Molly Blake
Molly Suzanne Blake ( McClenaghan; 14 August 1917 – 9 June 2011) was a British illustrator, BBC children's television presenter and children's author. Career. Blake studied at the Central School of Art and Design in London. Her parents were the actress, dancer and broadcaster Annette Mills, best remembered for being the partner of the puppet "Muffin", in the successful BBC Television children's series "Muffin the Mule" between 1946 and 1955, and her first husband, Henry McClenaghan. Molly produced many of the illustrations in the popular series of children's books of Muffin the Mule stories. One of  her drawings of Muffin was used in "Radio Times" in 1951. Mills also appeared on television with the glove puppet "Prudence Kitten". After Mills' death in January 1955, Blake took over the role. Her earliest such appearance was on 27 July 1955. She also wrote "Prudence Kitten" books, but these were illustrated by others. A 1947 portrait photograph of Blake, by John Gay, is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery. She was photographed by Gay for, and featured in, an article in "The Strand Magazine", "Eight Young Artists in Search of an Editor", in which she was said  to be married, and living in Marylebone. Her husband was David H. Blake. She died in 2011, aged 93. Family. Her uncle, her mother's younger brother, was the actor John Mills, meaning she was a cousin to his daughters, Juliet Mills and Hayley Mills. Blake illustrated "Far Morning" by Mary Hayley Bell, John Mills' second wife. Blake's daughter is the actor Susie Blake.