My Review: Bernard Who? 75 Years of Doing Just About Everything!

I've written recently about the launch of Bernard Cribbins' new autobiography, Bernard Who? 75 Years of Doing Just About Everything, and having finished this mighty tome I thought I would blog my thoughts on Bernard's book.

For a start, I think Bernard's memoirs are well overdue! Bernard has been a part of all our lives for decades and holds a pretty unique place in the nation's heart. To some he's a renowned children's entertainer, famed for his countless appearances on Jackanory or voicing The Wombles. To others, he's the voice behind a catchy string of novelty records in the 1960s. He's also the man who transcends generations with his association with Doctor Who. And for the rest of us, the peerless actor who made some cracking comedy films like Carry On Jack, Carry On Spying, Two Way Stretch, The Wrong Arm of The Law, Crooks In Cloisters, not to mention The Railway Children and Hitchcock's Frenzy! And he's still going strong at nearly 90!

Bernard's autobiography is very much written in his own voice and feels thoroughly authentic. Having enjoyed such a long and successful life, it must have been quite a job deciding what to include and what to leave out. We're all familiar with so many aspects of Bernard's career but even the bits I knew felt comforting, like a warm mug of cocoa. The whole tale is told with Cribbins' unique sense of humour and the art of quiet self-deprecation. What I enjoyed most was learning more about Bernard's early life in Oldham, his family background and how he got started in the business, working his way up in rep at the local theatre. Valuable experience for the life that lay ahead. It's refreshing to read of a happy home life, loving parents, warmth and support. There were fascinating early encounters with future greats like Dora Bryan and Eric Sykes too.

I also really enjoyed reading about Bernard's eventful time with the parachute regiment. Quite a time he had, but I think we can call it character forming! He tells these stories with humour and realism, glorying in his triumphs, being honest about his mistakes and not holding back on the downsides of being on active service.

We don't learn that much about Bernard's private life, although he's obviously extremely proud of his long, happy and successful marriage to his wife Gill. It's quite refreshing yet again that it's not a warts and all biography and just because he's telling his life story doesn't mean we need to know everything. Bernard's devotion to the dogs in his life was also a joy to read about as it's a shared passion of mine too. And his fishing exploits are good fun if that's your kind of thing!

Most interesting of all, to us comedy fans, are his tales of working on some of the films for which he's best remembered. He writes very fondly of working and befriending the likes of Peter Sellers, David Lodge, Irene Handl and Peter Cushing. He also got on really well with the Carry Ons' leading man, Sidney James, recounting funny tales of working (and socialising) with Sid while filming the Tommy Steele musical comedy film Tommy the Toreador. And as for the Carry Ons? Well most of the stories I'd heard before, the avid fan that I am, but it's interesting to hear how much he preferred making Carry On Jack to Spying. For me Spying is the better film because it's more in line with the rest of the Carry On series, but Bernard obviously enjoyed the more straight forward swashbuckling high jinks of Jack and loved working with the likes of Juliet Mills and Cecil Parker. There is also a touching few words in tribute to Dame Barbara WIndsor and her current battle with Alzheimer's. 

I recommend Bernard's autobiography to you all. It's a credit to him and his impressive life and career. Cribbins means so much to so many of us and in so many ways so I'm sure this book will be the success it deserves to be. And may Bernard continue to entertain us for many more years to come.

Thank you Bernard, for putting pen to paper and thank you too to James Hogg for all his work on this very special project.

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and on Instagram

Robin Le Mesurier's Charmed Rock'n'Roll Life

 

I had the great pleasure of interviewing Robin Le Mesurier late last year. Robin, the son of legendary actors Hattie Jacques and John Le Mesurier, told me at the time he was finishing off his much-anticipated autobiography. Well now his book, A Charmed Rock'n'Roll Life, has now been published.

