recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Alison Bell

**Alison Bell** is an English actress, model and dancer best known for her appearances on "The Benny Hill Show."

She was born in 1960 in Roehampton, England. Not many details have been revealed about her career, but the statuesque beauty became one of the first Hill's Angels on "The Benny Hill Show." In an interview, she describes discussing her audition for the series as occurring over lunch and wine. First appearing on the series on the April 25, 1979 show, her characters included Lady Cynthia Ramsbottom in "The Police Raid in Waterloo Station," "The Poster Girl" and appearances in "Keep Young and Beautiful," "Hotel Splendide" and "Little Dimpton Street Party" At 5'10", her height also led her to play characters such as a female Hulk, a female vampire and Wanda the Wicked West Whickam Whip Woman in the Super-Teech episode. On at least two occasions, she re-played roles from earlier sketches, such as a woman trapped inside a burning building in the remake of "A Tribute to the Lower Tidmarsh Fire Brigade" and as the younger wife of Jackie Wright in "The Lover," once played in earlier sketches by Leslie Goodie.

After leaving "The Benny Hill Show," Bell appeared in "The Bruce Forsyth Show" and "Little and Large." She also appeared on stage in "Underneath the Arches." Often interviewed in specials about Benny Hill, she has also appeared in the movies "Nice to See You!" in 1981 and "Play Your Cards Right" in 1980.

In the 2006, she appears with several former Angels, Sue Upton, Alison Thomas, Jo Thomas and Carla De Wansey for a "I Was a Hill's Angel" feature for the series' full release on DVD in its unedited form, serving as a loving tribute and retrospective on their time on "The Benny Hill Show."

## Episode(s)

* The Police Raid in Waterloo Station
as Lady Cynthia Ramsbottom and a Hill's Angel
* WonderGran Meets Dr. Jackal and Mr. Hyde
as a Hill's Angel
* A Tribute to the Lower Tidmarsh Volunteer Fire Brigade
as the Poster Girl, a Hill's Angel and the She-Hulk
* Big Poppa
as a Hill's Angel (uncredited)
* The Monte Carbolic Show
as a Hill's Angel
* Talking Point
as a Hill's Angel
* Super-Teech
as Wanda the Wicked West Whickam Whip Woman
* Carmen

## Gallery

* Lee Gibson with Jackie Wright,Alison Bell, Benny Hill and Louise EnglishGo to Big Poppa (sketch)
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Colleen

## Bio

**Colleen** was the opening number on February 4, 1970. It was introduced by Nicole Shelby and performed by Benny Hill with The Ladybirds doing back-up vocals.

## Lyrics

Now, Jock sat in the emergency ward as nervous as he could be.

Nurse Colleen said, "Now, what's that there just above your knee?"

He said, "Oh, that's my sporran, ma'am." She said, "Now there's a scream...

"For ten whole minutes, I've been trying to give it a saucer of cream."

Colleen, Colleen,

Oh, I'm aching for you.

Colleen, Colleen,

My heart's breaking for you.

She rubbed me thumb with liniment and it turned me thumb all red.

I said, "That made it smart," so she rubbed some on me head.

And I couldn't eat peas with me knife and fork. She said, "Now never you mind."

She went and she got a celery stalk, and we rolled them down one at a time.

Colleen, Colleen,

Oh, I'm aching for you.

Colleen, Colleen,

My heart's breaking for you.

Now, she's got a touch of the foul pest, and she acts in a very odd way.

She thinks that she's a chicken, and she cackles all the day.

"Oh, send for the psychiatrist." Her poor old father begged.

But Mum says, "Let the girl alone. You know we need the eggs."

Colleen, Colleen,

Oh, I'm aching for you.

Colleen, Colleen,

My heart's breaking for you.

Now, we've married, and we've settled in a cottage near Ravout.

The bed is all broken, and the springs are sticking out.

But when I recall our nights together, my heart it wants to sing.

We kissed all through the winter, and made love right though the spring.

Colleen, Colleen,

Oh, I'm aching for you.

Colleen, Colleen,

My heart's breaking for you.
Carole Ball

**Carol Ball** is an English musical comedy actress known for the shorts "Out," "Chop Chop" and the TV series "The Benny Hill Show." She played a dancer in the movie, "Winners are Losers," a role in the series "Man at the Top" and as Benny's partner in the Great British Dancing Finals sequence on December 27, 1973. Her later credits include the 2012 film "Silver Bears" and the "For George" short. She has also appeared in Harry Warren and Al Dubin's musical, "42nd Street," at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London, England with Kenneth Nelson, Bob Sessions, Catherine Zeta Jones and Graeme Henderson in the cast. She was married to Harry Dickman from February 5, 1971 to his death in August, 2020. They have two children.

## Episode(s)

* The Great British Dancing Finals (credited as Carole Ball)

## Gallery

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Dalton Abbott Railway Choir (group)

## Bio

The **Dalton Abbott Railway Porter Choir** is a train station-motif musical choir complete with outfits based on train uniforms. The members are Ted Crumble (Benny Hill), Bob Todd, Henry McGee, Jackie Wright, Jon Jon Keefe, Jim Tyson, Trudi Van Doorn, Sue Bond (in her last "Benny Hill" appearance), Lee Gibson, and Marian Davies, Maggie Stredder and Gloria George of The Lady Birds.

The group arrives on stage on a trolley pulled by a small buggy, dragging Bob Todd behind it. The members then race to their spots as Benny starts singing Runaway Train. He continues with a few words of Tom Pierce and a tribute which ends as Bob reads the episode cast list. Continuing giggles and corrections lead up to Jackie Wright singing Baby Lover assisted by the others on harmony and Benny uttering the rhythm.

