Sid James - Revision history

Kurt at 17:01, 6 February 2023

2023-02-06T17:01:09Z

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	~~{{Short description\|South African-British actor (1913–1976)}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=June 2020}}~~
	{{Infobox comedian		{{Infobox comedian
	\| name = Sid James		\| name = Sid James

Kurt: /* External links */

2022-12-14T15:52:24Z

External links

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	* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}		* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
	* {{URL\|1=http://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=8656 \| 2=Sid James}} at Aveleyman		* {{URL\|1=http://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=8656 \| 2=Sid James}} at Aveleyman

	~~{{Portalbar\|Biography\|Comedy\|Film\|South Africa\|United Kingdom}}~~
	~~{{Authority control}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:James, Sid}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:James, Sid}}

Kurt at 14:48, 16 August 2022

2022-08-16T14:48:44Z

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	{{Short description\|South African-British actor (1913–1976)}}		{{Short description\|South African-British actor (1913–1976)}}
	~~{{other people\|Sidney James}}~~
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=June 2020}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=June 2020}}
	{{Infobox comedian		{{Infobox comedian
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	\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1976\|4\|26\|1913\|5\|8\|df=y}}		\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1976\|4\|26\|1913\|5\|8\|df=y}}
	\| death_place = [[w:Sunderland\|Sunderland]], England		\| death_place = [[w:Sunderland\|Sunderland]], England
	\| ~~occupation~~ = ~~Actor~~, ~~comedian~~		\| medium = Stage, television, film
	\| spouse = {{plainlist}}		\| spouse = {{plainlist}}
	* {{marriage\|Berthe Sadie Delmont\|12 August 1936\|1940\|reason=divorced}}		* {{marriage\|Berthe Sadie Delmont\|12 August 1936\|1940\|reason=divorced}}

Kurt: /* Death */

2022-08-16T14:45:43Z

Death

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	James was on tour on a revival of production ''The Mating Season'', on 26 April, 1976 when he suffered a [[w:myocardial infarction\|heart attack]] on stage at the [[w:Sunderland Empire Theatre\|Sunderland Empire Theatre]]. Actress [[w:Olga Lowe\|Olga Lowe]] thought that he was playing a practical joke at first when he failed to reply to her dialogue. When he failed to reply to her ad libs, she moved towards the wings to seek help. The technical manager, Melvyn James (no relation), called for the curtain to close and requested a doctor, while the audience – who were unaware of what was happening – laughed, believing the events to be part of the show. An ambulance was called and he was pronounced dead on arrival at [[w:Sunderland Royal Hospital\|Sunderland Royal Hospital]]. He was 62.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=The Night Sid James Died On Stage \|url=http://www.sunderlandecho.com/history-nostalgia/the-night-sid-james-died-on-stage-1-7712207 \|access-date=3 February 2016 \|website=Sunderland Echo}}</ref>		James was on tour on a revival of production ''The Mating Season'', on 26 April, 1976 when he suffered a [[w:myocardial infarction\|heart attack]] on stage at the [[w:Sunderland Empire Theatre\|Sunderland Empire Theatre]]. Actress [[w:Olga Lowe\|Olga Lowe]] thought that he was playing a practical joke at first when he failed to reply to her dialogue. When he failed to reply to her ad libs, she moved towards the wings to seek help. The technical manager, Melvyn James (no relation), called for the curtain to close and requested a doctor, while the audience – who were unaware of what was happening – laughed, believing the events to be part of the show. An ambulance was called and he was pronounced dead on arrival at [[w:Sunderland Royal Hospital\|Sunderland Royal Hospital]]. He was 62.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=The Night Sid James Died On Stage \|url=http://www.sunderlandecho.com/history-nostalgia/the-night-sid-james-died-on-stage-1-7712207 \|access-date=3 February 2016 \|website=Sunderland Echo}}</ref>

	James was cremated and his ashes were scattered at [[w:Golders Green Crematorium\|Golders Green Crematorium]].<ref>{{Cite web \|date=16 March 2010 \|title=Famous names whose final stop was Golders Green crematorium \|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/famous-names-whose-final-stop-was-golders-green-crematorium-1921813.html \|access-date=1 July 2017 \|website=[[The Independent]]}}</ref>		James was cremated and his ashes were scattered at [[w:Golders Green Crematorium\|Golders Green Crematorium]].<ref>{{Cite web \|date=16 March 2010 \|title=Famous names whose final stop was Golders Green crematorium \|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/famous-names-whose-final-stop-was-golders-green-crematorium-1921813.html \|access-date=1 July 2017 \|website=[[w:The Independent]]}}</ref>

