Lynda Baron
Lynda Baron | |
---|---|
Born | Lilian Ridgway 24 March 1939 Urmston, England |
Died | 5 March 2022 London, England | (aged 82)
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1958–2022 |
Television |
|
Spouses | Cyril Smith
(m. 1962, divorced)John M. Lee
(m. 1966; died 2001) |
Children | 2 |
Lilian Ridgway (24 March 1939 – 5 March 2022), known professionally as Lynda Baron, was an English actress and singer. She is known for having played Nurse Gladys Emmanuel in the BBC sitcom
Early life
Lilian Ridgway was born on 24 March 1939 in Urmston, Lancashire.[1][2] Her father, Cyril, was a painter and decorator.[3] By the age of five, she was attending local ballet classes, and soon began appearing on stage.[3] She attended Flixton Girls School in Urmston and then trained as a dancer at the Royal Academy of Dance.[2][3] Early in her career, she appeared in repertory theatre and several West End venues.[4]
Career
Television
Baron's early television roles included small parts in
Baron is best known for playing Nurse Gladys Emmanuel in the BBC sitcom Open All Hours with Ronnie Barker and David Jason which ran for four series in 1976, 1981 to 1982 and in 1985, and was subsequently voted eighth in Britain's Best Sitcom in 2004.[4] The script asked for a character "of ample proportions", although she was in fact a slim build at the time. They overcame this by padding her clothes.[3]
In the 1970s and 1980s, Baron co-starred in the ITV sitcom Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt and the BBC sitcom A Roof Over My Head with Brian Rix. She had a small part in Minder, and played the middle-aged temptress Lily Bless'er in the Last of the Summer Wine episode Getting Sam Home.[5] In 1986, she acted in a party political broadcast for the SDP–Liberal Alliance.[6] Baron also appeared in the 1987 Christmas special of The Two Ronnies and appeared in the BBC Two comedy series KYTV.[7]
In the 1990s, Baron played Auntie Pat in five episodes of the ITV sitcom
In 1997, Baron played the minor part of Renee Turnbull in Coronation Street and took guest roles in dinnerladies (1998), The Mrs Bradley Mysteries (1998), Sunburn (1999), Nancherrow (1999) and Goodnight Sweetheart (1999).[4]
Baron continued to work regularly on television and the stage in the 2000s, with credits including Fat Friends (2000–2005), The Bill (2000), Doctors (2000, 2006, 2010, 2011 and 2014), Peak Practice (2001), Holby City (2002 and 2006), Down to Earth (2005), Rome (2005) and Casualty (2009).[4]
Baron briefly appeared in the
In August 2010, Baron appeared in an episode of
On 26 December 2013, Baron reprised her role in a special one-off episode of Open All Hours on BBC One, entitled Still Open All Hours.[12] It was watched by 12.23 million viewers, almost a 40% share in audience figures on Boxing Day.[13] The following day, Baron took part in Open All Hours: A Celebration, a programme looking back on the sitcom. Following the success of the Christmas episode, the cast made a full series, which began on 26 December 2014, followed by a second series in December 2015. A third series began in December 2016, but Baron was unable to return because of other commitments.[14]
In December 2016, Baron made a guest appearance in a Christmas special of Citizen Khan and, in January 2017, she appeared in an episode of Father Brown, which was to become her final television appearance.[4]
Film
Baron's film appearances include roles in The Small World of Sammy Lee (1963), Hot Millions (1968), Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter (1968), Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? (1969), Tiffany Jones (1973), and the Hammer film Hands of the Ripper (1971) as an ill-fated prostitute. She also appeared in the Barbra Streisand film Yentl (1983), Carry On Columbus (1992), Colour Me Kubrick (2005) and Scoop (2006) directed by Woody Allen.[4]
Stage
In 1987, Baron starred in the London production of the musical Follies at the Shaftesbury Theatre. In 2007, she starred with Orlando Bloom and Tim Healy in a stage version of In Celebration.[15] In May and June 2009, she appeared at the Menier Chocolate Factory in a production of Rookery Nook by Ben Travers.[16]
From October 2010 to February 2011, Baron starred with
Baron's other theatre credits include An Inspector Calls, Stepping Out, Entertaining Mr Sloane, and The Full Monty.[4]
Other work
In 1995, Baron voiced the character of Nanny Ogg in the BBC Radio 4 adaptation of the Discworld novel Wyrd Sisters.[21] This same year she voiced the character of Angela Jefferies in the BBC Radio 4 sitcom titled England's Glory opposite Keith Barron.[21]
In April 2012, Richard Kates released an album entitled There's Something About You, which featured Baron performing the track "A Hard Man Is Good to Find".
