Why Barbara Shines in Sparrows Can't Sing

The other day I caught the 1963 film Sparrows Can't Sing for the very first time. Of course I was aware of it, mainly through Barbara Windsor's starring role and the fact it came from the legendary Joan Littlewood's Stratford East stable. Anyway, finding the time to actually sit down and watch it I quickly became hooked. It's magnificent. 

Sparrows tells the story of the East End of London in flux. The old traditions are all on display: the culture, the language, the range of ethnicities and backgrounds and the pride in who the characters are despite the obvious poverty. The early 1960s saw a great deal of change as this area began to recover from the ravages of the war. Bomb sites are still in evidence although the slums were being cleared and brand spanking new high rise blocks of flats were climbing into the sky. Joan Littlewood notoriously hated all the change, loving the old community feel of the East End. I can see the pros and cons of both sides of that argument but fast forward several decades and we can see how successful some of those new developments were in reality. Breaking up tight communities is never a good thing.

Anyway, the social commentary is the backdrop to this story but it's really important and fascinating for me. The film sprang to life thanks to a script from Stephen Lewis, the man behind Blakey in On The Buses. However the original premise came from Joan's revolutionary improvisational theatre techniques. The original play premiered at Joan's Theatre Royal, Stratford East three years earlier and the success of it led to it transferring to the West End amid much fanfare in 1961. Being loyal and with a beady eye for raw talent, Joan brought most of the cast from her theatre workshop production to the big screen and directed the film herself. 

The cast of characters are loud, proud and vivid. And the actors are thoroughly legendary. While James Booth and Barbara Windsor play the leading parts, the rogues gallery includes the likes of Roy Kinnear, Brian Murphy, Harry H Corbett, Arthur Mullard, Yootha Joyce, Victor Spinetti, Bob Grant, Murray Melvin, George Sewell, Barbara Ferris and Avis Bunnage. Littlewood certainly knew what she was doing and she nurtured each of these individual talents over countless productions. 

The main plot of the film sees Cockney sailor Charlie (Booth) return from a long trip overseas to find a great number of numbing changes to his old life. His home has been demolished and his wife Maggie (Windsor) is nowhere to be found. The film follows Charlie as he reconnects with old faces, friends and family in search of his wayward wife. This allows us to see large swathes of the authentic East End and meet many very typical characters, portrayed honestly but also with great affection. We quickly learn that Maggie isn't missing, she's now living in one of the new high-rise blocks with another man, a bus driver called Bert and a child or indeterminable parentage! While little of this is particularly shocking or out of the ordinary nowadays, portraying ordinary people with such real life issues was novel and added to the groundswell of so-called 'kitchen sink' drama. The rest of the film sees Charlie try to woo his wife back in typically colourful, memorable fashion.

James Booth was new to me, although I had seen him years ago in Zulu. He's magnificent in this film though - brooding, handsome, very much of his time. Deeply charismatic with a terrific screen presence. I think many will agree that the real star of the film however, is Barbara. Barbara had been acting for nearly a decade by this point, mainly in small film parts and television guest roles. She was experiencing her first taste of fame already though, on the small screen. The year before Sparrows was filmed Barbara had starred in the first series of The Rag Trade, a BBC sitcom. Her association with Joan Littlewood at Stratford East would make her a star, and this film launched her film career. 

Windsor is simply brilliant throughout the film. She can sing, she can do comedy and tug at the heart strings. Most of all, she's real. This is the Barbara I love and the Barbara that became somewhat lost on the big screen as she became more deeply involved in the Carry Ons. We saw her true talent re-emerge many years later in EastEnders thankfully, but I can't help but wish, having watched Sparrows Can't Sing, is that she'd made a few more films like this before launching herself fully into the Carry Ons. There was certainly a buzz around Babs immediately after Sparrows came out. The premiere of the film attracted a wealth of publicity and many celebrities attended. Barbara was nominated for a BAFTA and was courted by American agents, making appearances on U.S chat shows. Of course, there was a certain notoriety linked to the fame, as the Kray twins were always there or thereabouts as the film was made, with some even suggesting they can be glimpsed in the film itself. Cutting all that circus away though and it's clear to me just how talented Barbara was. Her star quality and natural confidence just burst out of the screen and she's a joy to watch.

