recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Claudine Sinclaire

**Claudine Sinclaire** was an English child actress from the Late 70s and Early Eighties. Not much of her life and career is known. He appears with actor David Barham as the child counterparts of Gaston LeClerc and his sister played by Benny Hill and Louise English in "Friends to Tea with Henry McGee" on March 25 1981. Her other known credits include the 1980 film version of "Little Lord Fauntleroy" and an episode of the BBC TV series "Jury."

## Gallery

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Nathan Wylde

## Bio

**Nathan Wylde** is a British male newscaster on the News at Ten broadcast in London. After a herd of sheep are stolen near Orkney Moor, he heads to the location to cover the story. As he stands in a wide open field reporting, one man (Benny Hill) slips up behind him to get on camera.

The locals interviewed for the segment include Ivor Toggle (Bob Todd) who is confused on the number of stolen sheep, Detective Inspector Potts (Benny Hill) who speculates they were stolen for their sheep virility pills and Shaun Lamb (Benny Hill) who complains about Potts not working hard enough to find the sheep, much of his language obscured by sounds of animals.

## Trivia

* Wylde was played by Henry McGee.
* Benny plays the unnamed anchor at the start of the sketch.
* This was one of four sketches based on "Bo Peep" along with Naked Lust in Sinful Sweden, Sure Taylor, Ironsides and "Much Ado About Bo Peep" with Benny in a Shakespearean playlet. The bit was introduced by Leslie Goldie. Henry McGee introduced similar themed sketches with "Jack And Jill" in Jack and Jill.

## Gallery

* Much Ado About Bo Peep
* Much Ado About Bo Peep
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Connie Georges

**Connie Georges** was an English television actress, probably best known for her appearances on "The Benny Hill Show" and the Benny Hill short, "Eddie in August."

Not much is known about her life or career. She was born Constance Edith Jackson on October 13, 1911 in West Ham, England. Her TV appearances include roles on "Doctor Who," "Angel Pavement," "Thirty Minutes Worth" and "Mother Makes Three." Her last credit was the feature film, The Best of Benny Hill, which included sketches from "The Benny Hill Show." She passed away on September 9, 1981 in Hillingdon, London.

## Episode(s)

* The European Song Contest
* Is This Your Life
* Opportunity's Knocking
* Top of the Tops
* Undercover Sanitary Inspector
* Cinema: The Vintage Years
* Fun in the Kitchen
* Woodstick
* Jackie Wright: Holiday
Ken Sedd

**Ken Sedd** was an English actor and stuntman possibly best known for his work with Benny Hill on "The Benny Hill Show."

Born as Kenneth Seddington on October 26, 1939, he started out as a stunt man with work on "The Sweeney" as well as acting work in bit parts in episodes of the TV shows "Adam Adamant Lives!" and "Softly Softly" before meeting Benny Hill during the years of his TV series at the BBC. The first time he met Benny was at a casting where he was asked by his agent to attend where a famous comedian would be present to select someone for double work. He went to a local hall in London where he was asked to stand around the edge of the hall with about 250 others. Benny walked in took a look around, pointed at Ken and that was that, the beginning of a 25 year relationship that turned into a good friendship. He went on to appear in "Z Cars," "Doomwatch," "Upstairs, Downstairs," "Doctor Who", "The Empire Strikes Back" and "The Two Ronnies." His most notable sketch in "The Two Ronnies" was as Edgar Whitlow in the 1982 Christmas special sketch, "The Tree."

For twenty-five years, Sedd stunt-doubled or stood in for Benny Hill in his movies and TV show at Thames TV, particularly in scenes where Benny played one or more characters. He later started appearing as a sketch player in his own right, often playing several characters in one sketch. Among his roles, he has played a tavern owner, photographer and victim of a fire in the Lower Tidmarsh Volunteer Fire Brigade, a racer and a hitch-hiker in the Grand Wheelchair Rally, a criminal and a patient in a Wonder-Gran sketch and an an opined boyfriend in Stupid Cupid.

In later years, his interest in UFO's and sci-fi led him into becoming a director of the International UFO Congress. His other love was athletics, and he ended up coaching Ade Made to the 1984 Olympic 200m final, where Ade became the youngest to ever to run in that race at 17, still a record today and something of which he was very proud.

Sadly, Ken suffered from Parkinson's Disease in his final years, and he passed away on January 9, 2021. He is survived by his devoted wife, three children and five grandchildren, all of whom are immensely proud of his career and the great things he accomplished in his life.

## Episode(s)

* The European Song Contest
* The Underwater World Of Jacques Custard (uncredited)
* Sale of the Half Century
* The Bionic Baby (uncredited)
* Villain of the Year
* A Packed Program
* The South Blank Show
* Friday Night Fever
* Leprechaun TV
* The Police Raid in Waterloo Station
* Women's Lib TV
* Butch Cafferty and the Fundance Kid
* Name That Tune
* WonderGran Meets Dr. Jackal and Mr. Hyde
* A Tribute to the Lower Tidmarsh Volunteer Fire Brigade
* Big Poppa (uncredited)
* The Monte Carbolic Show
* Talking Point
* Super-Teech
* Holiday
* Scuttle-Vision
* The Hot Shoe Show

## Gallery

* Unknown, Ken, Benny and Jackie
* Unknown, Ken, Benny and Jackie
* Ken Sedd Hampton
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Jayne-Marie

Not much is known about actress **Jayne-Marie.** She starred on the British TV series "The Upchat Line" in 1977 and as the girl next door and a disco dancer on an episode of "The Benny Hill Show" in 1978. She was also one of the nurses who tend to Benny in the hospital sketch on March 14, 1979. She has three children and now lives in Spain.

