Worzel Gummidge

Worzel Gummidge is a British children's fictional character who originally appeared in a series of books by the novelist Barbara Euphan Todd. A walking, talking scarecrow, Gummidge has a set of interchangeable turnip, mangel worzel and swede heads, each of which suit a particular occasion or endow him with a specific skill.

The books were adapted for radio and television a number of times, most successfully with former Doctor Who actor Jon Pertwee taking the lead role in 1979 on ITV; originally produced in the UK, but later in New Zealand, where the character was extremely popular. The series was written by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall, adapted from the original books by Barbara Euphan Todd. It was produced and directed by James Hill, and credit really ought to be given to Jon Pertwee, who apart from starring in it, was responsible for getting it off the ground in the first place. Worzel Gummidge was a scarecrow that could come to life. He befriended John and Susan, two children who often had to cover up after him. 

Worzel Gummige Down Under! 

Worzel Gummidge Down Under is a spin-off of the First four previous seasons. However this time it is set is New Zealand (Worzel describes it as Zew Nealand). 

Aunt Sally is taken to New Zealand with the owner of a cultural museum in Piwakawaka, to be displayed there as an xample of British culture. Howver Worzel finds out and is determined to follow her there. Which he does. 

Worzel Gummidge Down Under is considered to be not as sucessful as the first four season set in britain, but it is still regarded as a sucess on its own. It explores more of Worzels bravery and affections for "his Intended Aunt Sally". One of the episodes that stands out for most people is called "Worzel to the rescue" which uses Worzels fears to create a feel of unease for the aundience, which is quite a strong thing to do, considering that the program is aimed at children. It also contains scenes of "living dead scarecrows" who only exist to do the travelling scarecrow makers bidding. Which is why the DVD release class it as PG

Amanda Beveridge

IN PERTH THEATRE MOTHER GOOSE  2003
WITH PAUL HARPER-SWAN.

Director in Perth Amateur Operatic Society Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Perth Theatre in 6th to the 14th of April 2012.

*TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE* 

 See More on www.perthmusicals.co.uk
 

New website of Theatre in the world

New Website of Theatres  in the world

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Martyn James

Martyn James 

It is with very great regret that we have to announce that Martyn James, a stalwart of the Pitlochry stage for the last 35 years, passed away yesterday, 3rd January, 2012.  Martyn had been battling serious illness for over a year and after putting up a valiant fight, he is now, finally, at peace.

This news has been met with great sadness by everyone who worked with Martyn at the Theatre in the Hills, and we have no doubt that this reaction which will be shared by our audiences throughout Scotland and beyond when this loss becomes more widely known.

A true man of the theatre, a peerless and highly skilled performer, and a loyal friend, Martyn will be forever remembered not just for his work on the Pitlochry stage, but also for his great spirit, his generosity and his good humour. Martyn's contribution to PFT over the last four decades was immense and he will be very greatly missed by all those who were fortunate enough to know him, work with him and love him. and Martyn  was first seen at  Perth Theatre in 1972, and since them has appeared 140 production in both main house and the studio theatre. with plays ,musicals and pantomimes under the belt.

George Rae, Martyn James and Alan Steele in Cinderella, 2010-2011

Martyn James and Sandy Batchelor in Kiss Me, Kate in 2010

Martyn James and Shirley Darroch, Whisky Galore - A Musical! 2009

Martyn James in Wild Honey, 2008

Coronation Street actress Betty Driver dies, aged 91

Coronation Street actress Betty Driver, who starred in the soap for more than 40 years, has died at the age of 91. Driver joined the ITV soap as barmaid Betty Turpin, later Williams, in 1969. Former co-star Julie Goodyear described her as "a true icon and legend and a very dear friend". ITV said Driver died peacefully in hospital on Saturday. She had already been in showbusiness for more than 40 years, touring the UK as a singer by the age of 12. Driver was appointed an MBE in 1999. Driver had originally auditioned for the role of Hilda Ogden in 1964 but was later persuaded to come out of retirement to audition for the role of Betty. She appeared in more than 2,800 episodes. In January 2011 she told the BBC she would never retire. "I just love working and I will never retire - ever - they'll have to shoot me to get rid of me," she said. "I just love people, you see, and I love the cast." ITV said Driver "died peacefully in hospital" early on Saturday morning. She had been in hospital for six weeks. "She will be sadly missed by everyone who knew her," the spokesman said. 'Foundation' of Rovers William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow in Coronation Street and worked alongside Driver for four decades, said he "loved her dearly". "She was not only a colleague, she was a friend and godmother to my son James," said Roache. "She will be missed in the Street but she will be missed more so as a warm and loving person." Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote I have lost a very dear friend and the Street has lost a very great character” End Quote Actress Barbara Knox Coronation character Rita Sullivan Fellow Coronation Street barmaid Julie Goodyear - character Bet Lynch - said Driver was "the very foundation of the Rovers Return". "It was an honour and a privilege to work with Betty Driver for 25 years. We laughed together, we cried together and never once had a cross word. She was a totally professional actress," she said. "She will be missed and remembered by millions." Barbara Knox, who plays Rita Sullivan in the soap, said: "I have lost a very dear friend and the Street has lost a very great character, a professional to her fingertips - she will be greatly missed." The soap's executive producer Kieran Roberts said Driver was a "wonderful actress and remarkable woman". "It is humbling to think that the 42 years she spent on Coronation Street was just half of her extraordinary career but Coronation Street certainly benefited when she decided to join our show in 1969," he said. "For more than four decades she delighted many millions of Coronation Street fans with her fantastic performance in countless great stories both dramatic and comic. Friend Charles Orr said: "A true legend has left us with enough love and memories to last a lifetime." Driver began performing at the age of eight Elizabeth Mary Driver was born in Leicester but moved to Manchester when she was just two years old. She described an unhappy childhood with little affection given to her or her younger sister Freda. At the age of eight she discovered that she could sing and her mother immediately began forcing her to enter talent contests. When she was just 14 she was given the leading role in the revue, Mr Tower of London, and was spotted by George Formby who cast her in his new film Boots! Boots! Her scenes as a cabaret singer ended up on the cutting room floor but many years later, the film was re-released on DVD with Driver's scenes restored. In 1940 Driver became a big band singer and toured extensively with the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA) appearing in shows for the troops. After World War II she continued touring and appeared in her own BBC radio show, A Date With Betty, which was broadcast live. She was cast in a series called Pardon the Expression, a comedy spin-off from Coronation Street, before retiring and then appearing on Coronation Street. Driver had a seven-year marriage to singer Wally Peterson, which ended in her late 30s.