Personal life and death
In 1962, Baron married hairdresser and music impresario Cyril Smith, who performed under the name Carol London; they later divorced.[24] In 1966, she married John M. Lee. The couple had two children and were married until his death in 2001.[1][25]
Baron died on 5 March 2022 aged 82.[1][24][26] The official Twitter accounts of CBeebies[27] and EastEnders[28] posted tributes to Baron.
A short tribute to Baron aired as part of The One Show on the evening of 7 March 2022.[29]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1963 | The Small World of Sammy Lee | Yvette | [4] |
1964 | Hide and Seek | Flying Jacket | [4] |
1968 | Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter | Miss Fisher | [4] |
1968 | Hot Millions | Louise the Waitress | [4] |
1969 | Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? | Baby Boobala Salesgirl | Uncredited[4] |
1971 | Universal Soldier | Party Guest | Uncredited[4] |
1971 | Hands of the Ripper | Long Liz | [4] |
1973 | Tiffany Jones | Anna Karekin | [4] |
1983 | Yentl | Peshe | [4] |
1992 | Carry On Columbus | Meg | [4] |
2001 | Diggity's Treasure | Emma Stamps | [4] |
2005 | Colour Me Kubrick | Mrs. Vitali | [4] |
2006 | Scoop | Tenant | [4] |
2010 | You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger | Alfie's Date | [4] |
2012 | Run for Your Wife | Nurse | Cameo[4] |
2017 | Mary and the Witch's Flower | Great-Aunt Charlotte | Voice[4] |
2020 | Dream Horse | Elsie |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1962 | The Rag Trade | June | Episode: "Stay-in Strike"[21] |
1966 | Doctor Who | Singer | Episode: "The Gunfighters"[4] |
1970 | Up Pompeii! | Ambrosia | Episode: "The Love Potion"[21] |
1973 | Men of Affairs | Mrs. Westerby | Episode: "Episode Fourteen"[21] |
1976–1985 | Open All Hours | Nurse Gladys Emmanuel | Regular; 25 episodes [4] |
1977 | Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt | Vera Parkinson | Regular:Series 2 & 3 (12 Episodes)[21][4] |
A Roof Over My Head | Sheila | Regular: 7 episodes[21] | |
Don't Forget to Write! | Sylvia Rhode | Episode: "Thundering Hooves"[21] | |
1978 | Crossroads | Phoebe Tompkins | [4] |
1980 | Grundy | Beryl Loomis | Regular: 6 episodes[21] |
1983 | Last of the Summer Wine | Lilly Bless Her | Episode: Getting Sam Home[4] |
Doctor Who | Captain Wrack | Episode: "Enlightenment[4] | |
1992–1993 | The Upper Hand |
Aunty Pat | [4] |
1993–1997 | Come Outside | Auntie Mabel | Regular; 40 episodes [4] |
1996 | New Voices | Barmaid | [4] |
1997 | Coronation Street | Renee Turnbull | Guest [4] |
1998 | Dinnerladies | Carmel | Episode: "Scandal"[4] |
2000 | The Bill | Sadie Tyler | Episode: "Catch a Falling Star[4] |
Doctors | Nancy Green | Episode: "Love is the Drug"[4] | |
Big Kids | Aunt Muriel | Episode: "Aunt Muriel"[4] | |
2002–2005 | Fat Friends | Norma Patterson | Regular; 19 episodes[4] |
2005 | Rome | Madame | 1 episode[4] |
2006, 2008–2009, 2016 |
EastEnders | Linda Clarke |
Recurring; 32 episodes[4] |
2006 | Doctors | Barbara Cross | 3 episodes[4] |
2009 | Casualty | Molly | Episode: "As Others See Us" [4] |
2010 | The Road to Coronation Street | Violet Carson | [4] |
Agatha Christie's Marple | Mrs. Coppins | Episode: "The Pale Horse"[4] | |
2010–2011, 2014 | Doctors | Ag Penrose |
Recurring role[4] |
2011 | Doctor Who | Val | Episode: "Closing Time"[4] |
2013–2016 | Still Open All Hours | Nurse Gladys Emmanuel | Regular; 13 episodes [4] |
2014 | Chasing Shadows | Regular; 4 episodes [4] | |
2016 | Citizen Khan | Clarenza | 1 episode [4] |
2017 | Father Brown | Mrs Rudge | Episode #5.12 "The Theatre of the Invisible"[4] |