	==Legacy==		==Legacy==

Kurt: /* Further reading */

2022-08-16T14:45:02Z

Kurt: /* Legacy */

2022-08-16T14:44:37Z

Legacy

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	==Legacy==		==Legacy==
	[[File:Teddington Riverside, Sid James, Comic Heritage plaque.jpg\|thumb\|Comic Heritage plaque, [[Teddington]]~~, England~~]]<!-- it would be useful to know where this is now located -->		[[File:Teddington Riverside, Sid James, Comic Heritage plaque.jpg\|thumb\|Comic Heritage plaque, at the former [[w:Teddington\|Teddington]] Studios]]<!-- it would be useful to know where this is now located -->
	James has been the subject of at least five tribute shows: a 1996 one-off tribute, ''The Very Best of Sid James''; as the focus of a 2000 episode of the series ''[[The Unforgettable]]''; a 2002 episode of ''[[Heroes of Comedy]]''; Channel Four's ''With Out Walls, Seriously Seeking Sid'' in the late 1980s; and in 2013, the BBC's ''The Many Faces Of Sid James''.		James has been the subject of at least five tribute shows: a 1996 one-off tribute, ''The Very Best of Sid James''; as the focus of a 2000 episode of the series ''[[w:The Unforgettable\|The Unforgettable]]''; a 2002 episode of ''[[w:Heroes of Comedy\|Heroes of Comedy]]''; Channel Four's ''With Out Walls, Seriously Seeking Sid'' in the late 1980s; and in 2013, the BBC's ''The Many Faces Of Sid James''.

	James was played by [[Geoffrey Hutchings]] in [[Terry Johnson (dramatist)\|Terry Johnson]]'s play ''[[Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick]]'', which premiered at the [[Royal National Theatre\|National Theatre]] in 1998. Hutchings reprised the role in the subsequent film adaptation, ''[[Cor, Blimey!]]''.		James was played by [[w:Geoffrey Hutchings\|Geoffrey Hutchings]] in [[w:Terry Johnson (dramatist)\|Terry Johnson]]'s play ''[[w:Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick\|Cleo]]'', which premiered at the [[w:Royal National Theatre\|National Theatre]] in 1998. Hutchings reprised the role in the subsequent film adaptation, ''[[w:Cor, Blimey!\|Cor]]''.

	In the 2006 BBC television film ''[[Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa!]]'', James was played by Ged McKenna.		In the 2006 BBC television film ''[[Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa!]]'', James was played by Ged McKenna.

	In August 2018 it was announced that a radio interview which James had recorded for [[BBC Radio Solent]] on 22 March 1976 had been re-discovered during research for a forthcoming BBC radio documentary celebrating the ''Carry On'' film series. The recording had been kept by BBC presenter Jeff Link, who had carried out the original interview. In the interview, James discusses his attempts to keep fit by skipping, his preference for working in films, his genuine affection for the ''Carry On'' films, and other topics. The interview is notable for its relaxed, humorous style. The producer of the forthcoming BBC ''Carry On'' documentary, Richard Latto, contacted James's surviving daughters after confirming the recording's authenticity. Reina James commented: "To hear him talking just before he's about to die.. there's something hugely moving about that". Sue James called the interview "lovely and sympathetic".<ref>{{Cite news \|title=Lost Sid James interview rediscovered \|work=BBC News \|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-45088173 \|access-date=10 August 2018}}</ref>		In August 2018 it was announced that a radio interview which James had recorded for [[w:BBC Radio Solent\|BBC Radio Solent]] on 22 March 1976 had been re-discovered during research for a forthcoming BBC radio documentary celebrating the ''Carry On'' film series. The recording had been kept by BBC presenter Jeff Link, who had carried out the original interview. In the interview, James discusses his attempts to keep fit by skipping, his preference for working in films, his genuine affection for the ''Carry On'' films, and other topics. The interview is notable for its relaxed, humorous style. The producer of the forthcoming BBC ''Carry On'' documentary, Richard Latto, contacted James's surviving daughters after confirming the recording's authenticity. Reina James commented: "To hear him talking just before he's about to die.. there's something hugely moving about that". Sue James called the interview "lovely and sympathetic".<ref>{{Cite news \|title=Lost Sid James interview rediscovered \|work=BBC News \|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-45088173 \|access-date=10 August 2018}}</ref>

