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Metro
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Love Actually and Eastenders star Jo Bacon dies aged 72
Joanna Bacon has died at the age of 72, with tributes flooding in paying homage to the actress. The star was diagnosed with cancer in January and died in June, with her funeral taking place yesterday on July 15. The actor was best known for playing the mother of Natalie (played by Martine McCutcheon) who appears in the 2003 film when the Prime Minister (played by Hugh Grant) knocks on her door in Wandsworth, in an attempt to win Natalie back. Bacon was also best known for her appearances in EastEnders, Casualty, The Bill, Pie in the Sky, Little Britain, A Touch of Frost and New Tricks. She also notably appeared in the series Breeders, where she played Jackie, the mother of Paul (played by Martin Freeman). More Trending At the funeral on Tuesday, celebrant Jo Moore said: 'Jo's talent as an actor was a gift that she shared with the world. On stage and on screen, she brought us joy, laughter, and inspiration, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of everyone she reached. 'She was a woman of many talents and facets, and I would like to share with you a description of Jo, given by Gill, one of her lifelong friends: 'Jo's life was a wonderful, elaborate, kaleidoscope with different sections for each of her passions and only Jo was at the centre and could see and enjoy the whole kaleidoscope. 'In many ways Jo was a contradiction – a flamboyant extrovert, a superb wit, a natural communicator and yet, at the same time, an introspective loner. 'We all thought we knew her so well but, in reality, we each only knew and loved one aspect of her.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: Paranormal TV investigator Dan Rivera dies suddenly while touring with haunted Annabelle doll MORE: Musician and Spinal Tap star David Kaff dies aged 79 MORE: Pokemon voice actor James Carter Cathcart dies aged 71
Daily Record
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Love Actually and Eastenders actor Jo Bacon dies aged 72
Jo Bacon played Natalie's mum in the 2003 film Love Actually and has died at the age of 72. Heartfelt tributes have poured in following the passing of a 'brilliant' actress who featured in one of Love Actually's most memorable scenes. Jo Bacon portrayed Natalie's mum in the beloved 2003 romantic comedy, appearing in the unforgettable moment when Hugh Grant's Prime Minister arrives at their south London home searching for Martine McCutcheon's character. The 72 year old performer, who was cherished throughout the television, theatre, film and ballet communities, also graced screens in EastEnders, Casualty, The Bill, Pie in the Sky, Little Britain, A Touch of Frost and New Tricks. She earned critical acclaim for her role as Jackie in Breeders, playing the mother of Martin Freeman's character Paul. Freeman joined numerous fellow actors in paying final respects to Bacon at her funeral service yesterday, reports the Mirror. Celebrant Jo Moore reflected: "Jo's talent as an actor was a gift that she shared with the world. On stage and on screen, she brought us joy, laughter, and inspiration, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of everyone she reached. "She was a woman of many talents and facets, and I would like to share with you a description of Jo, given by Gill, one of her lifelong friends: 'Jo's life was a wonderful, elaborate, kaleidoscope with different sections for each of her passions and only Jo was at the centre and could see and enjoy the whole kaleidoscope. In many ways Jo was a contradiction - a flamboyant extrovert, a superb wit, a natural communicator and yet, at the same time, an introspective loner. "We all thought we knew her so well but, in reality, we each only knew and loved one aspect of her.'" Following her cancer diagnosis in January, Jo herself reflected: "I have had a brilliant life. I have been so lucky to do the things I have done and to have met the wonderful people I have met. I have no regrets." Patrick Roberts, a close friend of Bacon's, spoke with fervour as he remembered her zest for life, her passion for travel, and her love for animals. The congregation experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, from applause to laughter and tears, as they listened to various heartfelt stories about her life and career. Barry Bowen, another friend, fondly recalled: "The thing I remember and love most about her I suspected in those early local days and it proved true in spades as the years went by.... her unfailing loyalty to her friends. If Jo had wanted to be anything other than the humble person we all knew, she was so well equipped to be a name dropper. Sharing stages and studios with the likes of Redgrave, O'Toole, Mirren, Bates, Rickman, Grant, Firth and Freeman were a silent compliment to her." The attendees were reminded of how Bacon began her acting journey in the 1960s and 1970s with amateur dramatic societies in Hatfield Heath and Harlow, Essex. Despite her growing success, Bacon remained a dedicated supporter of local arts, frequently attending performances by the Heath Players, Harlow Ballet, and at the Harlow Playhouse, close to her home in Hatfield Heath. Her coffin was carried out of the GreenAcres Epping venue to the tune of the Rolling Stones' Honky Tonk Women. A passionate animal enthusiast, especially dogs, she requested that donations be made to a local charity named Mutts in Distress.
