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Seven Of One
''Seven of One'' was a British comedy series that aired on BBC2 in 1973. Starring Ronnie Barker, ''Seven of One'' was a series of seven separate comedies that would serve as possible pilots for sitcoms. Originally it was to be called ''Six of One'', which Barker planned to follow up with another series called ''And Half a Dozen of the Other''. This was a BBC equivalent of a similar showcase for London Weekend Television called ''Six Dates with Barker'' created in 1971. In addition to Barker, ''Seven of One'' also featured Roy Castle, Bill Maynard, Talfryn Thomas, Prunella Scales, Glynn Edwards, Joan Sims, Keith Chegwin, Leslie Dwyer, Robin Parkinson, Sam Kelly, Christopher Biggins, Richard O'Callaghan, Yootha Joyce, David Jason, and Avis Bunnage in supporting roles. The series was released on BBC DVD in 2005. Episodes Successful pilots Whilst most of the pilots were not developed any further, ''Prisoner and Escort'' was chosen to be developed into a series and became ''Porrid ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Open All Hours
''Open All Hours'' is a British television sitcom created and written by Roy Clarke for the BBC. It ran for 26 episodes in four series, which aired in 1976, 1981, 1982 and 1985. The programme developed from a television pilot broadcast in Ronnie Barker's comedy anthology series, ''Seven of One'' (1973). ''Open All Hours'' ranked eighth in the 2004 Britain's Best Sitcom poll. A sequel, entitled ''Still Open All Hours'', began airing in 2013. Premise The setting is a small grocer's shop in Balby, a suburb of Doncaster in South Yorkshire. The owner, Arkwright (Ronnie Barker), is a middle-aged miser with a stammer and a knack for selling. His nephew Granville (David Jason) is his put-upon errand boy, who blames his work schedule for his lacklustre social life. Across the road lives Nurse Gladys Emmanuel (Lynda Baron), largely occupied by her professional rounds, and her elderly mother. Arkwright longs to marry Gladys, but she resists his persistent pressures. In later episodes i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bill Maynard
Walter Frederick George Williams (8 October 1928 – 30 March 2018), better known by his stage name Bill Maynard, was an English comedian and actor. He began working in television in the 1950s, notably starring alongside Terry Scott in ''Great Scott - It's Maynard!'' (1955–56). In the 1970s and 1980s, he starred in the successful British sitcoms ''Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt'' and '' The Gaffer'' and appeared in five films in the ''Carry On'' series. After a hiatus from television work in the late 1980s, Maynard starred as Claude Jeremiah Greengrass in the long-running television series '' Heartbeat'' from 1992 to 2000, reprising the character in the spin-off ''The Royal'' from 2002 to 2003. Early life and career Walter Williams began as a variety performer in the 1950s, under the stage name of Bill Maynard the surname was inspired from seeing a billboard for the popular British confectionery, Maynard's Wine Gums, when he was to do performances for the BBC. Maynard's firs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Avis Bunnage
Avis Bunnage (22 April 1923, Ardwick, Manchester – 4 October 1990, Thorpe Bay, Southend-on-Sea) was an English actress of film, stage and television. She attended Manley Park Municipal School and Chorlton Central School in Manchester. She worked as a secretary and a nursery teacher before deciding to become an actress. She gained stage experience in rep and made her first professional appearance at Chorlton Rep Theatre in Manchester in 1947. Television appearances include one episode of 'The Frighteners', ('The Disappearing Man' episode, 1972), with Victor Maddern; ''Rising Damp'', as Rupert Rigsby's (Leonard Rossiter)'s estranged wife, Veronica; one episode of ''Wodehouse Playhouse'', (1978); and as Amy Jenkinson, Ivy Unsworth's friend, in 11 episodes of '' In Loving Memory''. Bunnage was a member of Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop company at the Theatre Royal Stratford East. There she created the role of Helen, the mother in ''A Taste of Honey'', her first West End rol ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
David Jason
Sir David John White (born 2 February 1940), known professionally by his stage name David Jason, is an English actor. He is best known for his roles as Derek "Del Boy" Trotter in the BBC sitcom ''Only Fools and Horses'', Detective Inspector Jack Frost in ''A Touch of Frost,'' Granville in ''Open All Hours'' and ''Still Open All Hours,'' and Pop Larkin in '' The Darling Buds of May'', as well as voicing Mr. Toad in ''The Wind in the Willows'', the BFG in the 1989 film and the title characters of '' Danger Mouse'' and ''Count Duckula''. His most recent appearance in the role of Del Boy was in 2014; he retired his role as Frost in 2010. He voices Captain Skipper, the uncle of Pip in the preschool focused series ''Pip Ahoy!'' In September 2006, Jason topped the poll to find TV's 50 Greatest Stars, as part of ITV's 50th anniversary celebrations. He was knighted in 2005 for services to acting and comedy. Jason has won four British Academy Television Awards (BAFTAs), (1988, 19 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yootha Joyce
Yootha Joyce Needham (20 August 1927 – 24 August 1980), known as Yootha Joyce, was an English actress best known for playing Mildred Roper opposite Brian Murphy in the sitcom ''Man About the House'' (1973–1976) and its spin-off ''George and Mildred'' (1976–1979). Early life Yootha Joyce Needham was born in Wandsworth, London, the only child of musical parents Percival ("Hurst") Needham, a singer, and Jessica Revitt, a concert pianist. She was named "Yootha" after a New Zealand dancer in her father's touring company, a name she would later say she "loathed and detested". Joyce's biography states that her heavily pregnant mother went for a walk on Wandsworth Common during an interval of one of her husband's performances and began feeling contractions; searching for a house to call an ambulance, she came across a nursing home where she gave birth. The family lived in a basement flat at Bennerley Road, Wandsworth, although Joyce spent much time living with her maternal grand ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Richard O'Callaghan
Richard O'Callaghan (born Richard Brooke, 7 March 1940, London) is an English film, stage and television character actor. He is the son of actors Patricia Hayes and Valentine Brooke, whose stage name was Valentine Rooke. As a boy actor he was known as Richard Brooke. He has led a versatile career in film, stage and television in a wide range of roles. He is best known for his role in the British film ''Carry On at Your Convenience'' (1971). Personal life He is married to the American actress Elizabeth Quinn. He is Chairman of the Catholic Association of Performing Arts (UK) (CaAPA) (formerly the Catholic Stage Guild). Film credits * ''The Bofors Gun'' (1968) ... Rowe * ''Carry On Loving'' (1970) ... Bertram Muffet * ''Carry On at Your Convenience'' (1971) ... Lewis Boggs * '' Butley'' (1974) ... Joey Keyston * ''Galileo'' (1975) ... Fulganzio * ''Watership Down'' (1978) (voice) ... Dandelion * ''Dangerous Beauty'' (1998) ... Zealot Television credits * ''Out of the Unknown' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Christopher Biggins
Christopher Kenneth Biggins (born 16 December 1948) is an English actor and television presenter. Early life Biggins was born in Oldham, Lancashire, the son of William and Pamela Biggins. He was brought up in Salisbury, Wiltshire, attended St Probus school where he took elocution lessons and participated in local drama groups. His first lead stage role was at the age of 17 in a Stage '65 production of Molière's ''Le Médecin malgré lui'', leading to work with a local repertory theatre company. Career Television One of Biggins' earliest roles was on '' Upstairs, Downstairs'' in Series 2, as the character Mr. Donaldson in the episode " An Object of Value" (1972). He appeared as the regular character Lukewarm in the situation comedy ''Porridge'' (1974–1977) starring Ronnie Barker. Other comedy shows he appeared in include ''Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?'' (1973) and ''Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em'' (1973, 1978). He played Nero in the BBC's version of ''I, Claudius'' ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sam Kelly
Roger Michael Kelly (19 December 1943 – 14 June 2014), known by the stage name Sam Kelly, was an English actor who appeared in film, television, radio and theatre. He is best known for his roles as Captain Hans Geering in '' 'Allo 'Allo!'', Warren in ''Porridge'', Sam in '' On the Up'', and Ted Liversidge in '' Barbara''. Early life Kelly was born in Salford, Lancashire on 19 December 1943 and abandoned; he was adopted by a couple who moved to Liverpool. There he attended the Liverpool Collegiate School and was a chorister at Liverpool Cathedral, where he showed early acting talent by reciting monologues. He worked for three years in the Civil Service in Liverpool before training as an actor at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. After graduating in 1967, he appeared in repertory theatres around the UK. Career His early roles included playing a film director in '' Tiffany Jones'' (1973) and appearances in two of the later ''Carry On'' films, ''Carry On Dick'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robin Parkinson