So if you haven't seen Sparrows Can't Sing, look it up next time it's scheduled on the brilliant Talking Pictures TV. And if you're already a fan, why not brighten up your life with some pop art with a Theatre Workshop theme? Art & Hue has a wonderful range of 'From Stage to Screen' prints and Sparrows Can't Sing features amongst them. Find out more here: http://artandhue.com/plays/

And of course the Theatre Royal, Stratford East is still going strong and thriving in 2019. You can find out more about the theatre and its current productions right here: http://www.stratfordeast.com

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Catch Bless This House this evening on Talking Pictures TV!

This evening Talking Pictures TV are showing yet another comedy classic from the golden age of British film comedy. Possibly the closest any other film got to being an official part of the Carry On team without actually gaining the Carry On title, Bless This House was yet another quickly made, cheaply made picture from Peter Rogers Productions. A big screen version of the hit Thames Television domestic sitcom, bringing Bless This House to the cinema was just another part of the very 1970s trend of transferring TV comedy favourites to film. This had varying results with some performing better than others. I think we can agree Bless This House is probably one of the most successful.

Part of its success is down to the Carry On-like quality the film has, mainly down to the personnel employed both in front of and behind the camera. Bless This House remains a hugely popular film, 47 years after it was first released. It's easy going, has bags of charm, remains completely light, frothy, undemanding and innocent and in modern, more cynical times its special brand of escapism is very appealing. Nothing really happens across its 80 odd minutes and basically writer Dave Freeman, who would go on to pen Carry On Behind and Columbus, stitches together three potential small screen half hours into one film. 

There's the traditional suburban new neighbours move in and don't get on with those around them strand. So what you say? Well when the main opponents are Sid James and an extremely pompous pre-Terry and June Terry Scott, you have comedy magic. Then there's the farcical wedding strand which sees the offspring of Sid and Terry (Robin Askwith and Carol Hawkins) hitch up and get hitched. Of course nothing goes to plan but all's well in the end. In between all this there are several small plots of little consequence such as Sally Geeson's naive 1970s environmental activism, Diana Coupland and Patsy Rowlands hoarding junk for a future antiques business and best of all, Sid and best mate Peter Butterworth attempting to make their own alcohol in the garden shed, with startling results! 

In the hands of lesser actors, all of this would have fallen flat and this little film would be a very distant memory. As with the main Carry On series, the secret of this films' success is the casting. The film is mainly made up of instantly recognisable Carry On faces with only leading lady Diana Coupland failing to Carry On elsewhere (a great pity I think I as you can read here: Should Diana Coupland have carried on? Leading team members Sid James, Peter Butterworth and Patsy Rowlands are joined by Carry On supporting players Terry Scott, June Whitfield, Marianne Stone, Bill Maynard, Patricia Franklin, Julian Orchard, Molly Weir, Wendy Richard and Johnny Briggs. Phew! It seems to modern viewers that Peter Rogers basically arranged for the cast of the early 1970s Carry Ons to decamp to suburban Windsor for six weeks. Recent Carry On starlets Carol Hawkins and Sally Geeson also grab leading roles while rising star Robin Askwith, soon to appear in Carry On Girls and then the Confessions series, plays Sid's son Mike. Quite an ensemble!

Of course several of these actors transferred across from the television version of Bless This House. Alongside Sid, Sally Geeson played daughter Sally in all 65 episodes of the sitcom alongside Diana Coupland. Patsy Rowlands too was a semi-regular in the sitcom as neighbour Betty. However the actors playing Trevor and Mike did not appear in the film. I don't really know why Anthony Jackson and Robin Stewart were replaced by Peter Butterworth and Robin Askwith but I can't fault either of the actors who stepped into the film. To complicate matters further, the likes of June Whitfield and Marianne Stone also appeared in the television series, albeit in very different roles!

