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Edinburgh Live
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Sheila Hancock shares three secrets behind living past 90
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Acting legend Dame Sheila Hancock has revealed her three secrets to living so long, after the beloved actor recently celebrated her 92nd birthday. Having appeared in some of the nation's favourite TV shows and films down the years, her first foray into acting came on stage in the 1950s, with her going on to be cast in a number of West End shows in her early years in the industry. As the years passed, her stock continued to rise with her soon swapping the stage for various roles in front of the camera both in cinema and TV. Her debut came in the much-loved Rag Trade that aired on the BBC in the early 1960s. (Image:for The Ivy West Street) And before long, she soon started to earn a flurry of other high-profile roles down the years on shows including Doctor Who, EastEnders and The Catherine Tate Show. One of her latest performances came in ITV's Unforgotten, starring as Eileen. More recently, she has been seen in a slew of TV shows alongside her close friend Gyles Brandreth as they joined forces in Great Canal Journeys on Channel 4. (Image:) Now, during a recent appearance on Katherine Ryan's What's My Age podcast, the actor opened up on how she has managed to remain in such good health at the age of 92, saying that having a positive "mental attitude" and being "curious" have stood her in good stead over the years. Meanwhile, she shared how her career has enabled her to always keep on top of her fitness, before adding that trips to dance classes and the gym have also managed to keep her in-check physically. (Image: Getty Images) While adding that "sensible" eating provides another potential key to her longevity, she admitted that she has allowed herself the occasional treat down the years, saying: "Well, not always, but I've mainly eaten sensibly, except of course one eats after the show and all the silly things." And, she said that she can see how her healthy lifestyle compares to some of those around her of a similar age, saying: "But I know that I am better than most of my contemporaries in terms of health." (Image: PA) She added: "I mean, I haven't had any replacements or anything like that. But then I think I've got quite a high pain threshold. I'm quite good with pain." She also spoke of how she has decided to brave it out when it comes to a recent hip pain she has been suffering from, whereas saying she believes that others her age might be inclined to seek a hip replacement.
The Independent
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Peep Show stars say sitcom genre has fallen into a ‘coma' in past decade
Peep Show stars David Mitchell and Robert Webb have hit out at the current state of British sketch shows, saying that the genre has fallen into a 'coma' in the past decade. The pair, who starred in the award-winning series that ran between 2003 to 2015, will produce Channel 4 's first sketch show in more than a decade. They admitted they were 'startled, amused and available' when they were asked to lead the untitled six-part series, which will air later this year. Mitchell, who played loan manager Mark Corrigan in Peep Show, said that he hoped that the forthcoming sketch show would rescue the genre from abandonment. Sitcoms have been a casualty of the the TV industry's narrowing budget in recent years, and the Noughties are often seen as the golden years for popular sitcoms including The Catherine Tate Show and Little Britain. Mitchell said that the genre has been neglected in recent years, but there is still hope to resuscitate it. 'It has been resting but there is still a beep on the machine so let's hope it is ready to get up and eat a hearty meal,' he said. 'It's slightly odd that it stopped. The short amusing item that hopefully doesn't outstay its welcome is quite a major part of TV comedy. It has continued on the internet in a low budget way but it has been abandoned by TV.' He said the glaring generational divides that currently exist in society present an environment where comedy can flourish. 'People are more at odds with each other than at any time since the sixties,' he said, according to The Times. 'The different generations do not understand each other,' he continued. 'And we live in changing times with an internet that is ruining everything. But like with all things that are fundamentally horrible there is a lot of humour to be found which is good for a sketch show to discuss.' Mitchell added that the success and growth of YouTube is proof that there is still demand for television of sorts. He explained: 'It's harder than ever to get the money together to make high quality comedies and dramas. But people still want quality TV so there are reasons to be hopeful. We have got to keep making programmes that people want to see and even if they are watching them in two minute bursts online then it still counts.' The pair's previous project together, That Mitchell and Webb Look, ended in 2010 after four series on BBC Two, and won a Bafta for best comedy programme. The show saw the pair take on various characters, including detectives to maths quiz experts. For the forthcoming release, the pair have promised an 'innovative merging of comedy minds across generations', with support actors and writers including the Ghosts star Kiell Smith-Bynoe. Channel 4 has not aired a sketch series since 2014's Cardinal Burns, which was co-created by Dustin Demri-Burns who has gone on to appear in Stath Lets Flats and Slow Horses. Sharing the announcement, Charlie Perkins, the head of comedy for Channel 4, declared that the 'sketch is back'. 'Sketch shows have historically been the bedrock of generations of comedy writers and performers – giving so many household names their first credits,' she said. 'In an era of purpose-heavy, high-production values, international-feeling dramas and comedy a lot of the very silliest stuff has got lost – and the lifeblood of TV with it.' The announcement is part of a Channel 4 commissioning spree that includes a new drama, titled Tip Toe, from the It's A Sin writer Russell T Davies.
