Members
Discover more about our members and find out about their current projects. We constantly update this page, and if you would like to join, please feel free to get in touch with us – we will be more than happy to help.
Samira Ahmed
is a broadcast and print journalist, reporter, writer, and presenter on Radio 3’s Night Waves, Radio 4’s Front Row, BBC Four’s Proms, and Newswatch on BBC News. Samira regulars writes columns for The Big Issue, The Guardian, The Independent, The New Humanist, and The Spectator. A passionate knowledge of popular culture saw her win Celebrity Mastermind’s Champion of Champions.
Sophie Aldred
is an actress, and presenter, best-loved as the Nitro-9-packing time-travelling adventuress Ace in Doctor Who; co-writing the memoir Ace: The Inside Story of the End of An Era. Sophie’s novel, Doctor Who: At Childhood’s End, revisits the character in later life. Her hosting for children’s educational programming includes Melvin and Maureen’s Music-a-grams, and Words and Pictures.
Robin Askwith
is best-loved as Timmy Lea, the hapless hero of the Confessions series. The self-proclaimed trouser-dropper and name-dropper has become a sell-out, stand-up show business raconteur with tall tales hilariously told in such shows as Naughty But Nice! and Robin Askwith: Still Hanging On. Even more outrageous anecdotes were published in his autobiography The Confessions of Robin Askwith: The Window Cleaner Reveals All.
Danny Baker
is a radio and television broadcasting legend, whose early career as a print journalist included the founding of punk fanzine Sniffin’ Glue, and writing for the New Musical Express. His many television writing credits range from TFI Friday to TV Heroes: micro tributes which he also hosted. Danny’s first volume of biography, Going to Sea in a Sieve, was adapted as the sitcom Cradle to Grave, co-written with Jeff Pope.
Louis Barfe
is the author of Turned Out Nice Again: The Story of British Light Entertainment, and has written a string of comedy biographers including The Trials and Triumphs of Les Dawson, Happiness and Tears: The Ken Dodd Story, and Sunshine and Laughter: The Story of Morecambe and Wise. Louis also compiled Britain’s Greatest TV Comedy Moments: Classic Sketches & Scenes from Monty Python to The Office.
David Barry
is an actor and scriptwriter best remembered as tearaway fantasist Frankie Abbott in the hit comedy Please Sir!, and its spin-off series The Fenn Street Gang. He has reprised the role for his play A Day in the Lives of Frankie Abbott and for horror anthology Frankie Abbott’s Great Big Book of Horror Stories. Other publications include the thriller Each Man Kills, and children’s adventure The Ice Cream Time Machine.
Emma Barton
is an actress and entertainer who graduated from the Guildford School of Acting. Her stage successes include Roxie Hart in the national tour of Chicago; Dolly in the National Theatre tour of One Man, Two Guvnors; and leading pantomime roles in Snow White, and Jack and the Beanstalk. On television she is best-loved as Honey Mitchell in EastEnders; a role that led to her dedicated support of Barbara Windsor’s dementia charities.
Ashley Blaker
is a radio and television producer, stand-up comedian, and now author. Having launched Little Britain, Ashley starred Matt Lucas and David Walliams in Rock Profile. His BBC show Ashley Blaker’s Goyish Guide to Judaism, led to his taking the Edinburgh Fringe in 2018 with Observant Jew. His book Normal Schmormal is his “occasionally helpful guide to parenting kids with special needs”.
Louise Burton
is an actress and public speaker who is best-known for her situation comedy role, as secretary Virginia Edwards in the situation comedy Are You Being Served? Louise joined the Carry On team, in khaki, for Carry On England; while her theatre co-stars include Robin Askwith, Tim Brooke-Taylor, and John Inman. Most recently she has been on stage, interviewed about her career, and in the television series Secrets & Scandals.
Neil Brand
is a renown composer, dramatist, and presenter who wrote the play Stan, charting life for Laurel after Hardy. Neil has accompanied many silent film screenings, notably at the National Film Theatre, and has written and hosted such BBC Four series as Sound of Cinema: The Music That Made the Movies, Sound of Musicals, and The Sound of TV. His book, Dramatic Notes, investigates the art of composing narrative music.