The sketch comes to a halt as Ted reaches around Jon Jon Keefe to prod Henry McGee into an introduction (during which he reacts confused at the word "respected"). Ted of course responds stunned and surprised as he takes the microphone. He and the group end the number with the song, Gather In The Mushrooms.

## Trivia

* The number ends with the men rolling the ladies around on dollies. The sole exception is Lee Gibson pushing Jackie Wright, but Jim Tyson pushes Gloria George, Henry McGee pushes Trudi Van Doorn, Bob Todd pushes Marian Davies, Jon Jon Keefe pushes Maggie Stredder and Benny brings up the rear with Sue Bond before a square dance round with the ladies.
* Ted Taylor, the series pianist, makes a rare appearance on screen. He also appeared in the Late 80s sketch, The Herd.

## Gallery

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Barcland Bank

## Bio

**Barcland Bank** is a British banking institution somewhere in England, possibly Lower Tidmarsh or Little Dimpton. Not much is known about the facility, but it is known the Bank President (Benny Hill) fools around with his hot brunette secretary (Jane Leeves), a fact that gets out to the staff (Henry McGee, Jackie Wright, Bob Todd and Jon Jon Keefe) when she confuses a personal message as "personnel." He also does her physical examinations in the bank. One of the tellers (Benny Hill) is described as a monkey by his co-workers and goes to complain to the supervisor (Henry McGee) who suggests moving him to a separate branch. The location is eventually robbed by Fingers McNee.

## Trivia

* This bio covers three office sketches from April 26, 1983. The bank is also robbed by Fingers McNee on January 26, 1984. It also appears as the site of an attempted robbery on January 26, 1977.
* These sketches feature Jane Leeves most memorable moments in the series.
* Benny also reprises this white-haired boss in quickies with Derek Deadman on January 13, 1988 and with Anna Dawson in April 27, 1988.

## Episode(s)

* Holiday
* Scuttle-Vision
* The Halitosis Kid
* Club Chicago-Go

## Gallery

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Fay Hillier

**Fay Hillier** is an English comedy actress known for her work on "Dick Emery's Comedy Hour," "What's Up Superdoc!" and "The Unforgettable Dick Emery." Nothing is known about her early life and career. After appearing in "What's Up Superdoc!" in 1978, she starred in two episodes of "The Benny Hill Show,' playing a woman with a baby visiting prison on  December 26, 1978, and a gold-digging bride and Dracula's nurse on March 14, 1979. She also appeared in the movie "Gambit" and the TV shows, "Dick Emery's Comedy Hour" and "The Dick Emery Show." Afterward, she became Emery's girlfriend after the divorce of his fifth wife to his death in 1983. Between 2002 and 2014, she appeared in a few documentaries on British television.

## Episode(s)

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

## Gallery

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February 12, 1955

## Production

**Episode:** 2

**Date:** February 12, 1955

**Time:** 45 minutes

**Musical Director:** Eric Robinson

**Producer:** Kenneth Carter

**Director:**

**Writer:** Benny Hill and Dave Freeman

## Episode

* Guests include:
	+ Jerry Allen and his Trio
	+ The Edorics
	+ Four in a Crowd
	+ The Jack Billings Dancers

## Cast

* Benny Hill
* Beryl Reid
* Jeremy Hawk

## Sequence

* **Last Episode:**January 15, 1955
* **Next Episode:** March 12, 1955
David Hamilton

**David Hamilton** is an English actor and television personality, known for the films "Glamour," "Seaside Special" and "The Real Tony Blackburn." Not much is known about his life and career, he was born David Pilditch on September 10 1939 in Manchester, England, later taking his mother's maiden name when he became an actor. From the Early Sixties to July 28, 1968, he was a popular on-screen continuity announcer for ABC Weekend Television, a role he performed on "A Present for Dickie," "Two In a Clover," "Whodunnit?," "Love Thy Neighbor," "And Mother Makes Three," "The Benny Hill Show" and "Confessions of a Pop Performer" before becoming a disc jockey with the BBC from 1973 to 1987. He has since been a prolific television host and announcer.

## Episode(s)

* Is This Your Life
* Tommy Tupper in Tupper-Time
* The Sound of Frankenstein
* Film Time at the National Film Theater
Departure Lounge

## Bio

**Departure Lounge** is a British television talk show that focuses on British actors and celebrities leaving England. Hosted by Andree Melly, the show interviews Merwyn Cruddy as he is leaving the country because of his reputation.

Describing his situation as "sordid," Cruddy (Benny Hill) flinches as Melly tries to touch him. He goes on the describe the day after his 21st birthday party when his friend, Mark, a property developer, took him on a walk through Soho at 3AM and they encountered a woman in front of an erotica night club. He describes the interior of the club as "Gomorrah an that other place." In the club, a met a female musician who played a cello and became friends with her, later getting inviting to a party. Learning he was considered a "groupie," he ended up being passed around by a group of female musicians who "had their way with him," (all except the little fat one). Afterward, he became a call boy pursued by duchesses and "harlesses" and even a member of the government. A reporter from the Sunday News eventually had him get pictures of her. The incident is such a scandal in Britain that he has to leave for Spain to live in the property the female politician purchased for him, which he is leaving for with two ladies (Malou Cartwright and Marilyn Harrison?) on the plane he just purchased for himself.

## Trivia

* This was one of three host segments Andree did with Benny. The other two are The Grass Is Greener and The Movie Shakers.
* Benny starts laughing midway through the sketch at the absurdity of this routine.

