The Complete A–Z of Everything Carry On

‘His first Carry On was Cowboy and he had a joke played on him. Bernie was scared of heights. He’d always say: “Considering I’m so tall myself, it’s a ridiculous thing to admit, but I do hate heights.” In Cowboy he played an Indian and had to go up a tree. Apparently it took quite a time to coax him up the tree. He said to Gerald Thomas: “You’re not going to leave me up there long, are you?” Gerald reassured him that they’d get him down as quickly as possible. He eventually perched himself on a high branch at which point Gerald said: “OK everybody, break for lunch.”

‘He enjoyed the Carry Ons. The roles that he played were many and varied. For example, Follow That Camel gave him the opportunity to get his teeth into a good character part.

‘When he came home from the studios he’d give me a blow-by-blow account of what had gone on and we’d sit there giggling. Joan Sims was the greatest giggler of the lot. When they were actually filming the television series, they were heading out to a location and Bernie was sitting next to Joan on the coach. She was reading the paper and there was a photograph of Tony Greig, the cricketer. She said to Bernie: “I love Tony Greig, he’s such a hunk.” Bernie replied: “Really, people tell me I look like Tony Greig.” Joan nearly wet herself laughing because he was the exact opposite.

‘When he came home he told me about it and said: “Tomorrow morning, get the cricket gear out because I’m going to turn up as a cricketer.” And he did, wearing a boy’s school cap and whites and carrying a bat. He’d agreed with the others that he’d arrive late for maximum impact. Everyone was sitting there when Bernie walked in and went straight up to Joan, saying: “Now can you see the resemblance?” She nearly fell off her chair.’

LIZ BRESSLAW – Bernard’s widow

BRIDE

Played by Marian Collins

Celebrates her honeymoon with a cruise on the Happy Wanderer. Seen in Cruising, occupying room 309.

BRIDE

Played by Marian Collins

Seen in Cabby, Charlie Hawkins takes newlyweds to the airport; by the time he arrives, they’re hugging and kissing in the back seat.

BRIDEGROOM

Played by Evan David

In Cruising, he’s seen celebrating his honeymoon with a cruise on the Happy Wanderer. Occupies room 309.

BRIDEGROOM

Played by Peter Byrne

Seen in Cabby, Charlie Hawkins takes newlyweds to the airport; by the time he arrives, they’re hugging and kissing in the back seat.

BRIDGET

Played by Gloria Best

One of the saloon girls seen at Rumpo’s Place in Cowboy.

BRIGADIER

Played by Peter Jones

The wisecracking brigadier is seen in England. After assigning Captain Melly the task of trying to instil some discipline into the experimental 1313 anti-aircraft battery, he later heads down to the base to see how Melly is managing.

BRIGGS, JOHNNY

Roles: Sporran Soldier in Up The Khyber, Plasterer in Behind and Melly’s Driver in England

TV: The Case of the Coughing Parrot

Johnny Briggs, born in London in 1935, is best known as Mike Baldwin in Coronation Street, a role he’s been playing since 1976, but his career stretches back to 1947 when, as a boy soprano, he was engaged at the Cambridge Theatre.

Aged twelve, he won a scholarship to the Italia Conti Stage School and, four years later, began working in rep before completing National Service. Returning to civvy street, his career took off and he became a regular screen actor, whose films have included Quartet, Helter Skelter, The Bulldog Breed, A Stitch in Time, 633 Squadron, Au Pair Girls and The Office Party.

Other television roles include playing Detective Sergeant Russell for two years in the long-running series, No Hiding Place.

BRINTON, TIM

Role: BBC Newscaster in Emmannuelle

Tim Brinton, born in London in 1929, left school and completed National Service in the army before training for the stage at the Central School of Drama where he gained the London University Diploma of Dramatic Art. Before finishing his course he was offered a post at the BBC as a general trainee, starting as a radio news reader/announcer but, later, progressing to become a television director/producer.

In the late 1950s he was seconded by the BBC to Radio Hong Kong as head of English programmes, followed by a spell as one of the early BBC television newsreaders at Alexandra Palace in 1959. He later transferred to ITN as a senior newscaster/reporter and presented other ITV shows, including the sports programme Let’s Go and ITN’s Roving Report.

