Barbara Mitchell (4 October 1929 – 9 December 1977, Kingston Upon Thames) was an English actress who became a familiar face on British television in the 1960s and 1970s, best known for her work in many classic

sitcoms A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use new ...

of the period.

Career

Mitchell started out as a stage actress, and gained a foothold in television with a number of appearances in popular shows in the 1960s. In 1970, she got her first leading TV role, as Ruth, the daughter of the title character ( Irene Handl) in the gentle comedy '' For the Love of Ada'', which ran for four series and 27 episodes, followed by a

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film. At the same time, she was appearing periodically as Mrs. Abbott, the absurdly over-protective mother of would-be tough guy Frankie ("Mummy's little soldier"), in '' Please Sir!'' and its sequel '' The Fenn Street Gang''. Mitchell's appearances as Mrs. Abbott were sporadic, and fleeting, but were hugely popular and are still remembered with affection. She appeared as Isabel Chintz, a tough

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

n pop agent, in '' Superstar'', a 1973 episode of '' The Goodies''. In '' Lizzie Dripping'', a BBC children's programme which ran for two series in 1973 and 1975, Mitchell played Patty Arbuckle, the often harassed mother of Penelope ( Tina Heath), while her longest-running role came in the Yorkshire Television production ''

Beryl's Lot ''Beryl's Lot'' is a British comedy drama about a woman approaching middle-age and embarking on a programme of personal development. It was written by Kevin Laffan (who also created Emmerdale), produced by David Cunliffe and Peter Willes, and di ...

'', 52 episodes over three series between 1973 and 1977, in which she played Vi Tonks, married to Trevor ( Tony Caunter) and neighbour and friend to the titular Beryl ( Carmel McSharry). She is also fondly remembered in a series of late 1960s / early 1970s UK commercials for dish washing product Fairy Liquid, where she played blonde beehived Madge the employer of a beauty salon who for some reason encouraged customers to dip their fingers into a small bowl of the aforesaid substance to demonstrate how kind it was to hands.

Personal life and death

She was married to actor Rex Graham, (1924 - 1991), (a former Gurkha). She had two children, Melannie, (to whom Peggy Mount was Godmother), and Jeremy. They lived in Crescent Road, Kingston-upon-Thames. Mitchell died of breast cancer on 9 December 1977, aged 48.

Appearances

Films *1960: '' Inn for Trouble'' - Hetty Prout *1963: '' Ladies Who Do'' - Rose *1971: '' Please Sir!'' - Mrs. Abbott *1972: '' For the Love of Ada'' - Ruth Pollitt *1976: ''

The Twelve Tasks of Asterix ''The Twelve Tasks of Asterix'' (''Les Douze travaux d'Astérix'') is a 1976 Belgian/French animated feature film based on the ''Asterix'' comic book series, and the third in the animated franchise. René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, the creato ...

'' - (English version, voice) *1977: '' What's Up Nurse!''Barbara Mitchell at imdb.com
/ref> - Neighbour (final film role) Television *1958-1964: '' The Larkins'' - Hetty Prout *1959: '' Emergency Ward 10'' - Mrs. Garland *1960: '' The Secret Garden'' - Nurse *1963: '' Z-Cars'' - Mrs. Evans *1963: ''Bud'' - Mrs. Chanyne *1965–1966: '' Dixon of Dock Green'' - Mrs. Rudd / Amy Ashton *1966: ''Play of the Week'' - Tessa Lucas *1969: ''Ours Is a Nice House'' - Stella Barrington *1969: ''Dombey and Son'' - Mrs. MacStinger *1970: '' Please Sir!'' - Mrs. Abbott *1970–1971: '' For the Love of Ada'' - Ruth Pollitt *1970–1971: '' The Doctors'' - Connie Higson *1971: '' Doctor at Large'' - Schoolmistress *1971–1973 '' The Fenn Street Gang'' - Mrs. Abbott *1973: '' The Gordon Peters Show'' - Mrs. M *1973: '' The Goodies'' - Isabel Chintz *1973–1975: '' Lizzie Dripping'' - Patty Arbuckle *1973–1977: ''

'' - Vi Tonks *1974: ''Funny Ha-Ha'' - Kate Carter *1974: '' My Name is Harry Worth'' - Miss Sugget *1977: '' Yanks Go Home'' - Lady Gertrude

References

External links

Lizzie Dripping information page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Barbara 1929 births 1977 deaths English television actresses English film actresses Deaths from cancer in England Deaths from breast cancer 20th-century English actresses 20th-century British businesspeople