Wes Butters
is a broadcaster and biographer who regularly presents on Radio 1, Hits Radio, BBC4 Extra, and many other radio stations. His passion for British comedy has seen him write several books dedicated to the legends of Carry On, including Kenneth Williams Unseen: The Private Notes, Scripts and Photographs, and Whatshisname: The Life and Death of Charles Hawtrey.
Tyler Butterworth
is an actor beloved as the original Angelo in Mike and Angelo, and Reverend John Candy in The Darling Buds of May. As historian, writer, and film-maker he created the London Sights tourist app. He has written and presents the touring theatre show, A Bit of a Carry On, in celebration of his parents: Carry On star Peter Butterworth and impressionist Janet Brown.
George Camiller
is an actor, best loved as Giovanni Capello, the cheeky and flirtatious Italian student in the hit situation comedy Mind Your Language. Created and written by Vince Powell, George contributed often to the final shooting script. His other screen credits range from Franco Zeffirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth to Eric Chappell’s comedy Duty Free. George is also an experienced drama coach.
Tommy Cannon
formed one of the all-time great comedy double acts with Bobby Ball, and The Cannon and Ball Show became one of London Weekend Television’s huge ratings successes. Together they starred in the film The Boys in Blue, and wrote the religious guide books Christianity for Beginners, and The Gospel According to Cannon and Ball; as well as the joint autobiography Rock On, Tommy!
Robin Carr
is a television director and writer, who enjoyed many credits under the auspice of David Croft: working on such classic situation comedies as ‘Allo, ‘Allo, Are You Being Served?, and Hi-de-Hi! Robin was Executive Producer on Further Up Pompeii; and helmed successful shows The Two of Us, The Piglet Files, and Second Thoughts. He also wrote High Street Blues, with Jimmy Perry
Jonathan Coe
is a satirical novelist whose third book, The Dwarves of Death, was informed by his passion for progressive rock. Jonathan also co-wrote the film version, Five Seconds to Spare. His fourth novel, What a Carve Up, won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize; his sixth, The Rotters’ Club, won the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize. His 2020 novel, Mr Wilder & Me, details Billy Wilder’s struggles to film Fedora.
Paul Cole
was a child actor, notching up cult classics of British Film Carry On Teacher and Hammer’s Dracula. Paul’s 50 year career has seen him make goo for Doctor Who and warm-up for The Benny Hill Show. As director, producer, and writer Paul’s credits include The Sooty Stage Show, The Tweenies, and Spooks of Bottle Bay. He created Potamus Park, and his short film, The Visitor, was entered in the New York International Film Festival.
Matthew Coniam
has written on such diverse subjects as Jane Austen and Doctor Crippen but has a deep fascination with Hollywood comedy. That’s Me, Groucho!: The Solo Career of Groucho Marx sits as a companion piece to his exhaustive study The Annotated Marx Brothers: A Filmgoer’s Guide to In-Jokes, Obscure References and Sly Details. His up-coming publication gives Abbott and Costello the same treatment.
Caroline Burns Cooke
is an actress and writer who has extensively toured her solo show, Testament of Yootha: a powerful, award-winning salute to Yootha Joyce, from Stratford East to Thames Television. Caroline wrote and starred in And the Rope Still Tugging Her Feet, about the Kerry Babies scandal, and wrote the short film, Myra, in which she also starred as Myra Hindley.
David Crump
is a student of comedy history, with a particular interest in pantomime and the origins of slapstick. David poured over a decade’s worth of pain-staking research and international interviews to produce the book Fred Karno: The Legacy Behind the Laughter. It’s the definitive study of the champion of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel, whose maxim was “If in doubt fall on your arse!”
Richard Dacre
ran Flashbacks film memorabilia shop in the heart of Soho for 26 years. His published works include Trouble In Store: Norman Wisdom - A Career in Comedy, the comedy chapter in The British Cinema Book, and Movie Posters: The History of Cinema from the Origins to the Present. Richard has also written and presented London location reports for such blu-ray releases as Hue and Cry, and Passport to Pimlico.
Freddie Davies
is a national treasure comedy performer and producer whose first appearance on Opportunity Knocks centred around a Pet Shop joke. This resulted in him being forever after billed as Freddie ‘Parrot-face’ Davies. In the guise of his Homburg hat wearing comic persona Samuel Tweet, he starred in his own comic strip in Buster. Freddie’s autobiography is Funny Bones: My Life in Comedy.