	A Heritage Foundation commemorative [[blue plaque]] to James, was installed at the former Teddington Studios on Broom Road [[Teddington]], Greater London, until 30 June 2015 when it was stolen, just before the building was demolished to make way for housing.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.londonremembers.com/memorials/teddington-studios-sid-james\|title = Teddington Studios - Sid James}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/13420076.no-laughing-matter-outrage-after-comedy-legends-plaques-stolen-from-teddington-studios/\|title = No laughing matter: Outrage after comedy legends' plaques stolen from Teddington Studios}}</ref>		A Heritage Foundation commemorative [[w:blue plaque\|blue plaque]] to James, was installed at the former Teddington Studios on Broom Road [[w:Teddington\|Teddington]], Greater London, until 30 June 2015 when it was stolen, just before the building was demolished to make way for housing.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.londonremembers.com/memorials/teddington-studios-sid-james\|title = Teddington Studios - Sid James}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/13420076.no-laughing-matter-outrage-after-comedy-legends-plaques-stolen-from-teddington-studios/\|title = No laughing matter: Outrage after comedy legends' plaques stolen from Teddington Studios}}</ref>

	==Filmography==		==Filmography==

Kurt: /* Death */

2022-08-16T14:41:09Z

Death

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	==Death==		==Death==
	James was on tour on a revival of production ''The Mating Season'', on 26 April, 1976 when he suffered a [[heart attack]] on stage at the [[Sunderland Empire Theatre]]. Actress [[Olga Lowe]] thought that he was playing a practical joke at first when he failed to reply to her dialogue. When he failed to reply to her ad libs, she moved towards the wings to seek help. The technical manager, Melvyn James (no relation), called for the curtain to close and requested a doctor, while the audience – who were unaware of what was happening – laughed, believing the events to be part of the show. An ambulance was called and he was pronounced dead on arrival at [[Sunderland Royal Hospital]]. He was 62.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=The Night Sid James Died On Stage \|url=http://www.sunderlandecho.com/history-nostalgia/the-night-sid-james-died-on-stage-1-7712207 \|access-date=3 February 2016 \|website=Sunderland Echo}}</ref>		James was on tour on a revival of production ''The Mating Season'', on 26 April, 1976 when he suffered a [[w:myocardial infarction\|heart attack]] on stage at the [[w:Sunderland Empire Theatre\|Sunderland Empire Theatre]]. Actress [[w:Olga Lowe\|Olga Lowe]] thought that he was playing a practical joke at first when he failed to reply to her dialogue. When he failed to reply to her ad libs, she moved towards the wings to seek help. The technical manager, Melvyn James (no relation), called for the curtain to close and requested a doctor, while the audience – who were unaware of what was happening – laughed, believing the events to be part of the show. An ambulance was called and he was pronounced dead on arrival at [[w:Sunderland Royal Hospital\|Sunderland Royal Hospital]]. He was 62.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=The Night Sid James Died On Stage \|url=http://www.sunderlandecho.com/history-nostalgia/the-night-sid-james-died-on-stage-1-7712207 \|access-date=3 February 2016 \|website=Sunderland Echo}}</ref>

	James was cremated and his ashes were scattered at [[Golders Green Crematorium]].<ref>{{Cite web \|date=16 March 2010 \|title=Famous names whose final stop was Golders Green crematorium \|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/famous-names-whose-final-stop-was-golders-green-crematorium-1921813.html \|access-date=1 July 2017 \|website=[[The Independent]]}}</ref>		James was cremated and his ashes were scattered at [[w:Golders Green Crematorium\|Golders Green Crematorium]].<ref>{{Cite web \|date=16 March 2010 \|title=Famous names whose final stop was Golders Green crematorium \|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/famous-names-whose-final-stop-was-golders-green-crematorium-1921813.html \|access-date=1 July 2017 \|website=[[The Independent]]}}</ref>

	==Legacy==		==Legacy==

Kurt: /* Personal life */

2022-08-16T14:39:35Z

Personal life

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	James married three times. He and his first wife, Berthe Sadie Delmont, were married in 1936 and a daughter, Elizabeth, was born in 1937;<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Biography: Sid James \|url=http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/sid_james.htm \|access-date=15 January 2019 \|website=Television Heaven}}</ref> they were divorced in 1940, mainly as a result of his many relationships with other women.		James married three times. He and his first wife, Berthe Sadie Delmont, were married in 1936 and a daughter, Elizabeth, was born in 1937;<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Biography: Sid James \|url=http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/sid_james.htm \|access-date=15 January 2019 \|website=Television Heaven}}</ref> they were divorced in 1940, mainly as a result of his many relationships with other women.