## Gallery

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Costa Coco

## Bio

**Costa Coco** was a ballad performed by Benny Hill on May 27, 1985. Set in the fictional Central American island nation of Costa Coco, the ballad is performed in the town square of the village with the Hill's Angels doing vocals and a considerable crowd of extras. Because of the extensive cast to this performance, identification of the cast members is arduous at best. The Angels include Louise English (striped top), Sue Upton (orange floral dress), Lorraine Doyle (black hat), Alison Thomas (brunette officer), Emma Bryant (white hat), Laura Wynne (red top), Cheryl Mortimer (blue pastel top), Helen Tozer (red pastel top), Erica Lynley (blonde officer) and Nicola Bacon (shirt and shorts). The cast includes:

- Bob Todd - the generale with the tan

- Jon Jon Keefe - tourist in floral shirt

- Henry McGee - tourist in suit

- Jenny Lee Wright - woman in hat and striped wrap beyond Louise English

- Len Keyes - seen beyond Louise English

- Cyril Cross (?) - serape man beyond Louise English

- Derek Royle (?) - mustached man in straw hat beyond Cheryl Mortimer

## Lyrics

Now the town of Costa Coco is not as prosperous as it might look.

Last week, they closed our library because somebody stole the book.

They say our socialist government is like a beacon, and it's shining bright.

I say it's more like a fiddle...

It's held by the left, but it's played by the right.

Now, our new president, he loves poor people...

That's why he has created so many.

You could spend all day in a bar with him,

You wouldn't know that he had a penny.

But he has married a beautiful wife with a figure too lovely to hide,

And now, he's put her on our postage stamp,

We all lick the wrong side.

Now, the leader of the opposition escaped from prison by digging a tunnel.

He tried to blow up the president's luxury liner, but he burnt his mouth on the funnel.

So to keep him quiet, the president gave him the best apartment in town.

It's above the bank...

And now his asset is over ten million pounds.

If mosquitoes bite you in the night,

Don't worry your pretty little head,

Just drink a bottle of tequila before you go to bed.

You'll be too drunk to notice them for the first half of the night,

And for the second half those mosquitos will be too drunk to bite.

So come to Costa Coco where girls buy Tupperware bras with their cash...

They say they don't elevate and they don't separate...

But they keep what you've got nice and fresh.

And for those who say that where there's a storm,

You will go to any old port.

Why don't you come to Costa Coco...

Because it's the last resort.....
Archie's Angels

## Bio

**Archie's Angels** is an Australian television series about three female police officers who become private investigators to an unseen employer known as Charlie. They are identified as Sabrina (unidentified), Kelly (Barry Otto) and Jill (Benny Hill); their associate is Bosley (Benny Hill).

In the police academy, the girls learn marksmanship with a gun; Jill careful circling their bullet holes in a sign. Sabrina and Jill practice man-handling criminals with a transient (Ron Shand) standing in for them. While transporting a criminal, Jill is noticed loitering outside a Men's Lavatory waiting for her prisoner (Ron Shand) to emerge.

After graduating, the girls are hired by Charlie to work for him. After the success of one case, he sends them after three counterfeiters known as the Three Graces (Max Phipps(?) and two unknown) named Faith, Hope and Charity. Sabrina will have to go undercover as a Bunny Girl at a club where the Graces frequent, but Jill thinks she would be better for the job. After some back and forth, Charlie gives in, and Jill gets the job. As a Bunny, patrons don't hesitate to stick bills (and even coins) down the top of her outfit. She even manages to out drink the patrons in the club. She eventually meets an informant (Ron Shand) who tries to to give her information, but he gets shot in front of her. One of the Graces gets the drop on her, but he's confronted by Sabrina, who is stopped by another Grace, stopped by Kelly, who is stopped by another Grace. The guys frisk Sabrina and Kelly, but Jill gets upset when she's not searched. Despite the drawback, they find a matchbook to Dell Safari Park where they slip in through the Children's Play Area. The Graces take after them, and get the brief jump on Jill, but the Angels soon overwhelm them. Using a park vehicle, Jill lassos one while another is hit in a delicate spot by a loose piece of fence.

When Charlie calls the girls to thank them for another good job, Jill reveals they have kept the counterfeit cash.

## Trivia

* Charlie is voiced by Benny Hill. This is possibly the only time he plays three characters in the same scene.
* The instructor at the police academy is possibly Maurice Murphy. The transient hustled back and forth may be Ron Shand.
* The couple noticing Benny as Jill outside the Men's Lavatory has yet to be identified.
* The "Caught-outside-the-Lavatory" gag returns with Vicki Harris in a Little Angels sketch in 1989.
* "Exploding ballcock" is from Dan Dan The Laboratory Man in 1974 and 1981.
* "Coins down the top" is a gag repeated with Debi Gaye in Club Bizarre in 1984.
* The park location may be an actual park in Australia. Although unidentified, a kangaroo ends up in some scenes.

## Gallery

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Anne Bruzac

**Anne Bruzac** is a French-English actress and performer known for her performances on "The Benny Hill Show" and the films "What's on Next?" and "Only Fools and Horses." She was born in St. Tropez in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur of France in 1955, one of a large family of twelve brothers and sisters. Gaining a BA in languages at Lille University, she came to England in 1974 and taught English at the Royal Liberty School in Haverling, Essex, later moving to Hornchurch, Essex. She started acting in 1976, getting a role in the movie, "What's on Next?" before starring in "The Benny Hill Show." She played a performer in the "Newer Faces" sketch on January 8, 1975 and Pete Morgan's girlfriend distracted by Dilys Watling and a French actress in a commercial saying "bristles" on March 23, 1977. For that episode, she was oddly credited under her nickname of "Froggie." She returned as one of Benny Hill's dream girls in the "Girls, Girls, Girls" sequence with Eddie Buchanan on March 23, 1977.

