Reg Varney
Reg Varney
Read just about 10 mins ago he has died
Re: Reg Varney
A very great performer indeed. Absolutely everywhere from 1969 to 1974- by 1972, there were 12 OTB episodes every year and he had a 6 part variety show of his own, and he made a feature film with Norman Rossington and the OTB feature film for that year. The only TV based franchise to go to 3 movies- Steptoe only made 2; and one of the films was the highest grossing film of that year.
Then in c. 1975 or 1976 he made the real stinker Up The Gate comedy about a Billingsgate porter and never did anything much on TV again. He had done the Sunday morning show on BBC Radio Devon for the last 12 years or so though- still active as far as he could be active.
So that just leaves Anna Karen then.
Then in c. 1975 or 1976 he made the real stinker Up The Gate comedy about a Billingsgate porter and never did anything much on TV again. He had done the Sunday morning show on BBC Radio Devon for the last 12 years or so though- still active as far as he could be active.
So that just leaves Anna Karen then.
Re: Reg Varney
colonel wrote:
> A very great performer indeed. Absolutely everywhere from 1969
> to 1974- by 1972, there were 12 OTB episodes every year and he
> had a 6 part variety show of his own, and he made a feature
> film with Norman Rossington and the OTB feature film for that
> year. The only TV based franchise to go to 3 movies- Steptoe
> only made 2; and one of the films was the highest grossing film
> of that year.
>
> Then in c. 1975 or 1976 he made the real stinker Up The Gate
> comedy about a Billingsgate porter and never did anything much
> on TV again. He had done the Sunday morning show on BBC Radio
> Devon for the last 12 years or so though- still active as far
> as he could be active.
>
> So that just leaves Anna Karen then.
I had completely forgotten about that show, yes it was a pile of shit wasn't it?
I believe that in 1971 the film of On The Buses outgrossed Diamonds are Forever at the box office. Incredible but true. What were they thinking?
> A very great performer indeed. Absolutely everywhere from 1969
> to 1974- by 1972, there were 12 OTB episodes every year and he
> had a 6 part variety show of his own, and he made a feature
> film with Norman Rossington and the OTB feature film for that
> year. The only TV based franchise to go to 3 movies- Steptoe
> only made 2; and one of the films was the highest grossing film
> of that year.
>
> Then in c. 1975 or 1976 he made the real stinker Up The Gate
> comedy about a Billingsgate porter and never did anything much
> on TV again. He had done the Sunday morning show on BBC Radio
> Devon for the last 12 years or so though- still active as far
> as he could be active.
>
> So that just leaves Anna Karen then.
I had completely forgotten about that show, yes it was a pile of shit wasn't it?
I believe that in 1971 the film of On The Buses outgrossed Diamonds are Forever at the box office. Incredible but true. What were they thinking?
Re: Reg Varney
colonel wrote:
> So that just leaves Anna Karen then.
Don't forget Stephen Lewis.
> So that just leaves Anna Karen then.
Don't forget Stephen Lewis.
Is it any wonder that the monkey's confused?
Re: Reg Varney
I [happily] stand corrected.
Re: Reg Varney
Strange to think Lewis was only in his mid-30's when he played 'poor old Blakey' & that Varney was in pushing 60 by the time the show ended... Character-wise 'Butler' was supposed to be (I guess) mid-30s and Blakey a good deal older
'Chipper' old Reg, the original Peter Pan - only right that he lived into his 90's
'Chipper' old Reg, the original Peter Pan - only right that he lived into his 90's
They're locking them up today, they're throwing away the key...I wonder who it be tomorrow, you or me?
Re: Reg Varney
Indeed...Blakey was meant to be 20 years older than Stan- in fact he was 15 years younger.
OTB all got a bit much for Reg - people forget that in the last series, Stan was written out 'to work at a bus factory in the Midlands'. Blakey moved in with Mum as the lodger and spent Sunday nights at his [newly introduced] sister's [played by Pat Coombs, I think]. That lasted all of 4 episodes and then the whole series was ended.
OTB all got a bit much for Reg - people forget that in the last series, Stan was written out 'to work at a bus factory in the Midlands'. Blakey moved in with Mum as the lodger and spent Sunday nights at his [newly introduced] sister's [played by Pat Coombs, I think]. That lasted all of 4 episodes and then the whole series was ended.