Wendy Richard

Wendy Richard MBE (née Emerton, 20 July 1943 – 26 February 2009)[1] was an English actress, known for her television roles as Miss Shirley Brahms on the BBC sitcom Are You Being Served?, which aired between 1972 and 1985, and Pauline Fowler on the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, from 1985 to 2006.

Wendy Richard MBE
Richard as Miss Brahms in Are You Being Served?
Born	Wendy Emerton 20 July 1943 Middlesbrough, England
Died	26 February 2009 (aged 65) Harley Street, London, England
Resting place	East Finchley Cemetery and Crematorium, East Finchley, London
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1960–2009
Known for	Roles of Miss Shirley Brahms in Are You Being Served? (1972–1985) and Pauline Fowler in EastEnders (1985–2006)
Spouse(s)	Leonard Blach ​ ​ (m. 1972; div. 1974)​ Will Thorpe ​ ​ (m. 1980; div. 1984)​ Paul Glorney ​ ​ (m. 1990; div. 1994)​ John Burns ​ ​ (m. 2008; her death 2009)​

Family and early life

Richard, an only child, was born on 20 July 1943 in Middlesbrough. Her parents, Henry and Beatrice Reay (née Cutter) Emerton, were publicans and ran the Corporation Hotel in the town. Emerton and Cutter married in Paddington in 1939. While Richard was a baby, her family moved to Bournemouth. They later moved to the Isle of Wight and then to London, where they ran the Shepherds Tavern in Shepherd Market, where Elizabeth Taylor and Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon are said to have been customers. Richard attended the local primary school, St George's, but her education was interrupted when her family moved again, this time to the Valentine Hotel at Gants Hill, then in Essex, now in Greater London. Another move, to the Streatham Park Hotel in south London, followed a few months later. It was there, in December 1954, that Richard's father committed suicide. Wendy, then 11, found his body. Her mother Beatrice never remarried, and died of liver cancer in May 1972.[1]

Richard was enrolled at the Royal Masonic School for Girls at Rickmansworth after her father's death, as Henry had been a Freemason, and help with fees was provided by the organisation. She found the school unduly strict, and her art mistress called her paintings and drawings "affected, rather like herself."[2] Richard dreamed of becoming a TV continuity girl or film star from a young age and, after leaving school at 15, helped to pay her way through the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London by working in the fashion department at Fortnum and Mason.[3] It was at that time that she decided to change her surname to Richard, because "it was short and neat."[4] While at the Italia Conti, Richard appeared on television with Sammy Davis, Jr. in the ATV programme Sammy Meets the Girls, and also in No Hiding Place.[2]

Career

Richard first became familiar to TV audiences playing Joyce Harker, a regular in the BBC's 1960s soap opera The Newcomers. Richard's first appearance in a television series, however, was as a teenager in Stranger on the Shore, which debuted in 1961. The theme tune of the series was the Acker Bilk clarinet solo of the same name.

In 1962, Richard's distinctive cockney vocals helped get her to No. 1 on the UK singles chart with the single "Come Outside" by Mike Sarne.

Richard appears in a scene cut from the released version of The Beatles movie Help! (1965).[5]

In 1965, Richard appeared in an episode of the original Likely Lads series as a household cleaner saleswoman called Lynn. She also had a bit part the same year in Danger Man in the episode "Don't Nail Him Yet". Richard's first soap role was as teenage supermarket till girl Joyce Harker in The Newcomers, which ran on BBC1 from 1965 to 1969. She appeared in Dad's Army (first as Edith Parrish, and later as Private Walker's girlfriend Shirley), and Up Pompeii!.

She was a regular cast member of the 1970s/80s sitcom Are You Being Served? as Shirley Brahms, a shop assistant with a heavy Cockney accent. Richard also appeared in the Are You Being Served? sequel Grace & Favour in 1992 and 1993. Richard appeared in two Carry On films, playing a small role in Carry On Matron and a supporting part in Carry On Girls (both films also featured her future EastEnders colleague Barbara Windsor). Richard's other film roles included No Blade of Grass (1970), Gumshoe (1971) starring Albert Finney, and the film versions of On The Buses (1971), Bless This House (1972), and Are You Being Served? (1977).