	In 1943, he married a dancer, Meg Sergei, née Williams (1913-1977); in 1948, they had a daughter [[Reina James\|Reina]]; they were divorced on 17 August 1952.		In 1943, he married a dancer, Meg Sergei, née Williams (1913-1977); in 1948, they had a daughter [[w:Reina James\|Reina]]; they were divorced on 17 August 1952.

	On 21 August 1952, James married Valerie Elizabeth Patsy Assan (born 1928), an actress who used Ashton as her stage name. They had a son, Steve James, born in 1954, who became a music producer,<ref>{{Cite news \|title=Audio Engineers \|publisher=A Sharp Recording Studio. \|url=http://www.asharp.com.au/audio-engineers/steve-james}}</ref> and a daughter, Sue, who became a television producer.<ref>{{Cite news \|title=Lost Sid James interview rediscovered \|work=BBC News \|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-45088173 \|access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref> During the latter part of their marriage, they lived in a house partly designed by James himself, called Delaford Park, situated in [[Iver]], [[Buckinghamshire]], a location close enough to [[Pinewood Studios]] to allow him to return home for lunch while filming. During his marriage to Valerie, he had a well-publicised affair with ''Carry On'' co-star [[Barbara Windsor]] lasting 3 years.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=May 2017 \|first=9 \|title=Sid James seduced Barbara Windsor with a passion fruit \|url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity/sid-james-seduced-barbara-windsor-passion-fruit-1058010.html \|access-date=12 December 2018 \|website=www.femalefirst.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news \|date=22 April 2000 \|title=The Sid and Babs carry on \|work=BBC News \|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/719630.stm}}</ref> The affair was dramatised in the 1998 stage-play ''[[Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick]]'' and its 2000 television adaptation ''[[Cor, Blimey!]]''. James's obsession with Windsor was such that it was rumoured that her then husband [[Ronnie Knight]] had all of James's furniture rearranged at home as a subtle threat and, on another occasion, that he had put an axe in James's floor,<ref name="bio" /> but close friends of the time, including [[Vince Powell]] and [[William G. Stewart]], have dismissed the suggestions.<ref>Heroes of Comedy, Thames Television, 2002</ref>		On 21 August 1952, James married Valerie Elizabeth Patsy Assan (born 1928), an actress who used Ashton as her stage name. They had a son, Steve James, born in 1954, who became a music producer,<ref>{{Cite news \|title=Audio Engineers \|publisher=A Sharp Recording Studio. \|url=http://www.asharp.com.au/audio-engineers/steve-james}}</ref> and a daughter, Sue, who became a television producer.<ref>{{Cite news \|title=Lost Sid James interview rediscovered \|work=BBC News \|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-45088173 \|access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref> During the latter part of their marriage, they lived in a house partly designed by James himself, called Delaford Park, situated in [[w:Iver\|Iver]], [[w:Buckinghamshire\|Buckinghamshire]], a location close enough to [[w:Pinewood Studios\|Pinewood Studios]] to allow him to return home for lunch while filming. During his marriage to Valerie, he had a well-publicised affair with ''Carry On'' co-star [[Barbara Windsor]] lasting 3 years.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=May 2017 \|first=9 \|title=Sid James seduced Barbara Windsor with a passion fruit \|url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity/sid-james-seduced-barbara-windsor-passion-fruit-1058010.html \|access-date=12 December 2018 \|website=www.femalefirst.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news \|date=22 April 2000 \|title=The Sid and Babs carry on \|work=BBC News \|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/719630.stm}}</ref> The affair was dramatised in the 1998 stage-play ''[[w:Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick\|Cleo]]'' and its 2000 television adaptation ''[[w:Cor, Blimey!\|Cor]]''. James's obsession with Windsor was such that it was rumoured that her then husband [[w:Ronnie Knight\|Ronnie Knight]] had all of James's furniture rearranged at home as a subtle threat and, on another occasion, that he had put an axe in James's floor,<ref name="bio" /> but close friends of the time, including [[w:Vince Powell\|Vince Powell]] and [[w:William G. Stewart\|William G. Stewart]], have dismissed the suggestions.<ref>Heroes of Comedy, Thames Television, 2002</ref>