## Episode(s)

* Friday Night Fever - (uncredited)
* Leprechaun TV - (uncredited)

## Gallery

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Kay Frazer

**Kay Frazer** is an English actress and dancer possibly best known for her appearances on "The Benny Hill Show." She got her start as a member of The Young Generation dancing and singing troupe which included Roger Finch. She got her start in the 1964 Rediffusion-London production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" which also starred Benny Hill and Eira Heath, later getting appearances on television in the TV shows "ITV Play of the Week," "Doomwatch" and "The Worker" before starring in a handful of appearances on "The Benny Hill Show." She starred in a dancer blooper on December 23, 1970, a supermarket ballet on March 24, 1971, a toy-maker's blooper on December 22, 1971 and in the "Band at the Park" on December 5, 1973. Her later activities are unrevealed.

## Episode(s)

* Opportunity's Knocking
* Cinema: The Vintage Years
* News at Ten with Reginald Boozenquet
* Spot Black

## Gallery

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Barbara Lindley

**Barbara Lindley** is an English actress best known for the movies, "Julius Caesar," "Purab Aur Pachhim" and "Dracula" with actor Jack Palance. Not much is known about her career. Her first starring role was on "The Benny Hill Show," playing a patient and a nurse in the Lower Tidmarsh Hospital Service sketch in the the first episode as well as the girl he chases with a net in the tag. The sketches also appeared on The Best of Benny Hill. Her later film appearances include "Comedy Playhouse," "Up Pompeii!," "Monty Python's Flying Circus" and "Now Look Here."

## Gallery

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Lower Tidmarsh

## Bio

**Lower Tidmarsh** is a small rural village located somewhere in England, possibly somewhere in the outskirts of London. Quaint and somewhat rustic in appearance, the village is home to the Lower Tidmarsh Volunteer Fire Brigade, the Lower Tidmarsh Volunteer Hospital and at least one public house, the Black Lion, which the fire brigade evidently considers a second home. While never explicitly stated, the district seems to share a nearby park with Little Dimpton, complete with a bandstand, musicians and gardeners. Other shared facilities might include a health farm, a police station and a sanitation unit.

On February 24, 1971, a young lady Jenny Lee-Wright in the park meets a foreigner (Benny Hill) who struggles with the English language. He confuses "foot" with "book," and when she explains the difference, he briefly massages her foot. He does the same thing with "knee," but he dares to go as far as "bum," which he applies to his head. It looks like she might be wising up to his tomfoolery. At this point, he becomes repentant and apologetic, but he soon changes the thread of the discussion by asking for the "watch" (time) and lamenting he doesn't care for English fish and chips, the only thing he knows how to order. When she teaches him out to ask for steak and kidney pudding, she focuses on saying "pudding" and he kisses her on the lips. He apologizes for being forward, but he returns to chicanery by saying he likes her "bust" (best), but he still refrains from offending her. However, by this point, the lady has become charmed by his helpless nature and invites him to lunch at her place. An older gentleman (Bob Todd) now sits down and asks the foreigner if he's from Germany or Poland, but the foreigner confesses he's from Bradford and this is how he picks up ladies.

## Trivia

* Lower Tidmarsh is possibly the location for most of the sketches occurring in the early episodes of the series. Benny's birthplace, Teddington is also mentioned in H.M. Prison Teddington, but by mid-series (or thereabouts), the fictional city of Little Dimpton was established.
* The "Learning All the Time" sketch was redone in color on February 10, 1982 with Jenny Lee-Wright in the same role, Henry McGee taking Bob Todd's place and Bradford changed to Romford.

## Episodes

* The European Song Contest
* Opportunity's Knocking
* A Tribute to the Lower Tidmarsh Volunteer Fire Brigade
* Undercover Sanitary Inspector

## Gallery

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George

## Bio

**George** is an unseen "peeping tom" seen poking through the window of a neighbor named Mrs. Tredder and by all accounts seems to be wanted by the police. Called a "dirty beast," he is spotted by his own wife (Rita Webb), who fails to recognize him until she recognizes the pattern of his bathrobe.

## Trivia

* This short seems to be a reworking of a similar "peeping tom" sketch from the December 25, 1969 episode.
Fred Scuttle Escort Service

## Bio

The **Fred Scuttle Escort Service** is a British escort service located in England (either London, Teddington or Little Dimpton) created by entrepreneur Fred Scuttle in his pursuit of success.

Running the business in a tuxedo and top hat, Scuttle is interviewed by Nicholas Parsons about his business, but Scuttle doesn't understand some of his words and sees double entendres in Parsons' queries. He describes one female patron with purple hair, sunken cheeks, shallow eyeballs, deep dimples and a cleft chin with vast wealth who comes in often to ask for the same escort every time. Scuttle adds the man always leaves her with a long-stem rose and a hand-written note.

In the course of several questions, Scuttle introduces to Parsons his four male escorts (Jerold Wells, Bob Todd, Jackie Wright and Jim Tyson, one of whom is wearing a suit at least three sizes too big. When Parsons challenges him him and asks for an escort young, beautiful, attractive and gay, Scuttle misunderstands and asks if he's interested one of the guys. Parsons corrects himself, and Scuttle brings out the ladies (Diana Darvey, Jeannie Collings, Zoe Hendry and Malou Cartwright), but the last one named Stella (Bella Emberg) has to be dragged out crying. Parsons is definitely attracted to the first ladies, but his heart reaches out to the forth one is sounds inconsolable. To lift her spirits, he chooses Stella, who turns out to be Fred's wife. It turns out she's crying not because she is constantly left out, but because all the men keep choosing her.

