Who should return for Carry On Doctors? The result!

After several false starts in recent years, a brand new Carry On film is supposedly going into production later this year. The film, titled Carry On Doctors (not to be confused with the original Carry On Doctor) will start filming later this summer for a 2017 release. Not only that, it is already being heralded as the beginning of a whole new series of films. Another title, Carry On Campus, is being lined up to go into production hot on the heels of Doctors.

According to the producers, the film will be aiming to create a brand new ensemble of British comedy actors and not attempting to find the next Sid James or Kenneth Williams. Just as well really as in my opinion the entire Carry On team were one off talents and completely irreplaceable. I do like the idea of the new series allowing new comedy talent to thrive and find its niche.

I've already heard rumours that no surviving stars will be involved in the new film. I'm in two minds about this. While I think a new generation of creative people should be in charge of such a project, the film will inevitably sink or swim depending on how it is received by the Carry On films' loyal fan base. Surely if you are resurrecting the name Carry On, you must use it as an opportunity to give longstanding fans an unexpected treat. While I think new blood should carry the film, what about a few sparkling cameos would give the traditional Carry On audience something to cheer for and really get them onside. 

 

With that in mind and delving into Carry On fantasy land, I wanted to throw this question open to loyal Carry On fans. If you could choose, which surviving Carry On actors would you love to see appear in Carry On Doctors? I narrowed it down to fourteen of our favourite stars and I asked you to vote for your favourites. So here are the results!  Over 500 votes were cast so thank you to everyone who took the time to vote.

And the Carry On star you would most like to see return for Carry On Doctors is ... Jim Dale! The Dr Nookey actor scored 12.86% of the vote. Coming a close second is Jim's regular co-star Barbara Windsor with 12.42% of the vote. And finally, coming up in third place was Bernard Cribbins with nearly 10% of the vote.

 

Here are the rest of the runners up in order of popularity:

Angela Douglas

June Whitfield

Jacki Piper

Liz Fraser

Amanda Barrie

Valerie Leon

Anita Harris

Carol Hawkins

Fenella Fielding

Julian Holloway

and bringing up the rear ...  Shirley Eaton

So there you go - do you agree with the results? Whatever you think of the prospect of a new Carry On, the opportunity to see some of our favourite comedy actors back on the big screen is surely irresistible!

 

   

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook

 

Carry On Artwork by Steve Lilly

 

I recently spotted some wonderful artwork on Twitter and was lucky enough to get chatting with the artist behind them, Steve Lilly. As I loved his work and some of it had a Carry On theme, I thought I'd do a little blog about it. 

Steve Lilly (Stevelilart) is a portrait artist from Birmingham who specialises in portraits of famous British comedy acts. He has a close working relationship with The Dad's Army Museum (Artist in Residence), Laurel and Hardy Museum, The Homefront Museum and a number of comedy fan clubs including On The Buses (Depot Artist in Residence), Hi-De-Hi!, Carry On and Steptoe and Son supplying them with exclusive commissions, original artwork and a range of merchandise including limited edition prints, collector's cards, mugs and fridge magnets. His work has also been showcased by the Grand Order of Water Rats, Birmingham Comedy Festival and The Heritage Foundation. 

Stevelilart is now becoming a very collectable artist with many of his works in private collections. Steve's art has received praise from figures within the comedy and horror industry with work being showcased by numerous groups and fan clubs as far away as New Zealand and America.

Every portrait is created with meticulous attention to detail and is built up over many, many hours by carefully blending layers of finely laid pencil. "I really strive to capture the expressions and mannerisms that are so characteristics of the great comedians I am trying to portray. I'm not just looking for a likeness but an essence unique to each character that will bring them to life on the paper. I think I owe these fantastic actors something for all the fun and laughter they have brought to me over the years".

You can visit Steve's website here  

You can also follow Steve on Twitter 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook

Carry On Blogging on Facebook!

Did you know that Carry On Blogging was also on Facebook? Well it is and if you are too why not follow me there?

You will find the same pictures, comment and blog posts available on my Carry On Blogging Facebook page and it provides another great forum to interact with me and other Carry On fans. 

So why not boost my page on Facebook by following and liking some of my posts? It would be much appreciated. I look forward to seeing you there!

And in the meantime, do follow me on Twitter too - I love you comments, feedback and general Carry On banter, so keep it coming! Links to both Twitter and Facebook pages at the bottom of this blog! 

Carry On Following!




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

Something to Shout About on BBC Radio 4 Extra!

 

Next Friday BBC Radio 4 Extra will be giving all fans of classic comedy a real treat. A rarely heard comedy series will be getting a well-deserved airing on the station and I cannot wait! Here's some more details about what's in store from Something to Shout About!
 