Through her career, Bruzac starred in the movie "Fatal Lady" and the TV shows "Bless Me Father," "Play for Today," "Metal Mickey," "ITV Playhouse" and "What's On Next?" in 1978 where she was a regular. She also starred in the films "The Boxwallah" and "It Never Rains."

Her family lives in Armentières, France.

## Episode(s)

* A Packed Program
* Great Mysteries with Orson Buggy
* Gavin Blod: The Man and His Music

## Gallery

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Big Eddie

## Bio

**Big Eddie** is a Sixties-era gangster movie starring Ivan Ego and billed as "film of the year." The plot seems to involve a hood named Eddie who gets set up to take a fall from the Mafia.

As the movie is being billed, a newspaper vendor (Bob Todd) recommends it to a pedestrian walking by his stand. Intrigued by the film, he goes to see it. Once inside the theater, he's taken by the shapely candy girl (Kay Frazer) in the on-screen ad, but the real candy girl (Bella Emberg) is anything but close to her.

As the movie starts, the young man settles down and starts settling into the movie, seeing himself as "Big Eddie" and posturing in the role with his drink. When a pretty brunette (Nicole Shelby) sits by him, he treats her like Eddie treats his girl in this film and offers her some candy. He continues miming along as another woman (Leslie Goldie)comes in with Lola on the screen, even trying to light her stick of bubblegum he thinks is a cigarette. The younger girl even acts jealous in her presence in sync with the characters on the screen.

In the film, Mr. Big enters with some hoods at the same time as an old man (Jackie Wright, a priest (Henry McGee) and a young lady (Barbara Wise). Although he can't see them, the young man similarly feels threatened and starts rising with his hands up, annoying the other theater patrons and causing a skirmish that gets him tossed out of the theater by the manager (Bob Todd).

Heading home, the embarrassed young man passes the vendor again, and kicks over his stand in retaliation.

## Trivia

* This sketch is known as "Fun at the Flicks" in the DVD package.
* The voices on screen sound like Bob Todd, Benny Hill, Jon Jon Keefe and Nicole Shelby.
* This was the last sketch and appearance for Nicole Shelby on the show.

## Gallery

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Eskimo Nell

## Bio

**Eskimo Nell** was the opening monologue of the February 23, 1977 episode. It was performed by Benny Hill dressed as a Canadian Mountie on a snowy set with a small cabin marked "Women's Prison" and delivered on a set pulled by a small poodle. Between stanzas, he tries cracking a whip to ill-timed sound effects. It seems very loosely based on the bawdy Vaudeville and music hall tune from the 1940s except with entirely new lyrics.

## Lyrics

The men who inhabit the town of Sinkowan are a rough and unscrupulous mob...

Once we put up a notice, "Man Wanted For Murder," and sixteen applied for the job!

Into this living hell come Eskimo Nell, with a big smile for each lumberjack -

I won't say she's cross-eyed, but each time she cried,

The tears used to run down her back!

The Chef she once loved had been taken above

For one night as they laid by a hedge, along came his wife

With a long handled knife and she cut off his meat and two vedge!

But she liked a few laughs, She played ludo and drafts.

She even indulged in some streaking.

But we never found if she had varicose veins...

Or if her fountain pen had started leaking.

Jake was up at the bar; he was drinking cam-par-i when Eskimo Nell wandered in,

He near died of fright when she said “Mine’s a lite”

And she ended up soaked to the skin.

To add to her discomfort, a man eating a crumpet dropped dripping all over her knee.

She said, "Heaven's above."

he said, "I know that love, but I've got to get back to me tea."

Big Jake flashed her a grin, and he bought her a gin.

And as she sat in her bar stool with it,

He says, "I've been told you're hard, and you're cold."

She says "So's dynamite until you fool with it."

That tickled Old Jake, and he bought her a steak which she promptly had set in a ring.

The next day Jake married Nell,

But the cocky hotel clerk said, "We're full up. We haven't a thing."

But Jake, he was smarter.

He said, "If President Carter came, you'd jolly soon find him a bed."

He said "Course, we would."

"He said "Well, that's good, he's not coming, we'll have it instead."

Jake took to coming home late.

"Just four pints with me mates," he'd say. "Honest, I've had little else"

One night, Nell found a note and on it was wrote,

"I love you, Jake." Signed, Little Else.

Jake was took very ill; as he made out his will, he said,

"I've been unfaithful, my dear, with Jean, Annie and Flo."

And Nell said, "I know, and that's why I've poisoned your beer."

At the funeral, the vicar had drunk so much liquor,

He could hardly see what he was reading.

And what's even worse, the bloke driving the hearse was fined fifty dollars for speeding!

Well, the Judge knocked up Nell... (*correcting quickly*) Locked up Nell....

She's all alone in that cell.

And some nights when I'm out here on guard,

I think of her there, in her cell cold and bare,

Cause to live all alone is awful hard.

It's like a rose without rain,

Like a creature in pain, to live without love is a sin.

It's sad but its true... but what can I do?

She's got the key and won't let me in!
Dan Jackson

**Daniel Jackson** is an English-Guyanese actor whose career spanned much of the Sixties and the Seventies. he is probably best known for the movies, "Mysterious Island" and "A High Wind in Jamaica."

Born in 1925 in South Guyana, his first film appearances were in the movies "The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend," "My Six Convicts," "Bombay Waterfront" and "The Emperor Jones," later making appearances in the TV shows, "New Ramps for Old," "The BBC Sunday Night Theatre," "Dixon of Dock," "Green Boyd" and "Q.C." before appearing in "Mysterious Island" in 1961. He went on to star in the TV shows, "No Hiding Place," "Teletale," "It's Dark Outside," "Dr. Finlay's Casebook," "The Wednesday Play," "Z Cars" and "Escape." On October 14, 1970, he starred on "The Benny Hill Show" in three sketches, particularly the "British Arms" quickie, "World of Change" and as a crew member in the "Underworld Water of Jacques Custard." His later movie credits include "Bunny Lake Is Missing" and "The Mind of Mr. Soames."
Not much else is known about his life and career.