## Trivia

* As Scuttle, Benny introduces Jackie as "Little Johnny."
* The male models in Fred Scuttle's Escorts are Bob Todd, Jackie Wright and Jerold Wells. The female escorts are Diana Darvey (green), Jeannie Collings (yellow), Zoe Hendry (pink) and Malou Cartwright (black) with Bella Emberg in a white dress and orange sweater, revealed to be Scuttle's wife.
* This sketch reuses the same set as The Naked Audition.

## Gallery

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Mr. Jolly

## Production

**Episode:** 16

**Date:** September 17, 1963

**Time:** 25:00

**Musical Director:** Ron Grainer

**Vocals:** None

**Choreography:** None

**Producer:** John Streeter

**Director:** Tony Abbott

**Writer:** Benny Hill and Dave Freeman

## Episode

Mr. Jolly (Benny Hill) is an eccentric joke and comedy novelty salesman who befriends a young boy (Dermot Kelly) trapped in a gothic mask.

## Cast

* Benny Hill
* Michael Beint
* [[Ronnie Brody]
* Edwin Brown
* Joe Gibbons
* Patricia Hayes
* Derek Johns
* Dermot Kelly
* Annabelle Lee
* Maeve Leslie

## Sequence

* **Last Episode:** The Visitor
* **Next Episode:** The Trouble Maker
Maria

## Bio

**Maria** was the opening number on January 7, 1981. It was performed by Benny Hill in a Gypsy camp setting surrounded by the cast dressed as a caravan of gypsies.

## Lyrics

Now, Maria was a high class gypsy

She sold gold earrings from a stool

Her mother had a stone glass eye

And her father had a crystal ball.

But I took Maria to a fancy dress dance

It was a really small affair.

All the girls had to wear a dress the color of their chaparone's hair.

There was a commotion in the ballroom right after the dinner.

All the men wanted to dance with the girl who came with Yul Brynner.

The crowd all called out Maria the Matisse...

(*Benny does some chanting in German*)

Bend down, girls and touch your toes!

I'm gonna show you where the wild goose goes!

Some girls are like Africa, mysterious and hot!

Other girls are like Paris, with all the charm its got!

Maria, she is like Tibet with all its ice and snow there.

Everyone knows where it is,

But no one wants to go there!

(*The Hill's Angels do a gypsy chant.*)

Her teeth were green and brown and yellow.

One of them was black as jet.

If only she had a blue one,

She'd have a perfect set.

I went inside a phone box to try and get in touch.

With my lovely Maria because I love her so much,

But a policeman came and turned me out.

I can still hear him yell.

He went inside the phonebox and turned her out as well.

(*The Hill's Angels do a gypsy chant.*)

I twirled her around the dance floor

She said, "I hate the way you're doing it."

I asked, "Why?" and she said, "I've got wooden leg, and you're unscrewing it."

Standing on a cross town bus, hanging by a strap,

She let her hankerchef fall into a sleeping old man's lap.

He woke up as she looked down and gave a sheepish grin.

He thought it was his coat tail and foolishly tucked it back in.

(*The Hill's Angels do a gypsy chant.*)

I saw her in her birthday suit, swimming by the weir.

She said, "Please go away", but I pretended not to hear.

She said, "If you don't go, I'll stay in here until it gets dark."

I said, "That's all right by me. I only came to feed the shark."

(*The Hill's Angels do a gypsy chant.*)

We had a gypsy wedding, but the caterers were all mobsters.

They blew up all the prawns and shrimps,

And made them look like lobsters.

So she stuffed herself with wedding cake,

And beer and fish and chips.

When I carried her across the threshold,

I had to take two trips.

Nut now this little gypsy girl,

She's ruined my whole life.

She's gone back to her mother,

And I've gone back to the wife.

## Episode(s)

* WonderGran Meets Dr. Jackal and Mr. Hyde
Ann Shelton

**Anne Shelton** was a popular English vocalist known for providing inspirational songs for soldiers during World War II both on radio broadcasts and in person at British military bases.

Born Patricia Jacqueline Sibley on November 10, 1923 in Dulwich, London, she began singing at age 12 on the radio show "Monday Night at Eight," receiving a recording contract by age 15. She did a tour of military bases in Britain during World War II and had her own radio program, "Calling Malta," from 1942 to 1947. She was invited by Glenn Miller to sing in France with him and his orchestra in 1944, but she had to decline because of prior commitments. She later appeared with Bing Crosby on the Variety Bandbox radio program.

Through the Late Forties,Shelton recorded the songs, "If You Ever Fall in Love Again," "Galway Bay," "Be Mine" and "Lay Down Your Arms" which was the #1 hit song in 1956 in the UK. She also had a Top 10 hit in 1961 with her cover version of "Sailor" and
was also the original singer in the United Kingdom of the song "Lili Marlene. She also participated in BBC Television's "A Song for Europe," her song, "I Will Light a Candle," placing fourth. She made another attempt at Eurovision in 1963 with "My Continental Love," and came fourth again. She also released the songs "Lay Down Your Arms," "Sailor," "Seven Days," "The Village of St Bernadette" and "It Won't Be Long 'Til Christmas."

During her career, Shelton also sang and acted in several films, including "Miss London Ltd.," "King Arthur Was a Gentleman," and "Bees in Paradise." She also appeared in several Royal Variety Performances, occasionally accompanied by her sister, Jo Shelton, who was also an accomplished and popular singer. For her December 23, 1973 appearance on The Benny Hill Show, she sang "The Galilee Song," changing the words of one verse to describe briefly her father's positive influence on her family when she was growing up.