Daily Mirror
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Jo Bacon dead: Love Actually and EastEnders star dies as tributes flood in
Tributes have been paid after the death of a 'brilliant' actor - who appeared in one of the most iconic scenes in Love Actually. Jo Bacon played Natalie's mum in the 2003 film when the Prime Minister played by Hugh Grant knocked on the door of their south London house looking for Martine McCutcheon's character. Bacon who was a hugely popular figure across the world of TV, theatre, film and ballet also made appearances in EastEnders, Casualty, The Bill, Pie in the Sky, Little Britain, A Touch of Frost and New Tricks. And she won rave reviews for her performances in Breeders where she played Jackie the mum of Paul played by Martin Freeman. Freeman was one of many actors who paid their last respects to Bacon, who has died at the age of 72, at her funeral yesterday. The celebrant Jo Moore said: "Jo's talent as an actor was a gift that she shared with the world. On stage and on screen, she brought us joy, laughter, and inspiration, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of everyone she reached. "She was a woman of many talents and facets, and I would like to share with you a description of Jo, given by Gill, one of her lifelong friends: 'Jo's life was a wonderful, elaborate, kaleidoscope with different sections for each of her passions and only Jo was at the centre and could see and enjoy the whole kaleidoscope. In many ways Jo was a contradiction - a flamboyant extrovert, a superb wit, a natural communicator and yet, at the same time, an introspective loner. "We all thought we knew her so well but, in reality, we each only knew and loved one aspect of her.'' After her cancer diagnosis in January, Jo herself said 'I have had a brilliant life. I have been so lucky to do the things I have done and to have met the wonderful people I have met. I have no regrets.' Bacon's close friend Patrick Roberts spoke passionately as he recalled Jo's love of life, love of travel and love of animals. There was applause, laughter and tears as the congregation listened to a string of anecdotes about her life and career. Another friend Barry Bowen said: "The thing I remember and love most about her I suspected in those early local days and it proved true in spades as the years went by…. her unfailing loyalty to her friends. If Jo had wanted to be anything other than the humble person we all knew, she was so well equipped to be a name dropper. Sharing stages and studios with the likes of Redgrave, O'Toole, Mirren, Bates, Rickman, Grant, Firth and Freeman were a silent compliment to her." The congregation heard how Bacon started her career in the 1960s and 1970s at amateur dramatic groups in Hatfield Heath and Harlow, Essex. And as she enjoyed increasing success in her career Bacon remained a steadfast supporter of local groups near her home in Hatfield Heath regularly attending many performances of the Heath Players, Harlow Ballet and at Harlow Playhouse Her coffin left the venue at GreenAcres Epping to the sounds of the Rolling Stones Honky Tonk Woman. A huge animal lover, particularly dogs, she asked for donations to be made to a local charity called Mutts in Distress.
Telegraph
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Got a taste for cosy crime? Then the underrated Pie in the Sky should be next on your list
With its tortured geniuses fussing over fine-dining dishes, hipster favourite The Bear has been rattling the saucepans of TV critics and awards judges alike. Along with pressure-cooker BBC counterpart Boiling Point, restaurant kitchens have become the hot subject for small-screen drama. Before either of those shows, however, came another culinary series with gourmet credentials – but an altogether gentler tone. Pie in the Sky wasn't just one of the most underrated shows of the 1990s. It was also the ultimate cosy crime drama, decades ahead of its time. Airing on Sunday nights from 1994 to 1997, the charming crime caper followed Henry Crabbe (Richard Griffiths), a detective who doubled as a restaurateur – much to the chagrin of his superiors and the confusion of the criminal fraternity. The result was a flavoursome blend of whodunit and gentle comedy, with a generous helping of cookery tips on the side. Escapism had rarely been so delicious. After 25 years in the force, disillusioned Crabbe dreamt of hanging up his handcuffs and opening his own restaurant. When a bid to catch a notorious thief backfired and Crabbe was shot in the leg – 'I'm not built for dodging bullets,' he quipped, 'I make too big a target' – he was effectively blackmailed into semi-retirement. He could pursue his culinary ambitions as long as he took on occasional police work. 'The best of both worlds,' as his self-serving boss put it (and, coincidentally, the title of the debut episode). Crabbe divided his time between his duties as detective inspector and head chef, with each episode following parallel plot lines; one in which he investigated a case, the other dealing with a problem at the eponymous eatery. He ran the restaurant with his accountant wife Margaret (Maggie Steed), who was all about the bottom line and cared little for food herself. In a running joke, she was immune to Henry's cooking, no matter how hard he tried. According to its creator, playwright Andrew Payne – who sadly died last year – Pie in the Sky was 'a cop show that was anti-cop shows'. The lead role was written with Griffiths in mind, and he was even sent to the Prue Leith School of Cookery to research the part – but nevertheless always proclaimed himself an abysmal home cook. To a generation of viewers, Griffiths will forever be lonely, libidinous Uncle Monty from cult 1987 film Withnail & I. He also found a global audience with 1991's The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear, and quipped in 1994 that those who didn't know him for either role would simply wonder of him, 'Who is that fat git?'