EastEnders

Richard subsequently found continued success as heroine and matriarch Pauline Fowler on the BBC soap opera EastEnders, a role she played from the first episode in 1985. On 10 July 2006, the BBC announced that Richard had decided to leave the series after more than 20 years.[6] An interview with The Sun revealed that problems with the EastEnders storyline (primarily Pauline's marriage to Joe Macer) were the main cause of her departure.[7] Until the onscreen death of her character at Christmas 2006, she was one of only two original cast members of that programme to appear continuously from the first episode in 1985, along with Adam Woodyatt, who played her on-screen nephew Ian Beale.

In 2007, Richard was awarded a British Soap Award for 'Special Achievement' for her role in EastEnders.[8]

Later career

Richard appeared regularly on the BBC Radio programme Just a Minute from 1989 until 1994. She returned for further appearances in 2002 and 2003.

In 2000, Richard was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours.[9]

In late 2006, Richard was seen as a guest presenter on the BBC's City Hospital series and on 31 March 2007, she presented the documentary A Tribute to John Inman, for BBC2. She also gave interviews for the first time in many years, making appearances on The Paul O'Grady Show, Big Brother's Little Brother, Loose Women, Parkinson, and the Biography Channel special Gloria's Greats with Gloria Hunniford, amongst others.

In April 2007, Richard announced that she would be appearing in a new role for the first time since leaving EastEnders, in a new sitcom penned by David Croft called Here Comes The Queen. The project came about after she personally asked Croft to write something for her. Richard had commented: "The part is like an older version of Miss Brahms".[10] A pilot episode was made, which was considered to be poor, and it was never transmitted.

In late 2007, it was announced that Richard was to join the second series of ITV1's sitcom Benidorm playing a "loud-mouthed, rude" character who used a wheelchair; her episode aired in April 2008.

In January 2008, adverts for The Post Office featuring Richard (as a human cannonball) began to be shown.

In February 2008, she landed the role of Mrs. Crump in the episode "A Pocket Full of Rye" of the Agatha Christie's Marple TV series starring Julia McKenzie. This was her final role, airing after her death in 2009.

Personal life

Richard was married four times. Her first marriage was to a music publisher, Len Blach, in 1972, which lasted just five months. For six years, she lived with an advertising director, Will Thorpe; though her co-stars on Are You Being Served? were aware that he physically beat her,[11] she married Thorpe in 1980, finally leaving him after 18 months of marriage.[12] Her third marriage, to Paul Glorney, a carpet fitter, took place in Westminster, London, in 1990.[13] That marriage ended in divorce four years later. Richard later lived with John Burns, a painter and decorator 20 years her junior, in the Marylebone area of London. They lived together from 1996 until her death and married on 10 October 2008 at a hotel in London's Mayfair.[14] She had no children.

Richard was a supporter of the Conservative Party. She was particularly supportive of Margaret Thatcher and her policies and accomplishments. During her early years on EastEnders, scriptwriters gave Richard a script in which Pauline Fowler launched into a tirade against Thatcher, but Richard refused to perform it.[15]

Cancer

Richard was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996; she had an operation and apparently recovered. She had a recurrence of the disease in 2002.[16][17] Her cancer went into remission after years of treatment and she was given a clean bill of health in 2005.[17] Articles about her departure from EastEnders suggest her health problems did not play any role in her decision to leave the series and that it was because her character in the soap remarried, to Richard's displeasure.[7]

Richard later said she left because of stress and that she had been stress-free since leaving the show. She kept in touch with co-stars Bill Treacher, Natalie Cassidy, Todd Carty, and James Alexandrou after leaving.[18] It was reported in the Sunday Express on 5 October 2008 that Richard had been diagnosed with breast cancer again. In January 2008, cancer cells were found in her left armpit. Further investigation showed that this had metastasised to her left kidney and bones, including her spine and left ribs.[19] She made a half-hour programme called Wendy Richard: To Tell You the Truth, documenting the last three months of her life; it was broadcast on BBC1 on 19 March 2009.