In 1990, Shelton was awarded the OBE for her work with the "Not Forgotten Association," a charitable organisation for disabled former service personnel from all wars. In fact, she continued to perform at concerts, charity and anniversary concerts until she passed away on July 31, 1994 in Herstmonceux, Sussex on July 31, 1994 of a heart attack. She is buried at Camberwell New Cemetery in Brenchley Gardens near Camberwell, London.
Funny Old World

## Bio

**Funny Old World** is a song performed in both traditional and rap by Benny Hill on April 16, 1986, based on the music from the Madame Louise Summer Collection on March 5, 1980. Set on a street in Little Dimpton, it is accompanied by Jon Jon Keefe, Bob Todd, Henry McGee and the Hill's Angels as townsfolk with Anna Dawson coming out to question Benny (calling him "Arthur" - his real name) on what he's doing. Although she gets him to change the music, she also has to get him to stop skipping like a broken record. The song is followed by several sketches in Little Dimpton including a point where Benny shows the Angels how to tap dance.

## Lyrics

(*Note: The accuracy of these lyrics are a bit in doubt.*)

Well, hey there suits, how do you dig my groove.

We've got jokes to burn your bums and freeze your cool.

We're gonna get on up and party down

You're not going to see us frown.

We're gonna dig a beat like a sassafras mama with a real petite.

You can dive pass the masses with the cabbies and do the bug-a-loo

If I sound like another then it's half past ten

(*Anna Dawson stops Benny and asks what he's doing, asking him to "sing it right"*)

Well, when I look into your eyes of blue.

I want to really be alone with you.

You turn me on when you sing

I want to give you wonderful things.

(*Anna stops Benny when he starts repeating certain words, but she does it too.*)

I like ladies stockings. Nylon, silk or cotton.

Cause it doesn't matter how long they are.

Their job is always at the bottom.

Don't expect a winner; it might just be your ruin.

Cause if you can't see where you're running

You can't see where you're doing.

Funny Old World

Funny Old World

Everyone says it's a funny old world.

Funny Old World

Funny Old World

It's a funny old world

It's a funny old world
John Trayhorn

**John Trayhorn** is a diminutive English actor known for his appearances in "The Benny Hill Show" and "Z Cars." Not much is known about his life. He was born on August 15 1954 in Enfield, London, and got his acting start in the movie "Hoverbug" before moving on to television, getting appearances in "The Wednesday Play," "Thirty-Minute Theatre," "Doomwatch" and "Z Cars." On the December 22, 1971 episode of "The Benny Hill Show," he was credited as John Trayhorne and played the son of Benny's German tennis player, Otto Stuk. He was also in the show's tag where he ogled the female police officers. Not much is known about his life afterward; he seemed to have dropped out of acting after his "Benny Hill" appearance, possibly starring on stage afterward, but that is unconfirmed. Most likely retired later in his life, he passed away May 6, 2008 in Grange-Over-Sands, England from a heart attack.
Benny Hill Photo Page

(standing) Jayne-Marie, Mandy Perryment?, Sue Upton, Benny Hill, Debbie Linden, Victoria Shellard and unidentified - kneeling Louise English, Sharon Bond, Tina Bond and unidentified]](standing) Lorraine Doyle, Claire Lutter, Libby Roberts, Jane Eve (sitting) Benny Hill and Teresa Lucas]](back row) Jenny Westbrook, Claire Lutter, Libby Roberts, Jane Eve, Lorraine Doyle, Teresa Lucas first row Suzy Mandel, Benny Hill, Sue Upton, and Anne Bruzac]](clockwise around Benny) Sue Upton, Lorraine Doyle?, Tracy Smith, Fiona Sloman, Lesley Woods, Erica Lynley and Lindsay Neil]]clockwise Sue Upton, Louise English, Jane Conaway?, Lindy Benson, Benny Hill, Corinne Russell, Jacqueline Jolivet (?) and Beverly Vickers (?)]]Sue Upton, Alison Bell, Abigail Higgins and Camilla Blair with Bob Todd]]Lee Gibson, Jack Wright, Alison Bell, Benny Hill and Clare Smalley]]Clare Smalley, Sharon Haywoode, Samantha Spencer-Lane, Louise English, Sue Upton, Susan Daly]]Denise Gyngell, Jane Paris and Samantha Spencer-Lane]]Benny Hill, Jenny Lee-Wright and Mia Martin]]Benny Hill, Albert Moses and Anna Dawson]]Lesley Young, Sue Upton, Samantha Spencer-Lane, Trudy Miller, Cheryl Mortimer and Lisa Price(clockwise) Lisa Price, Louise English, Benny Hill, Cheryl Mortimer, Trudy Miller, Tee Jay, Sue Upton and Debra HemmingsLorraine Doyle, Vicki Facey, Benny Hill, Sue Upton and Zoe Bryant(clockwise) Jane Leeves, unidentified, Sue Upton, Louise English, unidentified, Benny Hill and unidentified
More Photos
Helen Tozer

**Helen Tozer** is an English actress and dancer who starred as one of the Hill's Angels on "The Benny Hill Show." She appears in the "Dance and Shake" number on April 8, 1985 and in the January 2, 1985 show, although she was uncredited. She went on to star as one of the Libby Roberts Dancers on "3-2-1" and in the dance troop, "Lipstick." Today, she works as an expert bridal hair stylist, owner of "Bridal Hair by Helen" in Taunton, England with a specialty in dressing long-hair.

## Episode(s)

* Carmen
* Forever Love
Kathy Staff

**Kathy Staff** is an English actress probably best known for the TV series "Last of the Summer Wine" and the movies, "Mary Reilly" and "The Dresser."

The daughter of a clothing company manufacturer and mission church lay reader, Kathy was born Minnie Higginbottom on July 12, 1928 in Dukenfield, England, but she did not care for her name and changed it to Kathryn Brant for her early work as an actress. After she married John Staff on August 18, 1951, she changed it to Kathy Staff for the rest of her career.

