Carry On Blogging Christmas Countdown: 4 December

And so, once again December is upon us. This will be my first Christmas at the helm of Carry On Blogging so I wanted to go all out, bringing you a daily dose of festive Carry On cheer each day on the lead up to the 25th. 

So every day I will bring you another cracking Carry On photo with a festive theme. They will probably all be rather naughty, but hopefully all quite nice. 

Today, here's a cracking album cover from Carry On favourite and regular panto star Anita Harris. Pictured here as Peter Pan from what looks like the 1960s (although I may be wrong) Anita is a highly experienced stage performer with many excellent festive pantomimes under her belt. Indeed she's starring in Cinderella in Southsea this Christmas! You can find out more about this here. 

What a Carry On at Christmas! 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan 

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Happy Birthday Rosalind Knight!

Many happy returns to the actress Rosalind Knight, who celebrates her birthday today! Rosalind, still active in the acting profession, is well known to us Carry On buffs for her eye-catching roles in two early Carry On films.

Rosalind first appeared in a cameo role in the second film in the series, Carry On Nurse, made in late 1958. Although only in her early twenties at the time, she shone as the accident prone but aptly named Nurse Nightingale. Obviously making her mark, Rosalind was asked back by Peter Rogers for a bigger role in the next film, Carry On Teacher.

In Teacher, Rosalind plays the wonderfully severe schools inspector Felicity Wheeler, who together with Alistair Grigg (Leslie Phillips) conducts an inspection of Maudlin Street School. Of course being a Carry On, things do not go to plan as Richard O'Sullivan's Robin Stevens leads a revolt with the aim of keeping head teacher William Wakefield at the school.

Felicity also falls for the bumbling science teacher, played by Carry On legend Kenneth Connor. Although only meeting and working together for the first time, Knight and Connor work extremely well together and are the heart of the film for me. Sadly Rosalind did not return for any further Carry On films but she has gone on to enjoy a long, varied and successful career on stage, television and in film. It was great to see her reminisce about her time making Teacher in the Carry On Forever documentary screened earlier this year.

Whatever Rosalind is up to today, I hope she has a wonderful birthday.

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan 

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Carry On Blogging Christmas Countdown: 3 December

And so, once again December is upon us. This will be my first Christmas at the helm of Carry On Blogging so I wanted to go all out, bringing you a daily dose of festive Carry On cheer each day on the lead up to the 25th. 

So every day I will bring you another cracking Carry On photo with a festive theme. They will probably all be rather naughty, but hopefully all quite nice. 

Today, we are going right back to the very first of the four classic Carry On Christmas television specials. Pictured above is the title sequence for 1969's Carry On Christmas. Made for Thames Television, it was the team's first foray into telly and was such a success it led to several sequels. Featuring an all star cast of Sid James, Hattie Jacques, Terry Scott, Barbara Windsor, Charles Hawtrey, Bernard Bresslaw, Peter Butterworth and guest star Frankie Howerd, it is the cream of the Christmas specials crop for me.

I particularly love the Cinderella panto sketch towards the end of the show. Everyone is on tip top form and regular panto dames Terry Scott and Peter Butterworth really seem to be enjoying themselves, not to mention Charles Hawtrey and his disappearing hair piece! 

What a Carry On at Christmas! 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan 

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Carry On Fan of the Week: Karsh

It's time to meet another Carry On Fan of the Week! This week we hear from regular blog reader Karsh on his favourite Carry On film and why Sid, Joan and Peter Butterworth are his favourite Carry On stars.

So without further ado, it's over to Karsh:


First Carry On Film:

Not sure, most probably Carry On Doctor, but Up The Jungle wouldn't be far behind. 

Favourite Actor: 

Sid James. Such an icon of the films and more often than not he was the star. Face like a pickled walnut but his delivery of his lines was first class.