Robert Daws
is an actor and best-selling novelist whose stage successes include Jim Hacker in Yes, Prime Minister. On television he starred in Outside Edge, for which he was nominated Best Actor at the British Comedy Awards. Robert’s first crime novel, The Rock, introduced readers to his Gibraltar based detectives DS Tamara Sullivan and DCI Gus Broderick. The thrilling collection has continued with Poisoned Rock, and Killing Rock.
Lady Anne Dodd
has enjoyed a glittering Show Business career, joining the internationally-acclaimed dance troupe the Bluebell Girls. It was whilst appearing at the Manchester Opera House that she met Ken Dodd. Over half a century as his close confidante, stage cohort, and life partner, went into writing The Squire of Knotty Ash and his Lady: an intimate biography of Ken Dodd.
Simon Donald
is an actor, musician, stand-up comedian, and television antagonist, who founded Viz, with his brother Chris Donald. From their bedroom, in Newcastle, the comic became a global phenomenon of silly rudeness, celebrated in his memoir Him Off the Viz. Simon remained co-editor until 2003, before developing his solo comedy sets for the Edinburgh Fringe. He can however still whip off a quick Sid the Sexist, before your very eyes.
Julian Dutton
is an actor, scriptwriter, journalist, and author whose work includes the BBC Radio 4 comedy Truly Madly Bletchley, the Matt Lucas series Pompidou, and an extensive solo show stage tour of Do You Think That’s Wise? - The Life & Times of John Le Mesurier. Julian’s books include Keeping Quiet: Visual Comedy in the Age of Sound, and Water Gypsies: A History of Life on Britain’s Rivers and Canals.
Colin Edmonds
Is a novelist, television producer, and gag-man, who sold his first joke at the tender age of sixteen. He has worked with such luminaries of light entertainment as Paul Daniels, Des O’Connor, and Terry Wogan, and is custodian of Bob Monkhouse’s joke books. Colin was first published in The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries Annuals, and is the creator of the Steam, Smoke & Mirrors Steampunk fantasy novels.
Adam Endacott
has trained a passion for classic comedy into two celebrated publications on his hero, Kenneth Williams. The Kenneth Williams Companion is an exhaustive career history of the Carry On star, covering everything from commercials to West End revue. The Kenneth Williams Scrapbook is a treasure trove of personal photographs, playbills, behind the scenes snaps and ephemera.
Jade Evans
is a published academic specialising in research on British Film Stardom from 1920 through to 1970. Her sleeve notes have been included within the Network DVD releases of Situation Comedy feature films Bless This House, and Please Sir!; while her chapter, ‘Mythologising Valentino: Stardom, Biography and Performance in Ken Russell’s Valentino’, is included in ReFocus: The Films of Ken Russell.
Vanessa Feltz
is a journalist, and broadcaster who first came to national prominence as an interviewer on The Big Breakfast. Vanessa hosted BBC Radio London’s Breakfast Show for over a decade. She was The Jewish Chronicle’s first female columnist, and wrote for the Daily Mirror, and She magazine, before publishing the humorous look at sex What Are These Strawberries Doing On My Nipples? … I Need Them for the Fruit Salad!
Dick Fiddy
is the Television Consultant for the British Film Institute and is programmer for many seasons at the National Film Theatre. As scriptwriter his credits include 1001 Nights of TV, Not the Nine O’Clock News, TV Heaven, and the situation comedy All Night Long. Dick co-authored The Saint, the official guide to the ITC series, and wrote Missing Believed Wiped: Searching for the Lost Treasures of British Television.
Yvette Fielding
acted in BBC comedies Seaview, and Last of the Summer Wine; became the youngest Blue Peter presenter; and became the First Lady of the Paranormal, as host and producer of Most Haunted. Yvette published her first novel, Archie the Ghost Hunter and the Rising, in 2019. Her first volume of The Ghost Hunter Chronicles was published two years later. The latest volume is The Witches of Pendle.
Nev Fountain
is steeped in satire, being a frequent contributor to Private Eye, Dead Ringers, and Week Ending. Nev has also written several scripts for Big Finish’s Doctor Who range, his plays including Omega, The Kingmaker, and The Curious Incident of the Doctor in the Night-Time. His love and involvement in the cult fan circuit spawned Geek Tragedy, the first in the popular series of Mervyn Stone Mysteries.