He’s presented many commercials and was also the voice of short cinema films, such as Pathé Pictorial and Look At Life. Other work saw him host BBC Radio 2’s Roundabout and he was, briefly, a DJ on Radio Luxembourg. He’s coached executives of business and industry for TV and radio, and during the 1970s was media consultant to Conservative Central Office.

In 1979 he was elected MP for Gravesend, Kent, and became a member of the House of Commons Select Committee for Education, Science and the Arts. He left Parliament in 1987 to return to presentation and media coaching for business executives.

During the 1960s and ’70s he played newsreaders and interviewers in several films and television programmes, including The Avengers, Doctor in Charge and Dixon of Dock Green for the small screen and Information Received, Bunny Lake Is Missing and Man At The Top in films.

He retired from full-time work in 1998.

MEMORIES

‘I was but a small-bit player in Carry On Emmannuelle, going to the studios for an hour or so to film a piece of about twenty seconds in the role of a TV newscaster, which in reality I’d been between 1959 and 1962. To save on the budget, the director, Gerald Thomas, filmed me looking through the frame of a TV screen. Nowadays they do it electronically – or should I write digitally?’

TIM BRINTON

BRISTOL’S BOUNCING BABY FOOD

The model Goldie Locks was filming a commercial for the baby food company when she slipped at the Advertising Film Studios and badly bruised herself. Mentioned in Again Doctor.

BRODY, RONNIE

Roles: Little Man in Don’t Lose Your Head and Henry in Loving. (Note: was also cast to play the pier photographer in At Your Convenience but released from his contract. Alec Bregonzi was his replacement but scene eventually cut.)

TV: The Prisoner of Spenda and Under the Round Table

Bristolian Ronnie Brody, born in 1918, was the son of music hall artistes Bourne and Lester. He joined the Merchant Navy at fifteen before serving with the RAF in North Africa during the Second World War.

After demob he spent several years in Variety and rep but by the 1950s, his career was dominated by both the big and small screen. Over the years he became one of the most instantly recognisable comedy character actors in the business.

During his career he worked with many top comedians in shows such as Dave Allen at Large, The Dick Emery Show, Rising Damp, Bless This House, Home James, The Lenny Henry Show and The 19th Hole. Among the films he appeared in were Help!, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Superman III. Although often cast in comedy roles, he did occasionally appear in television dramas.

He died of a heart attack in 1991.

BROMLEY, SYDNEY

Role: Sam Houston in Cowboy

The bearded Sydney Bromley was a character actor who ran the gamut of roles on stage and screen for decades without ever being the leading man. He played over one hundred Shakespearian roles for numerous companies, and performed in venues around the world, including Broadway.

Born in London in 1909, he was only twelve when he appeared in Quality Street. Three years later, he was part of the original production of St Joan, with Sybil Thorndike, the beginning of a fruitful stage career.

He was cast in many top television shows, usually one-off roles, including Z Cars, The Pallisers, No Hiding Place, Dixon of Dock Green, as well as films such as Brief Encounter, Dark Road, A Date With A Dream, Operation Third Form, Half a Sixpence and Crystalstone.

He died in 1987, aged seventy-eight.

BROOK, OLGA

Continuity on Cleo

Olga Brook began working in continuity from the mid-1930s and was assigned to some memorable films. During a career lasting more than three decades, her film credits included Sleeping Car to Trieste, Morning Departure, Private’s Progress, The Green Man, I’m All Right Jack and Smokescreen.

BROOKING, JOHN

Role: 3rd Sealord in Jack

Supporting artist John Brooking, born in London in 1911, began a steady film and television career in the 1950s, appearing in such pictures as Innocents in Paris, The Gift Horse, The Two-Headed Spy, An Honourable Murder and The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner.

He was seen in various television programmes, such as The Vise, The Cheaters and Danger Man, and had a running part, Dr Stephen Brooks, in Emergency – Ward 10.

He died in 1966.

BROOKS, RAY

Role: Georgio in Abroad

Born in Brighton in 1939, Ray Brooks became an assistant stage manager at the age of sixteen and went on to appear many times in the West End in such productions as Snap and Absent Friends.

