Some Joe You Don't Know

Americans have been watching and enjoying British television programming since the mid-1950s, but the information on the personalities involved is difficult, if not impossible, to find in the United States. This guide provides biographical essays, complete with bibliographies, on 100 of the best known and loved actors and actresses from Richard Greene (Robin Hood) and William Russell (Sir Lancelot) in the 1950s through stars of Masterpiece Theatre, including Robin Ellis and Jean Marsh, to the new generation of British comedy performers such as Alexei Sayle and Jennifer Saunders. Not only are serious dramatic actors and actresses, such as Joan Hickson and Roy Marsden, to be found here, but also the great comedy stars, including Benny Hill and John Inman.

Among the many shows discussed in the text are Absolutely Fabulous; You Being Served?; Dad's Army; Doctor Who; ; Fawlty Towers; The Good Life; The Jewel in the Crown; Poldark; Rumpole of the Bailey; Upstairs, Downstairs; and Yes, Minister. The guide offers not only factual information but also samplings of contemporary critical commentary and in-depth interviews with Terence Alexander, Richard Briers, Benny Hill, Wendy Richard, Prunella Scales, and Moray Watson. This is a reference source that also serves as fascinating entree into the wonderful world of British television, one that is as fun to browse as it is to use for factual documentation.

ANTHONY SLIDE is the author or editor of more than 50 books on the history of popular entertainment and editor of the Scarecrow Press Filmmakers series./e Among Slide's previous books for Greenwood Press are The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville (1994), The Television Industry: A Historical Dictionary (1991), and The American Film Industry: A Historical Dictionary. He is the former associate archivist of the American Film Institute and resident film historian of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He is also a documentary filmmaker. In 1990, in recognition of his work in documenting the history of popular entertainment, Slide was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters by Bowling Green University.