The book will tell the story of Robin's early life growing up with two very famous parents. It will also chart his own career in the music industry. From my chat with Robin, I can tell he's had a very varied and interesting life and career so it should be a great read! Here's what his publisher, The Book Guild has to say:

Robin Le Mesurier, the son of two of Britain’s best-loved comedy actors, John Le Mesurier and Hattie Jacques, and a hugely successful musician, has penned a tell-all book about his life. Robin cut his first single for EMI at 16 and was offered a place at the Royal College of Music but choose rock and roll. Playing in various groups and studio sessions led to a spell with The Wombles, the chart-topping band based on a children’s book – but his involvement with them came to an abrupt end after he was arrested.

Robin began his association with Sir Rod Stewart by working as a roadie with the band, but later on he became a key member of the group, with whom he recorded and toured worldwide. His love life was hectic at times – numerous girlfriends included Sharon Osbourne and Brogan Lane, Dudley Moore’s ex-wife, before he married a Playboy Bunny girl.

In 1994, Robin started working with Johnny Hallyday, one of the world’s bestselling recording artists and has since toured worldwide regularly with the French actor and rock icon, often described as ‘The French Elvis’.

Inevitably, the rock and roll lifestyle took its toll. In 2011 Robin was drinking a bottle of vodka a day and his second marriage was in trouble. He appeared on Rehab, in which a group of celebrities with addictions resided at a rehabilitation centre in Malibu. This treatment certainly saved his marriage… if not his life.

 

I've already ordered my copy and I can't wait to get started on it. You can find out more about the book here and you can buy a copy here

Robin also has his own website which you can visit here

You can read my interview with Robin here
 


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

Carry On Again, Angela!

As Carry On Blogging has now reached it's 150th blog post, I thought I would look back and publish some of my earlier blogs again. My first stop is this blog on Carry On favourite Angela Douglas. Blogger statistics tell me it's my most popular blog yet...

One of the greatest joys of life in the bizarre world of Twitter in recent months has been the delightful presence of Angela Douglas. 

Angela is of course a real fan favourite having appeared in four classic Carry On films in the 1960s. Who can forget her barnstorming performance as Annie Oakley in Carry On Cowboy? Or her frightfully posh turn as Lady Jane in Follow That Camel? Perhaps most memorable of all, the gloriously named Princess Jelhi in Carry On Up The Khyber? 

I think my own favourite performance has to be Angela's first in Cowboy. It was a great part as the gun-toting Annie, saving Jim Dale's Marshall P Knutt again and again and playing Sid's Rumpo Kid at his own game. In particular I adored the scenes where Angela, Joan Sims and Edina Ronay pitched in for a terrific cat fight in Jim Dale's bedroom. Wonderful, earthy stuff!

Angela Douglas brought a youthful, sweet innocence as the romantic lead in those four Carry Ons and I think she definitely appeared in the series at the right time. Later offerings were much more innuendo-laden, reflecting the times I suppose, but I doubt the characters Angela played would have fitted in as well. Angela typified a great line of talented young actresses who scored major successes in the Carry On films, from Shirley Eaton and Liz Fraser through to the likes of Jacki Piper and Carol Hawkins. 

Of course Angela has worked very successfully on a wide range of other film, television and stage productions for many years. It must sometimes be rather annoying to be mainly remembered for four low budget comedies in the mid-1960s however the Carry Ons endure and it has been wonderful to see Angela interact with so many fans and admirers on Twitter. Long may that continue.

Last year I also read Angela's autobiography, Swings and Roundabouts. It was a beautiful read, touching, funny and straight from the heart. I would recommend it to all fans. As a fan of her late husband, the actor Kenneth More, it was also great to learn more about his life and career. Genevieve remains one of my all-time favourite films.

So if you are not already following Angela on Twitter, her account is @CarryonAngela14 

You can buy Angela's brilliant autobiography here 

Angela will also be taking part in the new Carry On Forever documentary which will be broadcast on ITV3 this Easter weekend.


You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and @GraemeN82