Originally wanting to study ballet, Kathy had to forgo those dreams when her parents couldn't afford the tuition fees. She instead worked as a shorthand typist and did clerical work for the National Gas & Oil Engine Company in Ashton-under-Lyne, eventually starting her career as an extra in 1949 with repertory companies in Scotland and Wales. Briefly retiring from the stage to raise her family, she started working as an extra for Granada Television in the Sixties; her first TV projects were the TV shows "A Kind of Loving," "Here's Harry" and "How We Used to Live" until she got the recurring role of Lorna Everitt on "Castle Haven." She also had a regular role as Doris Luke in the soap opera, "Crossroads" from 1978 to 1984 and from 2001 to 2002. Her other television roles included "Coronation Street," "No Frills," "Open All Hours," "Dawson's Weekly" and "The Benny Hill Show." She also appeared in a television version of the film, "Separate Tables," in 1983. Her film work includes "A Kind of Loving," "The Family Way," "The Dresser," "Camille," "Little Dorrit" and "Mary Reilly."

Staff passed away from a brain tumor at the age of 80 on December 13. 2008 at the Willow Wood Hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne with her husband John at her bedside. Her funeral took place at St Mark's Dukinfield, where she was a lifelong member and sang in the choir. She was commemorated in a memorial screen at the church and survived by her husband, John Staff, who died in December 2011, and her daughters, Catherine Staff and the Rev. Susan Staff-Jackson, one of the first women to be ordained in the Church of England.

## Episode(s)

* Super-Teech
* Holiday
* Cagney and Lacey
Moira Foot

**Moira Foot** is an English actress probably best known for her appearances on "The Benny Hill Show" in the Seventies and "'Allo 'Allo!" in the Eighties.

Born June 16, 1953 in Northampton, England, the statuesque beauty is the daughter of writer Alistair Foot, co-writer with Anthony Marriott of the long-running farce, "No Sex Please, We're British."

There are not many details known about Moira's life and career. She has appeared in the British TV shows "Are You Being Served?," "Hark at Barker," "Six Dates with Barker," "His Lordship Entertains," "On the Buses," "Oh Happy Band!," "Maggie and Her," "Doctor at Large," "Quiller" and "The New Avengers." Her film credits include roles in "One Brief Summer," "On the Buses" and "The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It."

Moira currently lives on a farm in Sussex with her husband and children where they run an animal sanctuary.

## Episode(s)

* The World of Sports
* Tex Cymbal: Golden Boy

## Gallery

* Moira in Strangers in the Night
* Jackie Wright and Moira Foot
* with Jackie and Benny
* with Benny and Henry
* with Benny and Henry
* with Henry
* in Strangers in the Night
* with Jackie and Benny
* with Jackie
* with Benny
* Moira on "Are You Being Served?"
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Linda Cunningham

**Linda Cunningham** is a British actress, known for the films "Then Churchill Said to Me," "Mission: Impossible" and "Jason King."

Not much is known about Linda's life and career. Born on March 28, 1953 in Ipswich, England, her first known TV role was as an uncredited dancer in the Top of the Tops sketch on the January 27, 1971 episode of "The Benny Hill Show." She followed her appearance with appearances in 1970s British television with roles in "Doctor at Large," "Jackanory," "Brett," "Doctor in Charge," "Cars," "Queenie's Castle," "Love Story," "Jason King," "Thriller," "Woodstock," "Get Some In!," " Bless This House," "Whodunnit?" and "Let There Be Love." She also starred on "Coronation Street" intermittently from 1971 to 1973 as Lorraine Binks, a friend of Lucille Hewitt. She also had a few movie roles in "Passion Potion," Alternative 3," "Adventures of a Private Eye," "The Mating Season" and an uncredited part in "Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter."

Cunningham as since worked behind the scenes for Central TV, later emigrating to Australia and working for Gold Coast Tourist Board.

## Gallery

* Linda with Lesley Goldie, Mia Martin, Benny Hill, Geraldine Burnett and Sue BondGo to Top of the Tops
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Meeting People with Nicolas Parsons

## Bio

**Meeting People With Nicholas Parsons** is a British TV talk show hosted by TV personality Nicholas Parsons. The format seems to be vanue for meeting and interviewing interesting people and entrepreneurs. In this episode, Parsons meets Chinese entreprenuer Chow-Mein and his wife, "Cookie" Mein (Zienia Merton). Right from the start, Parsons, always the refined English gentleman, struggles to follow the conversation as the Mein's accents befuddle and stymie him.

In their conversation, Parsons tries to compliment Mrs. Mein's beauty, but she's not a fan of his flattery. Meanwhile, Chow describes meeting her over car trouble in the "long rain" (wrong lane). He further goes on to say the Chinese are interested in the Royal Family of England and the medical conditions in English hospitals. They also describe attending a wedding where the "gloom" (groom) failed to show up. They also attend cricket, rugby and "okay" (hockey) matches.

## Trivia

* This sketch is the genesis of the later Meeting People With Henry McGee interview segments and assorted versions.
* Zienia Merton is possibly best known as Sandra Benes in the cult Science fiction series "Space: 1999."
* When Mein first appears on Thames TV in East Meets West, he mentions his wife is an English singer and implies he was forced into marriage by his wife and in-laws.