Many of the core Carry On crew also appeared behind the camera on Bless This House. Pinewood stalwart Alan Hume was in charge of photography, Eric Rogers did the music while even the hair and make up team moved across in the familiar guise of Stella Rivers and Geoff Rodway. It really was a team effort and a film family and us fans take great comfort from seeing all these names scrolling across the screen once again. 

So make a date to catch up with your favourite comedy character actors in an undemanding hour and half of slapstick, gentle humour and family fun. 

Bless This House is on Talking Pictures TV tonight at 7.10pm. Find out more here: https://talkingpicturestv.co.uk


You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Carrying On with The Gentle Touch

I absolutely love the classic television series The Gentle Touch. I'd obviously heard of it before and was aware of its star, the excellent Jill Gascoine, for many years but until earlier this year I'd never actually seen the show. This all changed when Talking Pictures TV announced they were running every episode of the series, all 56 episodes across five series, made between 1980 and 1984.

The series starred Jill Gascoine as Detective Inspector Maggie Forbes, who has worked her way up through the ranks of the police force and is based at Seven Dials, a station in Central London. Maggie's husband, a police constable, is murdered during the first episode, leaving her to juggle her career and single parenthood, raising her teenage son. 

The Gentle Touch largely dealt with routine police procedures and offered a frank depiction of relevant social issues such as sexism, racism, homosexuality and mental health. It marked a major departure from other police action series such as The Sweeney or The Professionals as it mainly offered a more realistic and low key approach. Although the series mostly focused on Maggie's professional life in a male-dominated field, it also showed her home life with her teenage son Steve, who in one episode she castigated for looking at porn, as well as her occasional romantic involvements which sometimes clashed with her job. In real life Jill Gascoine could not drive so when Maggie had to be seen driving the scenes would be shot using a car towed behind the camera truck.

The Gentle Touch was a ratings success in the UK, where it was screened on Friday nights in a 9 pm slot (except for the final series which was shown on Saturday nights). One episode shown in January 1982 garnered over 18 million viewers and was the 5th most watched television programme in Britain that year.

You might wonder why I'm writing about this, apart from the fact it's just an ace piece of television drama. Well despite its subject and content not being exactly prime Carry On territory, the series did actually feature a fair few Carry On actors. Fancy finding out who they were and what they got up to? Well read on…

Regular supporting actor in six Carry Ons, from Carry On Matron to England, Brian Osborne appeared the first series episode Rogue in 1980, playing Detective Inspector Jim Souter. A year later, the instantly recognisable character actor Harry Towb cropped up as Martin Hersh in the story, Scapegoat. Harry had a cameo role as the doctor in the sex film seen briefly in Carry On At Your Convenience! 

One of my favourite actresses, the fabulous Dilys Laye guest starred in the 1982 episode, entitled Vigil. Playing a rather feisty, upper crust and glamorous fraudster, Dilys displays both her natural comedic talent and flair for straight dramatics in the affecting role of Annette. We all love Dilys for her four 1960s Carry Ons - Cruising, Spying, Doctor and Camping. Two years later, in 1984, Angela Douglas joined The Gentle Touch in the role of Betty Farrell. Angela's character appeared in A Woman's Word, a story which sees Maggie Forbes struggle to keep the confidence of an informer.

The 1982 series also featured the legendary character actress and future Miss Marple extraordinaire, Joan Hickson. Joan, who appeared in five Carry Ons between 1958 and 1973, guest starred in the episode Auctions as Sarah Meade. This episode sees Maggie investigate the refined world of fine art. It also sees the actor Bernard Kay make an appearance, playing Finnerman. Bernard had a very small role as a Recruit in the very first Carry On film, Carry On Sergeant, in 1958. 

Playing the excellently named Selina De Sade in the 1984 episode Exit Laughing is the glamorous Wanda Ventham. Yes, she's the mother of Benedict Cumberbatch, but Wanda has also enjoyed an extremely varied acting career which also includes small parts in Carry On Cleo, Carry on Up The Khyber and The Big Job. Also in 1984, the great Larry Martyn cropped up in Mad Dog as a Minicab Driver. Larry had cameos in two 1970s Carry Ons - as the shooting gallery assistant in At Your Convenience and as the bemused electrician in Carry On Behind. 

