The well-known actor and film director Lionel Jeffries has died at the age of 83, his family has announced.

Best known for directing The Railway Children and appearing in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, his long career spanned theatre, film and television.

Known for his bald head, baritone voice and bristling moustache, the London-born actor trained at RADA before making his screen debut in 1950.

In later years he played the loveable Grandad in children's TV show Woof!

According to a family friend, Jeffries died in a nursing home in Poole, Dorset.

Actress Jenny Agutter, star of The Railway Children, remembered him as being "an extraordinary character" and "wonderfully funny".

"He was a total dear to work with," she told the BBC. "He very much created a family on set."

Lionel Jeffries with Madge Ryan in Casualty
He was seen (with Madge Ryan) in a 1992 episode of Casualty

Born in the East End in 1926, Jeffries served in Burma during World War II and would later blame its humidity for his hair loss.

His career saw him play an array of larger-than-life characters, notably the odious Marquis of Queensbury in 1960 drama The Trials of Oscar Wilde.

Despite the success of The Railway Children, he only made four more films as a director.

These included The Amazing Mr Blunden in 1972, Wombling Free in 1977 and The Water Babies the following year.

Jeffries's features served him well over the years but would often consign him to authority figures and elderly relatives.

He played Dick Van Dyke's father in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, despite being the US actor's junior by six months.

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Michael Crawford

Posted On 08-06-2009 , 9:10 AM

Some Mothers Do Ave Em

Michael Crawford, before playing in 'The Phantom of the Opera' and in 'Barnum', he was a well known household name appearing weekly on British Television playing the very funny character, Frank Spencer in the brilliant classic TV show "Some Mothers Do Ave Em" The popular show ran from 1973 to 1978 and is known as one of the most popular shows on BBC of all time. Michael Crawford was well known for doing all his own stunts in the show which were dangerous and entertaining at the same time, this before green screens and computer imagery.

The plot was pretty simple, Frank Spencer, whose trademark outfit of berry and trenchcoat known for being accident prone and bumbling husband to t his long suffering wife Betty. Each episode involved Franks attemps to find and hold down a job which always ended in disaster. One of the most popular episodes is the Roller Skate episode, the stunt is a classic which contributed to this show being voted Britains Best Comedy.

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Mollie Sugden Passes

Posted On 07-01-2009 , 1:51 PM

Mary Isobel Sugden (21 July 1922 – 1 July 2009) was an English comedy actress, known as Mollie Sugden, who was best known for playing Mrs. Slocombe in the popular and long running British sitcom Are You Being Served? from 1972 to 1985. Passed away after a long illness today at the age of 86.

She later reprised this role for Grace & Favour (titled Are You Being Served? Again! in the United States), which ran from 1992 to 1993. Sugden also appeared in The Liver Birds and Coronation Street.

Mollie Sugden's first regular sitcom role was from 1962 to 1966 when she played Mrs. Crispin in the sitcom Hugh and I. Mollie Sugden's big break that gave her nationwide fame was the part of Mrs Slocombe in the popular and long-running Are You Being Served?, which ran from 1972 to 1985. In 1978, From 1965 to 1976, she intermittently played Nellie Harvey, the land-lady of The Laughing Donkey pub, in Coronation Street where she often appeared opposite Annie Walker, landlady of the Rovers Return.

Mollie Sugden also played main roles in other sitcoms, including That's My Boy, that ran from 1981 to 1986 and My Husband and I. My Husband and I ran from 1987 to 1988 and she played opposite her husband William Moore, whom she married on 29 March 1958 having met him at Swansea rep. They had twin sons, Robin and Simon. Moore died in 2000.

The revival of re runs of 'Are You Being Served' enabled Mollie Sugdens character cult status along with Mr Humphreys throughout younger generations in the UK and the US.

Mollie Sugden is survived by her twin sons.

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Wendy Richards - RIP

Posted On 03-10-2009 , 10:31 AM

I was saddened today when I read news that Wendy Richards (aka Miss Brahms - Are You Being Served) has passed away at the age of 65 February 26th after losing a long battle with Cancer. The funeral services were held March 9th, 2009. Many of you may only know her from the hit sitcom, but many of us fondly remember her character on Eastenders, the popular english soap. As Pauline Fowler, she played the matriach of the family, keeping it together and proividing the iron fist and stability to the many problems that affected the fam. Her character dealt with many touchy subjects before it was popular to discuss them openly, the son infected with HIV, a pregnant teenager who wouldn't reveal the father. Teenage drug and alcohol abuse, husband in prison for a crime he didn't commit. For years we have watched Wendy Richards play this gritty, solid and sometime unlikeable character. It was a far cry from the glamorous Miss Brahms character, Pauline Fowler never in heels or short skirts but rather the grungy cardigan and worn look

on her face. I remember watching the first episode of Eastenders years ago and thinking this show was going to be great, after moving to the US I was happy to see that it was on BBC America, but unfortunately it was removed probably because it differs so much from American soaps and people found it depressing. There is nothing quite like watching Eastenders on a Sunday afternoon whilst cooking the Sunday dinner. Eastenders is not the same without Wendy Richards who appeared in the show since its beginning and she leaves large shoes to be filled.

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Norman Wisdom

Posted On 02-07-2009 , 4:23 PM

Norman Wisdom

Norman Wisdom fondly known throughout England as one of the best comedic actors of his time, his movies are still enjoyed be the masses today.

Norman Wisdom was born in the London district of Marylebone in 1915. After living in a children’s home Norman ran away at the age of 11, after his return he worked as a grocery boy, he also after leaving school worked as a cabin boy in the Merchant Navy along with other various employments. Whilst in the British Army where he had enlisted as a drummer boy and posted to India, he gained an education certificate, was a flyweight boxing champion and also learned to play the trumpet and clarinet. It was during a comedy boxing routine that he participating in that he discovered he had a talent for entertainment and began to develop his talents as a musician.

When he left the Army in 1946 he entered the entertainment profession at the age of 31 and rose to the top extremely fast. He initially played the straight man opposite the magician David Nixon, it was in this first appearance that he wore his suit, tweed flat cap askew with the peak turned up and his suit rumpled and at least 2 sized too small that would become his trademark throughout his career Charlie Chaplin was quoted as saying Norman Wisdom was his ‘favorite clown’.

Norman went on to make some low budget comedy films for the Rank Organization which began with the favorable ‘Trouble in Store (1953), he earned a BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Film in 1954.

His films were always funny, but never accepted very well by the critics even though his films out sold the James Bond films. His film roles were often the same, a barely competent loveable character in some sort of junior position opposite a a straight well to do fellow, often the loveable character ‘Mr Grimsdale’ played by Edward Chapman, usually with Norman getting himself into some mad cap situation.

Norman Wisdom has appeared in many TV, theater and film productions and worked up into his 90’s by announcing his retirement in 2005. Married twice with two children he know lives in a care home, it was reported that his memory is so bad now that he doesn’t even recognize himself in his own movies.

Norman Wisdom has provided the English people with countless hours of memorable comedy that has even been copied by comedians such as Lee Evans, his timeless characters and films still provide entertainment for generations to come.

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