## Gallery

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Meeting People with Hugh Paddick

## Bio

**Meeting People With Hugh Paddick** is a British TV talk show hosted by TV personality Hugh Paddick replacing Nicholas Parsons. The format seems to be venue for meeting and interviewing interesting people and entreprenuers. In this episode, Paddick meets Colonel Eatwell of the Royal Army Catering Corp of North Africa. However, Eatwell acts as if he doesn't know where he is and frequently lapses into brief periods of cherence as he tries to describe his exploits in the field. Still, Paddick tries to remain courteous and patient, allowing the Colonel a lot of free reign as his thoughts wander in and out (mostly out) of consciousness.

His second guest is Mrs. Smiley (Benny), the ITV Network's most loyal viewer, who hasn't missed a program since its inception in 1955. She confuses "The Comedian" series with "Party Political Broadcast," confessing she needs to see a show several times to be fluent on it. She is also attracted to commericials, thinking them as mini-TV shows without titles. Her husband likes a show with "that lady in the castle eating a chocolate." Not naming many titles, she describes the shows by their characters and what they do. She confesses she doesn't like the shows with "occult situations."

Paddick's last guest is Butch Cafferty, a loud and boisterous drinking cowboy actor. Appearing with two glasses of tequila (one in each hand), he starts talking and practically never stops, talking about London, his film in Italy, an actress in his current movie and other topics, slurring some words and sounding effeminate on others. Paddick strains to remain interested and struggles to get his questions in but still manages to stay a gentleman. Talking about his wife and son, he tells Paddick to never get married, even calling his father a female impersonator and his mother a principal for boys. When Paddick finally gets a word in, Cafferty suddenly passes out drunk with three and half minutes left on the show.

## Trivia

* Mrs. Smiley is essentially the same character as Rita Fripp from 1969.
* Butch Cafferty is a take on the name of 1890s outlaw Butch Cafferty. Benny eventually parodies the 1969 film, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" in 1980.
* Butch Cafferty's films include "Man Of Steel," "Boss Man" and "Ramrod."
* This talk show parody was later picked up by Henry McGee under several names, such as "At Home With Henry McGee" in 1973 and "Film Talk" in 1975.

## Gallery

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John Robins

**John Robins** is a British director and producer, best known known for the early Thames TV episodes of "The Benny Hill Show" and The Best of Benny Hill adapted from those episodes. Not much is known about his life or career.

## Episode(s)

* The European Song Contest
* Is This Your Life
* Tommy Tupper in Tupper-Time
* The Sound of Frankenstein
* The Underwater World Of Jacques Custard
* Opportunity's Knocking
* Top of the Tops
* Undercover Sanitary Inspector
* Cinema: The Vintage Years
* Benny's All-Star Finale
* Down Memory Lane
* Spot Black
* The Great British Dancing Finals
* Film Time at the Natural Film Theatre
Louise Whatling

**Louise Whatling** is a former child actress who starred as one of the Hill's Little Angels on "The Benny Hill Show."

According to Leonard Hill, author of "Saucy Boy," Louise was two years old when she first appeared on "The Benny Hill Show" in The Halitosis Kid episode, which would mean she was born in or around 1986. She is the daughter of long-term cast member Sue Upton and the younger sister of Richard Whatling, who also starred on the show. The youngest of the "Little Angels," she was named for Louise English, a close friend of her mother. She starred in four episodes of the series, including "The Birthday Party" sketch with her mother on February 8, 1989. Today, she is married with a son named George.

## Episode(s)

* The Halitosis Kid
* The Crook Report
* Holding Out For A Hero
* Pepy's Diary

## Gallery

* From Louise's personal photos
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Dave on Cinema

## Production

**Episode:** 7

**Date:** January 27, 1972

**Producer:** Peter Whitmore

**Director:**

**Writer:** Dave Allen, Austin Steele and Peter Vincent

## Episode

* Parodies include Romeo and Juliet, Odysseus, Rapunzel, King Arthur and Adam and Eve. Dave plays Rodriguez the Escape Artist in a sketch and discusses how the British pronounce certain words.

## Cast

* Dave Allen
* Ronnie Brody
* Jacqueline Clarke
* Michael Sharvell-Martin
* Peter Hawkins
* Simon Barnes

## Quotes

* **Dave Allen** - "Comedy exists in everything - especially where it is least expected."

* **Dave Allen** - (about advertisements and commercials) "You have to laugh at them otherwise they'd drive you crazy."

* **Dave Allen** - "Like most comedians, I have a weird sense of humor. I laugh at the strangest of subjects."

* **Dave Allen** - (*describing wakes*) "Whereas the English have coming out parties, we have going in!"

* **Dave Allen** - "With a brain like that, you should have been a bus conductor!" (*in character during a story*)

* **Dave Allen** - "Laugh and the world laughs with; snore and you'll sleep alone."

## Trivia

* Sketches include a curse from the Hindu goddess Kali, cowboys in the American Old West, Frankenstein's Monster, Dr. Jekyll, Jack the Ripper, King Solomon, Julius Caesar and Mary, Queen of Scots.
* Dr. Frankenstein is another of Dave's recurring sketch characters. Michael Sharvell-Martin plays his assistant in the various monster sketches, named variously Igor or Fritz.
* Two-Gun Pete is the name of the unseen desperado in one of the cowboy sketches.
* The Mary, Queen of Scots and Jack the Ripper sketches are both included in the "Vintage Dave Allen" tape.
* The episode starts with a sketch of an assassin named Brutus and ends with the assassination of Julius Caesar, who was assassinated by Brutus.
* Polyphemus was the Cyclops blinded by Odysseus (Ulysses) in *The Odyssey* by Homer.
* Several characters are from works of William Shakespeare spoofed by Dave Allen, respectively Romeo & Juliet and Richard III.
* The episode features Kali, the Hindu goddess of death considered one of the avatars of Parvati, the wife of Shiva and mother of the war-god Skanda and the elephant-god Ganehsa, revered in modern age as the mother-goddess, Kali-Ma.
* Recurring Series Characters and Themes: Rodriguez the Great Escapist, Romeo & Juliet, Rapunzel, King Arthur, Adan & Eve, Samson and the End of The World.

