Hickson, Chic Murray and Graham Stark.

What I loved most of all about Sykes was that the scripts hardly ever focused on Hattie's weight. In Sykes, Hattie was graceful, funny, warm and supportive. The shows frequently showcased Hattie's abilities as a wonderfully talented comic actress. Eric and Hattie enjoyed a wonderful partnership on stage and screen lasting many years and you could tell they got on well together. Eric often told the story of when he first saw Hattie, performing at The Players Theatre in London. She was delivering a typically robust music hall number and at the end of the routine she went into the splits and earned a huge round of applause. Apparently Eric was dumbstruck and new he had to meet and work with her. And who can blame him?

I loved so many of the classic Sykes episodes. The scenarios have often been repeated since, but they were the masters. Whether it be Eric, with his big toe stuck in the bath tap, Hattie and her ongoing conversations with Peter, who lived in the cuckoo clock or Eric's ongoing arguments with pompous Mr Brown, the series presented many surreal situations which allowed the combined genius of Eric Sykes and Hattie Jacques to flourish. 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook

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Not Quite A Carry On: The Big Job

I have decided to write about some of the other films Rogers and Thomas made during their prolific careers. Apart from their 31 Carry Ons together, the famous producer/director team also made many other films, particularly during their peak in the late 1950s and early 1960s. I have already blogged about one of my favourites, the sprightly Nurse On Wheels and the big screen version of sitcom favourite, Bless This House. Now I am going to look the classic crime caper, The Big Job.

I love The Big Job. Apparently it was an old script that had been knocking about for some time and Peter Rogers seized upon the opportunity to turn it into a quick release in between Carry Ons. The Big Job was the last of a long run of comedy films Rogers and Thomas made as a side line to the Carry Ons. Released in 1965, it came just as the Carry On films were reaching their peak in popularity. Carry On Cleo had just been released and the glories of Cowboy and Screaming were just around the corner.

Rogers engaged regular Carry On scribe Talbot Rothwell to breathe new life into The Big Job. It is a classic comedy about a bunch of petty criminals who are caught mid bank robbery, put away for a long stretch and come out determined to get their hands on the loot once again. The money was stashed in a tree shortly before the gang were captured by the police and on tracking it down fifteen years later, quickly discover that the intervening years have seen a housing estate spring up around the tree. What's worse is that the tree is now situated in the yard of a police station.

The film basically follows the gang's attempts to get at the money. Of course their pathetic attempts are constantly foiled. There is nothing new in this film but as always with a comedy film from Rogers and Thomas, it is the cast that raises the material into a different league. The Big Job is no exception. Although not an official Carry On, the film features three of the best actors to grace the series in Sid James, Joan Sims and Jim Dale. 

Sid plays the ring leader of the criminal gang, one George Brain. This is perfect casting as Sid had often played characters in both comedy and more serious films that dodged the long arm of the law. Joining him in this instance are regular co-star Lance Percival and that wonderful comedian, Dick Emery. Sadly this is the only film Dick made for Rogers and Thomas which is a great shame. He was a natural for this kind of comedy and I think it would have been great to see him in a Carry On. Also starring is the gorgeous Sylvia Syms as Sid's permanently sidelined girlfriend. For once Sid's character really isn't interested in women. It's the thrill of the loot that's his driving passion here. Syms is great opposite Sid and the others, a real class act.

Of course Sylvia isn't the only Ms S(y)ims in this film. Carry On regular Joan grabs a prime role as predatory landlady Mildred Gamely. The gang lodge with Mildred and her sex kitten daughter, brought to life by future fashion designer Edina Ronay. Edina would work for Rogers and Thomas again the same year when she took the part of Dolores in Carry On Cowboy. She was terrific in Cowboy, her American accent is excellent! Joan eventually gets her claws into Dick (as it were) and reveals herself to be much more of a criminal mastermind than any of the men.

Jim Dale co-stars as another lodger, a local police constable who continually gets on Sid's nerves with his bumbling. Jim has several terrific scenes with Deryck Guyler and the rest of the local policeman's choir. Also appearing are Carry On semi-regulars Wanda Ventham, Michael Ward, Brian Rawlinson and Frank Thornton. 

It might not be high art but I love it. Another cosy comedy film from a bygone era featuring a cast of prime acting talent. Definitely worth a watch if you fancy a burst of classic comedy nostalgia. 

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