The Independent
04-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Sitcom stars lead tributes to ‘wonderful' Man About The House actor Brian Murphy
George And Mildred and Man About The House star Brian Murphy has been remembered as a 'wonderful' actor by his fellow classic sitcom stars Jeffrey Holland and Vicki Michelle. Murphy died aged 92 at his home in Kent on Sunday morning with his wife, Hi-de-Hi! actress Linda Regan, by his side, his agent said. He also starred as Nora Batty's (Kathy Staff) neighbour Alvin Smedley in Last Of The Summer Wine, and appeared in a host of other TV shows, including comedy series The Catherine Tate Show, Benidorm and This Is Jinsy. Regan, who married Murphy in 1990 after they starred opposite each other in a play as husband and wife, said: 'I was lucky to have in my lifetime found my soulmate Brian, who I will love forever.' Murphy had not retired, and was filming for a comedy before Christmas and had been due to start production on a road movie in June in which he would star alongside Regan as a husband and wife duo. Hi-de-Hi! actor Holland wrote on X that he and his wife, On The Up actress Judy Buxton, are 'very sorry to hear of the passing of dear' Murphy. He added that he was a 'wonderful actor', and he had 'fond memories of appearing with him in Ray Cooney's (comedy play) Run For Your Wife in London's West End and Vancouver'. 'Our thoughts are with Linda at this sad time,' Holland added. 'Sleep well old friend.' 'Allo 'Allo! star and soap actress Michelle wrote: 'So so sad to hear of the passing of Brian Murphy. Great actor and gorgeous friend, always fun. 'My heart goes out to Linda and family. Such a wonderful couple. Lovely memory at my Lady Ratlings lunch in May. RIP Brian. Sending lots of love.' Murphy came to the public's attention with ITV's Man About The House, a popular sitcom that began airing in 1973, and spawned a US version called Three's Company. It saw Murphy play landlord George Roper, opposite the late Yootha Joyce as his wife Mildred Roper, who wants to climb up the social ladder and drives him crazy. The show, which ended in 1976 was considered controversial for the time because it featured two single women living with a man, and led to a spin-off with Murphy and Joyce starring in George And Mildred, which ran for five series until 1979. In the 1960s Murphy appeared in Z-Cars, a TV police drama also featuring Judy Matheson, who said in her tribute to him on X: 'Heartbroken about the death of my dear friend of over 50 years, Brian Murphy. ' One of the finest actors I have known, and one of the kindest.' Born on September 25 1932 on the Isle of Wight, he trained at The Royal Academy Of Dramatic Art after completing National Service with the RAF. He started his career in the 1950s as a member of the Theatre Workshop, founded by Joan Littlewood, and appeared in both the stage and 1962 film version of Littlewood's comedy Sparrows Can't Sing, the latter starring Barbara Windsor and James Booth. He also performed in First World War musical satire Oh! What A Lovely War. Murphy was a jobbing actor before appearing in TV shows including The Avengers and Z-Cars, and ITV sitcom The Incredible Mr Tanner in 1981 and BBC's L For Lester in 1982. In 1993, he starred in the first major stage version of The Invisible Man, based on the science fiction classic by HG Wells. In the noughties, he portrayed Maurice in The Booze Cruise alongside Martin Clunes and Neil Pearson, and from 2011 he appeared in The Cafe. In later years, he voiced the character Mr Lovelybuns for the animated series Claude, based on Alex T Smith's best-selling books. Murphy's agent Thomas Bowington told the PA news agency the actor was told he had cancer in his spine and shoulders after 'a sudden attack' that saw the actor develop a pain in his back around three weeks ago. His agent remembered him as a 'sprinkler of joy on stage, screen and in life' and as a person who was 'joyful, warm, kind and caring to everyone'. Murphy had shot scenes for a comedy series in November last year and was due to start filming for a feature film, with a working title of The Last Goodbye, directed by Jason Figgis, about 'life late in life', his agent said. Mr Bowington said Regan still plans to star in the film but they will 'need to take a breath first' before casting her co-star because he said 'Brian is not easily replaced'. Murphy is survived by his wife and two sons.