## Sequence

* **Last Episode:** The Unexpected
* **Next Episode:** Superstitions
A Man's Life in the German Army

## Bio

**En Ist Eine Mann's Leif in der Deutch Armee** (A Man's Life in the German Army) is an army recruiting film featuruing the daily duties and tribulations of the German Army. It features a ten member platoon of infantry soldiers; one of whom (Ronnie Brody) has a passing similarity with a former German chancellor. One member (Benny Hill) is persistently out of step and out of sync with the otherwise top precision with the others. The commander (Bob Todd) gets his foot stomped by him and even has his helmet shot off his head at one point.

It's "star member" also disables his tent trying to show it off and injures himself on the exercise field. While posing for the end of the film, the commander tries to ogle a young beauty (Carol Mills) slipping off to her dainties to do some sun bathing, but the soldier returns holding two ice cream cones which the commander grans and presses to his face thinking they're the binoculars.

## Trivia

* Benny also plays a German tennis player named Otto Stuk in News At Ten and a German pitch-man in the Stuck Butter quickie in Cinema: The Vintage Years.
* The unidentified soldiers in the platoon aren't identified, but it possibly includes Nicholas Parsons, Johnny Greenland, John Trayhorn and Leroy Hyde, who were cast members in the episode. The other extras haven't been identified.

## Gallery

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Little Things Mean A Lot

## Bio

**Little Things Mean a Lot** is a popular 1950s song written by Edith Lindeman and accompanied with music by Carl Stutz. First published in 1953, the tune has been covered by several entertainers, most notably by Kitty Kallen in 1954 where reached #1 on the Billboard chart in 1954 and on the Cash Box chart that same year. Billboard ranked it as the #1 song of 1954. It also climbed to the top spot in the UK Singles Chart in September 1954. In 1972, Benny Hill performs the song on piano surrounded by statues of naked cherubs holding lamps.

His take on the song is accompanies a silent sketch about the strained relationship and marriage of two unnamed characters (Benny Hill and Pamela Cundell) linked by one of their friends (Bob Todd). Their marriage starts off contentious; he brushes her hair into her face during a dinner party, and he chases after younger prettier girls Geraldine Burnett. She's often sleeping alone at home, and in one scene, he seems to be in a jail cell. During a dinner party, they partner to steal the jewels on their guests (he mouths them while kissing the ladies' hands). She later starts drinking, and he starts abandoning her in public urinals. After a separation and derision (she throws a bowl of water in his face), they catch up with each other at another dinner party and get back together, having eight kids.

### Notes

* In the dinner party, Bob's wife is played by Lesley Goldie
* The departing guests include Leslie Goldie, Jenny Lee-Wright and Robert Howe. The other actress and two actors are unidentified.
* In the baby scene, Benny and Pamela are in front the building used as the studio to film and rehearse the series. According to sources, it was a closed down hospital owned by Teddington Studios. The exterior was used in several of the shorts through the series, such as Hill Department Store.

## Lyrics

Give her your hand when she's lost her way

And give her your shoulder to cry on

Whether the day is bright or gray

Give her your heart to rely on

Blow her a kiss from across the room

Say she looks nice when she's not

Touch her hand as you pass her chair

Little things mean a lot

Give her your hand as you cross the street

Call her at six on the dot

Align a day when you're far away

Little things mean a lot

Don't have to buy her diamonds and pearls

Champagne, sables and stuffs

She doesn't care much for diamonds and pearls

She'll laugh and say, "Honey, they just cost money."

Give her your hand when she's lost her way

And give her your shoulder to cry on

Whether the day is bright or gray

Give her your heart to rely on...

Send her the warmth of a secret smile

To show her you haven't forgot

Now and forever, always and ever

Little things mean a lot

## Gallery

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Is This Your Life? (sketch)

## Bio

**Is This Your Life?** is a British reality documentary that reunites ordinary citizens with people from their past. It is hosted by TV personality Eamonn Andres (Nicolas Parsons) who introduces musician and composer George Podmore (Robertson Hare) on the pretense of a presentation. He introduces him to **Ron Moore** from Stanford (Benny Hill) after confusing him as Stan Moore from Rumford, who had worked with George at a haberdashery. Although Ron doesn't known George, he turns up thinking he's on the talent show "Opportunity Knocks." Edwards then brings out **Emily Pringle** (Benny Hill), George's old school teacher, who confuses Andrews and Podmore then reacts when she realizes how much he's changed. She is also shocked to hear his looks aren't caused by hard-partying. Edwards also re-introduces George to Fred Scuttle from the Lower Tidmarsh Brass Band. On the show, Scuttle relates stories of George's time in the band and with women. The show wraps with George getting reunited with his long-lost son, **Richard Podmore** (Benny Hill), wearing prison garb and being lead by a police officer (Michael Sharvell-Martin).

## Trivia

* This sketch is a parody of the American television series "This Is Your Life" which broadcast on NBC radio from 1948 to 1952 and on NBC television from 1952 to 1961, hosted by its creator and producer Ralph Edwards.
* Robertson Hare works in his catchphrase "Oh, Calamity" from the BBC comedy series "All Gas and Gaiters."
* Robertson Hare had previously worked with Benny as far back as 1959 in a stage play called "Fine Fettle."
* Benny would go on to parody "Opportunity Knocks" in Opportunity's Knocking.
* Benny's costume as Emily Pringle matches his costume as Edith Packet in The European Song Contest.
* This was the first appearance of Fred Scuttle at Thames.
* When Benny plays Fred Scuttle, he's still chewing the caramel he took as Emily Pringle.