## Episode(s)

* The Underworld Water of Jacques Custard
Dickie Dido

## Bio

**Dickey Dido** is an American country and western singer who speaks with a distinct American southwestern accent. He seems fond of telling long stories from his past. One of which involves his Grand Pappy Blooper, who could tell the time from the udder on the family cow. However, he reveals he did it by lifting the udder high enough to read the town clock. He also reveals the cow died of a broken heart and how his Grand Pappy gave him a book on Ancient Greece with stories on Zeus, Andy Rockles and Dodgy Knees. (He actually means Androcles and Diogenes.) He refers to the Cyclops as "Cycle-Clips" and reports that Pythogoras had a "therum" that hurt him. He also reports arithmetic, algebra and trigonometry because he hated kids and tells the day Pythagoras created the "Eureka" expression.

He also reveals that there are so many Chinese in the world that if they all marched into the ocean that there would be another generation to enter the ocean by time it finished. This leaves him to reckon they're doing something else in the line before entering the ocean. He goes on to sing Rachel with The Ladybirds.

In his first visit to England, he is interviewed by Patricia Hayes and both compliments her and insults her with back-handed comments. He describes getting into music through his Grand-Daddy Blooper who sold him his guitar on his deathbed for thirty dollars. He names his back-up players as Martin, Barton and Fargo, who he discovered singing outside of a smokehouse. His singing partner is Miss Pearl (Eira Heath), who he describes as "kissing kin."

## Trivia

* Dickey Dido was played by Benny Hill.
* This introduction was a prelude to Benny's song Golden Days with Eira Heath.
* The Ancient Greek tall tales are repeated by Gaston LeClerc on March 25, 1981.

## Episode(s)

* The Sound of Frankenstein
* Opportunity's Knocking

## Gallery

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Dracula

## Bio

**Dracula** is a 500-year-old henpecked vampire who's thwarted at every turn by his wife to get away from her and chase far younger girls. He has no success whatsoever in his quests to bite the necks of young ladies. One girl, upon spotting him, offers him her newspaper to read while another of whom throws some powder his way while making herself up, leading him to sneeze and his false fangs falling into her handbag. He soon heads to a girls' college and attaches one end of a rope to a car while grasping the other to climb the building, ending up injured after the car drives off, pulling him along the way. A woman sees him in distress and strips to her undergarments, turning her dress into bandages for both his legs and a sling for his arm. When he tries to bite her neck, a police officer on the scene signals for Wonder-Gran and a chase ensues, leading to the police brandishing branches off of trees as weapons and officers using water pistols as weapons becoming involved. Cornered by Dracula, Wonder Gran holds up an photograph of Nicholas Parsons to repel him in place of a cross. Dracula flees and finds another victim, but he is unable to bite her before a crowd finds him and gives chase.

## Trivia

* Dracula was played by Benny Hill.
* One of the most played characters in literature, Dracula is based on the main character from Bram Stoker's, "Dracula."
* Two locations appear as Castle Dracula in the interstitial shots: Hilfiend Castle near Walford and Knebworth Castle in Hertfordshire.
* The photo of Nicholas Parsons used to ward off Dracula is different in close-up and at a distance.
* Ironically, Benny's former cast member, Andree Melly, played a vampire in "The Brides of Dracula" in 1963.
* Alison Bell also played a vampire in the episode The Monte Carbolic Show.

## Gallery

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Earl Adair

**Earl Adair** is an English actor probably best known for playing Dr. Prospero in several tours of the cult play, "Return to Forbidden Planet."

Born James Earl Adair, he was also a brief cast member on "The Benny Hill Show," appearing in a spoof of Pan's People and Midnight In Soho sketch on March 12, 1975. He went on to star in two episodes of the 1981 TV series, "Triangle," the 2008 movie "Made of Honor" and the 2010 shorts, "A Friend for Christmas" and "Unspoken." He mostly appears in regional theatre in England.
Dickie Martyn

Not much is known about **Richard Martyn**. Usually credited as Dickie Martyn, he appeared in the "Berlin Youth Choir Recital" sketch of "The Benny Hill Show" on October 25, 1972. His other credits include episodes of the TV series "The World of Wooster," "The Dickie Henderson Show," "Doctor in the House," "A Present for Dickie," "An Apple a Day," "The Basil Brush Show" and "Love Thy Neighbour" as well as the films "Oliver!" and "Scrooge."
Cagney and Lacey (sketch)

## Bio

**Cagney and Lacey** is an American TV series about two female American detectives in a large American city (possibly New York City). Of the two, Cagney is smart and level-headed while her partner Lacey is much more simple and laid back bordering on a more juvenile personality.

While on a case, Cagney barges into an apartment looking for a suspect, stepping on and making a mess under foot as she goes. Lacey brings up the rear eating from an aluminum tray to notice the place is empty except for a goldfish in a tank. At that point, Cagney places her finger in the tank and sings to the fish, getting it to move back and forth. She explains she can control the fish because her brain is bigger, but when Lacey tries to do the same trick, she starts imitating the fish as Cagney looks on dismissed by the fact.

Hearing the culprit returning, they hide to surprise him. The criminal Louie (Bob Todd) enters with a package, swinging the door open and hitting Cagney bahind it. The ladies rush to confront him, but Lacey is holding the TV remote and has to switch to her gun. They order him to hand over the package, but he drops it. While Louie reaches to retrieve it, Cagney and Lacey shoot each other and fall to the floor. Standing up once more, the culprit reveals the package was just fish food.