	James was an inveterate and largely unsuccessful gambler, losing tens of thousands of pounds over his lifetime. His [[Problem gambling\|gambling addiction]] was such that he had an agreement with his agent, Michael Sullivan, under which his wife was not told how much he was being paid, so that a portion could be set aside for gambling.<ref name="bio">{{Cite book \|last=Goodwin \|first=Cliff \|title=Sid James: A Biography \|year=2001 \|publisher=Virgin Books \|isbn=978-0-7535-0554-0}}</ref>		James was an inveterate and largely unsuccessful gambler, losing tens of thousands of pounds over his lifetime. His [[w:Problem gambling\|gambling addiction]] was such that he had an agreement with his agent, Michael Sullivan, under which his wife was not told how much he was being paid, so that a portion could be set aside for gambling.<ref name="bio">{{Cite book \|last=Goodwin \|first=Cliff \|title=Sid James: A Biography \|year=2001 \|publisher=Virgin Books \|isbn=978-0-7535-0554-0}}</ref>

	==Death==		==Death==

Kurt: /* Later career */

2022-08-16T14:36:47Z

Later career

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	In 1967, James was intending to play Sergeant Nocker in ''[[Follow That Camel]]'', but was already committed to recording the TV series ''[[George and the Dragon (TV series)\|George and the Dragon]]'' (1966–1968) for [[w:Associated Television\|ATV]], then one of the ITV contractors. James was replaced in ''[[Follow That Camel]]'' by the American comic actor [[w:Phil Silvers\|Phil Silvers]]. On 13 May 1967, two weeks after the filming began of what eventually became an entry in the ''Carry On'' series, James suffered a severe [[w:myocardial infarction\|heart attack]]. In the same year in ''[[Carry On Doctor]]'', James was shown mainly lying in a hospital bed, owing to his real-life health problems. After his heart attack, James gave up his heavy cigarette habit and instead smoked a pipe or an occasional cigar; he lost weight, ate only one main meal a day, and limited himself to two or three alcoholic drinks per evening.<ref>Goodwin, Cliff ''Sid James: A Biography'' p. 177</ref>		In 1967, James was intending to play Sergeant Nocker in ''[[Follow That Camel]]'', but was already committed to recording the TV series ''[[George and the Dragon (TV series)\|George and the Dragon]]'' (1966–1968) for [[w:Associated Television\|ATV]], then one of the ITV contractors. James was replaced in ''[[Follow That Camel]]'' by the American comic actor [[w:Phil Silvers\|Phil Silvers]]. On 13 May 1967, two weeks after the filming began of what eventually became an entry in the ''Carry On'' series, James suffered a severe [[w:myocardial infarction\|heart attack]]. In the same year in ''[[Carry On Doctor]]'', James was shown mainly lying in a hospital bed, owing to his real-life health problems. After his heart attack, James gave up his heavy cigarette habit and instead smoked a pipe or an occasional cigar; he lost weight, ate only one main meal a day, and limited himself to two or three alcoholic drinks per evening.<ref>Goodwin, Cliff ''Sid James: A Biography'' p. 177</ref>

	His success in TV situation comedy continued with the programmes ''[[~~w:Two in Clover\|~~Two in Clover]]'' (1969–70) and ''[[Bless This House (British TV series)\|Bless This House]]'' (1971–1976); the latter led to [[Bless This House (film)\|a film version]] in 1972.		His success in TV situation comedy continued with the programmes ''[[Two in Clover]]'' (1969–70) and ''[[Bless This House (British TV series)\|Bless This House]]'' (1971–1976); the latter led to [[Bless This House (film)\|a film version]] in 1972.

