Mollie

 

      Yes, this may be a  bit off topic but in a couple of ways, still in the same vein. One being that this is a small tribute to another of the greats in BBC comedy, and two, Frank Thornton and Tevor Bannister knew her very well indeed.

 

  Mollie Sugden passed away yesterday, July 1st, 2009. She was 86.

  From Wikipedia:

   Mary Isobel ‘Mollie’ Sugden (21 July 1922 – 1 July 2009) was an English comedy actress best known for portraying the saleswoman Mrs. Slocombe in the popular British sitcom Are You Being Served? from 1972 to 1985. She later reprised this role in Grace & Favour, which ran from 1992 to 1993. Sugden also appeared in The Liver Birds and Coronation Street.

  Mary Isobel Sugden was born in Keighley in Yorkshire in 1922. When she was four years old, she heard a woman reading a poem at a village concert making people laugh. The following Christmas, after being asked if she could “do anything”, Sugden read this poem and everyone fell about laughing. She later remarked that their response made her “realise how wonderful it was to make people laugh”.  Shortly after she left school, the Second World War broke out, and Sugden worked in a munitions factory in Keighley making shells for the Royal Navy. However, she was later made redundant so she attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

  When Sugden graduated from the Guildhall School of Drama, she worked in rep for eight years with a company that included Eric Sykes and Roy Dotrice. She also had work in radio and made her television debut in a live half-hour comedy show. Sugden’s other appearances before Are You Being Served? included parts in Benny Hill, Just Jimmy, Z-Cars, Up Pompeii!, The Goodies, Steptoe and Son and five episodes of Jackanory in 1968.

Mollie Sugden’s first regular sitcom role was from 1962 to 1966 when she played Mrs. Crispin in the sitcom Hugh and I. Hugh and I was written by John Chapman and when he got involved with The Liver Birds, he suggested Sugden for the role of Sandra’s mother, Mrs Hutchinson. She portrayed Mrs Hutchinson from 1971 to 1979, and years later in 1996, when The Liver Birds was revived Sugden reprised the role, despite being on steroids at the time due to suffering from polymyalgia. In 1973, she appeared in Son of the Bride.

However, Sugden’s big break that gave her nationwide fame was the role of Mrs Slocombe—a department-store saleswoman with a socially superior attitude, a repertoire of double entendres, and a penchant for bouffant, pastel-colored coiffures—in the popular and long-running Are You Being Served?, which ran from 1972 to 1985. In 1978, when it was thought that Are You Being Served? was over, she was the lead star in Come Back Mrs Noah, a sitcom that is regarded by some as one of the worst ever made.  From 1965 to 1976, she intermittently played Nellie Harvey, the land-lady of The Laughing Donkey pub, in Coronation Street.  In this she often appeared opposite Annie Walker, landlady of the Rovers Return. Later in 1986, she had a 23-week stint on That’s Life!.

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 (1916-2000), whom she married on 29 March 1958 having met him at Swansea rep. They had twin sons, Robin and Simon, who were born in 1964.

Seven years after the end of Are You Being Served?, five of the original cast – including Sugden – came together to appear in Grace & Favour, where the staff are left a manor house in the country, in which they have to live. This was titled Are You Being Served? Again! when it aired in the United States. It lasted for two series until 1993. Other recent appearances include Just William, Oliver’s Travels and The Bill. Sugden was mentioned in Little Britain, by a regular character who claims to have been Sugden’s bridesmaid, and never talks about anything else. Sugden appears herself in the final episode of the first series where the character throws a knife at her back to silence her after she does not recognise the person and says that her only bridesmaid was in fact somebody else.

In 2002 a tribute programme called Celebrating Mollie Sugden: An Are You Being Served? Special aired on American PBS stations featuring several members of the cast of Are You Being Served?

Sugden died at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford on 1 July 2009 of unspecified natural causes.

 

 

 

  If only I could remember when I started watching Are You Being Served?, definitely I was at least 7 or 8. I remember the first time anyway. It was, coincidently enough, the first offical episode, Dear Sexy Knickers. I don’t know if I liked it or not, and certainly the sometimes more grownup jokes went over my head, but I kept watching, and still to this day, I do. 
 

 Mrs. Slocombe was always my most favorite, her and Mr. Humphries (played by late marvel, John Inman,) if not for her outrageous hair, costumes, it was that perfect mix of upper class arrogance with lower class breeding. She was often the butt of jokes, was Slocombe, but you rarely felt sorry for her, she often got what she deserved. Yet Mollie played her with a clown like silliness, totally over the top and almost cartoon, you never hated her, she was too ridiculous for that. Mollie knew the value of a great line, and when it came her turn to dance, or give a speech after drinking down an entire can of champagne, you settled in. You were in for the best part of the show!

   Out of character, Mollie Sugden seemed a total sincere, always her Yorkshire self, totally. Unlike her famous character, there were no pretensions, no snobbery. She was a sweet lovely lady, who made us roar sweet lovely laughter.

  It’s times like theses when I see how lucky people like me were, to have not only have watched, but to have grownup on it. Every Saturday night, Are You Being Served? would come on, and I knew what episode it was, based on the pastels of her hair.
 
   Mollie, where ever you may be, thank you, you will forever be missed and loved always!

 …and I am unanimous in that!

 

  Love, Virgo

 

 

 

 

 

Old Interview with Alan J.W. Bell

   Don’t know how I missed this, but it was lewomac’s profile that drew my attention to this. He just uploaded a copy of this radio interview Bell did in the States last Spring, and I thought “Hey, better late then never!” If you never heard it, you can listen to it at lewomac’s clipser profile, or you can go straight to the offical site and download the mp3 of it for yourself.

http://will.illinois.edu/afternoonmagazine/interviews/category/television/

Offical News: LOTSW Is Recommissioned!

From The BBC

 

Last Of The Summer Wine, the world’s longest-running sitcom, has been recommissioned for a further six half-hours by Jay Hunt, Controller, BBC One, and Lucy Lumsden, former Controller, Comedy Commissioning.

Filming will take place this summer, in and around the Yorkshire town of Holmfirth, for transmission in 2010.

The series, which is a whimsical comedy about people in the autumn of their years, is written by Roy Clarke and stars Peter Sallis as Norman Clegg alongside several other eminent cast members including Russ Abbot (Hobbo), Frank Thornton (Truly), Brian Murphy (Alvin), June Whitfield (Nelly) and Burt Kwouk (Entwistle).

Mark Freeland, Head of Comedy at the BBC, said: “I am pleased that Roy Clarke’s much loved and unique comedy is once more returning to BBC One.”

Writer Roy Clarke said: “It’s like going home again.”

 

 

 Much thanks to commenter jakob1978 for letting me know! Hurray!!

 

 

 Thank you

LOTSW 1978-1982 Christmas Speicals To Be Released in US!

  News has been getting around that there will be a disc set to be released October 13th, of LOTSW Christmas speicals from 1978-1982, and if you’re like me, and you love those speicals AND you live in the US this is great news! It will cost $24.98, which is pretty good! Any more on this and I’ll post it!

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Summer-Wine-Christmas-Specials/12176

Poll!

LOTSW to Film 6 More Episodes!

Although not offical, it’s been reported from a fairly reputable insider, that Summer Wine will indeed have 6 more shows! So looks like we may indeed have another series to look forward! Any more info, and I’ll post it.

 

 Cheers!

Peter Sallis Looks Back at Wallace and Gromit, Summer Wine, And Orsen Welles

From Liverpool Daily:

  MOST character actors would give their eye-teeth for a successful series on screen that makes them a household name.

Peter Sallis can enjoy the fact that he has reached this peak twice. But not only that, at the splendid age of 88, both these series are still up and running.

Last of the Summer Wine, in which he stars as Norman Clegg, is nearing its 35th year and, after 30 series, is the world’s longest- running television comedy, with no signs of expiring yet.

The Wallace & Gromit animated films, in which Peter voices the mithering inventor Wallace, companion to the brainier mute canine Gromit, goes from strength to strength.

Both shows reinforce Britain’s national consciousness, confirming the belief that our eccentricity, whimsical humour and common-sense (with the odd lurch into irrationality) will somehow see us through.

Peter’s career, too, seems rooted in a particular kind of Englishness, whereby he has plugged away quietly and over the years triumphed through sheer dogged effort.

Now you will be able to hear him talk about his career in An Audience with Peter Sallis, at the Prescot Festival of Music and the Arts, on Tuesday evening.

He will be interviewed about his life and career, which includes more than a hundred films and television series since 1947, followed by a question and answer session.

In spite of macular degeneration (a deterioration of his eyesight which recently has limited his appearances in Summer Wine), he is enthusiastic about his one-man show.

“While I can get up in in the morning, I’ll do these things. One day, I won’t be able to. I’m quite keen on me and talking about my career and people I knew like Orson Welles,” he says.

Rescued by the war from working as a bank clerk, he became a radio instructor and got involved in amateur dramatics and play readings.

“The only other example I can think of is Michael Redgrave, who also worked in a bank and got involved in the firm’s amateur dramatics,” says Peter.

“He suddenly realised he was a far better actor than he was a cashier. But it takes a bit of courage to make the jump.

“I joined the RAF, but was not fit enough to fly and became a wireless mechanic and then taught radio procedures at RAF Cranwell.

“I was good at the theory, but could not solder for my life. I knew how the radio worked and could point at things to the class, performing in a way I suppose.

“We had a play-reading group which was great fun and chance to perform in Noel Coward’s Hay Fever at the local YWCA. Then I became pretty certain I could act. It’s an instinct or gift, you know if you can do it.

“The great film director and producer Alex Korda very magnanimously put up money for 10 scholarships at RADA for ex-service people after the war.

“I was lucky enough to get one, but my father still had to pay for my board.”

After that, his course was set and his first professional stage role was in 1946. He went on to work with acting legends such as Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud and Orson Welles. The latter became a good friend.

He also participated in another great British institution, performing in several Hammer Horror films, getting a stake through his heart for his efforts.

One of these, The Curse of the Werewolf, surprisingly signposted his part in the 2005 hit Wallace And Gromit film, Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

Contrary to the impression given by these best-known roles, Peter is not a northerner, but a Londoner.

It felt odd during my telephone conversation with him to hear his warm, fulsome tones without their northern inflection.

Our chat is enlivened with amusing interruptions from someone he refers to as “Mary, my minder”.

Among his West End appearances was with Orson Welles directing Rhinoceros, with Laurence Olivier, in 1960.

“I knew all about Welles and was a great follower. At the audition I went on stage and he was standing there.

“He was wearing his usual costume of a cape and carrying a large tumbler of amber liquid.

“He rumbled those familiar words, ‘I am Orson Welles’, and we just sort of clicked.

“I was able to do what he wanted and we became mates. We spent about five years working together, including in Paris.

“Orson never stopped talking and he wanted a listener.

“I’ve seen him sit down to lunch with a large round table covered in plates of food and not a square inch showing.

“He just shovelled this stuff down. The guy was insatiable, but he was almost a genius.

“Nothing like Citizen Kane was seen in cinema before and I think his ideas scared the money men.

“They didn’t see eye to eye. Once we were rehearsing and the whole cast knew we were running out of money.

“The backer was a someone called Margolis, a food magnate.

“As the cash crisis worsened, I heard Orson on the phone yelling, ‘For Christ’s sake, Margolis, sell another milk bar’!”

As a director, Welles fermented with too many ideas, he thinks.

“Luckily, Laurence Olivier was his match. They were both at the top their game with a huge mutual respect,” says Peter.

“Orson kept changing his mind and Olivier took him aside and told him to take a week off so we could learn his initial notes. It worked and the play was a success because of that.”

Peter acted in Taste the Blood of Dracula, with Christopher Lee.

“You can’t be in a Hammer Horror Film without it being fun,” he chuckles.

“It’s ‘mock horror’, with heads rolling and blood spurting, you’re bound to have a few laughs.

“That said, these films were not easy to make and Hammer knew what they were doing.

“Christopher Lee has a good sense of humour, but took the job seriously and was marvellous as Dracula.”

A BBC stalwart, Peter’s first notable television role was as Samuel Pepys in 1958 and was also in an early Doctor Who.

But his big “telly lottery” win came with being cast in a one-off pilot for Comedy Playhouse, entitled Last of the Summer Wine.

He is now the longest-serving actor in the series, written by Roy Clarke, starting in 1973 and with 288 episodes now filmed.

“Back then, the BBC had the sensible plan of showing pilots to see what would make a series,” says Peter.

“I’d done Roy Clarke’s first two plays, in one playing a homosexual transvestite. So natural casting there.

“I’ve always felt it was like Wind in the Willows, with three characters metaphorically messing about in boats.

“I told Roy Clarke and he said it had never occurred to him, but I’ve never lost that thought.

“Some things you know will just work. I did an episode of Kingdom with Stephen Fry. The unit hums with a good feeling.” The Wind in the Willows has a link to Wallace and Gromit, as Peter voiced Ratty in a BBC animated version which led to his most famous animation work.