## Trivia

* Both Cagney and Lacey are played by Benny Hill. He also dubs the voice for Bob Todd.
* Cagney & Lacey is an American television series that originally aired on CBS from March 25, 1982 to May 16, 1988 and starred Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly as New York City police detectives Christine Cagney (a career-minded single woman) and Mary Beth Lacey (a married working mother).
* Compared to Husky and Starch from 1977, this spoof seems incredibly light on material and gags, using only three cast members (Mike Mulloy likely doubled for Benny) suggesting to many that Benny was slowing down in his development of new sketches.

## Gallery

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Digger Blue: Private Eye

## Bio

**Digger Blue: Private Eye** is an Australian TV series featuring a detective named Digger Blue. He's fond of edible pipes, sunglasses and beautiful women, and is a fan of Telly Savalas. On cases, he is joined by his lovely brunette partner (Denise Brownlow) and sidekick (Jackie Wright).

In the episode, "Case of the Missing Microfilm," Digger is in search of missing microfilm and tails a suspect (Donna Scarff) all the way to a Women's Hostel, but when he tries to enter, he's warded off by the stern women's matron (Henry McGee). When he whistles for his partner, all the girls in the building lustfully toss him their keys.

With his team, Digger climbs in over a wall and through a window, but when the girls (Jillian Foot, Donna Scarf, Jenny Westbrook and Penny Chisholm) find them, they invite the detectives to party with them in their dorm, but the matron finds them and puts a stop to their fun, slamming a piano cover on Digger's fingers, and his other body parts. When his suspect surrenders the microfilm, both Digger and the matron dive to take it, but it flies through the air and goes down the front of the dress and through the cleavage of one of the girls (Dee Dee Darlington). When Digger's partner turns on the radio and dances with her to wiggle it free, the matron again makes a grab for it, revealing herself as a male spy in the process. Digger then gives chase to the spy, both of them on bicycles. After Digger vaults over the balustrade to capture him, he fools the spy with two phony guns, one being a lighter, and the other being shaped candy.

For this achievement, Digger is knighted by the Queen (Jenny Westbrook?), and accidentally taking his ear off.

## Trivia

* Digger Blue is played by Benny Hill.
* The girl in the blue dress in the intro is Dee Dee Darlington. She is also the biker girl with the baby carriage.
* The guy in the white sweater punching out Benny is likely Ken Sedd. He is also the chauffeur with Jenny Westbrook pushing the limousine baby carriage and the Scotsman dressed like Donna Scarff.
* Penny Chisholm is the girl with "The Gunners" baby carriage and the girl in a bra, panties and stockings in the hostel.
* The girls in the windows are likely Brownlow, Foot, Scarf, Chisholm and Westbrook.
* "Stunt cleavage" from an unidentified actress is used for Dee Dee Darlington when the microfilm sails down the front of her dress.
* The exterior locations in this sketch were filmed at Foxhills Estate. The site was also used in numerous other sketches through the 1970s episodes, particularly Bionic Boy, the Grand Wheelchair Rally, the beach scenes, the Body Building tag from June 26, 1977 and the home of The Widow on May 30, 1978.

## Gallery

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Corinne Russell

**Corinne Russell** is an English actress, dancer and model best known as a Page 3 Girl for *The Sun* in Great Britain and as one of the Hill's Angels on "The Benny Hill Show."

Russell was born on November 22, 1963 in Birmingham, England. An accomplished student of gymnastics and dance, she became an instructor herself, teaching acrobatic and ballroom dancing, specializing in Latin-American dance. She was a dancer on "Top Of The Pops," often working as an office girl and a barmaid in a pub between jobs. It was while working as a barmaid that a fashion photographer noticed her, leading to her role as a Page 3 Girl

In 1983, Russell became a member of "The Benny Hill Show" as one of the Hill's Angels although she also appeared in sketches as an actress, such as the Super-Teech sketch and the Mahala Balloon Dance number. The show gave her international stardom as a model. She was featured in Mayfair Magazine, photographed by Mario Marnoto and in "Lui" magazine in Germany, recreating the poses of various famous pin-ups, such as Bridget Bardot, Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield. Appearing in magazines all over Europe, she also starred in several movies and TV Shows and also played a character in the video game "Vixen" in 1988 and the AC/DC rock video, "You Shook Me All Night Long" in 1980 riding a mechanical bull. During her scene, she accidentally jabbed herself with her spur twice, and a roadie on the set came to her aid. They married a year later, getting a mechanical bull for a wedding present as a joke, but Corrine and the roadie later divorced.

Corrine's film work includes "Absolute Beginners," "Highlander," "Absolute Beginners" and "Harry's Kingdom." She was also one of the dancers in silhouette during the opening credits of James Bond flick "Octopussy" in 1983. She also had a minor role in "Bolero," directed by John Derek and starring his then wife, Bo Derek. Her most recent credit was in the series, "The Upper Hand," in 1993.

## Episode(s)

* Holiday
* Super-Teech

## Gallery

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Beryl Reid

**Beryl Elizabeth Reid, OBE** was a British actress of stage and screen. She won the 1967 Tony Award for *Best Actress in a Play* for "The Killing of Sister George," the 1980 Olivier Award for *Best Comedy Performance* for "Born in the Gardens" and the 1982 BAFTA TV Award for *Best Actress* for "Smiley's People." Her film appearances included "The Belles of St. Trinian's," "The Killing of Sister George," "The Assassination Bureau" and "No Sex Please, We're British."