Death

A Heritage Foundation commemorative plaque at The Shepherds Tavern in London in memory of Richard

Richard's agent, Kevin Francis, reported she had died on 26 February 2009 of breast cancer, aged 65, at a clinic in Harley Street, London. Her husband, John Burns, was at her bedside.[20][21] Francis said: "She was incredibly brave and retained her sense of humour right to the end."[22] On the day of her death, that evening's episode of EastEnders and a memorial programme, both dedicated to Richard, were broadcast on BBC One. Actor Bill Treacher, Richard's on-screen husband Arthur Fowler in EastEnders, said the actress was a "true professional." Richard's funeral, on 9 March 2009 at St Marylebone Parish Church, was attended by many in the media industry[23] and many fans. Her body was later cremated at a private service at Golders Green Crematorium. It was reported the actress had already planned her funeral and written her will.[19] In July 2009, David Croft, the creator of Are You Being Served?, unveiled a Heritage Foundation commemorative plaque at The Shepherds Tavern in London, which Richard's parents had run. A number of entertainers were there to pay their respects on the occasion.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1963	The Contact	Joyce	Uncredited role
1966	Doctor In Clover	Nurse with False Eyelashes
1970	No Blade Of Grass	Clara
1971	On the Buses	Housewife
	Gumshoe	Anne Scott
1972	Bless This House	Carol
	Carry On Matron	Miss Willing
1973	Carry On Girls	Ida Downs
1975	Naughty Girls	Girls' Voices	Voice role, uncredited
1977	Are You Being Served?	Miss Shirley Brahms

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1961	Spectacular	Girl	1 episode: "Sammy Meets the Girls"
1962	Dixon of Dock Green	Jean Davis	1 episode: "The Outlaws"
1962	Coronation Street	Performer	Episode #194
	Harpers West One	Susan Sullivan	5 episodes
	Bulldog Breed	Mandy Bradshaw	Episode #1.7
	The Arthur Haynes Show	Uncredited	Episode #10.3
1963	ITV Television Playhouse	Brunette factory girl	1 episode: "The Wedding Dress"
	BBC Sunday-Night Play	Ida Green	1 episode: "The Holly Road Rig"
	First Night	Carol	1 episode: "The One Night of the Year "
	ITV Play of the Week	Miss Bufton	1 episode: "London Wall"
1964	HMS Paradise	Genevieve	1 episode: "Call Me Madam and I'll Punch You on the Nose"
	Danger Man	Sue	1 episode: "Don't Nail Him Yet"
	Don't I Look Like a Lord's Son?	The Girl	Television film
	No Hiding Place	Smiler	1 episode: "An Eye for an Eye"
1964–1965	Six	The Girl	2 episodes: "Don't I Look Like a Lord's Son?" & "The Day of Ragnarok"
1965	The Hollywood Palace	Dancing Extra, Captain Spaulding Scene	Uncredited role
	The Sullavan Brothers	Renee	1 episode: "Put Them Away for Keeps"
	Londoners	Patsy	1 episode: "Joe Nobody"
	The Likely Lads	Lynn	1 episode: "Last of the Big Spenders"
	No Hiding Place	Linda Hooper	1 episode: "The Hunted and the Hunters"
		Janet	1 episode: "Hi-Jack"
1966	Hugh and I	Unnamed	4 episodes
	Pardon the Expression	Girl with Dog	1 episode: "Rustle of Spring"
	Weavers Green	Jean	Episode #1.31
	ITV Play of the Week	Girl in Night Club (uncredited)	1 episode: "Plays of Married Life #1: A Catching Complaint"
		Betty	1 episode: "Plays of Married Life #4: The Bright Side"
	BBC Play of the Month	Sandra	1 episode: "The Making of Jericho"
1967	Turn Out the Lights	Veronica Woods	1 episode: "A Big Hand for a Little Lady"
	The Wednesday Play	Delphine	1 episode: "The Voices in the Park"
1967–1969	The Newcomers	Joyce Harker	Main role; 227 episodes
1970	Up Pompeii!	Soppia	1 episode: "The Ides of March"
	Carry on Again Christmas	Kate	Television film
	Dad's Army	Edith Parish	2 episodes: "The Two and a Half Feathers" & "Mum's Army"
1971	Dixon of Dock Green	Barbara Walker	1 episode: "Nightmare Hours"
	Please Sir!	Rita	1 episode: "The Pruning of the Hedges"
	On the Buses	Elsie	1 episode: "The Busmen's Ball"
1972	Both Ends Meet	Maudie	7 episodes
	Comedy Playhouse	Miss Shirley Brahms	1 episode: "Are You Being Served?"
1972–1985	Are You Being Served?		Main role; 69 episodes
1972–1973	Dad's Army	Shirley	2 episodes: "The King Was in His Counting House" & "My British Buddy"
1973	The Fenn Street Gang	Myrna	1 episode: "Is That a Proposal, Eric?"
	Z-Cars	Maureen Parker	1 episode: "Big Jake"
	Bowler	Greta	1 episode: "Members Only"
1975	Not On Your Nellie	Doris	6 episodes
	The Dick Emery Show	Uncredited	Episode #14.6
	Hogg's Back	Pearl	6 episodes
1979	The Little and Large Show	Unnamed	1 episode
1982	Legal, Decent, Honest and Truthful	June	Episode #1.1
1983	West Country Tales	Jill-Mother	1 episode: "With Love, Belinda"
1985–2006	EastEnders	Pauline Fowler	Series regular; 2,058 episodes
1992–1993	Grace & Favour	Miss Shirley Brahms	Main role, 12 episodes
1993	Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time	Pauline Fowler	Charity special crossover between Doctor Who and EastEnders
2007	Arena	Listeners' Comments	Voice role
2008	Benidorm	Sylvia	Episode #2.5
	Agatha Christie's Marple	Mrs Crump	1 episode: "A Pocket Full of Rye"
	Here Comes the Queen	Lilian	Episode #1.0