“A light-hearted exposé of the advertising world!” So trumpeted the BBC Light Programme announcer in July 1960.

Carry On film-stars Fenella Fielding and Joan Sims, Michael Medwin (The Army Game, Shoestring), plus Warren Mitchell (Alf Garnett) star in the capers of a small advertising firm which thinks big: Apsley, Addis, Cone, Barbican, Blythe, Giddy & Partners.

 

This week, executive Michael is scared if he doesn’t get some new clients soon, he’ll get the push. So when he hears that a top secret product is set to be launched in the USA - and the boss is due to visit England for a holiday - can they manage to win his business?

Discovering Mr Pimslow is an anglophile, they up the ante to show him everything English and even enlist the Board of Trade. After a catalogue of disasters, it’s up to ever-seductive Janet (Fenella Fielding) to try and finally nail the account…

Something To Shout About stars Michael Medwin as account executive Michael Lightfoot, with Fenella Fielding as his seductive secretary Janet, Joan Sims as ditzy typist Mavis, Eleanor Summerfield as no frills executive Maggie Tufnell, and Nicholas Phipps as copy writer Adrian Beales. Warren Mitchell plays American businessman, Mr Pimslow.

Written by Myles Rudge and Ronnie Wolfe.

Myles - with musical partner Ted Dicks - wrote Bernard Cribbins' hit singles The Hole In The Ground and Right Said Fred (1962), which both made it to the top ten in the UK Singles Chart. He also regularly worked with Kenneth Williams, including on the BBC’s Stop Messing About and comedy albums.

Ronnie Wolfe went on to write ITV’s long-running sitcom On the Buses. 

First broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in July 1960.

 

Something to Shout About begins this Friday, 8 July at 8am on BBC Radio 4 Extra. 

You can follow BBC Radio 4 Extra on Twitter at @BBCRadio4Extra

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook
 

Joan Carries On ... as Connie Philpotts

 

This blog is part of a new regular series on Carry On Blogging. I'm going to attempt to blog about each of Joan Sims' wonderful roles in the Carry On films. Joan was the most prolific of all the actresses involved in the series, clocking up 24 films. Indeed, only Kenneth Williams made more Carry Ons. 

Today I am going to write about one my least favourite of Joan's Carry On roles. Unsurprisingly the role of Connie Philpotts is also in one of my least favourite of all the Carry Ons, Carry On Girls. Connie is the owner of the hotel at the centre of the film and also the some time girlfriend of the film's leading man, Sid James as Councillor Sidney Fiddler. The film itself is really the Sid and Barbara show as they lark about amidst the backdrop of a rather dodgy looking beauty contest at the dreary seaside resort of Fircombe. 

Although Joan gets third billing in the film, she really has little to do and does it with little note. Joan was never anything other than fantastic in the Carry Ons, however this part comes closest to turning up on autopilot. Connie is little more than a nagging shrew of a character. Before I go on, it's not all bad. Joan does enjoy several lovely scenes with the likes of Joan Hickson and Peter Butterworth but she is pretty out of place with the rest of the action. Perhaps Carry On Girls is the film that takes the series closest to the Confessions series (even boasting a supporting turn from Robin Askwith). It just doesn't work for me and it does Joan few favours either.

 

Joan was originally destined to share top billing with Sid James as their on-screen partnership had hit a new peak with the previous film in the series, Carry On Abroad. However the powers that be decided to focus more on Sid's chemistry with Barbara Windsor which changed the whole nature of the film. As a Joan fan, I can't help but think that was a miss-step. I also think Joan was far too young to be playing the part of downtrodden Connie. She was only 42 when filming commenced and the type of material being thrown at her must have been depressing for an actress as sensitive and thoughtful as Joan. Someone as talented as Joan deserved better too. Although I loved Joan's prominence throughout the series, I can't help but wish she had turned down some of the later Carry On roles that were offered to her. I know an actor needs to work but I believe roles in the likes of Girls, Behind and England may have damaged Joan's otherwise successful career.

It's rare for me to rate other performances above Joan's in a Carry On, but the ones that really stand out for me in Girls are those from June Whitfield, Kenneth Connor and Patsy Rowlands. Sadly the part of Connie marked the beginning of a steady decline for Joan in the Carry On films. Not only would the quality of her roles decline but also the size of them. By England, she was pretty much a supporting actor in a cameo role. 

I struggled to write this blog which is rare. Compared to the likes of Cora in Abroad, Queen Marie in Henry and Lady Bagley in Up the Jungle, Connie Philpotts just doesn't cut it. The only bright spot is that she makes off with Sid's money at the end of the picture! Good for her I say.

 

So am I overreacting about Joan's performance in Carry On Girls? Are you a big fan of Connie and the film? If so, get in touch and defend it!

  
You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook