# Carol Royle

Carol Buchanan Royle (born 10 February 1954) is an English actress. She is best known for playing Jenny Russell in the BBC sitcom Life Without George (1987—1989) and Lady Patricia Brewster in Heartbeat (1997—2003).

## Early life

Born in Blackpool, the daughter of actor Derek Royle, Carol Royle studied drama at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

## Career

Making her screen debut in 45 episodes of The Cedar Tree from 1977 to 1978, Royle went on to become known for her role as Jenny Russell in the BBC sitcom Life Without George, which ran for three series from 1987 to 1989, as well as her role in ITV1's 1960s-based drama Heartbeat, in which she played Austin Healey-driving Lady Patricia Brewster in four episodes. In 1989, she appeared in the prominent role of Jessica in Blackeyes, written by Dennis Potter. Other television shows Royle has appeared in are Blake's 7, The Professionals, Bergerac, Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense, Cribb, Crossroads, The Outsider, Casualty, Ladies in Charge, Crime Traveller, The Bill, Doctors, and Father Brown. Her film career includes roles in The Greek Tycoon (1978) and Tuxedo Warrior (1982).
From 2019 to 2023, Royle played Mrs Bright in the Inspector Morse prequel Endeavour, appearing in five episodes of the series.

## Personal life

Royle married musician Julian Spear, son of actor Bernard Spear, in 1977. They had two children, Taran, the drummer in the band Anonymous Tip, and Talitha. Spear suffered a brain haemorrhage and died on 9 December 2024.
Her younger sister Amanda Royle is also an actress. The two played sisters in the 1990 Casualty episode "Say It With Flowers".

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes |
| 1978 | The Greek Tycoon | Nico's Girlfriend | |
| 1982 | Tuxedo Warrior | Lisa | |
| 1989 | Deadline | Carol | |
| 2014 | Miss in Her Teens | Aunt | |
| 2021 | Put Away | Prudence | Short film |
| 2024 | Christmas at Plumhill Manor | Lorraine | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes |
| 1977–1978 | The Cedar Tree | Laura Collins (later Cartland) | Series 2–4; 45 episodes |
| 1978 | Blake's 7 | Mutoid | Series 1; Episode 8: "Duel" |
| 1978 | The Professionals | Helen Pierce | Series 2; Episode 8: "A Stirring of Dust" |
| 1979 | The Professionals | Anna Batak | Series 3; Episode 4: "Dead Reckoning" |
| 1979 | The Dick Francis Thriller: The Racing Game | Trish Latham | Episode 2: "Trackdown" |
| 1979 | Screenplay | Miriam Cromer | Episode 1: "Waxwork" (Pilot for series, Cribb) |
| 1980 | Heartland | Jane Price | Series 2; Episodes 3 & 4: "Family" and "The Sponge Man" |
| 1983 | Storyboard | Jane Alexander | Series 1; Episode 2: "Judgement Day" |
| 1983 | Possibilities | Anita | Television film |
| 1983 | Shades of Darkness | Maggie Winthrop | Series 1; Episode 3: "Feet Foremost" |
| 1983 | The Outsider | Fiona Lytton Neave | All 6 episodes |
| 1983 | Bergerac | Irene Maybank | Series 3; Episode 1: "Ninety Per Cent Proof" |
| 1984 | Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense | Kim Osborn / Catherine Parkes | Episode 11: "And the Wall Came Tumbling Down" |
| 1984 | Oxbridge Blues | Tory | Episode 2: "That Was Tory" |
| 1984 | Oxbridge Blues | Ellen | Episode 5: "The Muse" |
| 1985 | Summer Season | Eleanor | Episode 15: "A Still Small Shout" |
| 1985 | Storyboard | Diana Granville | Series 2; Episode 2: "Ladies in Charge" (Pilot for series) |
| 1986 | Ladies in Charge | Diana Granville | All 6 episodes |
| 1987 | Screen Two | Rachel | Series 3; Episode 14: "Hedgehog Wedding" |
| 1987 | London Embassy | Hon. Sophie Graveney | Mini-series; Episode 1: "An Unofficial English Rose" |
| 1987–1989 | Life Without George | Jenny Russell | Series 1–3; All 20 episodes |
| 1989 | Blackeyes | Jessica | Mini-series; All 4 episodes |
| 1990 | Casualty | Lizzie Trent | Series 5; Episode 7: "Say It with Flowers" |
| 1996 | The Bill | Lyn Forbes | Series 12; Episode 48: "Cheating" |
| 1997 | Crime Traveller | Sonja Duvall | Episode 3: "Fashion Shoot" |
| 1997 | Thief Takers | Julia Maybury | Series 3; Episode 2: "Fashion Victims" |
| 1997–2003 | Heartbeat | Lady Patricia Brewster | Recurring role; 4 episodes |
| 1999 | Grange Hill | Sarah Lyons | Series 22; Episode 5 |
| 2001 | Second Sight | Sarah Finch | Episodes 1 & 2: "Hide and Seek: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 2001 | The Bill | Jennifer Salter | Series 17; Episodes 38 & 39: "Complicity: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 2001–2002 | Crossroads | Diane Lawrence | 4 episodes |
| 2005 | Doctors | Kathy Watson | Series 6; Episode 127: "Conflicts of Interest" |
| 2006 | Mayo | Gwen Bainbridge | Mini-series; Episode 2: "Requiem for a Dove" |
| 2006 | Doctors | Victoria Payne | Series 8; 10 episodes |
| 2007 | New Tricks | Diane Bathley-Jones | Series 4; Episode 7: "Father's Pride" |
| 2010 | Casualty | Sheila Bainbridge | Series 24; Episode 20: "Dark Places" |
| 2011 | Doctors | Martha Locke | Series 12; Episode 223: "Chelsea Girl" |
| 2012 | Doctors | Alice Davidson | Series 14; Episode 87: "What I'm Good At" |
| 2015–2016 | Casualty | Emilie Groome | Series 30; 4 episodes |
| 2017 | Father Brown | Lady Ursula Lansford | Series 5; Episode 5: "The Hand of Lucia" |
| 2017 | Doctors | Elaine Bottrell | Series 19; Episode 117: "The Old Toe and the New Nose" |
| 2019 | Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators | Anastasia Kusk | Series 2; Episode 3: "This Cursed Hand" |
| 2019–2020 | Endeavour | Mrs. Bright | Series 6 & 7; 5 episodes |
| 2024–present | Coronation Street | Anthea Deering | Mother of Joel Deering |