Are You Being Served? legend and Carry On Screaming supporting actor Frank Thornton guest stars in the 1982 story Right of Entry, playing Leo. While playing Elaine Campbell in Appearances Can Be Deceptive in 1984 is Carry On Behind star Adrienne Posta. The story revolves around a woman who has killed her abusive husband, apparently in self defence until new evidence emerges…heavy stuff! Fellow Carry On Behind star Sherrie Hewson guest stars as Steph in the story Joker in 1982, the tale of a jewel thief and one policeman's attempt to frame him. The episode also starred Diana Dors' husband Alan Lake. 

Another familiar face to star in The Gentle Touch is actress and author Linda Regan. Linda, best remembered for her regular role in Hi-de-Hi, starred as Marilyn in the 1980 episode, Break-In. Four years earlier, Linda made her only Carry On film appearance, in Carry On England. 

And last but by no means least is the South African born actress Olga Lowe. Olga played a Supermarket Detective in Tough, Mrs Rudge in 1982. Olga, a long time friend and colleague of Sid James, played Madame Fifi in Carry On Abroad. She was also working with Sid James on that fateful night on stage in Sunderland in 1976. 

I hope you've enjoyed this run through the various Carry On faces to pop up in the brilliant series, The Gentle Touch. And a big thank you to Talking Pictures TV for introducing this classic show to a whole new generation of viewers. Wonderful stuff. 

And remind yourself of the cracking theme tune from the series here:

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Catch Joan, Hattie and Jim this week on Talking Pictures TV!

Talking Pictures TV are excellent at producing hidden gems from the archive and giving us classic comedy fans a real treat. And this coming week is no exception with films featuring some of our favourite Carry On actors - Joan Sims, Jim Dale and Hattie Jacques - all finding their way into the schedule. So without further ado, here's what you should be setting your recording devices for in the week ahead.

Tuesday 6 November

The Iron Maiden, Talking Pictures TV, 3pm

Jack Hopkins (played by Michael Craig) is an aircraft designer with a passion for traction engines and he owns one called The Iron Maiden. His boss (played by Cecil Parker) is eager to sell a new supersonic jet aircraft that Jack has designed to American millionaire Paul Fisher (Alan Hale, Jr.). The first encounter between Fisher and Jack goes badly, and tensions only heighten after Fisher's daughter Kathy (Anne Helm) damages The Iron Maiden, rendering it impossible to be driven solo. Jack is desperate to enter the annual Woburn Abbey steam rally with the machine, but his fireman is injured and unable to participate. When all seems lost, the millionaire himself is won over by Jack's plight and joins him in driving the engine, and the two soon become firm friends.

After an eventful journey, Fisher and Jack reach Woburn Abbey and enter the rally, only for Fisher to injure his back at the last minute. When all seems lost, the sceptical Kathy appears and joins Jack in the engine. The two pilot The Iron Maiden from last place to first, winning the rally; at the finish line, Jack and Kathy embrace and kiss, while The Iron Maiden boils over and explodes. The engine is memorialised when Jack's new jet is named after it.

The film also features familiar Carry On faces in Joan Sims, Jim Dale, Judith Furse, Cyril Chamberlain, Brian Rawlinson and Anton Rodgers.

Further Reading:

Carry On Blogging: Carrying On with The Iron Maiden

Carry On Blogging: Patrick Purcell Interview

Twice Round The Daffodils (1962) - Talking Pictures TV, 9pm

Set in a TB sanatorium and featuring a more serious tone than many of their other cinematic offerings, Twice Round The Daffodils is a romantic comedy drama that pulls at the heart strings. Written by Norman Hudis, as with many of his other scripts, Daffodils focusses on a group of men in an institutional setting. It definitely has a touch of Carry On Nurse about it. It also boasts a superb cast of instantly recognisable actors, led by Donald Sinden, Donald Houston and Ronald Lewis.