. By the Noughties, he became synonymous with Uncle Vernon from the Harry Potter films. But, as Crabbe, he was an utter delight – the genial protagonist, whose flair at the stove matched his skill as a sleuth. 'It was a challenge to make Richard a policeman who didn't want to be one,' Payne once said. 'I like reluctant heroes and Crabbe would much rather be in the kitchen making an omelette than out solving crimes.' Before Pie in the Sky, Payne cut his TV teeth writing scripts for much-loved ITV comedy-drama Minder (his first episode, in 1980, was also set in a kitchen) and the likes of Shoestring, Lovejoy and Midsomer Murders – all quirky crime series in a similar vein. In contrast to Minder's gritty London locations, Pie in the Sky unfolded in the picturesque fictional town of Middleton in leafy Westershire (loosely based on Berkshire). Crabbe's speciality, of course, was those titular pies. His golden-crusted steak-and-kidney number was, according to one police colleague, 'so addictive, it should be on the list of banned substances'. Griffith's physical size, shrewd comic instincts and sparkling intelligence made him entirely believable as a gourmand detective, who would sigh at his police colleagues' packed lunches, despair at his wife's crisp consumption and launch into gastronomical rants at the drop of a chef's hat. 'I've always been aware that from a certain point of view my looks were against me,' he told The Times in 2012. 'And I'm still very disappointed with this shape. In an ideal world, I'd like to get it straightened out, so I could be more easily cast and play more parts. But as I've got older it's got less and less of a problem. It doesn't really matter any more, as long as I've got my brains intact.' Crabbe was a foodie long before it became fashionable. He'd gleefully pull over his Saab if he spotted wild garlic or sorrel growing at the roadside. He eulogised about prosciutto, chorizo and extra virgin olive oil when they were still exotic delicacies rather than standard supermarket fare. He carried a silver pepper grinder – a cherished wedding gift from Margaret – in his waistcoat pocket at all times. His hero was celebrated 19th-century chef Alexis Soyer, whose never-bettered lamb cutlets have remained on The Reform Club's menu for 180 years. 'Everywhere I go, I get people asking me how they should prepare certain dishes,' Griffiths said in 1995. 'People must watch what we do in the kitchen quite closely… we do try to get it right.' Despite the talents of its star, Pie in the Sky was by no means a one-man show. As well as Steed's twinkly turn as the long-suffering Margaret, Joe Duttine played the restaurant's loyal chef – an ex-con once arrested by Crabbe who had learned to cook in prison. Samantha Womack and Marsha Thomason were young waitresses. The likes of Jim Carter, Phyllis Logan, Andy Serkis, Keeley Hawes and Nicola Walker popped up in guest roles. The villain in the first episode – who not only shot Crabbe but, arguably a worse offence, stole his pepper mill – was portrayed by Michael Kitchen of Foyle's War fame. Such was the programme's popularity that it spawned an entire mini-industry. Although most exterior scenes were filmed in Marlow, Henry's beloved eatery was actually a toy shop in Hemel Hempstead's Old Town. It became a tourist attraction for the four years the show was on-air. A canny local restaurateur renamed his own premises Pie in the Sky, just eight doors down, to cash in on the influx of visitors. The show's influence even reached as far as Australia, where a long-standing restaurant called Pie in the Sky in Olinda, Victoria began serving the show's recipes, notably its famed steak-and-kidney pie. With its mild-mannered hero, wry tone and quaint setting, Pie in the Sky presaged the cosy crime boom. Reflecting on the series' tone in 1997, Griffiths said: 'Pie in the Sky works because it is a good-natured show that people can watch with the confidence that they are not going to get their sensibilities assaulted. The difficulty is to do that without being too wimpish, or too soft [...] We go for the dirty language and the tough stuff in rehearsal, then pull it back when the camera's rolling. That way the attitude is still in your mind.' It's a boom that shows no sign of slowing. Some of the BBC's recent hit cosy crime series include Ludwig, which follows a crime-solving crossword setter, Death Valley (a crime-solving actor) and Father Brown (a crime-solving priest). U&Alibi this week brings us a crime-solving bookseller (in Mark Gatiss 's Bookish), while the starry adaptation of Richard Osman 's bestselling The Thursday Murder Club books lands on Netflix next month. Henry and his pies blazed a trail before them all. Pie in the Sky ran for 40 delectable episodes across five series. To revisit the quintessentially British show now is to be reminded of a more innocent time – yet in many ways, it hasn't dated at all. It is the televisual equivalent of comfort food, hearty and nourishing. Go ahead and tuck in.