References
- ^ a b c "Lynda Baron, actress best known as Nurse Gladys Emmanuel in Open All Hours and Auntie Mabel in Come Outside – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Lynda Baron – Questions and Answers – Interview". Londontheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ^ ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba "Lynda Baron". gordonandfrench.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "Getting Sam Home". IMDb. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
- ^ "Social Democrat Party Election Broadcast: SDP/Liberal Alliance(06/05/86)". BFI Film and TV Database. Archived from the original on 10 May 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ "Lynda Baron". Corrie.net. 7 December 1997. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ^ "Lynda Baron returns to 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. 9 September 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ^ "John Partridge and Lynda Baron to return to EastEnders". EastEnders News & Spoilers. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- ^ "EastEnder to star in Corrie drama". BBC News. 28 June 2010.
- ^ "2011 Television Awards Nominations". 25 April 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "Sir David Jason back for Open All Hours Christmas show". BBC News. 7 October 2013.
- ^ "Open All Hours tops Boxing Day ratings". Digital Spy. 27 December 2013.
- ^ "Television | What's On". Whattowatch.com. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ "Orlando Bloom in David Storey's In Celebration at the Duke of York's Theatre from 5 July 2007". London Theatre. 5 July 2007. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ Billington, Michael (1 May 2009). "Theatre review: Rookery Nook, Menier Chocolate Factory, London". The Guardian.
- ^ "Lipman brings Priestley to Garrick | Official London Theatre – Your London Shows guide". Official London Theatre. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ^ Spittles, Tony (5 March 2013). "Review: The Daughter-in-Law, Sheffield Crucible". Worksop Guardian. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ Bosanquet, Theo; Bannister, Rosie (6 March 2014). "Chichester reopens Festival Theatre with Rupert Everett in Amadeus, plus Gypsy and Guys and Dolls". What's On Stage. Chichester.
- ^ "Full cast announced for Hampstead's 'Stevie'". Londontheatre.co.uk.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Lynda Baron". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ Various artists, There's Something About You, retrieved 8 March 2022
- ^ "Radio 4 Programmes – Afternoon Drama, Mrs Lowry and Son". BBC. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ^ a b Hadoke, Toby (8 March 2022). "Lynda Baron obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Lynda Baron". Corrie.net.
- ^ Gibb, Jessica; Rowlands, Robert; Kaur, Jaspreet; Kaur, Jaspreet (7 March 2022). "Tributes pour in as EastEnders actress Lynda Baron dies". CoventryLive. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Tweet by @CBeebiesHQ "Lynda Baron: Open All Hours and Come Outside actress dies aged 82"". Twitter. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Tweet by @BBCEastEnders "We're deeply saddened to hear that Lynda Baron has passed away"". Twitter. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "The One Show - 07/03/2022". BBC iPlayer. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
External links
- Lynda Baron at IMDb
- Lynda Baron at the British Film Institute
- Lynda Baron discography at Discogs