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Read just about 10 mins ago he has died

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.

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?

colonel wrote:

> So that just leaves Anna Karen then.

Don't forget Stephen Lewis.

I [happily] stand corrected.

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

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.