The Herald Scotland
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
When even Downton's Mrs Hughes turns to cosy crime, we are in TV hell
Now, despite this disliking of the soft crime genre, Logan is set to star in her own series Murder Most Puzzling. This suggests two things. She fancies the idea of fronting a telly series for the first time more than she dislikes the conceit. And you don't need to be a TV sleuth to work out that having your name on top of the titles guarantees a nice little earner. Phyllis Logan in Downton Abbey with Jim Carter (Image: free)We don't know the specific reasons why the one-time head housekeeper Mrs Hughes in Downton doesn't like cosy crime drama, as she said in the Radio Times, but surely she suspects the genre to be an oxymoron. As we all know, crime isn't cosy at all. It's horrific, often featuring acts of evil. Yet, television insists on re-producing nonsensical daftness, knowing that some (OK, some millions) of viewers buy into a formula that's older than Agatha Christie's Remington. What is the formula? First, find yourself a nice location. Beaches are always good. A paradise island even better. But then nice libraries in upstate New York can work well, as can a country cottage in the Cotswolds. What you will never, ever see is a cosy crime series set in a Glasgow close, just a few yards away from the shooting gallery, or in an Edinburgh housing scheme in which triple glazed windows can't keep out the sound of feral teenagers revving stolen motorbikes. Second, the central character has to be rather odd, eccentric. And never, ever sexy. (Ashley Jensen however is such a good actor she was able to suggest a hint of sexiness in Agatha Raisin.) That's why the cosy crime series are fronted by the likes of unkempt priests, (Father Brown) strident nuns (Sister Boniface), duffel-coated curly-haired magicians (Jonathan Creek) and chubby head chefs turned shamus (Pie in the Sky). Cosy crime also has its own murdering preferences. Such as poison. Blowdarts are popular, or bullets fashioned from ice. And one episode saw a woman off her husband with a head blow, using a leg of lamb. (Which was then cooked and served up to investigating police officers). TV companies know of course they are serving up silliness. But so often they argue that these marshmallow-soft crime series are actually good for the public health. Read more No, honestly. They tell us that by accepting the idea of some old biddy with a twinset and a typewriter being able to solve the mysteries that leave professional detectives clueless, this is actually good for our mental health. It offers the chance to wild swim in a world that doesn't exist; yes, a world of criminality, but it never ever asks us to view a bloody or battered body (far less a dismemberment). Sure, there are murderers, but they are very often tidy, middle-aged men with a butterfly collection, who wear Roger Moore polo necks and enjoy an exclusive gym membership, and are married to community artist Penny, who is having a secret affair with her pickleball coach. And these cosy crime stories always feature storylines that are tied up in a bow so cute it could have been worn by Elton's wedding chihuahua as it clipped up the aisle with the couple's wedding rings inside the little bejewelled box on its back. The storylines may feature the odd tale about catfishing, or Ponzi schemes or crypto currency, but they almost never feature the backdrop to the real world we're facing, tales, for example of frozen pensioners who have to choose between food or one bar on the electric fire. Indeed, when viewers switch on to watch the likes of Hetty or Agathy, they can escape into a nice uncluttered clear space far from reality, a space that exists only between the ears of TV commissioning editors. Remember the daft, absurd alternative universe that was Bergerac, with its running storyline whereby an island's top cop was daft about a known diamond thief? Unbelievable. Even though the jewel snatcher was played by Liza Goddard. Phyllis Logan in Lovejoy with Ian McShane (Image: free) So, Phyllis is right to open up about her lack of love for the genre. But let's go further. It should be deemed a crime to continue to reproduce cosy crime. Any writer who even contemplates the creation of a series in which the central character wears cardigans, Bermuda shirts, drives a Triumph roadster or tippy taps at a vintage typewriter should be taken in for questioning. Yes, yes. I know I once wrote a TV crit singing the praises of Ludwig. But that wasn't a cosy crime drama, was it? Okay, I know, that like Logan's new character he was also a puzzle solver. But his twin brother, whom he impersonated, was a cop. So that made it all right, didn't it. Oh, come on. It can't be a crime to watch any series which features Anna Maxwell Martin. Can it?