## Gallery

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Mec's Tour Guide

## Bio

**Mec's Tour Guide** is an unidentified English guide in the Rue De Pigalle neighborhood of France. Standing on the streets, he tries petitioning the visiting tourists to purchase his services, speaking to them in French, Italian, German and English, which seems to be his native language. He promises a tour of the cabarets, over-emphasizing the appeal of the naked women, and the ability to speak in all languages, except Japanese.

## Trivia

* The tour guide was played by Benny Hill.

## Gallery

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Hill Department Store

## Bio

**Hill Department Store** is a public outlet market located in England, possibly in Lower Tidmarsh or Teddington. It sells a variety of merchandise, such as clothing and accessories.

While perusing the store, a customer (Benny Hill} sees what looks like a naked lady, but it's really a saleslady (Laraine Humphrys) standing behind a headless mannequin. The store manager (Jackie Wright) tries shooing him off, and he inadvertently walks into the lady's changing area where a woman (Lee Gibson) is changing clothes. Having become a nuisance, he starts arguing with and poking at the manager, but he turns to look at the women, only to turn around briefly and back to resume poking, only this time at a female police officer (Trudi Van Doorn. Now truly in trouble, he turns to flee, getting mistaken with another shopper (Bella Emburg) behind a man reading a newspaper (Henry McGee. Another officer (Bob Todd) shows up to catch him, but he evades them by using the shade on a light fixture like a fez to disguise his look and by hiding among mannequins. He then hides under a large sombrero and a Mexican wrap to crawls out, but the lady shopper's (Bella Emburg) foot pulls off his disguise. He then runs into a room which turns out to be the Ladies room, getting chased by several ladies (Laraine Humphrys, Lee Gibson, Trudi Van Doorn and Bella Emburg) as well as the manager (Jackie Wright). He finally makes the parking lot with the customers and staff on bicycles joined by Chief Running Bare (Bill Weston) and a young boy (unidentified) all disappearing into an abandoned Western set.

## Trivia

* The sketch is only known as "Department Store." "Hill Department Store" is only used for identification purposes.
* Compared to later versions of this gag, the view with Laraine Humphrys's head on the topless mannequin isn't nearly as convincing as later versions of this illusion.
* The exterior shots were filmed on the grounds of Teddington Studios. The close proximity of the Western set front would imply they once rested on the field across the road from the studio before getting moved to Thorpe Park for later episodes.
* The re-appearance of Bill Weston as Chief Running Bare from The Deputy suggests these episodes were taped back to back.
* The unidentified boy bringing up the rear is unidentified. He might be the son of a cast member, but this is unconfirmed.
* This might be the same department store from Poster Girl and Girls Girls Girls Nightclub.

## Gallery

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Francesca Whitburn

**Francesca Whitburn** is an English actress and dancer who starred as one of "Pan's People" in the Late 70s, along with Pauline Crawford, Abigail Higgins, Patricia McSherry and Sarah Woollett. She also starred as a pre-Hill's Angels cast member on "The Benny Hill Show," appearing in the "Soar-Away Sum" blooper of April 25, 1979. She later starred in the TV series, "The Professionals" and "Minder." Today, she works as a choreographer; her credits include stage productions of "The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole" in 1987 and "Cinderella" in 2006.

## Episode(s)

* The Police Raid in Waterloo Station
* Leprechaun TV

## Gallery

* with Henry McGee
* Nola Haynes and Francesca Whitburn
* Francesca and Benny in a "Dominatrix" quickie
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Fred Atlas

## Bio

**Fred Atlas** is a physical therapist and body builder who helps his clients get in shape.

After getting bullied and having sand kicked into his face by a rival (Benny Hill), an elderly customer (Jackie Wright) comes to Atlas to get in shape and build up his stamina in order to fight for himself. Atlas gets him started on the chest expander, which rips out all of his chest hair, and moves him on to the boxing bag. The old guy also performs admirable by exercising on the horizontal bars and eventually shows up Atlas by lifting a weight with which he was struggling. However, Atlas's female instructor (Sue Upton) undoes them both by lifting the old guy with the weight. Before leaving, the old man shakes hands with Atlas and crushes his hand.

Back at the beach the next day, and with muscles under a sweater, the old man is the attention of all the heautiful bikini-clad ladies. When the bully shows up, he dares him to kick sand into his face, and after he complies, the old man gets up and strikes him to the stomach, back of the neck and the stomach again. Naturally, he thinks the ladies will rally around him, but instead they rush to help the other guy and then turn on him, chasing him from the beach.

## Trivia

* Fred Atlas is a parody of Charles Atlas, whose health fitness ads were seen in numerous comic books and periodicals from the 60s to the 80s. The character was played by Eddie Buchanan.
	+ Eddie plays a similar character in Transistor Girl on February 18, 1976.
* The beach scenes were actually filmed at the Foxhills Mansion by creating a beach area on lower ground and framing the scene that the house resembled a hotel and the only area visible was the beach area.
	+ In the chase sequence, a tent can be seen in the distance on the property. It was possibly used in some capacity in the filming on the estate.
* The beach scenes are filmed on location at Foxhills Mansion; the training scenes are taped in the studio.
* The "chest hair" gag is recycled from the Keep Fit Brigade from 1972.
* Jenny Lee-Wright, Diana Darvey, Sue Upton, Jenny Westbrook and Suzy Mandel possibly play the beach girls in some order. An uncredited Ken Sedd plays the obscured sixth figure, and Eddie Buchanan possibly plays the police officer in the chase.
* This tag isn't listed in the A&E DVD menu.

## Gallery

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