The film stars Juliet Mills in the first of her three roles for Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas (the others being Nurse On Wheels and Carry On Jack). Other Carry On faces to appear include Kenneth Williams, Joan Sims, Sheila Hancock, Jill Ireland, Renee Houston and Lance Percival - quite a cast! A young Andrew Ray also appears - son of Ted (Carry On Teacher) and brother of Robin (Carry On Constable), Andrew would go on to appear in Carry On Laughing in 1975. 

Further Reading:

Carry On Blogging: Not Quite A Carry On - Twice Round The Daffodils

Wednesday 7 November

Make Mine Mink (1960) - Talking Pictures TV, 9.20am

Based on the stage play Breath of Spring by Peter Coke, Make Mine Mink tells the story of a rather unlikely gang of crooks who go around London stealing and returning fur coats! Perhaps a rather slender premise for a full length feature film, but when the cast includes Hattie Jacques, Billie Whitelaw, Terry-Thomas and Athene Seyler, you're set for an afternoon of laughs and delightful comedy performances. Look out for an eye-catching cameo from Carry On great Kenneth Williams too. 

Interestingly, the role Billie Whitelaw plays in the film was originally played by Carry On legend Joan Sims on stage, opposite Athene Seyler. Why Joan wasn't invited to star in the film remains a mystery and while Billie is excellent, I'd have loved to have seen Joan appear alongside Terry, Hattie and Ms Seyler. Fine supporting turns come from Carry On faces Irene Handl and Sydney Tafler, while scene stealer Noel Purcell pops in for a brief spot as a burglar.

Further Reading:

Carry On Blogging: Make Mine Mink

Saturday 10 November

Six Five Special (1958), Talking Pictures TV, 3.45pm

Now this is a real curio from sixty years ago, back in the mists of time! However as it features a pre-Carry On Jim Dale in his pop star days I thought it was worth a mention. At the suggestion of her girlfriend, a young singer decides to try and make her name in London. Catching the overnight '6.5 Special' bound for the BBC television show, the two find the train full of 1950's British pop stars only too ready to burst into song. As the presenters of the show are also on board, our heroine is assured of a spot on the following Saturday's 'Six Five Special'. And the Six Five Special, for those who are not of a certain vintage, was an early precursor to Top of the Pops!

Joining Jim Dale (playing himself of course) are the likes of Lonnie Donegan, Petula Clark, Dickie Valentine, Cleo Laine and Johnny Dankworth, Pete Murray, Mike and Bernie Winters and a couple of other Carry On faces - actress Leigh Madison (Carry On Sergeant / Nurse) and boxer turned actor Freddie Mills (Carry On Constable / Regardless). 

Definitely worth a go if you're a fan of vintage telly, pop music or the wonderful, multi-talented Mr Dale!

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Three Classic Comedies tomorrow on Talking Pictures TV

Talking Pictures TV are showing three classic British comedy films back to back tomorrow morning. First up is the 1956 film Sailor Beware, starring Peggy Mount, Ronald Lewis and Gordon Jackson. This is followed up by a rather bizarre little curio, Cuckoo Patrol from 1967 and then bringing up the rear the 1964 canal boat classic, The Bargee, featuring the likes of Ronnie Barker, Julia Foster, Miriam Karlin and Eric Sykes. 

More details below:

08.10 - Sailor Beware! (1956)

Carry On Faces: Esma Cannon, Shirley Eaton, Anthony Sagar, Fred Griffiths

Royal Navy sailor Albert Tufnell is to marry Shirley Hornett the next day. He and his best man, fellow sailor Carnoustie Bligh, travel to the Hornett household. However, Albert begins to have second thoughts when he spends the day with her family. He has no problem with her father Henry or with meek spinster aunt Edie, but her domineering mother Emma is another matter entirely. 

