Hetty Wainthropp Investigates: The Bearded Lady
12:15 am - 01:25 am, Sunday, January 4 on BBC Four (9)
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About this Broadcast
The Bearded Lady
Season 1, Episode 1
Patricia Routledge stars as Lancashire housewife Hetty Wainthropp, a part-time Post Office worker with a sideline in sleuthing. In this first episode, the mysterious death of a pensioner leaves a few unanswered questions, but Hetty smells a rat and with her young assistant Geoffrey, sets about solving the mystery the police have little interest in. Drama, also starring Dominic Monaghan and David Benfield. First broadcast in 1996
subtitles
Movie/Drama
Mystery
Cast & Crew
Patricia Routledge
(Actor)
.. Hetty Wainthropp
Derek Benfield
(Actor)
.. Robert Wainthropp
Dominic Monaghan
(Actor)
.. Geoffrey Shawcross
John Graham Davies
(Actor)
.. DCI Adams
Norman Mills
(Actor)
.. Mr Brown
Carol Noakes
(Actor)
.. Sandy
Damian Myerscough
(Actor)
.. Wayne
Shirley Vaughan
(Actor)
.. Mary Nabley
Andrew Readman
(Actor)
.. Mary's nephew
James Greene
(Actor)
.. Sir Peter
Sarah Thurstan
(Actor)
.. Secretary
Irene Skillington
(Actor)
.. Landlady
Jane Danson
(Actor)
.. Gerry
Greg Chisholm
(Actor)
.. Dominic
Ken Kitson
(Actor)
.. Sergeant Smith
Beatrice Kelley
(Actor)
.. Fishmonger
Christopher Wilkinson
(Actor)
.. Librarian
Yusuf Sultan
(Actor)
.. Mr Mumtaz
John Webber
(Actor)
.. Biker
Geof Atwell
(Actor)
.. Security guard
Steven Arnold
(Actor)
.. Courier
John Glenister
(Director)
Carol Parks
(Producer)
John Bowen
(Writer)
David Cook
(Writer)
More Information
Did You Know..
Patricia Routledge
(Actor)
.. Hetty Wainthropp
Born:
February 17, 1929
in
Tranmere
Best Known For:
Her extensive stage career and playing Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances.
Early-life:
Katherine Patricia Routledge was born in Tranmere on February 17, 1929 to Catherine and Isaac. During the Second World War, her family lived weeks at a time in the basement of her father's haberdashery shop. Patricia went on to study English Language and Literature at the University of Liverpool. After becoming involved with the university's dramatic society, she was encouraged to pursue an acting career. After graduating, she trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and launched her acting career at the Liverpool Playhouse.
Career:
Routledge's extensive stage credits include roles in a number of Royal Shakespeare Company productions, How's the World Treating You in London and on Broadway, The Pirates of Penzance in New York's Central Park, and Facade at Carnegie Recital Hall. She won a Tony Award in 1968 for Darling of the Day and an Olivier Award in 1988 for Leonard Bernstein's Candide. Other theatre credits include Noises Off, Talking Heads, The Importance of Being Earnest, and An Ideal Husband. Even well into her ninth decade, she continues to perform on the stage. She is better known to TV audiences as Hyacinth Bucket in the hugely popular comedy series Keeping Up Appearances. She went on to play the title role in the mystery drama Hetty Wainthropp Investigates.
Quote:
"When I approach the pearly gates, I'd like to hear a champagne cork popping, an orchestra tuning up, and the sound of my mother laughing."
Trivia:
Routledge is a classically trained singer and she has appeared in a number of operas. She was awarded an OBE in 1993 and a CBE in 2004.
Derek Benfield
(Actor)
.. Robert Wainthropp
Dominic Monaghan
(Actor)
.. Geoffrey Shawcross
Born:
December 08, 1976
in
Berlin
Best Known For:
The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Early-life:
Dominic Bernard Patrick Luke Monaghan was born in Berlin, Germany, on December 8, 1976, but moved with his family to Manchester when he was 12. His father, Austin, is a teacher, and his mother, Maureen, is a nurse. He has an older brother and speaks fluent German. He studied drama at sixth form college, during which time he began auditioning for professional acting jobs.
Career:
Monaghan made a name for himself alongside Patricia Routledge in the 1996 TV series Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, closely followed by appearances in the miniseries This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper, alongside Alun Armstrong, and Monsignor Renard, with John Thaw. However, he shot to worldwide attention in 2001 as cheeky but kind-hearted hobbit Merry in the first instalment of Peter Jackson's epic The Lord of the Rings trilogy - he featured in its two sequels too. Since then, he's starred in Lost, FlashForward and 100 Code. On the big screen, he has starred in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) and Soldiers of Fortune (2010). He also presents a wildlife documentary series called Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan.
Quote:
"I would like to be remembered as someone who could make people laugh. I would just like to be remembered really."
Trivia:
A photographic exhibition in Los Angeles in 2008 featured prints of his own work.
John Graham Davies
(Actor)
.. DCI Adams
Norman Mills
(Actor)
.. Mr Brown
Carol Noakes
(Actor)
.. Sandy
Damian Myerscough
(Actor)
.. Wayne
Shirley Vaughan
(Actor)
.. Mary Nabley
Andrew Readman
(Actor)
.. Mary's nephew
James Greene
(Actor)
.. Sir Peter
Sarah Thurstan
(Actor)
.. Secretary
Irene Skillington
(Actor)
.. Landlady
Jane Danson
(Actor)
.. Gerry
Born:
November 08, 1978
in
Bury, Lancashire
Best Known For:
Playing Leanne Battersby in Coronation Street.
Early-life:
Born Jane Dawson in Bury, Lancashire, on November 8, 1978. She has a brother and a sister. Her first public performance was in a talent contest at Pontins in Weston-super-Mare. She joined the Oldham Theatre when she was 10 alongside Anna Friel and Lisa Riley, left school in 1995 with nine GCSEs and has worked professionally ever since.
Career:
Danson made her TV debut in 1991's GBH alongside Julie Walters and Robert Lindsay, and followed it up with roles in Sloggers, Children's Ward and The Grand. Her breakthrough came in 1997 when she made her Coronation Street debut as Leanne Battersby. After taking a break from the soap in 2000, she had roles in Always and Everyone, The Bill, Doctors and Casualty. She returned to Corrie in 2004.
Quote:
"It's only when I stop and think about it I realise I'm not really normal."
Trivia:
In 2011, she won a British Soap Award for Best Dramatic Performance.
Greg Chisholm
(Actor)
.. Dominic
Ken Kitson
(Actor)
.. Sergeant Smith
Beatrice Kelley
(Actor)
.. Fishmonger
Christopher Wilkinson
(Actor)
.. Librarian
Yusuf Sultan
(Actor)
.. Mr Mumtaz
John Webber
(Actor)
.. Biker
Geof Atwell
(Actor)
.. Security guard
Steven Arnold
(Actor)
.. Courier
John Glenister
(Director)
Carol Parks
(Producer)
John Bowen
(Writer)
David Cook
(Writer)