Caroline Frost
is a writer, journalist, and broadcaster with a keen interest in current affairs, royalty, and British film. Caroline was the Entertainment Editor of HuffPost UK, is an expert correspondent on popular culture for the Sunday Times, and is a frequent guest on The Papers on BBC News. Caroline’s book, Carry On Regardless: Getting to the Bottom of Britain’s Favourite Comedy Films, does just that!
Robert Gillespie
is an actor and director best-remembered for a string of situation comedy appearances: notably in Dad’s Army, George & Mildred, Rising Damp, Up Pompeii!, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, and his own starring vehicle, Keep It in the Family. He has written two volumes of memoir, Are You Going to do That Little Jump?, and Are You Going to do That Little Jump?: The Adventure Continues.
Roy Gould
was an assistant stage manager on three West End musicals before joining the BBC to became David Croft’s reliable right-hand man, graduating to director on his situation comedy classics Oh Doctor Beeching! and You Rang, M’Lord? Roy has written and developed a spin-off series, James and Ivy, and published the comic murder mystery novel The Secrets of a Small English Village.
Simon Guerrier
is a writer and producer, best-known for his work on Doctor Who. His stories for The Companion Chronicles, and The Target Storybook capturing the wry humour of the ‘60s serials. Simon has also edited several anthologies including How the Doctor Changed My Life, written Blake’s 7 plays, and TV spin-off novels Being Human: The Road, and Primeval: Fire and Water.
Toby Hadoke
is an actor, comedian, broadcaster, author and obituarist with a particularly immense knowledge of Doctor Who. He has co-written two volumes of Running Through Corridors, and his one-man stand-up shows include Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf, and My Stepson Stole My Sonic Screwdriver. Toby comperes Manchester’s XS Malarkey Comedy Club, and his television credits include Phoenix Nights, and Shameless.
Dame Sheila Hancock
is an Olivier Award winning star of stage, screen, and radio, who starred in such situation comedies as The Bed-Sit Girl, Mr. Digby Darling, and The Rag Trade. Her best-selling books include the candid memoir Ramblings of an Actress, The Two of Us: My Life with John Thaw, a novel of 1940s Britain, Miss Carter’s War, and Old Rage, a lively account of life in lockdown and beyond.
Hattie Hayridge
is a comedienne, actress, and writer, universally beloved as Holly, the ditzy computer, in Red Dwarf. Hattie’s other television credits include Friday Night Live, Have I Got News For You, Alter Ego, It’s Kevin, and Jonathan Creek: ‘The Three Gamblers’. Her autobiography, Random Abstract Memory, tells of “her birth as a suspected appendicitis to her spontaneous leap into comedy”.
Jason Hazeley
is the co-creator, with Joel Morris, of the hugely successful Ladybird Books for Grown-Ups series which has tackled everything from the Mid-Life Crisis to the Zombie Apocalypse. On screen he Jason put funny words in the mouths of Paddington Bear, and Philomena Cunk. He has written for such journals as Mojo, Esquire, and Viz; and is one of the writers of the relaunched Spitting Image.
Richard Herring
is a comedian and writer who earliest work includes the stand-up show The Headmaster’s Son, and the situation comedy You Can Choose Your Friends. He teamed-up with Stewart Lee for Fist of Fun, and This Morning with Richard Not Judy. Richard subsequently created Time Gentlemen Please, for Al Murray, and is the host of the Chortle Award-winning Leicester Square Theatre Podcast.
Sherrie Hewson
Is an actress, broadcaster, and writer, beloved as Maureen Holdsworth in Coronation Street, and Joyce Temple-Savage in Benidorm. Her novel, The Tannery, is a poignant World War II family drama; while her autobiography is Sherrie: Behind the Laughter. A semi-finalist on Celebrity Masterchef, Sherrie has also written the cookbook Nana’s Kitchen: Over 100 Delicious Family Recipes.
James Hogg
is a comedy devotee and biographer who co-wrote Hello Darlings! The Authorized Biography of Kenny Everett, and Little Ern! The Authorised Biography of Ernie Wise. James has also written More Than Just a Good Life: The Authorised Biography of Richard Briers, and collaborated with Bernard Cribbins on Bernard Who? 75 Years of Doing Just About Everything.