On the day of the wedding, Albert does not appear at the church, so the Hornetts go home. Then Albert shows up, as does the Reverend Purefoy, who was to preside over the ceremony. Albert states that he loves Shirley and wants to marry her. However, he has his doubts. Mr. Purefoy asks to speak to the couple privately. Everyone else leaves the room (but eavesdrops). Albert then explains that the unhappy example of her family life and the unilateral decision about where they were to live have made him hesitate. Henry comes in and surprisingly states that his wife has actually taken good care of him, and that he is fond of her. Upon hearing that, Emma breaks down and weeps; she tells Purefoy she wants to change her ways. Albert marries Shirley, but after they leave, Emma finds it hard to break old habits.

Read more on this film here: Carry On Blogging: Sailor Beware

09.50 - Cuckoo Patrol (1967)

Carry On Faces: Kenneth Connor, Victor Maddern, Peggy Ann Clifford 

The late Freddie Garrity (of Freddie and the Dreamers) stars in this 1967 film comedy. The film is directed by Duncan Wood who produced the likes of Hancock's Half Hour and Steptoe and Son amongst many others. A good British cast including Kenneth Connor, Victor Maddern, John Le Mesurier and Arthur Mullard tell the story of a troop of scout misfits, The Cuckoo Troop, led by Garrity on their way to scout camp and all the scrapes they stumble into!

11.25 - The Bargee (1964)

Carry On Faces: Harry H Corbett, Eric Barker, Patricia Hayes, Ronnie Brody, Brian Wilde, Ed Devereaux 

Hemel Pike is a canal barge casanova, aided and abetted by his illiterate cousin, Ronnie. Hemel has a girl in every town along his route, and each one is intent on marriage. He is finally caught when one of the girls, Christine, falls pregnant. Her protective father, a 'larger than life' character, who holds the canal record for drinking 29 pints of 'Brown & Mild' in a single session, is understandably upset by his daughter's situation…

Something for everyone there!

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Bernard Bresslaw Stars in The Ugly Duckling this afternoon on Talking Pictures TV!

Talking Pictures TV are once again showing a rather rare curio from the vaults this afternoon. Carry On regular Bernard Bresslaw rarely took a starring role on the big screen and was more often the ensemble player in films such as Too Many Crooks, the Carry Ons and the television series, The Army Game.

In the late1950s, at the height of his Army Game fame, Bernard was much in demand he starred in a spin off feature film named after his Army Game catchphrase, released a number of novelty records and took the lead in a comedy called The Ugly Duckling. The film, a parody of the classic horror tale of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, was directed by Lance Comfort and produced by Michael Carreras for Hammer Films. The script came from Jack Davies and Sid Colin, a long time friend and collaborator of Talbot Rothwell. Colin went on to contribute to Carry On Spying in 1964.

The film tells the story of Henry Jekyll (Bernard Bresslaw) who is a bungling, awkward and socially inept buffoon working in his uncle's pharmacy. One day he discovers an old formula created by his uncle which claims to turn 'a man of timid disposition into a bold, fearless dragon'. He eagerly mixes the formula, takes one drink, and is transformed into the suave, dashing and self-confident Teddy Hyde. Teddy immediately becomes a darling of society and a big hit with the ladies. However he also craves the thrill of becoming a master criminal, and recruits a gang of expert crooks to join him in carrying out a series of daring and ambitious jewel robberies.

The formula wears off, and Teddy changes back into Henry, who is appalled at the crimes committed by his alter ego. Feeling overcome with guilt, he helps the police to round up and capture the robbers who have evaded them for so long.

Starring alongside Bernard are several well known comedy character actors who went on to enliven the Carry Ons. Jon Pertwee co-stars as Victor Jekyll while familiar names such as Richard Wattis, David Lodge, Michael Ward and Cyril Chamberlain also pop up in supporting roles. 

Apparently, the film was not a success when first released, losing money at the box office, which is a bit of a shame. I can't really comment as I haven't seen it yet but I plan to put that right by tuning in to Talking Pictures TV this afternoon at 13.40!

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Catch Two Joan Sims films on Talking Pictures TV this week!

This week the fabulous Talking Pictures TV are showing a couple of vintage British comedy films, both featuring my comedy heroine Joan Sims. The films, both released in 1956, capture Joan on the ascendant. She was yet to be the character comedy star we've come to know and love but was starting to become a very familiar face to cinema goers at the time. She was also making her way in intimate revue, both on the West End stage and in regional theatres. 

