My Family - Four Affairs and a Funeral - 07:30 am Sunday, March 22 on U&W

Robert Lindsay (Actor) .. Ben Harper

Born: December 13, 1949 in Ilkeston, Derbyshire

Best Known For: Citizen Smith and My Family.

Early-life: Born Robert Lindsay Stevenson on December 13, 1949, in Ilkeston, Derbyshire. One of three children, his Second World War veteran father worked as a joiner and his mother was a cleaner. He failed his 11-plus exam and went to the Secondary Modern Gladstone Boys School. Despite having a miserable time there, his art teacher spotted his acting talent in a school production and encouraged him to take it up seriously. He originally intended to become a drama teacher, but worked in regional theatre companies after attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada).

Career: Lindsay's movie debut came in 1973's That'll Be the Day. His big break came in 1977 when he played would-be revolutionary Wolfie in John Sullivan's BBC sitcom Citizen Smith. After that he concentrated on serious roles. Theatre parts include Hamlet and Cyrano De Bergerac, but his biggest stage hit to date is musical Me and My Girl, for which he won numerous awards on both sides of the Atlantic. He made his Hollywood debut in the ill-received Bert Rigby You're a Fool in 1989, but Alan Bleasdale's TV series GBH put his career back on track. Since then, successes include Jake's Progress, The Wimbledon Poisoner, Brazen Hussies, Hornblower and My Family. More recently, he's starred in detective drama Jericho, played Tony Blair in A Very Social Secretary and The Trial of Tony Blair, traced his family on Who Do You Think You Are? and starred in Sky1 sitcom Spy.

Quote: 'There's a huge entertainer in me, and I couldn't ignore it any longer. I wanted to be very serious, but I've paid my dues and should start enjoying my career.'

Trivia: He supports Derby County.

Zoe Wanamaker (Actor) .. Susan Harper

Born: May 13, 1949 in New York

Best Known For: Playing a variety of strong women.

Early-life: Born May 13, 1949, in New York, the daughter of acclaimed actors Charlotte Holland and Sam Wanamaker. At the age of three, her family fled the US before her father could be called by Senator McCarthy's notorious House of Un-American Activities Committee; the family settled in the UK. Zoë decided to become an actress at age 10 after spending a summer in Stratford-Upon-Avon watching her father. Both parents tried to persuade her not to go into the profession but she enrolled at the Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating in 1970.

Career: Wanamaker spent 25 years with the RSC and National Theatre, and continues to appear on stage. She made her TV debut in 1975 in Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill. Her most memorable work has come on the small screen in projects such as Edge of Darkness, the first episode of Prime Suspect, A Dance to the Music of Time, Love Hurts, My Family, David Copperfield, Gormenghast and Doctor Who; she also has a recurring role as Ariadne Oliver in Agatha Christie's Poirot. Films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Wilde.

Quote: 'I think there is a niche for Beauty and the Beast, but there are also people who want to see good drama, who want to be moved by something.'

Trivia: Despite her English upbringing, she remains a US citizen and received an honorary CBE in 2000.

Daniela Denby-Ashe (Actor) .. Janey Harper

Gabriel Thomson (Actor) .. Michael Harper

Siobhan Hayes (Actor) .. Abi

Keiron Self (Actor) .. Roger

Rhodri Meilir (Actor) .. Alfie

Eric Sykes (Actor) .. Henry

Born: May 04, 1923 in Oldham

Best Known For: His self-titled sitcom.

Early-life: Eric Sykes was born in Oldham on May 4, 1923. His mother died in childbirth, his father, a cotton-mill worker, remarried. He had an older brother and a younger half-brother. In his autobiography, Eric reveals how, as a child, he was 'always hungry and always cold'. He first became interested in entertainment as a career during his time in the Royal Air Force Special Liaison Unit during the Second World War, where he worked with Flight Lieutenant Bill Fraser. After demob, he moved to London and at the end of his first week, Eric bumped into Fraser, who was starring at the Playhouse Theatre and asked his old pal to write for him.

Career: Sykes provided scripts for Fraser and Frankie Howerd, before moving on to radio shows such as Educating Archie and Variety Bandbox. In 1955, he wrote and directed the spoof Pantomania, beginning his career in TV. By 1957 he was almost totally deaf, forcing him to lip-read his fellow actors so he didn't miss his cues. The 1960s saw him team up with Hattie Jacques for the first time since his radio days, and their comedy partnership lasted until her death in 1980. As well as his eponymous sitcom, Sykes other credits include silent comedy The Plank (which he also directed), Curry and Chips, and The 19th Hole, as well as various stage plays and such movies as Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, The Others, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. He died on July 4, 2012, at the age of 89.

Quote: 'I'm proud of being a vaudevillian, the last of my line. Entertainment is too aggressive these days, all 'in your face'.'

Trivia: Married Edith Milbrandt in 1952. They had three daughters, Catherine, Susan and Julie, and a son, David.

Tricia Kelly (Actor) .. Celia

Barbara Durkin (Actor) .. Stacey

Richard Mylan (Actor) .. Peter

Sheri-An Davis (Actor) .. Dental Assistant

Mike Walling (Actor) .. Vicar

Raymond Mason (Actor) .. Man

John Bartlett (Producer)

Dewi Humphreys (Director)

Steve Armogida (Writer)

Jim Armogida (Writer)

My Family: Four Affairs and a Funeral

07:30 am - 08:10 am, Sunday, March 22 on U&W (25)

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Four Affairs and a Funeral
Season 7, Episode 2

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