Last of the Summer Wine: The McDonaghs of Jamieson Street
7:00 pm - 7:40 pm, Friday, March 6 on U&Drama +1 (60)
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About this Broadcast
The McDonaghs of Jamieson Street
Season 26, Episode 7
Smiler reminisces about a woman who escaped his advances during the war without leaving her contact details, so Truly, Alvin and Billy volunteer to track her down - even though it means a foray into hostile territory. Long-running comedy series, starring Frank Thornton, Brian Murphy, Keith Clifford and Stephen Lewis
subtitles
16x9
Movie/Drama
Sitcom
Cast & Crew
Frank Thornton
(Actor)
.. Truly
Brian Murphy
(Actor)
.. Alvin
Keith Clifford
(Actor)
.. Billy
Stephen Lewis
(Actor)
.. Smiler
Jean Alexander
(Actor)
.. Auntie Wainwright
Mike Grady
(Actor)
.. Barry
Burt Kwouk
(Actor)
.. Entwistle
Sarah Thomas
(Actor)
.. Glenda
Robert Fyfe
(Actor)
.. Howard
Jane Freeman
(Actor)
.. Ivy
Jean Fergusson
(Actor)
.. Marina
Josephine Tewson
(Actor)
.. Miss Davenport
Kathy Staff
(Actor)
.. Nora Batty
Peter Sallis
(Actor)
.. Clegg
Juliette Kaplan
(Actor)
.. Pearl
Tom Owen
(Actor)
.. Tom
Maria Savage
(Actor)
.. Neighbour
Alan JW Bell
(Producer)
Roy Clarke
(Writer)
More Information
Did You Know..
Frank Thornton
(Actor)
.. Truly
Born:
January 15, 1921
in
London
Best Known For:
Are You Being Served? and Last of the Summer Wine.
Early-life:
Frank Thornton Ball was born in London on January 15, 1921 to Rosina and William. Frank wanted to act from an early age but his father encouraged him to have a more stable job, so he began working in insurance after leaving school. He took evening classes at the London School of Dramatic Art and after two years, he was invited to become a day student. During the Second World War, Frank was evacuated with the drama school and his first job was touring with four plays in Ireland. He joined the RAF as an airman and ended the war as an officer. After leaving the RAF in 1947, Frank joined a repertory company. He made his film debut in Radio Cab Murder (1954).
Career:
Thornton went on to become a familiar face on TV, specialising in comedy. He made guest appearances in Hancock, Sykes, The Goodies, Love Thy Neighbour and Steptoe and Son. He is best known for playing Captain Peacock in the BBC sitcom Are You Being Served? He reprised his role for the spin-off series Grace & Favour. In 1997, he joined the cast of Last of the Summer Wine as Herbert 'Truly' Truelove, a role he played until 2010. He also appeared in Robert Altman's Gosford Park (2001). Thornton died peacefully in his sleep on March 16, 2013. He was 92.
Quote:
From Are You Being Served?: 'Mr Humphries, are you free?'
Trivia:
Thornton was nominated of an Olivier Award for his performance in the musical Me and My Girl.
Brian Murphy
(Actor)
.. Alvin
Born:
September 25, 1933
in
Isle of Wight
Best Known For:
Playing George Roper in Man About the House and George and Mildred.
Early-life:
Brian was born on the Isle of Wight on September 25, 1933. During his national service at RAF Northwood, he met future actor Richard Briers. On leaving the RAF, Brian and Richard performed in productions by the Dramatic Society at what is now London South Bank University. Brian was also a member of Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop, with Yootha Joyce. During the 1960s and the early 1970s, Brian made guest appearances in a number of TV shows, including The Avengers, Z Cars, Sez Les, Callan, and Dixon of Dock Green.
Career:
Murphy's big break came in 1974 when he began playing George Roper alongside Joyce in the sitcom Man About the House. Joyce played his long-suffering wife Mildred. The popularity of Murphy and Joyce's characters led to them starring in their own spin-off sitcom George and Mildred. The hugely popular series ran on ITV for five series until 1979 and ended after Joyce died in 1980. Murphy and Joyce also starred in a stage version of George and Mildred and a spin-off movie. Murphy went on to star in The Incredible Mr Tanner, L for Lester, Lame Ducks, One Foot in the Grave, the Booze Cruise TV movies, Last of the Summer Wine, and The Cafe.