For me, as a lifelong fan, it's fascinating to see Joan in smaller film roles in her younger years. I guess it is easy to say in hindsight, but even in these early supporting roles or cameos, Joan's talent and natural flair for comedy shine through. Both films, Dry Rot and Keep It Clean, while perhaps not the finest of their kind, do give Joan valuable early exposure and crucially see her working with actors who would become close colleagues and friends in the years to come. Joan had well and truly arrived!

Dry Rot (1956) - Tuesday 9 October, 7.50am, Talking Pictures TV

Three dodgy bookies, Alf Tubbe (Ronald Shiner), Flash Harry (Sidney James) and Fred Phipps (Brian Rix), plan to rig a horse race by kidnapping the fancied horse and its French jockey. They stay at a country house hotel near the racecourse, run by Colonel and Mrs Wagstaff, where they conceal the horse Sweet Lavender (and later the jockey) in a hidden cellar.

A subplot sees the dimwitted Fred fall in love with the hotel chambermaid Beth (Joan Sims). The title Dry Rot refers to the rotten wood on the hotel stairs, which regularly catches every character unawares.

Dry Rot sees Joan work with the wonderful Sid James for possibly the first time on screen and it was a comedy partnership which would endure for nearly twenty years. Also among the cast is the fantastic Peggy Mount who Joan would go on to star opposite in the classic Mario Zampi comedy The Naked Truth, made the following year. Dry Rot also sees small roles for two small part Carry On players in Fred Griffiths and Wilfrid Brambell.

Keep It Clean (1956) - Thursday 11 October, 9.30am, also on Talking Pictures TV

Advertising agent Bert Lane (Ronald Shiner) plans to market his brother-in-law's Peter's (Colin Gordon) new miracle cleaning machine. However, Bert's boss Mr. Bouncenboy (James Hayter) wants him to advertise Mrs Anstey's famous crumpets, but Bert's cheesecake advertising slogans incur the wrath of Mrs Anstey (Jean Cadell) and her Purity League, as well as his boss.

Once again starring Ronald Shiner, Keep It Clean sees Joan in the supporting role of Violet Tarbottom. The film also co-stars Ursula Howells who would work again with Joan nearly twenty years later in the sparkling Miss Marple adaptation for the BBC, A Murder Is Announced. 

There are a few other Carry On links in Keep It Clean too. The musical score was produced by Bruce Montgomery, the man behind the music of the first six Carry On films. The film also features Carry On Regardless cameo actor Denis Shaw as Slogger O'Reilly, Carry On Sergeant actor Gerald Campion as Rasher, Norman Rossington (Sergeant, Nurse and Regardless) as Arthur, the Bearded Ad Artist (!) and Frank Forsyth as the Inspector at Court. Frank was a familiar supporting actor in several Carry Ons including Nurse, Constable, Cabby and Spying. 

So sit back, relax and enjoy some vintage Joan! 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Carrying On with Gideon's Way

I've recently become rather hooked on the classic British police series Gideon's Way. The show is enjoying a re-run on that brilliant nostalgia fest which is Talking Pictures TV. Starring John Gregson (best known for his role in the film Genevieve) as Commander George Gideon of Scotland Yard, the series focussed on the demanding career of Gideon and the challenge of combining it with family life.

The series ran to 26 hour long episodes, all filmed between 1964 and 65 and broadcast from the March of '65 into the following year. Gideon's Way was made for ITV and shot at Elstree Studios at the same time as shows like The Saint and The Avengers. What marked the series out from many others of the era was the extensive use of location filming which added to the authenticity of the subject matter. Filmed in black and white, the fast paced action and strong storylines pushed new ground. For me, seeing mid-sixties London in all its post-war grimy glory is a real treat. As are the countless guest actors who appear throughout the run.

Well-known actors such as Jean Marsh, Gordon Jackson, Rosemary Leach, George Cole and John Hurt turn up in various episodes but for me, as usual, it's the Carry On faces who provide the greatest interest. So here's a run down of all the classic Carry On links with this wonderful old detective show. 