The voice behind the classic children’s character Mr Benn, Brooks’s other television work includes Gideon’s Way, Danger Man, Doomwatch, Coronation Street, Big Deal, Cathy Come Home, Growing Pains and the recent BBC series, Two Thousand Acres of Sky.

He began working in films in 1961’s Girl on a Roof, with other credits including The Last Grenade, Tiffany Jones and House of Whipcord.

BROOKS, SUSAN

Played by Zena Clifton

One of the beauty contestants eager to win the Miss Fircombe crown in Girls. A Scottish lass who embarrassingly slips on the catwalk when the event’s saboteurs, members of the Fircombe Women’s Lib Movement who are against the contest, pour slippery liquid over the stage.

BROWNE, DEREK

Camera Operator on Henry

Born in Kenton, Middlesex, in 1927, Derek Browne left school at fourteen and began his career in the film industry at Denham Studios, working as a clapper boy on 1944’s On Approval with Googie Withers and Clive Brook. Before he was called up for National Service, serving with the RAF in Palestine, he worked on and made an uncredited appearance in the 1940s classic, A Canterbury Tale.

He returned to civvy street and joined Pinewood in 1947, initially as a focus puller, but left after a year to work freelance, which he continued doing until retiring in the late 1990s after five decades in the business.

Promoted to camera operator in 1960, his first film in this capacity was Michael Powell’s The Queen’s Guards. Other credits include The Bedford Incident, Zeppelin, For the Love of Ada, Omen II, Trail of the Pink Panther, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Memphis Belle.

BROWN, HERBERT

Played by Norman Rossington

A dimwit in Sergeant who’s become part of the furniture around Heathercrest National Service Depot after failing to graduate from three different intakes. Just when it seems as if he’ll never have the aptitude to pass out, he receives additional tuition from James Bailey and steps in to replace a sick member of Able Platoon for their final day of tests. It may be a shock to everyone’s system but Brown joins up as a regular.

BROWN, MRS

Not seen at the Finisham Maternity Hospital in Matron but her specimen is! It’s collected by Nurse Ball from Dr Prodd’s consulting room.

BROWNING

Played by Brian Osborne

One of the Bow Street Runners in Dick.

BRUTUS

Played by Brian Oulton

Julius Caesar’s political ally is seen in the senate during Cleo.

BRYAN, DORA

Role: Norah in Sergeant

Born in Parbold, Lancashire, in 1923, Dora Bryan made her name playing character parts in British movies during the 1940s and ’50s, and for her long-running stage portrayal of Dolly Levi in the hit musical Hello, Dolly!, clocking up over 800 appearances in two years at Drury Lane.

Daughter of a director in a local cotton bobbin mill, she began her acting career at Oldham Repertory Theatre and by the time war was declared in 1939, she was leading lady. During hostilities, she joined ENSA, and made her West End debut shortly after.

By the 1950s she was a recognisable face on the screen, regularly cast as maids, waitresses, shop assistants and cooks in a host of films, including Once Upon A Dream, Adam and Evelyne, The Interrupted Journey, Something in the City, No Highway and The Fake. Excepting the role as Rita Tushingham’s sluttish mother in A Taste of Honey, which Bryan regarded as her most important and won her a BAFTA for Best Actress, typecasting meant the scope of screen roles offered was limited.

She continued to act on the stage in countless productions and has made frequent excursions onto the television screen, including roles in Last of the Summer Wine, Dinnerladies and Heartbeat. (Note: Bryan used to own the Clarges Hotel in Brighton, used as the location for the hotels in At Your Convenience and at Fircombe in Girls.)

BUCK, JANE

Continuity on Dick

Jane Buck began her career in continuity during the 1950s. Among the films she worked on over the years are Shadow of a Man, The Angry Hills, The Break, Clash By Night, Porridge, Chariots of Fire, Quartet and latterly, in 1983, Heat and Dust.