David Croft

Obituary:

David Croft, co-writer and producer of classic comedies including 'Allo 'Allo and Hi-de-Hi has died at the age of 89, his family has announced. He died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Portugal. His family called him a "truly great man" in a statement. Croft's military sitcoms It Ain't Half Hot Mum and Dad's Army, written with Jimmy Perry, were hits in the 1970s. He is also credited with Are You Being Served and its 1990s spin-off Grace and Favour. Actor Melvyn Hayes, one of the stars of It Ain't Half Hot Mum, called Croft a "genius" and said it was "a privilege to work with" him. "There were no swear words in his shows. His programmes were the kind of thing you could sit in front of the TV and watch with your grandmother and grandchildren," he told the BBC. Welsh actress Ruth Madoc, who played Gladys Pugh in Hi-de-Hi, also paid tribute to the writer. Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote He just knew what tickled people, what made people smile” End Quote Ian Lavender, Captain Pike in Dad's Army "He taught us so much, that was the great thing about him," she told the BBC News Channel. "He'd let you look in the camera lens and he'd teach you about that shot. "He was a very, very clever man and not only did he do television but he slipped so easily into producing, writing and directing theatre, too." Jon Plowman, former head of comedy at the corporation, said Croft "invented a whole genre of comedy that was all his own". "The world is a less funny place for his going," he added. Croft, who was awarded an OBE in 1978 for services to television, worked alongside Jeremy Lloyd on both the department store sitcom and wartime farce 'Allo 'Allo, which was set in Nazi-occupied France. Comedians and writers have taken to Twitter to post tributes. David Walliams wrote: "Such sad news," while Doctor Who writer Paul Cornell added: "His best monument is that his shows are still repeated." Fruitful partnership All of Croft's hits were produced for the BBC, the last being Oh, Doctor Beeching in 1993 - after which he retired from the corporation. A decade later, Croft was honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the British Comedy Awards. Croft was born as David John Sharland to stage actress Annie Croft and Reginald Sharland, a successful Hollywood radio actor. He enlisted in the army during World War II, which was to provide some of his later comic inspiration for Dad's Army and It Ain't Half Hot Mum. Wartime sitcom Dad's Army was one of Croft's most enduring creations Dad's Army was the first of his series to come to TV screens, in 1968, and marked the start of his fruitful and long-lived comic partnership with Jimmy Perry. The BBC initially had misgivings about the concept - which followed the fortunes of a Home Guard platoon, the last line of defence should the Germans have invaded Britain during World War II. But the affection with which the characters were treated soon endeared the show to audiences and corporate bosses alike. The series went on to gain the creative partnership a trio of awards from the Writers' Guild of Great Britain in 1969-71. More than 40 years after it was first screened, the sitcom is still being shown. Ian Lavender, who played the hapless Private Pike in the series said Croft was "a great comic writer". "He just knew what tickled people, what made people smile," he told BBC News. "I have never come across anyone in the Home Guard who said Dad's Army was a disgrace. "They say they all had a Mainwaring in their platoon. We were laughing with them, not at them." Among Croft's other achievements, he wrote scripts for numerous well-loved pantomimes and produced television shows in Hollywood and Australia. The statement posted on his official website by his family added: "He was a truly great man, who will be missed by all who had the great fortune of knowing and loving him." It added that he would have been "proud that you had all been watching", a nod to the tagline that appeared at the end of Croft's TV sitcoms.

last-ever episode. of My Family

Cast of My Family 2011

After 11 series in as many years, the Harper family bids farewell in the last-ever episode. Susan and Janey are at a hen party, which is great fun until the bride announces her groom does not want her any more, while family friend Roger is excited about a blind date. The only one at home is Ben, who is babysitting Kenzo - although the grumpy dentist soon finds himself reluctantly going out too. Comedy, starring Robert Lindsay, Zoe Wanamaker, Daniela Denby-Ashe and Keiron Self. Last in the series.