Product Description

In a 56-year career spanning "Take It From Here" to "Absolutely Fabulous," June Whitfield's presence in a show has always been a hallmark of quality. She writes perceptively about the great comics she has known in her long professional life, and views the changing fashions in television.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #290652 in Books
• Published on: 2000-11-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 359 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Lacking the self-confidence to take herself seriously as an actress, June Whitfield developed "a kind of aversion to heavy, serious roles" so concentrated on comedy instead. Whitfield figured that since the audience was going to laugh at her anyway, she might as well appear in things that were intended to be funny. And so began a comedic career that has seen the Queen Mum of mirth appear in some of the funniest series ever made; such as the Carry On films, Hancock, Steptoe and Son and Absolutely Fabulous.

Encouraged by her mother, Whitfield pursued a career on the stage at an early age and was learning to sing, dance and play the piano by the time she was three. After a "comfortable and uneventful" childhood, Whitfield successfully auditioned for a place at RADA and went on to work in London's West End with such luminary luvvies as Noel Coward and John Gielgud. But it was in comedy that Whifield was to make her name, most notably in the long-running television sitcom Terry and June. Her name became so indelibly linked with that of her co-star, Terry Scott, that many people thought they were actually husband and wife. Once, while dining out with her spouse, someone asked Whitfield where her husband was. "Right here," she replied. "Not that one, the real one", said the fan. And June Whitfield charts the longevous career of an enduring character actress who, while transcending the times, has worked alongside some of the best-known names in British comedy. "The nearest thing I had to a career plan was to keep on working", writes Whifield. And at 75 it seems this seriously funny actress has no intention of stopping. --Christopher Kelly

Review
An apt title for the memoirs of one of the most popular and successful comediennes and actresses in post-war Britain. June Whitfield has never been a headliner in radio, TV or the theatre, but she has always been a professional, dependable and extremely funny supporting character actress in an amazing sequence of broadcast series and stage productions spanning over 50 years. From the unforgettable portrayal of "Eth" to Dick Bentley's "Ron" in Take It From Here to the droll, imperturbable performance as Jennifer Saunders' mum in Absolutely Fabulous, Whitfield's characterisations have been many and varied and inevitably successful. She has worked with the cream of British comedy including Arthur Askey, Tony Hancock, Jimmy Edwards, Bob Monkhouse, Ronnie Barker, Dick Emery, Julian Clary and Roy Hudd. She has also maintained an admirable personal life as wife and mother amidst the non-stop work. The book appears to mark Whitfield's 75th birthday, a major serialization has been negotiated and she will be undertaking a full-scale author tour to back what should be a high-selling title in the pre-Christmas market.

From the Back Cover
June Whitfield's career has spanned fifty-seven years of British comedy, from the early days of radio's Take It From Here to the BBC TV's Absolutely Fabulous. From Shakespeare to the Carry On films, from Penge rep. to the London Palladium, there is hardly a theatre or studio where she hasn't appeared and in the process acquired a wonderfully funny backstage story to tell.

In her long professional life she has worked with all the comic greats, from Arthur Askey, Tony Hancock, Wilfred Pickles, Jimmy Edwards, Bob Monkhouse, Ronnie Barker, Benny Hill, Dick Emery, Terry Scott and Frankie Howerd to Roy Hudd, Julian Clary and Jennifer Saunders.

Customer Reviews

Gentle and amusing read
By June Whitfield's own account her life has not been one of overwhelming struggle against the odds. She was born into a prosperous south London home, made her way into show business in the 40s, married happily and has had a long and successful career. Not much drama here perhaps but Miss Whitfield is an engaging and modest narrator and has many enjoyable insights into the entertainment world of the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. If you're too cool for June Whitfield...well then you're too cool. I can't imagine anyone who enjoys British Comedy not finding something of interest in this book.

...... very June Whitfield! Gentle and charming
June Whitfield is such a great comedy actress that I'm inclined to agree with the surprise of Frank Muir and Denis Norden that anyone should contemplate a comedy show without her. And indeed, it appears that very few did during the sixties and seventies in particular. What I hadn't realized was how long June Whitfield had actually been treading the boards, going right back to 1947! This book details her career right up to 2000 and features a veritable who's who of British comedy from Noel Coward to Arthur Askey, from Tony Hancock to the Carry On's, and from Terry Scott and Harry H. Corbett to Jennifer Saunders and Absolutely Fabulous. Through it all June Whitfield's approach of accepting work whenever it was offered and ensuring that her role was supporting the lead and not stealing the limelight means that she was at the forefront of most British comedy, and very entertaining it is too. The book portrays her career as trouble-free and almost straightforward. Undoubtedly there were lows to go with the apparent highs but the book has no vitriol to heap on anyone, offering instead the kind of happy reminiscing that you'd like to think represents the era best.

A good read but a bit repetitive
This is a nice book by a nice lady who has contributed so much to our world of entertainment. I found the first half of the book better than the 2nd, which got rather repetitive.. tonight in this theatre, tomorrow in that theatre and so on... was a bit of a who's who of theatre's and productions.