References

1. "Obituary: Wendy Richard". The Telegraph. London. 26 February 2009.
2. Dennis Barker (26 February 2009). "Obituary: Wendy Richard". The Guardian. London.
3. Deans, Jason (26 February 2009). "EastEnders star Wendy Richard dies". The Guardian. London.
4. "Obituary: Wendy Richard". BBC News. 26 February 2009.
5. "Wendy Richards in Beatles video finally". Daily Express. London. 6 September 2007.
6. "Wendy Richard to leave EastEnders". BBC News. 10 July 2006. Retrieved 10 July 2006.
7. "Richard 'quit soap over wedding'". BBC News. 7 August 2006.
8. Green, Kris (26 May 2007). "The British Soap Awards 2007: The Winners". Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
9. "No. 55879". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 June 2000. p. 21.
10. West, Dave (9 April 2007). "Richard returns to Miss Brahms style role". Digital Spy.
11. Video on YouTube see from 36:51
12. Richard My Life Story: p. 107
13. "England & Wales marriages 1837-2008 Transcription". Retrieved 12 October 2015 – via Find My Past.
14. "'Dying' Richard marries partner". BBC News. 10 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
15. Lawson, Mark (26 February 2009). "A glorious double". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 28 February 2009.
16. "Wendy Richard's dramatic soap life". BBC News. 10 July 2006. Retrieved 8 March 2007.
17. BBC News – EastEnders star has cancer. Retrieved 5 October 2008
18. Reynolds, Simon (10 March 2008). "Richard explains 'EastEnders' exit". Digital Spy.
19. Tominey, Camilla (4 October 2008). "Wendy Richard: My dying wish". Sunday Express. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
20. "Actress Wendy Richard dies". BBC News. 26 February 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
21. Patrick Foster (27 February 2009). "EastEnders actress Wendy Richard dies". The Times. London. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
22. "Wendy Richard". lastingtribute.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 March 2009.
23. Burton, Paul (10 March 2009). "Stars attend Wendy Richard's funeral". Borehamwood Times.

External links

• Wendy Richard at IMDb