	==Personal life==		==Personal life==

Kurt: /* Later career */

2022-08-16T14:35:59Z

Later career

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	===Later career===		===Later career===
	In 1967, James was intending to play Sergeant Nocker in ''[[Follow That Camel]]'', but was already committed to recording the TV series ''[[George and the Dragon (TV series)\|George and the Dragon]]'' (1966–1968) for [[Associated Television\|ATV]], then one of the ITV contractors. James was replaced in ''[[Follow That Camel]]'' by the American comic actor [[Phil Silvers]]. On 13 May 1967, two weeks after the filming began of what eventually became an entry in the ''Carry On'' series, James suffered a severe [[myocardial infarction\|heart attack]]. In the same year in ''[[Carry On Doctor]]'', James was shown mainly lying in a hospital bed, owing to his real-life health problems. After his heart attack, James gave up his heavy cigarette habit and instead smoked a pipe or an occasional cigar; he lost weight, ate only one main meal a day, and limited himself to two or three alcoholic drinks per evening.<ref>Goodwin, Cliff ''Sid James: A Biography'' p. 177</ref>		In 1967, James was intending to play Sergeant Nocker in ''[[Follow That Camel]]'', but was already committed to recording the TV series ''[[George and the Dragon (TV series)\|George and the Dragon]]'' (1966–1968) for [[w:Associated Television\|ATV]], then one of the ITV contractors. James was replaced in ''[[Follow That Camel]]'' by the American comic actor [[w:Phil Silvers\|Phil Silvers]]. On 13 May 1967, two weeks after the filming began of what eventually became an entry in the ''Carry On'' series, James suffered a severe [[w:myocardial infarction\|heart attack]]. In the same year in ''[[Carry On Doctor]]'', James was shown mainly lying in a hospital bed, owing to his real-life health problems. After his heart attack, James gave up his heavy cigarette habit and instead smoked a pipe or an occasional cigar; he lost weight, ate only one main meal a day, and limited himself to two or three alcoholic drinks per evening.<ref>Goodwin, Cliff ''Sid James: A Biography'' p. 177</ref>

	His success in TV situation comedy continued with the programmes ''[[Two in Clover]]'' (1969–70) and ''[[Bless This House (British TV series)\|Bless This House]]'' (1971–1976); the latter led to [[Bless This House (film)\|a film version]] in 1972.		His success in TV situation comedy continued with the programmes ''[[w:Two in Clover\|Two in Clover]]'' (1969–70) and ''[[Bless This House (British TV series)\|Bless This House]]'' (1971–1976); the latter led to [[Bless This House (film)\|a film version]] in 1972.

	==Personal life==		==Personal life==

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	==Further reading==		==Further reading==
	* [https://www.oxforddnb.com/abstract/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-31282?rskey=gWGM0l&result=1 Sidney James] at ''[[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]]''		* [https://www.oxforddnb.com/abstract/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-31282?rskey=gWGM0l&result=1 Sidney James] at ''[[w:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography\|Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]]''

	==External links==		==External links==

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:39, 16 August 2022
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	James married three times. He and his first wife, Berthe Sadie Delmont, were married in 1936 and a daughter, Elizabeth, was born in 1937;<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Biography: Sid James \|url=http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/sid_james.htm \|access-date=15 January 2019 \|website=Television Heaven}}</ref> they were divorced in 1940, mainly as a result of his many relationships with other women.		James married three times. He and his first wife, Berthe Sadie Delmont, were married in 1936 and a daughter, Elizabeth, was born in 1937;<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Biography: Sid James \|url=http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/sid_james.htm \|access-date=15 January 2019 \|website=Television Heaven}}</ref> they were divorced in 1940, mainly as a result of his many relationships with other women.

	In 1943, he married a dancer, Meg Sergei, née Williams (1913-1977); in 1948, they had a daughter [[Reina James\|Reina]]; they were divorced on 17 August 1952.		In 1943, he married a dancer, Meg Sergei, née Williams (1913-1977); in 1948, they had a daughter [[w:Reina James\|Reina]]; they were divorced on 17 August 1952.