Jeffrey Holland
Is one of our most prolific and skilled situation comedy actors, first coming to prominence as camp comic Spike Dixon in Hi-De-Hi! Jeff subsequently starred in You Rang, M’Lord? and Oh, Doctor Beeching. His many stage credits range from frantic farce Run For Your Wife to poignant drama The History Boys. His most personal triumph is the award-winning solo show And This is My Friend Mr Laurel, which he co-wrote.
Pamela Hutchinson
is a journalist, broadcaster, and guest lecturer who specialises in silent cinema, and feminist film history. Pamela’s wrote an analytical monogram on Pandora’s Box for the BFI Film Classics range, and edited the book 30-Second Cinema. Her article ‘The Triumph of Mrs Lopsided: Katie Johnson and The Ladykillers’, was included within the 65th anniversary home release of the film.
Reina James
was born into show business, with one of her earliest memories being visiting her father, Sidney James, on location for the Ealing Comedy The Titfield Thunderbolt. A musical performer, folk singer, and astrological counsellor, Reina’s first novel, This Time of Dying, won the Society of Author’s McKitterick Prize. Her second novel, The Old Joke, was recorded for audio by Dame Penelope Keith.
Jilly Johnson
is a model of international fame; an actress; an after dinner speaker; and, with Nina Carter, founded the smash hit recording duo Blonde on Blonde. Their cover of Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love remains a disco classic. Jilly is also a best-selling author. Her debut novel, Playing For Love, told the adventures of Grace Madigan, a young actress in the fast lane. There was more salacious fun to be had in Double Exposure.
Rufus Jones
won the Perrier Award as part of the sketch comedy troupe Dutch Elm Conservatoire. Since when he has been an ubiquitous character player, notably portraying entrepreneur Bernard Delfont in Stan & Ollie, producer David Wilkes in W1A, and Python Terry Jones in Holy Flying Circus. Rufus has written for That Mitchell & Webb Sound, and The Secret World, script edited Cardinal Burns, and created and starred in the C4 sitcom Home.
John Kane
is an actor and scriptwriter whose association with the Royal Shakespeare Company has seen him play Puck in Peter Brook’s celebrated production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and adapt The Wizard of Oz for the stage. His television writing credits include the sketch show Scott On, and the situation comedies Happy Ever After, Terry and June, and creating Me & My Girl.
Paul Kent
is a BBC radio producer who, now in semi-retirement, has written a three-volume study of the comedy writing of P. G. Wodehouse: “This is Jolly Old Flame”, “Mid-Season Form”, and “The Happiest of the World”. In addition Paul has embarked on “a series of occasional papers” happily analysing Plum’s observations on a given subject. The first one of these, What Ho! P.G. Wodehouse on Food, will be followed by eight further volumes.
George Layton
is an actor and writer whose many situation comedy credits include Doctor in Charge, Doctor at the Top, Don't Wait Up, and Executive Stress, with film appearances including Carry On Behind, and Confessions of a Driving Instructor. George's best-selling short story collections include The Fib and Other Stories, The Swap and Other Stories, and The Trick and Other Stories.
Tessa Le Bars
started her career in comedy as the ‘Girl Friday’ of Associated London Scripts, dealing with the mountain of fan mail for Frankie Howerd. She still represents the trustees of his estate. Tessa is most associated with Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, as personal and business manager she preserves and promotes their scripts, and works closely with the BBC on The Galton & Simpson Bursary.
Jessica Martin
is a West End actress, impressionist, writer, and illustrator whose stage appearances include Sally in Me and My Girl, The Lady of the Lake in Spamalot, and creating the role of Fenella Fielding in Screaming Queens! Jessica’s critically acclaimed graphic novels include It Girl, a biography of silent film star Clara Bow, and her own memoir Life Drawing: A Life Under Lights.
Graham McCann
is a celebrated biographer who specialises in British film and television. Amongst his most popular publications are Bounder!: The Biography of Terry-Thomas, Do You Think That’s Wise?: The Life of John Le Mesurier, Frankie Howerd: Stand-Up Comic, and A Very Courageous Decision: The Inside Story of Yes Minister. Graham was the television critic for the Financial Times, and compiled The Essential Dave Allen.