“It was 1983 and the phone went, the caller said ‘I am Nick Park and I want you to do the voice of a cartoon character’.

“I wanted to audition with a script and he said no need. But I got the script and liked it.

“I’ve no idea how he came to pick on me, I suppose it was Summer Wine.

“I knew how I’d do it, but never would have thought we would end up at the Oscars.”

It took six years for the first fim, A Grand Day Out, to be made. He wryly admits that his work as Wallace has “raised his standing a few notches in the public eye”.

AN AUDIENCE With Peter Sallis, at Prescot Methodist Hall, Atherton Street, off High Street, Prescot, at 7.30pm, Tuesday, June 23; tel: 07835 090 752.

Goodnight Sweet Ferret #290

 

June 21:

When word goes around town that Old Heptonstall is looking for volunteers, Hobbo and his army of volunteers, namely Alvin and Entwistle, go and visit him without a second thought.

They find that he has a bad leg and is confined to the shed, where at least he doesn’t have to listen to his wife’s snoring. Tearfully, Heptonstall tells them he wants to go to the churchyard and bury a very dear friend.

They are scuppered, however, by a wedding in progress, and by PCs Cooper and Walsh, who see them climbing over the church wall towards the graves, shovels in hand…

No Cheese, Gromit!

From Click Liverpool:

Wallace and Gromit star Peter Sallis has confessed a 20-year-secret – he doesn’t like cheese!

The small screen legend has admitted he doesn’t share his plasticine character’s love of the dairy snack and has not tried the stuff for a decade.

And Sallis, also known for his role as Norman Clegg in Last of the Summer Wine, reckons he would much prefer a piece of cake to a slab of Wensleydale.

“I have to admit, I am not really a big cheese fan,” confessed the star.

“I certainly haven’t got the passion Wallace has for it.

“I’ve never really wanted to develop a taste for it, and I don’t think I’ll be eating some stinking bishop cheese anytime soon.

“I’d much prefer a plate of cake.

“I don’t even know if I’ve ever eaten Wensleydale cheese, I haven’t touched the stuff for decades, it is just not in my diet.

“My meals are usually two courses of starter and a main.

“I was actually warned off the stuff a while ago for health reasons, the simple fact is I’m just not mad about cheese.”

This year marks the 20th birthday of the popular cartoon, and whilst Sallis is pleased the show has had such a good run, the 88-year-old thinks it could be coming to an end.

He added: “Wallace and Gromit has been going on for 25 years and the problem has always been getting the storyline.

“It isn’t easy to keep on doing the same story with just a man and his dog, they can’t talk too each other.

“I’ve never had many reservations over Wallace and Grommit.

“The only thing which ever worried me were the endings.

“Even with The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, the one that went into the Oscar pot, even that had rather a shaky ending.

“It’s quite easy to get stories launched, it’s one thing to do that but another to bring the curtain down and I think that is the difficult bit.

“I think Nick had problems with that, but he never let it show.

“But who knows, the phone may ring one day and he might say he has another one in the pipeline.

“I never ask Nick if he is going to do another one, maybe he is working in his study right now trying to work out plots, or a series of plots, lets hope so.

“It would be lovely to do some more, but whether he can write them I don’t know.”

And Sallis has also revealed he tried to make creator Nick pick someone else for the role of Wallace.

Continued Sallis: “I tried to persuade Nick to get someone else.

“I spoke to him and he told me he was doing this cartoon thing called Wallace and Gromit and he wanted me to be the voice of Wallace.

“I didn’t accept it straight away, I told him to send me a script because I wanted to audition.

“So I recorded my version and packed it off to him in the post.

“He got back in touch and told me that was exactly what he was looking for.

“So in the end he cast me in the role, despite me trying my best to put him off.

“Nick is such a nice guy, such a gentle person with a touch of genius about, he really shouldn’t be in showbiz.”

Variations on a Theme of Father’s Day #289

June 14th:

In order that Hobbo can find out more about Nelly, his supposed mother, he has Howard eavesdrop on her when she is visiting Pearl.

Soon realising what Howard is up to, the women plant a completely false story about Hobbo’s father being a hippy. Hobbo loses no time in making himself look exactly like the description of his father, complete with earrings and beads.

Unfortunately, by the time the women see the fruits of their imagination, Hobbo is being arrested…