Favourite actress: 

Joan Sims. Wonderful actress, and her laugh was so dirty and infectious. That said Hattie Jacques gave the best performance by an actress in Cabby. I will always argue that it was not properly recognised because it was in a Carry On film.

Favourite supporting actor: 

Tough one, but it has to be Peter Butterworth. Not only for his comedic value but his physical facial expressions were priceless. Such a talented actor. Jim Dale runs him close though!

Locations visited: 

Quite a few. Have visited locations in Windsor, Maidenhead and Ealing. So places like helping hands agency, rogerham mansions, police station in Screaming, hospital in Doctor and police station in constable and many more!

Carry on stars I've met: 

Again, quite a few. Anita Harris, Ken Cope, Bernard cribbins, Jack Douglas, Angela Douglas, Lance Perceival, Jacki Piper, Madeline Smith, Valerie Leon, Larry Dann, Dora Bryan, Sally Geeson and many others.

Memorabilia: 

Not from films, just some mugs and a gunga din bobble head!

Favourite film: 

Screaming. Love hammer films too so to see the two mixed into one and so wonderfully done as well is great. Harry H Corbett does a great job as Sid's replacement. Superb film.

Many thanks once again to Karsh for taking part.

If you would like to be one of my Carry On Fans of the Week, all you need to do is send in your answers to carryonfan15@gmail.com - I look forward to hearing from you! 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan 

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Carry On Blogging Christmas Countdown: 2 December

And so, once again December is upon us. This will be my first Christmas at the helm of Carry On Blogging so I wanted to go all out, bringing you a daily dose of festive Carry On cheer each day on the lead up to the 25th. 

So every day I will bring you another cracking Carry On photo with a festive theme. They will probably all be rather naughty, but hopefully all quite nice. 

Today, we're heading to the land of Panto with a classic shot of Carry On and Corrie queen, Amanda Barrie as the Fairy Godmother. Following her exit from Coronation Street in 2001, Amanda returned to the stage, becoming a regular in festive pantomimes up and down the country. Sadly I don't think she's appearing this year but I do hope she's not hung up her wand for good! 

What a Carry On at Christmas! 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan 

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Carry On Screaming at The Cinema Museum!

Early next year Carry On Screaming will reach a magnificent milestone. Can you believe it is now 50 years since this classic Carry On was made?

Screaming is one of the very best of all the Carry Ons. Its sublime parody of the Hammer Horror films has given it an extra dimension and a place in the heart of many. Starring Harry H Corbett, Kenneth Williams, Jim Dale and Peter Butterworth on scene stealing form, it is a prime piece of Carry On. 

To celebrate, The Cinema Museum in London are planning a special evening to commemorate the very best of British cinema. On Saturday 19th March 2016, the museum will be showing the film in all its glory on the big screen, where it belongs. 

But that's not all. Following on from the screening, star of the film, the gorgeous Fenella Fielding, will be making a guest appearance to meet fans. Fenella is a true Carry On icon and an absolute delight. 

Please note, if you also wish to attend the Fenella Fielding event (which follows on after the film), you will need a separate ticket for this. Further details can be found on The Cinema Museum Website 

I will definitely be trying to get along to this event and I hope you will be too!

Carry On!

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan 

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Carry On Blogging Christmas Countdown: 1 December

And so, once again December is upon us. This will be my first Christmas at the helm of Carry On Blogging so I wanted to go all out, bringing you a daily dose of festive Carry On cheer each day on the lead up to the 25th. 

So every day I will bring you another cracking Carry On photo with a festive theme. They will probably all be rather naughty, but hopefully all quite nice. 

Today, we're starting off the countdown to Christmas with a classic image of King Sid in Father Christmas mode. I'm not quite sure what this photo was taken to promote, possibly the Carry On Christmas special of 1973, but Sid is on majestic form as a rather leery looking Santa. Barbara Windsor has turned up as, well I'm not quite sure what Christmas character she is meant to be but I bet there was a run of fur lined bikinis after this was published!

What a Carry On at Christmas! 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan 

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