BULL, CAPTAIN

Played by David Lodge

The captain was unsuccessful in trying to instil discipline into the experimental mixed-sex anti-aircraft battery 1313 in England. He was eventually driven to the bottle by the antics of the rabble he tried in vain to lead, relinquishing command, much to his delight, to Captain Melly, who arrives with hopes and aspirations, many of which are quashed within days.

BULLOCK

Played by David Lodge

One of the Bow Street Runners in Dick.

BULSTRODE, MISS

An unseen patient mentioned in Again Doctor. She’s staying at Dr Nookey’s private clinic for the weight-loss treatment which has secured him fame and fortune.

BULSTRODE, MR

Played by Philip Stone

The bank manager in Convenience whom Boggs goes to see about a loan to fulfil the large bidet order. (Note: the scene was cut from the film.)

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN

INT. BANK MANAGER’S OFFICE. DAY

C.S. of door, as Boggs is shown in.

CASHIER: Mr Boggs, sir.

(As Boggs comes in, carrying a briefcase, the manager gets up and comes into shot to greet him and we now see that it is the man who was in the football ground stand with a hearing aid. His name is Bulstrode and (like most bank managers these days) he treats his caller very warily at first.)

BULSTRODE: My dear Mr Boggs, how good to see you again. Do sit down, sit down.

BOGGS: Thank you, Mr Bulstrode. And how have you been?

BULSTRODE: Oh, not too bad. But you know how trying this business is these days. Credit squeezes … bank rate … overdrafts … it’s all very worrying.

BOGGS: Yes, yes, of course. In the circumstances, it must be a relief to know that it’s other people’s money you’re gambling with?

BULSTRODE: (Not sure about this.) Yes … well, and what can I do for you?

BOGGS: (Producing it.) I thought you’d like to see this contract we’ve just taken on. (Hands it over.) For nineteen thousand odd, as you’ll see …

BULSTRODE: Very good, Mr Boggs. Congratulations. This should put you well in credit again.

BOGGS: Thank you, Mr Bulstrode.

BULSTRODE: Yes, indeed. (Producing box.) A cigarette?

BOGGS: Thank you.

BULSTRODE: Just help yourself.

(Leaves open box in front of BOGGS and picks up telephone.)

BULSTRODE: Coffees please for myself and Mr Boggs.

(Replaces telephone.)

BULSTRODE: Well, this is very good news. Very good indeed.

BOGGS: I thought you’d be pleased.

BULSTRODE: I’m delighted, Mr Boggs. I don’t mind telling you I’ve always had complete confidence in the ability of your firm.

BOGGS: You’re too kind. Naturally there are one or two difficulties to be overcome yet.

BULSTRODE: (Getting wary again.) Yes?

BOGGS: As this is to be a completely new line for us, we’ll have to invest in new moulds and various other things which I won’t bother you with.

BULSTRODE: I understand, yes …

BOGGS: But a short term loan of … oh, fifteen hundred should cover it.

(BULSTRODE starts fiddling with his hearing aid.)

BULSTRODE: I don’t seem to be hearing you, Mr Boggs.

BOGGS: (Louder.) I shall require a short term loan of fifteen hundred pounds!

BULSTRODE: That’s what I thought you said! That’s quite impossible, Mr Boggs. You’re already in debt to us for too much as it is!

(He grabs the cigarette box, snaps lid shut and puts it back in his drawer.)

BULSTRODE: I cannot authorise any more. I hate to appear mean, Mr Boggs, but I’m sorry.

(And he picks up telephone again.)

BULSTRODE: Cancel that coffee!

BUMBLE, MAYOR FREDERICK

Played by Kenneth Connor

The mayor of Fircombe is seen in Girls. An ineffectual man who’s regarded as a joke around the streets of this seaside town, he’s booed off the stage while preparing to say a few words at the Miss Fircombe beauty contest. Married to Mildred, a slovenly woman who does little for his status in the town.

BUMBLE, MILDRED

Played by Patsy Rowlands

The frumpish wife of Frederick Bumble does little to improve her husband’s standing as mayor of Fircombe, a seaside town in desperate need of a makeover. A heavy smoker, who spends much of her time in the lavatory or slouching around in her slippers and dressing-gown, much to Frederick’s disgust, who classes her as an ‘old compost heap’. When she can’t take her husband’s pomposity any more, she joins Augusta Prodworthy’s women’s lib movement. Seen in Girls.