	On 21 August 1952, James married Valerie Elizabeth Patsy Assan (born 1928), an actress who used Ashton as her stage name. They had a son, Steve James, born in 1954, who became a music producer,<ref>{{Cite news \|title=Audio Engineers \|publisher=A Sharp Recording Studio. \|url=http://www.asharp.com.au/audio-engineers/steve-james}}</ref> and a daughter, Sue, who became a television producer.<ref>{{Cite news \|title=Lost Sid James interview rediscovered \|work=BBC News \|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-45088173 \|access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref> During the latter part of their marriage, they lived in a house partly designed by James himself, called Delaford Park, situated in [[Iver]], [[Buckinghamshire]], a location close enough to [[Pinewood Studios]] to allow him to return home for lunch while filming. During his marriage to Valerie, he had a well-publicised affair with ''Carry On'' co-star [[Barbara Windsor]] lasting 3 years.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=May 2017 \|first=9 \|title=Sid James seduced Barbara Windsor with a passion fruit \|url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity/sid-james-seduced-barbara-windsor-passion-fruit-1058010.html \|access-date=12 December 2018 \|website=www.femalefirst.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news \|date=22 April 2000 \|title=The Sid and Babs carry on \|work=BBC News \|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/719630.stm}}</ref> The affair was dramatised in the 1998 stage-play ''[[Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick]]'' and its 2000 television adaptation ''[[Cor, Blimey!]]''. James's obsession with Windsor was such that it was rumoured that her then husband [[Ronnie Knight]] had all of James's furniture rearranged at home as a subtle threat and, on another occasion, that he had put an axe in James's floor,<ref name="bio" /> but close friends of the time, including [[Vince Powell]] and [[William G. Stewart]], have dismissed the suggestions.<ref>Heroes of Comedy, Thames Television, 2002</ref>		On 21 August 1952, James married Valerie Elizabeth Patsy Assan (born 1928), an actress who used Ashton as her stage name. They had a son, Steve James, born in 1954, who became a music producer,<ref>{{Cite news \|title=Audio Engineers \|publisher=A Sharp Recording Studio. \|url=http://www.asharp.com.au/audio-engineers/steve-james}}</ref> and a daughter, Sue, who became a television producer.<ref>{{Cite news \|title=Lost Sid James interview rediscovered \|work=BBC News \|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-45088173 \|access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref> During the latter part of their marriage, they lived in a house partly designed by James himself, called Delaford Park, situated in [[w:Iver\|Iver]], [[w:Buckinghamshire\|Buckinghamshire]], a location close enough to [[w:Pinewood Studios\|Pinewood Studios]] to allow him to return home for lunch while filming. During his marriage to Valerie, he had a well-publicised affair with ''Carry On'' co-star [[Barbara Windsor]] lasting 3 years.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=May 2017 \|first=9 \|title=Sid James seduced Barbara Windsor with a passion fruit \|url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity/sid-james-seduced-barbara-windsor-passion-fruit-1058010.html \|access-date=12 December 2018 \|website=www.femalefirst.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news \|date=22 April 2000 \|title=The Sid and Babs carry on \|work=BBC News \|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/719630.stm}}</ref> The affair was dramatised in the 1998 stage-play ''[[w:Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick\|Cleo]]'' and its 2000 television adaptation ''[[w:Cor, Blimey!\|Cor]]''. James's obsession with Windsor was such that it was rumoured that her then husband [[w:Ronnie Knight\|Ronnie Knight]] had all of James's furniture rearranged at home as a subtle threat and, on another occasion, that he had put an axe in James's floor,<ref name="bio" /> but close friends of the time, including [[w:Vince Powell\|Vince Powell]] and [[w:William G. Stewart\|William G. Stewart]], have dismissed the suggestions.<ref>Heroes of Comedy, Thames Television, 2002</ref>

	James was an inveterate and largely unsuccessful gambler, losing tens of thousands of pounds over his lifetime. His [[Problem gambling\|gambling addiction]] was such that he had an agreement with his agent, Michael Sullivan, under which his wife was not told how much he was being paid, so that a portion could be set aside for gambling.<ref name="bio">{{Cite book \|last=Goodwin \|first=Cliff \|title=Sid James: A Biography \|year=2001 \|publisher=Virgin Books \|isbn=978-0-7535-0554-0}}</ref>		James was an inveterate and largely unsuccessful gambler, losing tens of thousands of pounds over his lifetime. His [[w:Problem gambling\|gambling addiction]] was such that he had an agreement with his agent, Michael Sullivan, under which his wife was not told how much he was being paid, so that a portion could be set aside for gambling.<ref name="bio">{{Cite book \|last=Goodwin \|first=Cliff \|title=Sid James: A Biography \|year=2001 \|publisher=Virgin Books \|isbn=978-0-7535-0554-0}}</ref>

	==Death==		==Death==