Born in Hereford, Herefordshire on June 17, 1919, she was the daughter of Scottish parents, and raised in Manchester, where she attended Withington and Levenshulme High Schools. She left school at 16 to work in a shop and later perform at Floral Hall in Bridlington, later performing in variety shows and pantomimes during World War Two. Despite any formal training, she later started doing comedy at the Royal National Theater with her first big success playing a schoolgirl named Monica in the BBC radio show, "Educating Archie."

Well-received in film and TV, she reprised her Tony Award-winning performance of a lesbian soap opera star in the screen version of "The Killing of Sister George" for which she was nominated the Golden Globe Award for *Best Motion Picture Actress in a Drama*. She starred in several British TV shows including the first three episodes of "The Benny Hill Show" on the BBC, "Bold as Brass," "The World of Wooster," "The Very Merry Widow" and her own variety series in 1968. She also made appearances on "The Goodies," "This is Your Life," "Doctor Who" and "Two's Company" among several other TV shows. She also starred in the British mini-series "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and "Smiley's People," which won her a BAFTA for Best Actress on Television. She also wrote an autobiography, *So Much Love*, which was well received. She played the part of an elderly feminist and political subversive in the 1987 television drama, "The Beiderbecke Tapes."

Considered a talented comedic character actress, Reid appeared in many situation comedy and variety programs on British TV including "The Good Old Days," going on to star on the children's TV program "Mooncat" from 1981 to 1983 for Yorkshire Television. Despite being married twice, she never had any children.

Reid was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1986 Queen's New Year Honours List for her services to drama and a Lifetime British Comedy award in 1991. In her later years, she lived in the eccentric Honeypot Cottage on the banks of the Thames in Berkshire with her collection of stray cats. She passed away on October 13, 1996 from pneumonia and osteoporosis at a South Buckinghamshire hospital following knee surgery. She was 77 years old. Her authorised biography, *Roll Out the Beryl* was published in August 2016.

## Episode(s)

* January 15, 1955
* February 12, 1955
* March 12, 1955
Benny Hall

## Bio

**Mr. (Benny) Hall** is a struggling British actor (possibly in London). Not much is known about his past or career, but he ends up in a closed audition for an unknown movie without being told much about the plot. After getting interviewed, he's told to wait in the outer office for approval, but while sitting there, he hears the casting director (Henry McGee) criticizing his appearance during a phone call. However, it's not until he hears the scenes he's doing will be done in the nude before he marches out... returning when he realizes the beautiful woman (Valerie St. John) in the waiting room will be his co-star, and she will also be nude in it. When he hears about nude photos of her, he starts ripping up the room looking for them.

Continuing to eavesdrop, Hall learns the young beauty will be playing a nymphomaniac who escapes from prison after five years and who accidentally ingesting a bottle full of aphrodisiacs. She then breaks into the bedroom in the home of the character for which Hall is auditioning which leads to a sex scene and himself getting excited. As the phone call turns to wages, Hall heads back in to negotiate for the role. In his absence, an older heavier woman (Rita Webb) enters the waiting room and checks with the young woman. Hall emerges to announce he got the role for ten British pounds a week which is what he'll being paying to make the movie. The casting director now emerges to see Mr. Hall approved by the actress's manager, which is the young beauty. The female role in the movie is the old woman.

## Trivia

* Mr. Hall is played by Benny Hill.
* The director's associate over the phone is named Harry.
* The movie posters in the waiting room include the films:
	+ "The Wonderful Miracle of Lust" starring Reenie Groomstein and Ben E. Trill
	+ "The Thing Without A Thing" starring Joan Robin and Dennis Copland
	+ "The Thing" starring Betsy Crowe and Harry Founder
* Nicole Shelby plays the secretary.
* The set for this sketch was re-used in Fred Scuttle Escort Service in 1975.

## Gallery

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Erica Lynley

**Erica Lynley** is an English actress, singer and dancer, best known known for "The Benny Hill Show." Not much is known about her life and career, but it is known she trained in ballet, auditioning for Benny when she was 19 years old. Originally credited as "Erica Ludlow," she was a member of the "Sam's Set" dance troupe on "Opportunity Knocks" choreographed by Samantha Stevens. She later became an original member of the Hill's Angels and a regular member of Hill's comedy sketch players, appearing as the "Manchester Tart" in the Holiday Time: Dimton on Sea sketch and one of the extras in the Friday Night Fever disco scene in the December 6, 1978 episode. She also appeared in the "Wake Up!" quickie on April 25, 1984 episode and as the singing duet partner of Louise English in the Cafe Bizarre sketch on the January 16, 1984 episode. Following "The Benny Hill Show," she made appearances on "The Little & Large Show," "The Basil Brush Show," "The Dick Emery Show," "Be My Guest" and "No Place Like Home." She also worked briefly with the "Lipstick" troupe with choreographer Libby Roberts.

Her current whereabouts are unknown. The last known info on her is that she has married and become a dance teacher and choreographer.

## Episode(s)

* Friday Night Fever (Credited as Erica Ludlow)
* Women's Lib TV
* Butch Cafferty and the Fundance Kid
* Scuttle-Vision
* The Hot Shoe Show
* The B-Team
* Carmen

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Cyril Goody

## Bio

**Cyril Goody** is a lonesome character who lives alone in his home learning Spanish from his Conchetta Paloma records with his life-size blow-up doll as his only companion. When his neighbor, Carol Potts, arrives distraught after losing her boyfriend, Fred, to her rival, Mabel Tessler, she comes over looking for solace over the break-up. Cyril attempts to off-handedly earn her interest with a bottle of champagne, telling her "it's like sherry," but she never seems to notice his nervous romantic inclinations. Unfortunately, as Cyril's doll springs a leak, it starts making noises that offend her, Miss Potts instead thinks they are sounds of derision toward her. She even calls Cyril "Cecil" at one point as she keeps getting inebriated under the effects of his wine, and when he tries to kiss her, she tries to throw him out of his house, forgetting just where she actually is. Meanwhile, the noises force Cyril to reveal his doll hidden under his sofa, and Miss Potts runs out, offended and disgusted, leaving Cyril to his inflatable girlfriend.