David McGillivray
as writer, director, producer, critic, and actor, is a deity of independent British film, with comedy scripts including White Cargo, and I’m Not Feeling Myself Tonight. He has written extensively for Julian Clary, including the hugely successful national tour Lord of the Mince. David’s book, Doing Rude Things, celebrates the British sex comedy, and he has recently published his autobiography, Little Did You Know.
Paul Mendelson
is a novelist and scriptwriter, best known for creating three hugely popular BBC situation comedies: So Haunt Me, My Hero, and May to December. His ITV play Losing It, saw him nominated for Best Writing at the Televisual Awards. Paul’s books include The Art of Listening, a collection of surreal short stories; The Funnies, a political satire for children; and the novel In the Matter of Isabel, which is in development as a Hollywood film.
Website
Andy Merriman
is the writer of BBC Radio 4’s A Month of June: an anthology showcase for June Whitfield, and the situation comedy Minor Adjustment, with his father Eric Merriman. Andy’s books include the best-selling Hattie: The Authorised Biography of Hattie Jacques, Margaret Rutherford: Dreadnought with Good Manners, and Greasepaint and Cordite: How ENSA Entertained the Troops During World War II.
Jonathan Meres
used to be the extraordinary stand-up comedian Johnny Immaterial, but is now beloved as the author of over thirty five international best-selling children’s books, notably the World of Norm series. Other publications include Noodle the Doodle and Noodle the Doodle Steals the Show, for early readers, the teen fictions Yo! Diary! and Yo! Diary! 2 - And Another Thing, and the picture books The Big Bad Rumour, and Scaredy Bat.
Jonathan Morris
is a scriptwriter and novelist best known for his many contributions to the worlds of Doctor Who including Anachrophobia, an eighth doctor adventure for BBC Books, and Flip-Flop, a seventh doctor play for Big Finish. Jonathan has also written for the children’s television show Swinging. His play, When Michael Met Benny, imagines the conversation when Michael Jackson visited Benny Hill’s sick bed in February 1992.
Steve Nallon
is an actor, impressionist and writer most renown for his performance as Margaret Thatcher in Spitting Image, The New Statesman, and the stage tour of Dead Sheep. Steve also co-wrote the pastiche autography I, Margaret, as well as the BBC Radio 4 series The Ghost of Number 10, and The Nallon Tapes. His novel The Time That Never Was is the first in The Swidgers series for young adults.
Trevor Neal
is one half of a beloved duo, with partner in comedy Simon Hickson. Saturday morning appearances on Going Live! and Live and Kicking made Trev and Simon comedy heroes for a generation, and they still don’t do duvets! Together they wrote the gloriously stupid Trev and Simon’s Stupid Book. During Lockdown Trev kept the nation laughing with his word mash-ups short films, AwkWords.
Mark Newell
is a former Civil Servant who has spent a lifetime collecting and curating a history of silent cinema and pre-war British comedy. This enthused archive resulted in his book Oh, Calamity!: The Lost, Damaged and Surviving Films of the Aldwych Farces and Farceurs; the first study of the Ben Travers plays and players who inspired a generation of screen humour.
Nick Newman
is a cartoonist, and scriptwriter, who met his long-time writing partner Ian Hislop when both were studying at Ardingly College, in West Sussex. Together they have written several episodes of the television anthology Murder Most Horrid, the Royal Film Performance A Bunch of Amateurs, and the stage play Spike. Nick’s cartoons have appeared in such publications as Punch, The Spectator, The Sunday Times, and the Wisden Almanack.
Tony Nicholson
is a producer and scriptwriter who started his career writing for The Two Ronnies. A lifelong admirer of variety comedy, his first published biography was Shut That Door! The Definitive Biography of Larry Grayson. The Squire of Knotty Ash and his Lady: an intimate biography of Sir Ken Dodd saw Tony work closely with Anne, Lady Dodd, on a definitive study of the man behind the comic mask.
Francoise Pascal
is a model, singer, writer, producer, presenter, and actress, best-loved as the seductive French student Danielle Favre in the London Weekend Television sitcom Mind Your Language. Francoise’s many comedy co-stars include Derek Nimmo, Peter Sellers, and Terry Scott. Her biggest musical success came with the single Woman is Free. Francoise published her memoirs, As I Am, and is currently working on a new edition.