Quote:
'I was just coming up to 40 when Man About the House fell into my lap and turned everything around.'
Trivia:
Murphy and his wife, actress Linda Regan, have talked about their careers in An Audience with Linda Regan and Brian Murphy.
Keith Clifford
(Actor)
.. Billy
Stephen Lewis
(Actor)
.. Smiler
Jean Alexander
(Actor)
.. Auntie Wainwright
Mike Grady
(Actor)
.. Barry
Burt Kwouk
(Actor)
.. Entwistle
Sarah Thomas
(Actor)
.. Glenda
Robert Fyfe
(Actor)
.. Howard
Jane Freeman
(Actor)
.. Ivy
Jean Fergusson
(Actor)
.. Marina
Josephine Tewson
(Actor)
.. Miss Davenport
Kathy Staff
(Actor)
.. Nora Batty
Born:
July 12, 1928
in
Cheshire
Best Known For:
Playing Nora Batty in Last of the Summer Wine.
Early-life:
Born Minnie Higginbottom in Cheshire on July 12, 1928. She took an office job with the National Gas & Oil Engine Company in Ashton-under-Lyne and this gave her the opportunity to perform in the firm's amateur acting group. She started acting professionally in 1949 in repertory companies in Scotland and Wales.
Career:
After marrying schoolteacher John Staff in 1951, she had two children and took a break from acting for 10 years. Fellow actor Gerald Harper, a friend from her rep days, persuaded her to return and she became an extra in TV. She appeared in a number of small roles until her big break came in 1973 when she was cast in the pilot episode of Last of the Summer Wine. Over 35 years, she appeared in 29 series of the long-running sitcom playing a broom-wielding, humourless battleaxe. During her time on Summer Wine, she also appeared in Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Crossroads. She had a recurring role as Mrs Blewett in Open All Hours. She starred in a revived version of Crossroads in 2001 but left after a year due to the soap's racy storylines. She died on December 13, 2008, at the age of 80.
Quote:
'I enjoyed myself as Nora Batty because I enjoyed the comedy.'
Trivia:
Nora Batty was synonymous with wrinkled stockings.
Peter Sallis
(Actor)
.. Clegg
Born:
February 01, 1921
in
Twickenham, Middlesex
Best Known For:
Playing Clegg in Last of the Summer Wine and providing the voice of Wallace in Wallace & Gromit.
Early-life:
Peter Sallis was born on February 1, 1921, in Twickenham, Middlesex. His first job was as a bank clerk and he held no desire to be an actor until he became an RAF instructor during the Second World War. One of his pupils, Peter Bridge, asked him to play the leading part in Noel Coward's Hay Fever at the YMCA. Peter never looked back and eventually maked his TV debut in a 1947 production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Career:
Roles in films such as Doctor in Love, The Mouse on the Moon, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and Charlie Bubbles followed. BBC sitcom Last of the Summer Wine made him a household name. He featured in all 295 episodes as Norman Clegg between 1973 and 2010. He also played his character's father in short-lived prequel First of the Summer Wine. He was also the voice of Wallace of Wallace & Gromit fame in the acclaimed A Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers, A Close Shave, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, and A Matter of Loaf and Death. He was awarded an OBE in the Queen's 2007 Birthday Honours list for services to drama. He died on June 2, 2017 at the age of 96.
Quote:
'I don't eat it, because of the cholesterol effect. I've never eaten much in the way of cheese ever. However, I don't mind pretending that I like it.'
Trivia:
When Sallis was first asked by Nick Park to voice Wallace for a student film, he donatated his £50 fee to charity.
Juliette Kaplan
(Actor)
.. Pearl
Tom Owen
(Actor)
.. Tom
Maria Savage
(Actor)
.. Neighbour
Alan JW Bell
(Producer)
Roy Clarke
(Writer)