## Trivia

* Cyril was played by Benny Hill; Miss Potts was played by guest star Paula Wilcox.

## Gallery

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Faith

## Bio

**Faith** is a comedy monologue performed on February 7, 1974 and attributed to Late 19th Century poet E.M. Barrister. He recites the monologue dressed as his character from Birds and Bees and The New Vicar but on a stage later used by Diana Darvey.

## Lyrics

The wisest man I ever knew had a cottage outside Loew.

His name was David Alexander Kidd

It was David who predicted the world would end in 1960.

And for David Alexander Kidd, it did.

He was around his grocer, Mr. Spicer playing with his bacon slicer...

A lovely girl with great big knickers known as Sue.

When the blade cuts off his hand, he picked it up,

And ran to see the famous surgeon Dr. Pew.

He said, “Sew it back on again.”

And he said, “Of course, I can my friend,

“But first, of all, you need to pay me 2000 quid.”

He said, “But I cannot afford to pay.”

And the doctor said, “Good day, push off home.”

As he did, but as he passed the water mill,

He glanced up the hill up to where Chapel of St, Levy used to stand.

And a little farther down he saw Little Father Downe….

He was sitting with a surplus in his hand,

And he was patching up a tear,

And sewing with such care,

He said, “Father, can you sell my hand back on?”

He said, “There is nothing in God's plan that is beyond the scope of man,

“But first of all, you must have faith, my son.”

So while Faith hold his thumb,

David sat down, and his hand was sewed back on just as it was before.

“It's a miracle!” he cried,

But the priest just smiled with humble pride.

(Humble pride?)

And he saw him disappear across the moor.

When Dave got to his feet,

Who should he meet, but the evil profiteering Dr. Pew.

He said, “Look what faith is done for me,

“And done it all for free….

“So, Doctor Pew, you know what you can do….”

(*Benny imitates making a gesture as his hand goes flying off*)
Dimpton Health and Sun Club

## Bio

The **Dimpton Health & Sun Club** is an English health spa, possibly in Little Dimpton. One of the guests, (Benny Hill), gets distracted by two of the sun-bathing beauties and tries to give them flowers, only to be fended off by their boy friends (Jackie Wright and Bill Weston in heavy beards and wigs). He follows another buxom beauty (Diana Darvey) to the gym and nearly gets punched by a guy wearing boxing gloves (Jackie Wright) behind a curtain. They head outside to settle their score, but the other guests pull them apart. Wandering off, the lovelorn hero heads off through the door of the men's gym, whose door swings closed to reveal it's the women's gym, and he's soon sent running by a bevy of beautiful ladies wrapped in towels.

## Gallery

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Alison and Rebecca Marsh

**Alison and Rebecca Marsh** are English actresses and dancers known for the TV shows, "The Benny Hill Show" and "Red Dwarf." The daughters of actor Reginald Marsh, they appear as cabaret singers in the March 31, 1986 episode singing "Money Makes The World Go Round." Not much else is known about their lives or careers.

## Gallery

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Benny Hill Lists

This page includes bits from the *The Benny Hill Show* involving lists of names or objects on a theme.

* Benny Hill Commercials
* Benny Hill Dictionary
* Benny Hill Locations
* Benny Hill Songs and Ballads
* Benny Hill Television
* The Faces of Benny Hill
* The Hill's Angels
* Celebrity Menu from The Halitosis Kid
Denise Gyngell

**Denise Gyngell** is a Welsh singer, actress and model, best known as a member of the early 80s pop group, Tight Fit and the Hill's Angels on "The Benny Hill Show."

She was born August 30, 1961 in Porth, Wales, the daughter of Gerry and Madge Gyngell. She went to the Barbara Speake Stage School and the Italia Conti Academy. As a child, she was friends with Jay Aston of the group, Bucks Fizz.

As a child actress, she appeared in "The Darwin Adventure" at the age of eleven with her brothers Paul and Michael, cast as Darwin's children in 1972. The following year, she appeared in the episode, "Song for Twilight," in "Play For Today" written by Noël Coward, featuring Peter Sallis. She also appeared in "The Zoo Robbery," once again joined by her brother Paul.

At twenty-one, Denise starred on "The Benny Hill Show" as one of the Hill's Angels. Among her appearances on the show are as one of the "Remote Control Angels" in the Street Dance on the March 25, 1981. She also appeared in as a non-dancing Angel in the February 10, 1982 episode. After leaving the show, she founded the singing group, Tight Fit, recording a version of the song, "You Broke My Heart In Seventeen Places," which was made famous by comedienne Tracey Ullman. She also sang versions of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and "Fantasy Island." She also appeared in episodes of Ronnie Corbett's "Sorry!" in 1987 and made appearances with Kenny Everett and Morecambe and Wise.

In 1991, Denise married record producer, Pete Waterman, who handled the concerts for Rick Astley, Bananarama and Kylie Minogue. They had two children before they divorced in 2003.

Denise went on to perform on stage, performing "Aladdin" in pantomime, later reforming with Tight Fit and doing small gigs around Britain. She is currently taking part in the ITV cookery competition,"Chopping Block," with John Whaite and Rosemary Shragar.

## Episode(s)

* Big Poppa
* The Monte Carbolic Show
* Talking Point

## Gallery

* Denise with Jon Jon Keefe
* Denise Gyngell
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