Alan G Parker
is a film-maker and author who co-wrote And Now For Something Completely Digital: The Complete Illustrated Guide to Monty Python CDs and DVDs, and directed the Emmy-nomianted six-part documentary Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut). Alan's acclaimed music books include Sid Vicious: No One is Innocent, and Cum On Feel the Noize: The Story of Slade.
Jonathan Pertwee
is an actor and raconteur, who continues to celebrate the legacy of his father, Bill Pertwee, for the Dad’s Army Appreciation Society. As James Pertwee, actor, he joined the team for Carry On Columbus. As J.J. Pertwee, author, he has written best-selling Young Adult novel The Cup of Dreams, about two boys from different continents and their passionate embrace of football.
Tom Preston
is a social historian, public speaker, and writer, with a lifelong fascination with comedy. The Day Laughter Broke Out, is his critically-acclaimed biography of Liverpool comedian Robb Wilton. Tom is currently researching the life and legacy of influential Teeside comic Jimmy James; and his series of lectures include Great Lancashire Comedians which celebrates the greatest performers of the north-west England.
John Rain
Is a journalist, presenter and film historian who readily admits to hosting “too many podcasts”, including the hugely successful Smersh Pod: a wry sideways glance at the James Bond franchise. This led to John’s first book, Thunderbook: The World of Bond According to Smersh Pod. It’s equally hilarious follow-up was Explodobook: The World of 80s Action Movies According to Smersh Pod.
Linda Regan
is an actress and novelist, whose film, television and stage comedy work includes April in Hi-De-Hi, the On the Buses film, and joining the Carry On team with Carry On Again Christmas. Linda’s published works are far more serious, with thrillers Brotherhood of Blades, Guts for Garters, and her series of DCI Banham mysteries which began with Behind You!, a tense tale when pantomime turns to murder!
Gail Renard
has written scripts for some of the best-loved of television shows, including ChuckleVision, Doctor on the Go, The Famous Five, The Kids from 47A, and Monty & Co. Gail shares her unique experiences at the Bed-In in Montreal, Canda, in her book Give Me a Chance: My Eight Days with John and Yoko.
Nick Revell
is a comedian, actor, writer, and painter with words whose intricate stream of consciousness, magic realism fringe success have included Eurasia’s Most Eligible Psychopaths and Their Lovely Homes, and Clash of the Hipster Shamans. He has written and starred in BrokenDreamCatcher for BBC Radio, and published Night of the Toxic Ostrich, and House of the Spirit Levels.
Graham Rinaldi
Graham Rinaldi is a lecturer and biographer specialising in the history of British film comedy and Italian cinema. Graham’s book Will Hay is the definitive study of the celebrated music-hall and cinema comedian, published with the full support of Hay’s family.
Jem Roberts
is a biographer and strolling storyteller whose acclaimed books include The Fully Authorised History of I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue: The Clue Bible from Footlights to Mornington Crescent, The True History of the Black Adder, Soupy Twists: The Full Official Story of the Sophisticated Silliness of Stephen Fry & Hugh Laurie, and Fab Fools: The Beatles, The Rutles and Rock & Roll Comedy!
Eddie Robson
is a novelist and scriptwriter with many Big Finish Doctor Who plays to his name. He created the BBC Radio 2 series Welcome To Our Village, Please Invade Carefully, and other comedy credits include Look Away Now, Newsjack, That Mitchell and Webb Sound, and Sarah & Duck. Eddie’s published works range from an authoritative study of Film Noir to the sci-fi novel Tomorrow Never Knows.
Gemma Ross
is a teacher with vast International experience and expertise in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, and English as a Second Language. Gemma was a regular contributor to Harper Collins conferences, and wrote the Teaching Teenagers One-to-One chapter in Teaching Children English from Research to Practice, which she also co-edited. Her upcoming book, The Carry On Girls, is co-written with Robert Ross.
Robert Ross
is a writer, broadcaster, and comedy historian. His plays included three Doctor Who adventures for Big Finish, and Jeepers Creepers - Through the Eyes of Marty Feldman. Robert is the author of a library of best-selling reference books and biographies, notably Sid James - Cockney Rebel, The Goodies Rule OK, Steptoe and Son - Any Old Iron, and Forgotten Heroes of Comedy.