BUNG, DETECTIVE SERGEANT SIDNEY

Played by Harry H. Corbett

In charge of investigations into the disappearance of Doris Mann, the sixth woman to vanish from Hocombe Woods within the year. Unhappily married to Emily, he accepts any chance to return to work, and ends up leaving his wife to be looked after by Virula Watt, whom he meets while sorting out the Mann case. He appears in Screaming!

BUNG, EMILY

Played by Joan Sims

The miserable, nagging wife of Detective Sergeant Sidney Bung who ends up being turned into a mannequin in Screaming! Just to prove there was not the slightest whiff of romance left in their relationship, Sidney decided to leave her as a dummy when he had the chance to return her to normality, preferring the charms of Virula Watt instead.

BUNGHIT DIN

Played by Bernard Bresslaw

The leader of the Burpas who’s based in the hill town of Jacksi in Afghanistan. Seen in Up The Khyber causing confusion and mayhem for the men of the 3rd Foot and Mouth company.

BUNGHIT’S SERVANT

Played by David Spenser

As the Khasi and Bunghit are lounging, whilst Jelhi plays and sings in Up The Khyber, the servant enters and announces that the chiefs have arrived, opening their eyes to the fact that the ones they’ve been entertaining are impostors.

BUNN WARD

A ward in Finisham Maternity Hospital. Seen in Matron.

BUNNY WAITRESS

Played by Shirley Stelfox

Works at the Whippit Inn in At Your Convenience. While serving Lewis Boggs and Myrtle Plummer, who are dining out at the inn, Lewis doesn’t know where to look when she leans over in her low-cut bunny outfit.

BUREAU OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

Based in Washington, the Commissioner of the Bureau is seen in Cowboy, initially enjoying a bit of fun with a woman in his office until interrupted by Perkins, his assistant. A former janitor at the law school Judge Burke attended, he responds to Burke’s request for a peace marshal at Stodge City but can’t find anyone to fill the position until Marshall P. Knutt walks in looking for a job. Assuming he’s actually a marshal, he packs him off to Stodge City.

BURGER, COMMANDANT

Played by Kenneth Williams

In charge of the Foreign Legion unit in Follow That Camel, Maximillion Burger used to teach fencing at a Viennese finishing school before donning the legion’s uniform. While working in Vienna he met and fell in love with Lady Jane Ponsonby; when their relationship ended he found solace in escaping city life for the openness of the Sahara. Can’t believe his eyes, though, when his old girlfriend turns up in the middle of the desert.

BURKE, GRIPPER

Played by Bernard Bresslaw

A professional wrestler who’s been fighting in America for years before returning home to his previous girlfriend, Esme Crowfoot. Seen in Loving, this man-mountain acts like an animal and isn’t to be messed around with, which Sidney Bliss – who fancied his chances with Esme before Gripper appeared on the scene – finds out. After rekindling their relationship, Gripper and Esme get engaged.

BURKE, JUDGE

Played by Kenneth Williams

An attorney by profession, Judge Burke is also mayor of Stodge City; he has strict views regarding how the place should be run, preventing impropriety by demanding no shooting, fighting, boozing, gambling and ‘no nothing’. His influence vanishes, though, the moment Johnny Finger, alias the Rumpo Kid, rides into town.

The Burke family has been resident in the area ever since his great-grandfather sailed to America on the Mayflower, married into the Wright family and became a ‘Wright Burke’. Seen in Cowboy.

BURKE, SIR EDMUND

Played by Derek Francis

The irascible chairman of the Borough County Hospital’s committee, he presides over Dr Kilmore’s disciplinary hearing in Doctor. He says he’s prepared to listen to Kilmore’s case fairly despite the young doctor having bumped into his Jag, but doesn’t seem to live up to his word when he quickly asks Kilmore if he’s a sex maniac.

BURPA AT DOOR-GRID

Played by Larry Taylor

Seen in Up The Khyber guarding the door at Bunghit Din’s house in Jacksi.

BURPA GUARD