Christopher Robin Parkinson (25 October 1929 – 7 May 2022) was an English actor known for his comedy roles. He was the second actor to portray Monsieur Ernest Leclerc in '' 'Allo 'Allo!'' (22 episodes: series 7 to 9), after the death of Derek Royle. He was also the narrator of ''Button Moon''. Career Parkinson began his career in December 1957, appearing in ''The Imperial Nightingale'' at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, then joined the company at the Belgrade Theatre in his native Coventry. He made his first film appearance as the jeweller's assistant in '' Billy Liar'' (1963), followed by such titles as ''The Family Way'' (1966), ''They Came from Beyond Space'' (1967), ''Twisted Nerve'' (1968), ''Catch Me a Spy'' (1971), ''Alfie Darling'' (1975) and ''George and Mildred'' (1980). His TV appearances included roles in ''Dad's Army'', ''It Ain't Half Hot Mum'', ''Terry and June'', '' The Young Ones'', ''The Kenny Everett Television Show'', '' Thriller'', '' Shelley'', ''The D ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leslie Dwyer
Leslie Gilbert Dwyer (28 August 1906 – 26 December 1986) was an English film and television actor. Career He was born in Catford, the son of the popular music hall comedian Johnny Dwyer, and acted from the age of ten and appeared in his first film in 1921. He is perhaps best known for his role as the Punch and Judy man Mr Partridge in BBC sitcom ''Hi-de-Hi!''. Film roles included ''In Which We Serve'' (1942), ''The Way Ahead'' (1944), the 1952 remake of '' Hindle Wakes'', '' Act of Love'' (1953) in which he played a two hander scene opposite the young Brigitte Bardot, ''Room in the House'' (1955), the 1959 remake of Hitchcock's '' The 39 Steps'', and ''Die, Monster, Die!'' (1966). He played Sergeant Dusty Miller in the original 1942 production of Terence Rattigan's play ''Flare Path''. He played Drinkwater in the 1953 television production of George Bernard Shaw's 'Captain Brassbound's Conversion'. His most notable television role was as Mr Partridge, the miserable, hard-dr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Keith Chegwin
Keith Chegwin (17 January 1957 – 11 December 2017) was an English television presenter and actor, appearing in several children's entertainment shows in the 1970s and 1980s, including ''Multi-Coloured Swap Shop'' and ''Cheggers Plays Pop''. His early career saw him performing in such West End stage shows as ''Tom Brown's School Days'' and ''Captain Pugwash''. He also had a career as a singer, releasing singles on the Pye Records label and worked as a disc jockey for 194 Radio City in Liverpool. He spent four years at BBC Radio 1 on Tony Blackburn's weekend morning show. In 2000, he presented the Channel 5 nudist game-show ''Naked Jungle'', appearing naked except for a hat and later describing it as "the worst career move" in his life. Chegwin was known for his off-the-cuff ad-lib style of broadcasting and stated that no one had ever written a word for him. In 2012, he was scheduled to take part in the sixth series of ''Dancing on Ice'', but he was forced to withdraw after ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Joan Sims
Irene Joan Marion Sims (9 May 1930 – 27 June 2001) was an English actress, best remembered for her roles in the ''Carry On'' franchise, appearing in 24 of the films (the most for any actress). On television, she is known for playing Gran in ''Till Death Us Do Part'' (1967–1975), Madge Kettlewell in ''Sykes'' (1972–1978), Mrs Wembley, the cook with a liking for sherry, in '' On the Up'' (1990–1992), and Madge Hardcastle in '' As Time Goes By'' (1994–1998). Early life and education Sims was born on 9 May 1930, the only child of John Henry Sims (1888-1964), Station Master of Laindon railway station in Essex, and his wife Gladys Marie Sims, '' née'' Ladbrook (1896-1981). Sims's early interest in being an actress came from living at the railway station. She would often put on performances for waiting passengers. She decided that she wanted to pursue show business during her teens, and soon became a familiar face in a growing number of amateur productions locally. One o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