Nick Santa Maria
is an actor, songwriter, and film historian who has appeared in several productions of Mel Brooks’s The Producers, and paid loving tribute to the classic comedy double act, in the Biffle and Shooster films. Nick wrote the introduction to William Powell: Vintage Movie Magazines Revisited, and, with fellow member Matthew Coniam, The Annotated Abbott and Costello: A Complete Viewer’s Guide to the Comedy Team and Their 38 Films.
Robert Sellers
has written biographies of Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, and Sigourney Weaver. His social screen histories include Very Naughty Boys: The Amazing True Story of HandMade Films, The Battle for Bond, and Raising Laughter: How the Sitcom Kept Britain Smiling in the ‘70s. While Hellraisers: The Life and Inebriated Times of Burton, Harris, O’Toole and Reed, led to full books on Oliver Reed, and Peter O’Toole.
Simon Sheridan
is a film-maker and writer whose reference works range from The A-Z of Classic Children’s Television to Keeping the British End Up: Four Decades of Saucy Cinema. The latter inspired the television series, with Simon’s other documentaries including Everything: The Real Thing Story, and Respectable: The Mary Millington Story. The film is included in The Mary Millington Movie Collection, which Simon compiled.
Ann Sidney
was rocketed to stardom when she was named Miss World in 1964 to a global television audience of over 27 million. Her many comedy connections include joining the Are You Being Served? team on television, United Service Organizations tours with Bob Hope, and playing Dick Whittington opposite Les Dawson. Her sensational memoirs has been published as Surviving Miss World.
Robert J.E. Simpson
is a broadcaster and cultural historian with a noted expertise on Will Hammer and the earliest days of Hammer Films. Robert is the host of CinePunked, and the co-creator of A Comedy of Madness: an illustrated stage show debating comedy and mental health. His book The Willing Fool: The Spectacle of The Wicker Man, is an academic study of the cult Folk Horror film.
Brian Slade
Is a Dorset-born journalist and biographer who has written extensively about situation comedy and light entertainment for magazines and periodicals. His heroes range from harp-plucking comic genius Harpo Marx to piano-playing comic genius Dudley Moore. Brian’s first book Simon Cadell: The Authorised Biography, tells the full story of one of Britain’s best-loved actors.
Tony Sloman
has done just about everything in the British film industry from directing (Not Tonight, Darling!) to a series of interview with cinema luminaries for the Guardian Interview. As an editor he worked with comedy directors Marty Feldman (The Last Remake of Beau Geste) and Eric Sykes (Rhubarb). A lively public speaker and historian, Tony has published his autobiography, Reel Life - An AutobiocineMemoir.
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Penny Spencer
is a stage and screen actress, best-known as the original Sharon Eversleigh in the London Weekend Television situation comedy Please, Sir! Her many other comedy credits include The Dick Emery Show, All Gas and Gaiters, and The Best Pair of Legs in the Business, with Reg Varney. A writer and a free-thinker and a drama therapist, Penny brings her unique expertise to Write On Comedy.
Trav S.D
is a Top Banana of a vaudevillian who keeps the tradition alive and vibrant as a performer. His definitive history was published as No Applause - Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous. He is also the author of Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickelodeons to YouTube. As producer and director he revived the Marx Brothers revue I'll Say She Is.
Dr. Matthew Sweet
is a popular culture chronicler and broadcaster, who hosts Sound of Cinema, on Radio 3, and The Philosopher’s Arms, on Radio 4. Matthew’s much-acclaimed book Shepperton Babylon: The Lost Worlds of British Cinema, was made into a television documentary. His other books include Inventing the Victorians, and The West End Front, a history of London hotels during World War II.
Chris Tarrant OBE
is a broadcaster and presenter whose television career started in current affairs at ATV. Chris rose to stardom as the host of anarchic children’s show Tiswas, and its late-night adult spin-off, O.T.T. Fifteen years of asking the questions on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? inspired his book, Millionaire Moments, while more small screen stories are collected in It’s Not a Proper Job: Stories from 50 Years in TV.
Julie Warren
is a researcher and biographer who strove to celebrate the unsung comedy credentials of her cousin, the scriptwriter Larry Stephens. He was a pioneering architect of The Goon Show, scribe and best man to Tony Hancock, and one of the key writers of The Army Game: just a fraction of the astounding story told in It's All in the Mind: The Life and Legacy of Larry Stephens.
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