First up, a Carry On link behind the camera. Norman Hudis, the writer of the first six Carry On films, penned four of the 26 episodes. Norman wrote episode 10 "How to Retire without Really Working; episode 11 "Subway to Revenge"; episode 19 "The Millionaire's Daughter" and finally episode 24 "The Reluctant Witness". Norman did go on to write a great deal of television following his departure from the Carry Ons and this material is certainly very different to the larks of Kenneth Connor, Joan Sims and the rest of the gang!

Gideon's daughter Pru in the show was played by actress Andrea Allan. Scottish born Andrea appeared in seven episodes during the run. Andrea went on to appear in series such as UFO as Carol Miller, Jason King, Thriller and One Foot in the Grave. Around the time of filming Gideon's Way, Andrea also made brief appearances in two Carry Ons. Apparently she is featured in Carry On Spying (can't confirm this) and she also had the small part of Minnie in Carry On Cowboy. 

The actress Angela Douglas, best known for her roles in four Carry Ons including Cowboy and Up the Khyber, appeared in two different episodes of Gideon's Way. In the second ever episode, broadcast on 25 March 1965, Angela played Cathy Miller in a story about anti-fascist marches in London called "The V Men". Angela returned to play the title character in the episode "Morna" broadcast in February 1966, just after she's finished filming Carry On Screaming.

The very first episode shown in March 1965 and entitled "State Visit" focusses on an official visit to London by the German President. The storyline features two well-known Carry On faces. David Lodge, who appeared in Regardless, Girls, Dick, Behind and England, plays the character of Morris while future semi-regular Julian Holloway makes an early screen appearance playing Jim Richards. The episode broadcast in early May 1965 called "Big Fish, Little Fish" also features two famous actors who made cameo roles in the Carry Ons. Sydney Tafler, who played the strip club owner encountered by Charles Hawtrey in Carry On Regardless, plays Gabriel Lyon while Harry Towb plays Ted Cowan. Harry went on to appear briefly in Carry On At Your Convenience as the "doctor" in the dubious film Lew Boggs takes Myrtle Plummer to see at the cinema!

The first episode written by Norman Hudis features three Carry On faces, one of who appeared in the very first Carry On Norman wrote. Eric Barker plays one half of a couple who have spent their life making a living from petty crime in the episode "How to Retire without Really Trying." He is joined by William Mervyn as Mr Pater and Henry McGee as Mark Martinson. Mervyn cropped up in Carry On Follow That Camel as Angela Douglas' father, in Again Doctor as the chair of the hospital board and finally as the court physician in Carry On Henry. And Henry made a cameo as a talk show host in Carry On Emmannuelle in 1978.

Ray Brooks turns up as Frank Romano in the episode "Gang War", a character who runs a small business protection racket. Ray played Georgio, the son of Peter Butterworth and Hattie Jacques who seduces June Whitfield's Evelyn Blunt in Carry On Abroad. "Fall High, Fall Hard" first broadcast in April 1966 focusses on a construction company run by an honest man and his crooked partner. Donald Houston, the Welsh actor you'll remember for his role as First Officer Jonathan Howett in Carry On Jack, plays the honest partner while the less than straight forward one is none other than Carry On semi-regular Victor Maddern.

Finally, the very last episode in the run, "The Nightlifters", shown in May 1966 sees four teenagers led into a life of violence by Anton Rodgers who's character lives on a Chelsea houseboat and has upper-class pretensions. Anton had small roles in two early Carry Ons - first of all a young man chatting up Dilys Laye in Carry On Cruising and then Hardy in the first scene of Carry On Jack with Jimmy Thompson. This episode also features reliable character actor Harry Locke as Joe Moss. You'll remember Harry for his roles in the first three medical Carry Ons - Mick the Orderly in Carry On Nurse, Sam in Carry On Doctor and finally the hospital porter in Carry On Again Doctor in 1969.

Gideon's Way is shown each weekday evening at 20.00 on Talking Pictures TV. 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram