Yootha Joyce - Revision history

Kurt at 19:31, 24 February 2023

2023-02-24T19:31:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:31, 24 February 2023
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	~~{{short description\|English actress}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=December 2015}}~~
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	~~\| name = Yootha Joyce~~
	\| image = Yootha Joyce.jpg		\| image = Yootha Joyce.jpg
	\| imagesize =		\| imagesize =
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1927\|08\|20\|df=y}}		\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1927\|08\|20\|df=y}}
	\| birth_place = [[~~w:Wandsworth\|~~Wandsworth]], [[~~w:London\|~~London]], England		\| birth_place = [[Wandsworth]], [[London]], England
	\| death_date = {{death date and age\|1980\|08\|24\|1927\|08\|20\|df=y}}		\| death_date = {{death date and age\|1980\|08\|24\|1927\|08\|20\|df=y}}
	\| death_place = [[~~w:Harley Street\|~~Harley Street]], [[~~w:London\|~~London]], England		\| death_place = [[Harley Street]], [[London]], England
	\| birth_name = Yootha Joyce Needham		\| birth_name = Yootha Joyce Needham
	\| spouse = {{Marriage\|[[~~w:Glynn Edwards\|~~Glynn Edwards]]\|1956\|1969\|end=divorced}}		\| spouse = {{Marriage\|[[Glynn Edwards]]\|1956\|1969\|end=divorced}}
	\| othername =		\| othername =
	\| occupation = Actress		\| occupation = Actress
	\| alma_mater = [[~~w:Royal Academy of Dramatic Art\|~~Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]		\| alma_mater = [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]
	}}		}}
	'''Yootha Joyce Needham''' (20 August 1927 – 24 August 1980), known as '''Yootha Joyce''', was an English [[w:actress\|actress]] best known for playing [[Mildred Roper]] opposite [[Brian Murphy (actor)\|Brian Murphy]] in the sitcom ''[[Man About the House]]'' (1973–1976) and its spin-off ''[[George and Mildred]]'' (1976–1979).<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/yootha-joyce-p36432\|title=Yootha Joyce - Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos - AllMovie\|website=AllMovie}}</ref>		'''Yootha Joyce Needham''' (20 August 1927 – 24 August 1980), known as '''Yootha Joyce''', was an English [[actress\|actress]] best known for playing [[Mildred Roper]] opposite [[Brian Murphy (actor)\|Brian Murphy]] in the sitcom ''[[Man About the House]]'' (1973–1976) and its spin-off ''[[George and Mildred]]'' (1976–1979).<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/yootha-joyce-p36432\|title=Yootha Joyce - Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos - AllMovie\|website=AllMovie}}</ref>

	==Early life==		==Early life==
	Yootha Joyce Needham was born in [[w:Wandsworth\|Wandsworth]], [[w:London\|London]], the only child of musical parents Percival ("Hurst") Needham, a singer, and Jessica Revitt, a concert pianist.<ref name="biography">{{cite book\|title=Dear Yootha...: The Life of Yootha Joyce\|last=Curran\|first=Paul\|year=2014\|publisher=Mossy Books\|isbn=9-781494-911645}}</ref><ref name=ODNB>{{cite ODNB \|last1=Follows \|first1=Stephen \|title=Joyce, Yootha [real name Yootha Joyce Needham] (1927–1980), actress \|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/74665\|year=2004 }} {{paywall}}</ref> She was named "Yootha" after a New Zealand dancer in her father's touring company, a name she would later say she "loathed and detested".<ref>Radio Times, 7–13 August 1971, p.4</ref> Joyce's biography states that her heavily pregnant mother went for a walk on [[w:Wandsworth Common\|Wandsworth Common]] during an interval of one of her husband's performances and began feeling [[w:Childbirth\|contractions]]; searching for a house to call an ambulance, she came across a [[w:nursing home\|nursing home]] where she gave birth.<ref name="biography"/>		Yootha Joyce Needham was born in [[Wandsworth\|Wandsworth]], [[London\|London]], the only child of musical parents Percival ("Hurst") Needham, a singer, and Jessica Revitt, a concert pianist.<ref name="biography">{{cite book\|title=Dear Yootha...: The Life of Yootha Joyce\|last=Curran\|first=Paul\|year=2014\|publisher=Mossy Books\|isbn=9-781494-911645}}</ref><ref name=ODNB>{{cite ODNB \|last1=Follows \|first1=Stephen \|title=Joyce, Yootha [real name Yootha Joyce Needham] (1927–1980), actress \|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/74665\|year=2004 }} {{paywall}}</ref> She was named "Yootha" after a New Zealand dancer in her father's touring company, a name she would later say she "loathed and detested".<ref>Radio Times, 7–13 August 1971, p.4</ref> Joyce's biography states that her heavily pregnant mother went for a walk on [[Wandsworth Common\|Wandsworth Common]] during an interval of one of her husband's performances and began feeling [[Childbirth\|contractions]]; searching for a house to call an ambulance, she came across a [[nursing home\|nursing home]] where she gave birth.<ref name="biography"/>

	The family lived in a basement flat at Bennerley Road, Wandsworth, although Joyce spent much time living with her maternal grandmother while her parents were touring.<ref name="biography"/> Initially educated at the Battersea Central Co-educational School, Joyce was [[w:Evacuations of civilians in Britain during World War II\|evacuated]] at the start of the [[w:Second World War]] to [[w:Petersfield]], [[w:Hampshire\|Hampshire]], where she attended Petersfield County High School for Girls. Although Joyce later said that she "hated" her time in Petersfield, she and the other female evacuees from Battersea would use the local church hall there for acting, dancing and singing.<ref name="biography"/> By the time Joyce returned to London in 1941 her parents resided on Gladstone Road in [[w:Croydon\|Croydon]], joined by her grandmother. She completed her education at [[w:Croydon High School\|Croydon High School]].		The family lived in a basement flat at Bennerley Road, Wandsworth, although Joyce spent much time living with her maternal grandmother while her parents were touring.<ref name="biography"/> Initially educated at the Battersea Central Co-educational School, Joyce was [[Evacuations of civilians in Britain during World War II\|evacuated]] at the start of the [[Second World War]] to [[Petersfield]], [[Hampshire\|Hampshire]], where she attended Petersfield County High School for Girls. Although Joyce later said that she "hated" her time in Petersfield, she and the other female evacuees from Battersea would use the local church hall there for acting, dancing and singing.<ref name="biography"/> By the time Joyce returned to London in 1941 her parents resided on Gladstone Road in [[Croydon\|Croydon]], joined by her grandmother. She completed her education at [[Croydon High School\|Croydon High School]].

	Joyce's family were not encouraging of her career. She could not sing or play the piano like her parents, who stated she "wasn't much good at anything"; however, inspired by her performances at Petersfield, Joyce became determined to "break family tradition [...] and become a straight dramatic actress".<ref name="biography"/> Despite her parents' disdain,<ref name="biography"/> Joyce successfully auditioned for a place at the [[w:Royal Academy of Dramatic Art\|Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]] (RADA), beginning in September 1944, alongside [[w:Roger Moore\|Roger Moore]]. Her first performance was playing [[w:Lydia Bennet\|Lydia Bennet]] in a production of ''[[w:Pride and Prejudice\|Pride and Prejudice]]''.		Joyce's family were not encouraging of her career. She could not sing or play the piano like her parents, who stated she "wasn't much good at anything"; however, inspired by her performances at Petersfield, Joyce became determined to "break family tradition [...] and become a straight dramatic actress".<ref name="biography"/> Despite her parents' disdain,<ref name="biography"/> Joyce successfully auditioned for a place at the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art\|Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]] (RADA), beginning in September 1944, alongside [[Roger Moore\|Roger Moore]]. Her first performance was playing [[Lydia Bennet\|Lydia Bennet]] in a production of ''[[Pride and Prejudice\|Pride and Prejudice]]''.

	Undeterred by her director saying that she "had nothing to offer the profession", Joyce began working as an assistant stage manager at The Grand in Croydon during the summer holidays, and joined a repertory company where she starred in productions including ''[[w:The Constant Nymph (novel)\|Escape Me Never]]'' and ''[[w:Autumn Crocus (play)\|Autumn Crocus]]''.<ref name="biography"/> Starting back at RADA in September 1945, Joyce dropped the "Needham" from her name and began using the stage name "Yootha Joyce" saying "it seemed less of a mouthful... being stuck with Yootha is enough".<ref name="biography"/> Joyce left RADA in early 1946, finding it unduly strict and unencouraging.<ref name="Cotter2013">{{cite book\|author=Robert Michael "Bobb" Cotter\|title=The Women of Hammer Horror: A Biographical Dictionary and Filmography\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IiZnbykWAsIC&pg=PA110\|date=4 June 2013\|publisher=McFarland\|isbn=978-1-4766-0201-1\|pages=110}}</ref>		Undeterred by her director saying that she "had nothing to offer the profession", Joyce began working as an assistant stage manager at The Grand in Croydon during the summer holidays, and joined a repertory company where she starred in productions including ''[[The Constant Nymph (novel)\|Escape Me Never]]'' and ''[[Autumn Crocus (play)\|Autumn Crocus]]''.<ref name="biography"/> Starting back at RADA in September 1945, Joyce dropped the "Needham" from her name and began using the stage name "Yootha Joyce" saying "it seemed less of a mouthful... being stuck with Yootha is enough".<ref name="biography"/> Joyce left RADA in early 1946, finding it unduly strict and unencouraging.<ref name="Cotter2013">{{cite book\|author=Robert Michael "Bobb" Cotter\|title=The Women of Hammer Horror: A Biographical Dictionary and Filmography\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IiZnbykWAsIC&pg=PA110\|date=4 June 2013\|publisher=McFarland\|isbn=978-1-4766-0201-1\|pages=110}}</ref>

	==Career==		==Career==
	Following her departure from RADA, Joyce toured the UK in many [[w:repertory theatre\|repertory theatre]] groups, including the Harry Kendall Players, the Reginald Salberg Players, the Jack Rose Players and the Harry Hanson Players, and received many positive reviews of her performances.<ref name="biography"/> In 1955, following a dry period of work, Joyce applied for work at a further repertory group based at the King's Theatre in [[w:Gainsborough, Lincolnshire\|Gainsborough]], Lincolnshire in a production entitled ''The Call of the Flesh''. The producer, [[w:Glynn Edwards\|Glynn Edwards]] accepted her audition and the two became good friends, and later lovers.<ref name="biography"/> Touring the UK in ''The Call of the Flesh'' the play was billed as "daring", "naked", "raw" and "gripping" and was a huge success. The theatre director [[w:Joan Littlewood\|Joan Littlewood]] was in the audience at one of the performances and was impressed to the extent that she asked Edwards to join her [[w:Theatre Workshop\|Theatre Workshop]] at the [[w:Theatre Royal, Stratford East\|Theatre Royal]].<ref name="biography"/>		Following her departure from RADA, Joyce toured the UK in many [[repertory theatre\|repertory theatre]] groups, including the Harry Kendall Players, the Reginald Salberg Players, the Jack Rose Players and the Harry Hanson Players, and received many positive reviews of her performances.<ref name="biography"/> In 1955, following a dry period of work, Joyce applied for work at a further repertory group based at the King's Theatre in [[Gainsborough, Lincolnshire\|Gainsborough]], Lincolnshire in a production entitled ''The Call of the Flesh''. The producer, [[Glynn Edwards\|Glynn Edwards]] accepted her audition and the two became good friends, and later lovers.<ref name="biography"/> Touring the UK in ''The Call of the Flesh'' the play was billed as "daring", "naked", "raw" and "gripping" and was a huge success. The theatre director [[Joan Littlewood\|Joan Littlewood]] was in the audience at one of the performances and was impressed to the extent that she asked Edwards to join her [[Theatre Workshop\|Theatre Workshop]] at the [[Theatre Royal, Stratford East\|Theatre Royal]].<ref name="biography"/>

	By 1956, Joyce and Edwards had moved in together and rented a flat in [[Hampstead]]. During one of Littlewood's productions, Littlewood began looking for more female parts and Edwards suggested Joyce. She joined the production and became a member of the Theatre Workshop alongside other contemporaries including [[Barbara Windsor]], [[Murray Melvin]], [[Victor Spinetti]], [[Bob Grant (actor)\|Bob Grant]], [[Stephen Lewis (actor)\|Stephen Lewis]], and [[Brian Murphy (actor)\|Brian Murphy]].<ref name="biography"/> Joyce married Edwards on 8 December 1956. She would confide in Edwards that her greatest fear was being without work and thought every job she would have would be her last.<ref name="biography"/> Although she appeared in a large number of Littlewood's productions, Joyce first came to prominence in ''[[Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be]]''.{{hsp}}<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp87552/yootha-joyce-yootha-joyce-needham\|title=National Portrait Gallery – Person – Yootha Joyce (Yootha Joyce Needham)\|work=npg.org.uk}}</ref> Joyce made her first television appearance in 1962 in an episode of ''[[Brothers in Law (TV series)\|Brothers in Law]]'', a sitcom about a young lawyer alongside a young [[Richard Briers]] and went on to make her film debut in Littlewood's film ''[[Sparrows Can't Sing]]'' (1963). Joyce and Edwards divorced in 1969 but remained close friends, to the extent that she used to console him after his subsequent relationships broke down.<ref name="unforgettable">''The Unforgettable Yootha Joyce'' ITV 2001</ref>		By 1956, Joyce and Edwards had moved in together and rented a flat in [[Hampstead]]. During one of Littlewood's productions, Littlewood began looking for more female parts and Edwards suggested Joyce. She joined the production and became a member of the Theatre Workshop alongside other contemporaries including [[Barbara Windsor]], [[Murray Melvin]], [[Victor Spinetti]], [[Bob Grant (actor)\|Bob Grant]], [[Stephen Lewis (actor)\|Stephen Lewis]], and [[Brian Murphy (actor)\|Brian Murphy]].<ref name="biography"/> Joyce married Edwards on 8 December 1956. She would confide in Edwards that her greatest fear was being without work and thought every job she would have would be her last.<ref name="biography"/> Although she appeared in a large number of Littlewood's productions, Joyce first came to prominence in ''[[Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be]]''.{{hsp}}<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp87552/yootha-joyce-yootha-joyce-needham\|title=National Portrait Gallery – Person – Yootha Joyce (Yootha Joyce Needham)\|work=npg.org.uk}}</ref> Joyce made her first television appearance in 1962 in an episode of ''[[Brothers in Law (TV series)\|Brothers in Law]]'', a sitcom about a young lawyer alongside a young [[Richard Briers]] and went on to make her film debut in Littlewood's film ''[[Sparrows Can't Sing]]'' (1963). Joyce and Edwards divorced in 1969 but remained close friends, to the extent that she used to console him after his subsequent relationships broke down.<ref name="unforgettable">''The Unforgettable Yootha Joyce'' ITV 2001</ref>
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	In 1986, [[the Smiths]] used an image of Joyce on the sleeve of their UK single release "[[Ask (song)\|Ask]]" and the German release of "[[Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others]]", thereby adding her to what would become a significant set of musical releases, made iconic by their design (other Smiths 'cover stars' included [[Truman Capote]], [[Terence Stamp]], [[Elvis Presley]], [[Pat Phoenix]], [[Viv Nicholson]] and [[Billie Whitelaw]]).<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/gallery/2013/aug/12/smiths-artwork-posters-exhibition-pictures\|title=The artwork of the Smiths – in pictures\|author=Warner Music\|work=The Guardian\|date=12 August 2013}}</ref>		In 1986, [[the Smiths]] used an image of Joyce on the sleeve of their UK single release "[[Ask (song)\|Ask]]" and the German release of "[[Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others]]", thereby adding her to what would become a significant set of musical releases, made iconic by their design (other Smiths 'cover stars' included [[Truman Capote]], [[Terence Stamp]], [[Elvis Presley]], [[Pat Phoenix]], [[Viv Nicholson]] and [[Billie Whitelaw]]).<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/gallery/2013/aug/12/smiths-artwork-posters-exhibition-pictures\|title=The artwork of the Smiths – in pictures\|author=Warner Music\|work=The Guardian\|date=12 August 2013}}</ref>

	In 2001, a tribute documentary entitled ''The Unforgettable Yootha Joyce'' was broadcast by [[ITV (TV network)\|ITV]], which featured Glynn Edwards as well as many of her co-stars and friends, including [[Sally Thomsett]], [[Brian Murphy (actor)\|Brian Murphy]], [[Nicholas Bond-Owen]] and [[w:Norman Eshley\|Norman Eshley]], talking about memories and their relationships with Joyce.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/vc42c/the-unforgettable--the-unforgettable-yootha-joyce\|title=The Unforgettable\|work=RadioTimes}}</ref>		In 2001, a tribute documentary entitled ''The Unforgettable Yootha Joyce'' was broadcast by [[ITV (TV network)\|ITV]], which featured Glynn Edwards as well as many of her co-stars and friends, including [[Sally Thomsett]], [[Brian Murphy (actor)\|Brian Murphy]], [[Nicholas Bond-Owen]] and [[Norman Eshley\|Norman Eshley]], talking about memories and their relationships with Joyce.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/vc42c/the-unforgettable--the-unforgettable-yootha-joyce\|title=The Unforgettable\|work=RadioTimes}}</ref>

	In 2014, a [[biography]] was written by Paul Curran, entitled ''Dear Yootha... The Life of Yootha Joyce'', to which contributions were made by those who knew and worked with her, including Glynn Edwards, [[Murray Melvin]] and [[Barbara Windsor]]. Curran also published ''The Yootha Joyce Scrapbook'' containing rare and unseen photographs detailing events from Joyce's life in 2015 and released a third book entitled ''Yootha Joyce: Pieces of a Life'' in 2021.		In 2014, a [[biography]] was written by Paul Curran, entitled ''Dear Yootha... The Life of Yootha Joyce'', to which contributions were made by those who knew and worked with her, including Glynn Edwards, [[Murray Melvin]] and [[Barbara Windsor]]. Curran also published ''The Yootha Joyce Scrapbook'' containing rare and unseen photographs detailing events from Joyce's life in 2015 and released a third book entitled ''Yootha Joyce: Pieces of a Life'' in 2021.

Kurt: /* External links */

2023-01-15T19:17:54Z

External links

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:17, 15 January 2023
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	*{{IMDb name\|431626\|Yootha Joyce}}		*{{IMDb name\|431626\|Yootha Joyce}}
	*{{Find a Grave\|6305070}}		*{{Find a Grave\|6305070}}

	~~{{Authority control}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Joyce, Yootha}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Joyce, Yootha}}
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	[[Category:English film actresses]]		[[Category:English film actresses]]
	[[Category:English television actresses]]		[[Category:English television actresses]]
	~~[[Category:Deaths from hepatitis]]~~
	[[Category:People from Wandsworth]]		[[Category:People from Wandsworth]]
	~~[[Category:Alcohol-related deaths in England]]~~
	[[Category:Musicians from London]]		[[Category:Musicians from London]]
	[[Category:Actresses from London]]		[[Category:Actresses from London]]

Kurt at 14:24, 15 September 2022

2022-09-15T14:24:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:24, 15 September 2022
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	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1927\|08\|20\|df=y}}		\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1927\|08\|20\|df=y}}
	\| birth_place = [[Wandsworth]], [[London]], England		\| birth_place = [[w:Wandsworth\|Wandsworth]], [[w:London\|London]], England
	\| death_date = {{death date and age\|1980\|08\|24\|1927\|08\|20\|df=y}}		\| death_date = {{death date and age\|1980\|08\|24\|1927\|08\|20\|df=y}}
	\| death_place = [[Harley Street]], [[London]], England		\| death_place = [[w:Harley Street\|Harley Street]], [[w:London\|London]], England
	\| birth_name = Yootha Joyce Needham		\| birth_name = Yootha Joyce Needham
	\| spouse = {{Marriage\|[[Glynn Edwards]]\|1956\|1969\|end=divorced}}		\| spouse = {{Marriage\|[[w:Glynn Edwards\|Glynn Edwards]]\|1956\|1969\|end=divorced}}
	\| othername =		\| othername =
	\| occupation = Actress		\| occupation = Actress
	\| alma_mater = [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]		\| alma_mater = [[w:Royal Academy of Dramatic Art\|Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]
	}}		}}
	'''Yootha Joyce Needham''' (20 August 1927 – 24 August 1980), known as '''Yootha Joyce''', was an English [[actress]] best known for playing [[Mildred Roper]] opposite [[Brian Murphy (actor)\|Brian Murphy]] in the sitcom ''[[Man About the House]]'' (1973–1976) and its spin-off ''[[George and Mildred]]'' (1976–1979).<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/yootha-joyce-p36432\|title=Yootha Joyce - Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos - AllMovie\|website=AllMovie}}</ref>		'''Yootha Joyce Needham''' (20 August 1927 – 24 August 1980), known as '''Yootha Joyce''', was an English [[w:actress\|actress]] best known for playing [[Mildred Roper]] opposite [[Brian Murphy (actor)\|Brian Murphy]] in the sitcom ''[[Man About the House]]'' (1973–1976) and its spin-off ''[[George and Mildred]]'' (1976–1979).<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/yootha-joyce-p36432\|title=Yootha Joyce - Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos - AllMovie\|website=AllMovie}}</ref>

	==Early life==		==Early life==
	Yootha Joyce Needham was born in [[Wandsworth]], [[London]], the only child of musical parents Percival ("Hurst") Needham, a singer, and Jessica Revitt, a concert pianist.<ref name="biography">{{cite book\|title=Dear Yootha...: The Life of Yootha Joyce\|last=Curran\|first=Paul\|year=2014\|publisher=Mossy Books\|isbn=9-781494-911645}}</ref><ref name=ODNB>{{cite ODNB \|last1=Follows \|first1=Stephen \|title=Joyce, Yootha [real name Yootha Joyce Needham] (1927–1980), actress \|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/74665\|year=2004 }} {{paywall}}</ref> She was named "Yootha" after a New Zealand dancer in her father's touring company, a name she would later say she "loathed and detested".<ref>Radio Times, 7–13 August 1971, p.4</ref> Joyce's biography states that her heavily pregnant mother went for a walk on [[Wandsworth Common]] during an interval of one of her husband's performances and began feeling [[Childbirth\|contractions]]; searching for a house to call an ambulance, she came across a [[nursing home]] where she gave birth.<ref name="biography"/>		Yootha Joyce Needham was born in [[w:Wandsworth\|Wandsworth]], [[w:London\|London]], the only child of musical parents Percival ("Hurst") Needham, a singer, and Jessica Revitt, a concert pianist.<ref name="biography">{{cite book\|title=Dear Yootha...: The Life of Yootha Joyce\|last=Curran\|first=Paul\|year=2014\|publisher=Mossy Books\|isbn=9-781494-911645}}</ref><ref name=ODNB>{{cite ODNB \|last1=Follows \|first1=Stephen \|title=Joyce, Yootha [real name Yootha Joyce Needham] (1927–1980), actress \|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/74665\|year=2004 }} {{paywall}}</ref> She was named "Yootha" after a New Zealand dancer in her father's touring company, a name she would later say she "loathed and detested".<ref>Radio Times, 7–13 August 1971, p.4</ref> Joyce's biography states that her heavily pregnant mother went for a walk on [[w:Wandsworth Common\|Wandsworth Common]] during an interval of one of her husband's performances and began feeling [[w:Childbirth\|contractions]]; searching for a house to call an ambulance, she came across a [[w:nursing home\|nursing home]] where she gave birth.<ref name="biography"/>

	The family lived in a basement flat at Bennerley Road, Wandsworth, although Joyce spent much time living with her maternal grandmother while her parents were touring.<ref name="biography"/> Initially educated at the Battersea Central Co-educational School, Joyce was evacuated at the start of the [[Second World War]] to [[Petersfield]], [[Hampshire]], where she attended Petersfield County High School for Girls. Although Joyce later said that she "hated" her time in Petersfield, she and the other female evacuees from Battersea would use the local church hall there for acting, dancing and singing.<ref name="biography"/> By the time Joyce returned to London in 1941 her parents resided on Gladstone Road in [[Croydon]], joined by her grandmother. She completed her education at [[Croydon High School]].		The family lived in a basement flat at Bennerley Road, Wandsworth, although Joyce spent much time living with her maternal grandmother while her parents were touring.<ref name="biography"/> Initially educated at the Battersea Central Co-educational School, Joyce was [[w:Evacuations of civilians in Britain during World War II\|evacuated]] at the start of the [[w:Second World War]] to [[w:Petersfield]], [[w:Hampshire\|Hampshire]], where she attended Petersfield County High School for Girls. Although Joyce later said that she "hated" her time in Petersfield, she and the other female evacuees from Battersea would use the local church hall there for acting, dancing and singing.<ref name="biography"/> By the time Joyce returned to London in 1941 her parents resided on Gladstone Road in [[w:Croydon\|Croydon]], joined by her grandmother. She completed her education at [[w:Croydon High School\|Croydon High School]].

	Joyce's family were not encouraging of her career. She could not sing or play the piano like her parents, who stated she "wasn't much good at anything"; however, inspired by her performances at Petersfield, Joyce became determined to "break family tradition [...] and become a straight dramatic actress".<ref name="biography"/> Despite her parents' disdain,<ref name="biography"/> Joyce successfully auditioned for a place at the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]] (RADA), beginning in September 1944, alongside [[Roger Moore]]. Her first performance was playing [[Lydia Bennet]] in a production of ''[[Pride and Prejudice]]''.		Joyce's family were not encouraging of her career. She could not sing or play the piano like her parents, who stated she "wasn't much good at anything"; however, inspired by her performances at Petersfield, Joyce became determined to "break family tradition [...] and become a straight dramatic actress".<ref name="biography"/> Despite her parents' disdain,<ref name="biography"/> Joyce successfully auditioned for a place at the [[w:Royal Academy of Dramatic Art\|Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]] (RADA), beginning in September 1944, alongside [[w:Roger Moore\|Roger Moore]]. Her first performance was playing [[w:Lydia Bennet\|Lydia Bennet]] in a production of ''[[w:Pride and Prejudice\|Pride and Prejudice]]''.

	Undeterred by her director saying that she "had nothing to offer the profession", Joyce began working as an assistant stage manager at The Grand in Croydon during the summer holidays, and joined a repertory company where she starred in productions including ''[[The Constant Nymph (novel)\|Escape Me Never]]'' and ''[[Autumn Crocus (play)\|Autumn Crocus]]''.<ref name="biography"/> Starting back at RADA in September 1945, Joyce dropped the "Needham" from her name and began using the stage name "Yootha Joyce" saying "it seemed less of a mouthful... being stuck with Yootha is enough".<ref name="biography"/> Joyce left RADA in early 1946, finding it unduly strict and unencouraging.<ref name="Cotter2013">{{cite book\|author=Robert Michael "Bobb" Cotter\|title=The Women of Hammer Horror: A Biographical Dictionary and Filmography\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IiZnbykWAsIC&pg=PA110\|date=4 June 2013\|publisher=McFarland\|isbn=978-1-4766-0201-1\|pages=110}}</ref>		Undeterred by her director saying that she "had nothing to offer the profession", Joyce began working as an assistant stage manager at The Grand in Croydon during the summer holidays, and joined a repertory company where she starred in productions including ''[[w:The Constant Nymph (novel)\|Escape Me Never]]'' and ''[[w:Autumn Crocus (play)\|Autumn Crocus]]''.<ref name="biography"/> Starting back at RADA in September 1945, Joyce dropped the "Needham" from her name and began using the stage name "Yootha Joyce" saying "it seemed less of a mouthful... being stuck with Yootha is enough".<ref name="biography"/> Joyce left RADA in early 1946, finding it unduly strict and unencouraging.<ref name="Cotter2013">{{cite book\|author=Robert Michael "Bobb" Cotter\|title=The Women of Hammer Horror: A Biographical Dictionary and Filmography\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IiZnbykWAsIC&pg=PA110\|date=4 June 2013\|publisher=McFarland\|isbn=978-1-4766-0201-1\|pages=110}}</ref>

	==Career==		==Career==
	Following her departure from RADA, Joyce toured the UK in many [[repertory theatre]] groups, including the Harry Kendall Players, the Reginald Salberg Players, the Jack Rose Players and the Harry Hanson Players, and received many positive reviews of her performances.<ref name="biography"/> In 1955, following a dry period of work, Joyce applied for work at a further repertory group based at the King's Theatre in [[Gainsborough, Lincolnshire\|Gainsborough]], Lincolnshire in a production entitled ''The Call of the Flesh''. The producer, [[Glynn Edwards]] accepted her audition and the two became good friends, and later lovers.<ref name="biography"/> Touring the UK in ''The Call of the Flesh'' the play was billed as "daring", "naked", "raw" and "gripping" and was a huge success. The theatre director [[Joan Littlewood]] was in the audience at one of the performances and was impressed to the extent that she asked Edwards to join her [[Theatre Workshop]] at the [[Theatre Royal, Stratford East]].<ref name="biography"/>		Following her departure from RADA, Joyce toured the UK in many [[w:repertory theatre\|repertory theatre]] groups, including the Harry Kendall Players, the Reginald Salberg Players, the Jack Rose Players and the Harry Hanson Players, and received many positive reviews of her performances.<ref name="biography"/> In 1955, following a dry period of work, Joyce applied for work at a further repertory group based at the King's Theatre in [[w:Gainsborough, Lincolnshire\|Gainsborough]], Lincolnshire in a production entitled ''The Call of the Flesh''. The producer, [[w:Glynn Edwards\|Glynn Edwards]] accepted her audition and the two became good friends, and later lovers.<ref name="biography"/> Touring the UK in ''The Call of the Flesh'' the play was billed as "daring", "naked", "raw" and "gripping" and was a huge success. The theatre director [[w:Joan Littlewood\|Joan Littlewood]] was in the audience at one of the performances and was impressed to the extent that she asked Edwards to join her [[w:Theatre Workshop\|Theatre Workshop]] at the [[w:Theatre Royal, Stratford East\|Theatre Royal]].<ref name="biography"/>

	By 1956, Joyce and Edwards had moved in together and rented a flat in [[Hampstead]]. During one of Littlewood's productions, Littlewood began looking for more female parts and Edwards suggested Joyce. She joined the production and became a member of the Theatre Workshop alongside other contemporaries including [[Barbara Windsor]], [[Murray Melvin]], [[Victor Spinetti]], [[Bob Grant (actor)\|Bob Grant]], [[Stephen Lewis (actor)\|Stephen Lewis]], and [[Brian Murphy (actor)\|Brian Murphy]].<ref name="biography"/> Joyce married Edwards on 8 December 1956. She would confide in Edwards that her greatest fear was being without work and thought every job she would have would be her last.<ref name="biography"/> Although she appeared in a large number of Littlewood's productions, Joyce first came to prominence in ''[[Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be]]''.{{hsp}}<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp87552/yootha-joyce-yootha-joyce-needham\|title=National Portrait Gallery – Person – Yootha Joyce (Yootha Joyce Needham)\|work=npg.org.uk}}</ref> Joyce made her first television appearance in 1962 in an episode of ''[[Brothers in Law (TV series)\|Brothers in Law]]'', a sitcom about a young lawyer alongside a young [[Richard Briers]] and went on to make her film debut in Littlewood's film ''[[Sparrows Can't Sing]]'' (1963). Joyce and Edwards divorced in 1969 but remained close friends, to the extent that she used to console him after his subsequent relationships broke down.<ref name="unforgettable">''The Unforgettable Yootha Joyce'' ITV 2001</ref>		By 1956, Joyce and Edwards had moved in together and rented a flat in [[Hampstead]]. During one of Littlewood's productions, Littlewood began looking for more female parts and Edwards suggested Joyce. She joined the production and became a member of the Theatre Workshop alongside other contemporaries including [[Barbara Windsor]], [[Murray Melvin]], [[Victor Spinetti]], [[Bob Grant (actor)\|Bob Grant]], [[Stephen Lewis (actor)\|Stephen Lewis]], and [[Brian Murphy (actor)\|Brian Murphy]].<ref name="biography"/> Joyce married Edwards on 8 December 1956. She would confide in Edwards that her greatest fear was being without work and thought every job she would have would be her last.<ref name="biography"/> Although she appeared in a large number of Littlewood's productions, Joyce first came to prominence in ''[[Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be]]''.{{hsp}}<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp87552/yootha-joyce-yootha-joyce-needham\|title=National Portrait Gallery – Person – Yootha Joyce (Yootha Joyce Needham)\|work=npg.org.uk}}</ref> Joyce made her first television appearance in 1962 in an episode of ''[[Brothers in Law (TV series)\|Brothers in Law]]'', a sitcom about a young lawyer alongside a young [[Richard Briers]] and went on to make her film debut in Littlewood's film ''[[Sparrows Can't Sing]]'' (1963). Joyce and Edwards divorced in 1969 but remained close friends, to the extent that she used to console him after his subsequent relationships broke down.<ref name="unforgettable">''The Unforgettable Yootha Joyce'' ITV 2001</ref>

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	\| imagesize =		\| imagesize =
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1927\|8\|20\|df=y}}		\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1927\|08\|20\|df=y}}
	\| birth_place = [[Wandsworth]], [[London]], England		\| birth_place = [[Wandsworth]], [[London]], England
	\| death_date = {{death date and age\|1980\|8\|24\|1927\|8\|20\|df=y}}		\| death_date = {{death date and age\|1980\|08\|24\|1927\|08\|20\|df=y}}
	\| death_place = [[Harley Street]], [[London]], England		\| death_place = [[Harley Street]], [[London]], England
	\| birth_name = Yootha Joyce Needham		\| birth_name = Yootha Joyce Needham

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	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Yootha Joyce		\| name = Yootha Joyce
	\| image = ~~Actress_Yootha_Joyce~~.jpg		\| image = Yootha Joyce.jpg
	\| imagesize =		\| imagesize =
	\| caption = ~~Joyce on the sleeve of ''[[Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others]]'' by [[the Smiths]], 1986~~		\| caption =
	\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1927\|8\|20\|df=y}}		\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1927\|8\|20\|df=y}}
	\| birth_place = [[Wandsworth]], [[London]], England		\| birth_place = [[Wandsworth]], [[London]], England

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	In 1986, [[the Smiths]] used an image of Joyce on the sleeve of their UK single release "[[Ask (song)\|Ask]]" and the German release of "[[Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others]]", thereby adding her to what would become a significant set of musical releases, made iconic by their design (other Smiths 'cover stars' included [[Truman Capote]], [[Terence Stamp]], [[Elvis Presley]], [[Pat Phoenix]], [[Viv Nicholson]] and [[Billie Whitelaw]]).<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/gallery/2013/aug/12/smiths-artwork-posters-exhibition-pictures\|title=The artwork of the Smiths – in pictures\|author=Warner Music\|work=The Guardian\|date=12 August 2013}}</ref>		In 1986, [[the Smiths]] used an image of Joyce on the sleeve of their UK single release "[[Ask (song)\|Ask]]" and the German release of "[[Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others]]", thereby adding her to what would become a significant set of musical releases, made iconic by their design (other Smiths 'cover stars' included [[Truman Capote]], [[Terence Stamp]], [[Elvis Presley]], [[Pat Phoenix]], [[Viv Nicholson]] and [[Billie Whitelaw]]).<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/gallery/2013/aug/12/smiths-artwork-posters-exhibition-pictures\|title=The artwork of the Smiths – in pictures\|author=Warner Music\|work=The Guardian\|date=12 August 2013}}</ref>

	In 2001, a tribute documentary entitled ''The Unforgettable Yootha Joyce'' was broadcast by [[ITV (TV network)\|ITV]], which featured Glynn Edwards as well as many of her co-stars and friends, including [[Sally Thomsett]], [[Brian Murphy (actor)\|Brian Murphy]], [[Nicholas Bond-Owen]] and [[Norman Eshley]], talking about memories and their relationships with Joyce.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/vc42c/the-unforgettable--the-unforgettable-yootha-joyce\|title=The Unforgettable\|work=RadioTimes}}</ref>		In 2001, a tribute documentary entitled ''The Unforgettable Yootha Joyce'' was broadcast by [[ITV (TV network)\|ITV]], which featured Glynn Edwards as well as many of her co-stars and friends, including [[Sally Thomsett]], [[Brian Murphy (actor)\|Brian Murphy]], [[Nicholas Bond-Owen]] and [[w:Norman Eshley\|Norman Eshley]], talking about memories and their relationships with Joyce.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/vc42c/the-unforgettable--the-unforgettable-yootha-joyce\|title=The Unforgettable\|work=RadioTimes}}</ref>

	In 2014, a [[biography]] was written by Paul Curran, entitled ''Dear Yootha... The Life of Yootha Joyce'', to which contributions were made by those who knew and worked with her, including Glynn Edwards, [[Murray Melvin]] and [[Barbara Windsor]]. Curran also published ''The Yootha Joyce Scrapbook'' containing rare and unseen photographs detailing events from Joyce's life in 2015 and released a third book entitled ''Yootha Joyce: Pieces of a Life'' in 2021.		In 2014, a [[biography]] was written by Paul Curran, entitled ''Dear Yootha... The Life of Yootha Joyce'', to which contributions were made by those who knew and worked with her, including Glynn Edwards, [[Murray Melvin]] and [[Barbara Windsor]]. Curran also published ''The Yootha Joyce Scrapbook'' containing rare and unseen photographs detailing events from Joyce's life in 2015 and released a third book entitled ''Yootha Joyce: Pieces of a Life'' in 2021.

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en>Muzilon: /* Early life */ Grammar

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Early life: Grammar

New page

{{short description|English actress}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Yootha Joyce
| image = Actress_Yootha_Joyce.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Joyce on the sleeve of ''[[Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others]]'' by [[the Smiths]], 1986
| birth_date = {{birth date|1927|8|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Wandsworth]], [[London]], England
| death_date = {{death date and age|1980|8|24|1927|8|20|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Harley Street]], [[London]], England
| birth_name = Yootha Joyce Needham
| spouse = {{Marriage|[[Glynn Edwards]]|1956|1969|end=divorced}}
| othername =
| occupation = Actress
| alma_mater = [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]
}}
'''Yootha Joyce Needham''' (20 August 1927 – 24 August 1980), known as '''Yootha Joyce''', was an English [[actress]] best known for playing [[Mildred Roper]] opposite [[Brian Murphy (actor)|Brian Murphy]] in the sitcom ''[[Man About the House]]'' (1973–1976) and its spin-off ''[[George and Mildred]]'' (1976–1979).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/yootha-joyce-p36432|title=Yootha Joyce - Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos - AllMovie|website=AllMovie}}</ref>

==Early life==
Yootha Joyce Needham was born in [[Wandsworth]], [[London]], the only child of musical parents Percival ("Hurst") Needham, a singer, and Jessica Revitt, a concert pianist.<ref name="biography">{{cite book|title=Dear Yootha...: The Life of Yootha Joyce|last=Curran|first=Paul|year=2014|publisher=Mossy Books|isbn=9-781494-911645}}</ref><ref name=ODNB>{{cite ODNB |last1=Follows |first1=Stephen |title=Joyce, Yootha [real name Yootha Joyce Needham] (1927–1980), actress |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/74665|year=2004 }} {{paywall}}</ref> She was named "Yootha" after a New Zealand dancer in her father's touring company, a name she would later say she "loathed and detested".<ref>Radio Times, 7–13 August 1971, p.4</ref> Joyce's biography states that her heavily pregnant mother went for a walk on [[Wandsworth Common]] during an interval of one of her husband's performances and began feeling [[Childbirth|contractions]]; searching for a house to call an ambulance, she came across a [[nursing home]] where she gave birth.<ref name="biography"/>

The family lived in a basement flat at Bennerley Road, Wandsworth, although Joyce spent much time living with her maternal grandmother while her parents were touring.<ref name="biography"/> Initially educated at the Battersea Central Co-educational School, Joyce was evacuated at the start of the [[Second World War]] to [[Petersfield]], [[Hampshire]], where she attended Petersfield County High School for Girls. Although Joyce later said that she "hated" her time in Petersfield, she and the other female evacuees from Battersea would use the local church hall there for acting, dancing and singing.<ref name="biography"/> By the time Joyce returned to London in 1941 her parents resided on Gladstone Road in [[Croydon]], joined by her grandmother. She completed her education at [[Croydon High School]].

Joyce's family were not encouraging of her career. She could not sing or play the piano like her parents, who stated she "wasn't much good at anything"; however, inspired by her performances at Petersfield, Joyce became determined to "break family tradition [...] and become a straight dramatic actress".<ref name="biography"/> Despite her parents' disdain,<ref name="biography"/> Joyce successfully auditioned for a place at the [[Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]] (RADA), beginning in September 1944, alongside [[Roger Moore]]. Her first performance was playing [[Lydia Bennet]] in a production of ''[[Pride and Prejudice]]''.

Undeterred by her director saying that she "had nothing to offer the profession", Joyce began working as an assistant stage manager at The Grand in Croydon during the summer holidays, and joined a repertory company where she starred in productions including ''[[The Constant Nymph (novel)|Escape Me Never]]'' and ''[[Autumn Crocus (play)|Autumn Crocus]]''.<ref name="biography"/> Starting back at RADA in September 1945, Joyce dropped the "Needham" from her name and began using the stage name "Yootha Joyce" saying "it seemed less of a mouthful... being stuck with Yootha is enough".<ref name="biography"/> Joyce left RADA in early 1946, finding it unduly strict and unencouraging.<ref name="Cotter2013">{{cite book|author=Robert Michael "Bobb" Cotter|title=The Women of Hammer Horror: A Biographical Dictionary and Filmography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IiZnbykWAsIC&pg=PA110|date=4 June 2013|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-1-4766-0201-1|pages=110}}</ref>

==Career==
Following her departure from RADA, Joyce toured the UK in many [[repertory theatre]] groups, including the Harry Kendall Players, the Reginald Salberg Players, the Jack Rose Players and the Harry Hanson Players, and received many positive reviews of her performances.<ref name="biography"/> In 1955, following a dry period of work, Joyce applied for work at a further repertory group based at the King's Theatre in [[Gainsborough, Lincolnshire|Gainsborough]], Lincolnshire in a production entitled ''The Call of the Flesh''. The producer, [[Glynn Edwards]] accepted her audition and the two became good friends, and later lovers.<ref name="biography"/> Touring the UK in ''The Call of the Flesh'' the play was billed as "daring", "naked", "raw" and "gripping" and was a huge success. The theatre director [[Joan Littlewood]] was in the audience at one of the performances and was impressed to the extent that she asked Edwards to join her [[Theatre Workshop]] at the [[Theatre Royal, Stratford East]].<ref name="biography"/>

By 1956, Joyce and Edwards had moved in together and rented a flat in [[Hampstead]]. During one of Littlewood's productions, Littlewood began looking for more female parts and Edwards suggested Joyce. She joined the production and became a member of the Theatre Workshop alongside other contemporaries including [[Barbara Windsor]], [[Murray Melvin]], [[Victor Spinetti]], [[Bob Grant (actor)|Bob Grant]], [[Stephen Lewis (actor)|Stephen Lewis]], and [[Brian Murphy (actor)|Brian Murphy]].<ref name="biography"/> Joyce married Edwards on 8 December 1956. She would confide in Edwards that her greatest fear was being without work and thought every job she would have would be her last.<ref name="biography"/> Although she appeared in a large number of Littlewood's productions, Joyce first came to prominence in ''[[Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be]]''.{{hsp}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp87552/yootha-joyce-yootha-joyce-needham|title=National Portrait Gallery – Person – Yootha Joyce (Yootha Joyce Needham)|work=npg.org.uk}}</ref> Joyce made her first television appearance in 1962 in an episode of ''[[Brothers in Law (TV series)|Brothers in Law]]'', a sitcom about a young lawyer alongside a young [[Richard Briers]] and went on to make her film debut in Littlewood's film ''[[Sparrows Can't Sing]]'' (1963). Joyce and Edwards divorced in 1969 but remained close friends, to the extent that she used to console him after his subsequent relationships broke down.<ref name="unforgettable">''The Unforgettable Yootha Joyce'' ITV 2001</ref>

In the 1960s and 1970s, Joyce became a familiar face in many one-off sitcom roles and supporting parts in films, with her first main recurring role being Miss Argyll, frustrated girlfriend of the title star [[Milo O'Shea]] in three series of ''[[Me Mammy]]'' (1968–71); most of the episodes of that series are lost. Prior to that, she played a cameo role in [[Jack Clayton]]'s ''[[The Pumpkin Eater]]'' (1964) as a psychotic young woman opposite [[Anne Bancroft]], delivering a performance that has been called one of the "best screen acting miniatures one could hope to see."<ref>{{cite book|title=Jack Clayton|author=Neil Sinyard|year=2000|publisher=[[Manchester University Press]]|pages=109, 110|isbn=0-7190-5505-9}}</ref> She also had a featured role (as brassy housekeeper Mrs Quayle) in Clayton's next film ''[[Our Mother's House]]'' (1967), a dark drama starring [[Dirk Bogarde]], which dealt with a group of young children who conceal the death of their single mother to prevent being split up. She also appeared in the [[Hammer Horror]] film ''[[Fanatic (1965 film)|Fanatic]]'' (1965) as a villain. Joyce used her talent for playing villains in television series such as ''[[The Saint (TV series)|The Saint]]'', ''[[The Avengers (TV programme)|The Avengers]]'' and ''[[Jason King (TV series)|Jason King]]''.

Her talent for comedy was also used to good effect in programmes such as ''[[Steptoe and Son]]'' and ''[[On the Buses]]''. She made appearances in the films ''[[Catch Us If You Can (film)|Catch Us If You Can]]'' (1965), ''[[A Man for All Seasons (1966 film)|A Man for All Seasons]]'' (1966) and ''[[Charlie Bubbles]]'' (1967), as well as TV spin-off films ''[[Nearest and Dearest (1972 film)|Nearest and Dearest]]'' (1972), ''[[Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width (film)|Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width]]'' (1973) and ''[[Steptoe and Son Ride Again]]'' (1973). She also appeared as customer Mrs. Scully in the pilot episode of ''[[Open All Hours]]'' (1973).

==Mildred Roper==
It was not until 1973 that Joyce acquired a starring role, when she was cast as man-hungry Mildred Roper, wife of sub-letting landlord George, in the sitcom ''[[Man About the House]]''. This series, which starred [[Richard O'Sullivan]], [[Paula Wilcox]], [[Sally Thomsett]] and [[Brian Murphy (actor)|Brian Murphy]] as George Roper, ran until 1976, deriving its comic narrative from two young women and a young man sharing the flat above the Ropers.

When the series ended, a spin-off was written that featured the Ropers: ''[[George and Mildred]]'', which was first broadcast in 1976. The couple were seen moving from the [[London]] house in Myddleton Terrace in the previous programme and into a newer suburban property in Peacock Crescent, [[Hampton Wick]]. Much of the new series centred on Mildred's desire to better herself in her new surroundings, but always being thwarted, usually unwittingly, by her ineffectual husband's desire for a quiet life.

==Final years and death==
Joyce's high-profile roles in the two sitcoms concealed her [[alcoholism]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/36432/Yootha-Joyce/biography|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305101057/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/36432/Yootha-Joyce/biography|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-03-05|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Bruce Eder|date=2016|title=Yootha Joyce - Biography - Movies & TV - NYTimes.com}}</ref>

A feature film version of ''[[George and Mildred (film)|George and Mildred]]'' (1980) was her last work. Amidst growing concern over her health, she was admitted to hospital in the summer of 1980. Joyce died in hospital of [[liver failure]] four days after her 53rd birthday on 24 August 1980. Her co-star and good friend Brian Murphy was at her bedside.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.family-announcements.co.uk/localworld/view/3350243/yootha-joyce|title=Yootha Joyce – Funeral Directors and services – Family Announcements Announcements|work=family-announcements.co.uk}}</ref> Joyce's funeral took place on 3 September 1980 at [[Golders Green Crematorium]] where she was cremated.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-03-09|title=Whole lotta love|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/mar/09/popandrock1|access-date=2022-02-20|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> Her ashes were scattered on the [[crocus]] lawn in the grounds of the crematorium.<ref name="biography"/>

At the [[inquest]] into Joyce's death, it was revealed that she had been drinking upwards of half a bottle of [[brandy]] a day for ten years and recently very much more,<ref name="belfast telegraph">{{cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19800916/097/0006|title=Yootha Joyce died an alocholic - inquest told|publisher=Belfast Telegraph|date=16 September 1980}}</ref> and that she had, in the words of her lawyer Mario Uziell-Hamilton, become a victim of her own success, and dreaded the thought of being typecast as Mildred Roper.<ref>''[[The Times]]'', 16 September 1980</ref> The [[Pathology|pathologist]] stated that Joyce's [[liver]] was twice the normal size and that her heart and lungs had also suffered because of her drinking; Joyce's cause of death was given as [[Cirrhosis|portal cirrhosis of the liver]].<ref name="belfast telegraph"/> Joyce's biography implies that she turned to drink to steady her nerves, particularly after her divorce and subsequent failed relationships, loneliness, typecasting, lack of other work, and lack of privacy due to the popularity of Mildred Roper, and had become [[Depression (mood)|depressed]].

Joyce appeared [[List of works published posthumously|posthumously]] in her last recorded television performance, duetting with [[Max Bygraves]] on his variety show ''Max'' singing the song, poignantly named ''[[For All We Know (1934 song)|For All We Know We May Never Meet Again]]''. The episode was aired on 14 January 1981. The actor/comedian [[Kenneth Williams]] wrote in his diary of the performance that "she looked as though she was crying... as she got up [and left the set] one had the feeling she never intended to return."<ref name="Brown2010">{{cite book|author=Len Brown|title=Meetings With Morrissey|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q8nPi6BUf-QC&pg=PT444|date=7 April 2010|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-0-85712-240-7|pages=444}}</ref> He also went on to mention her in a later entry in his diary (9 April 1988, just days before his death) that "there was a break in her voice when she got to [the line] tomorrow may never come... she was a lady who made so many people happy and a lady who never complained".<ref name="WilliamsDavies1993">{{cite book|author1=Kenneth Williams|author2=Russell Davies|title=The Kenneth Williams diaries|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1yJaAAAAMAAJ|date=24 June 1993|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=978-0-00-255023-9|page=799}}</ref>

==Legacy==
In 1986, [[the Smiths]] used an image of Joyce on the sleeve of their UK single release "[[Ask (song)|Ask]]" and the German release of "[[Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others]]", thereby adding her to what would become a significant set of musical releases, made iconic by their design (other Smiths 'cover stars' included [[Truman Capote]], [[Terence Stamp]], [[Elvis Presley]], [[Pat Phoenix]], [[Viv Nicholson]] and [[Billie Whitelaw]]).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/gallery/2013/aug/12/smiths-artwork-posters-exhibition-pictures|title=The artwork of the Smiths – in pictures|author=Warner Music|work=The Guardian|date=12 August 2013}}</ref>

In 2001, a tribute documentary entitled ''The Unforgettable Yootha Joyce'' was broadcast by [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]], which featured Glynn Edwards as well as many of her co-stars and friends, including [[Sally Thomsett]], [[Brian Murphy (actor)|Brian Murphy]], [[Nicholas Bond-Owen]] and [[Norman Eshley]], talking about memories and their relationships with Joyce.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/vc42c/the-unforgettable--the-unforgettable-yootha-joyce|title=The Unforgettable|work=RadioTimes}}</ref>

In 2014, a [[biography]] was written by Paul Curran, entitled ''Dear Yootha... The Life of Yootha Joyce'', to which contributions were made by those who knew and worked with her, including Glynn Edwards, [[Murray Melvin]] and [[Barbara Windsor]]. Curran also published ''The Yootha Joyce Scrapbook'' containing rare and unseen photographs detailing events from Joyce's life in 2015 and released a third book entitled ''Yootha Joyce: Pieces of a Life'' in 2021.

In 2019, a one-woman play depicting Joyce's life, entitled ''Testament of Yootha'' was performed by Caroline Burns-Cooke at the [[Edinburgh Fringe Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/tragedy-much-loved-icon-yootha-joyce-will-make-edinburgh-fringe-goers-laugh-and-cry-543197|title=The tragedy of much-loved icon Yootha Joyce will make Edinburgh Fringe-goers laugh and cry|publisher=Edinburgh News|date=5 August 2019}}</ref>

==Filmography==
=== Film ===
{| class= "wikitable"
! Year !! Title !! Role !!
|-
|1963 || ''[[Sparrows Can't Sing]]'' || Yootha ||
|-
|1963 || ''[[A Place to Go]]'' || Woman in Wash House || Uncredited
|-
|1964 || ''[[The Pumpkin Eater]]'' || Woman at Hairdressers || Uncredited
|-
|1965 ||''[[Fanatic (1965 film)|Fanatic]]'' || Anna ||
|-
|1965 ||''[[Catch Us If You Can (film)|Catch Us If You Can]]'' || Nan ||
|-
|1966 || ''[[Kaleidoscope (1966 film)|Kaleidoscope]]'' || Museum Receptionist ||
|-
|1966 || ''[[A Man for All Seasons (1966 film)|A Man for All Seasons]]'' || Avril Machin ||
|-
|1967 || ''[[Stranger in the House (1967 film)|Stranger in the House]]'' || Shooting Range Girl ||
|-
|1967 || ''[[Our Mother's House]]'' || Mrs. Quayle ||
|-
|1967 || ''[[Charlie Bubbles]]'' || Woman in Cafe ||
|-
|1968 || ''[[Martin Luther|Luther]]'' || Katharina Luther ||
|-
|1970 || ''[[Fragment of Fear]]'' || Miss Ward-Cadbury ||
|-
|1971 || ''[[All the Right Noises]]'' || Mrs. Bird ||
|-
|1971 || ''[[The Road Builder]]'' || Mrs. Palafox ||
|-
|1971 || ''[[Burke & Hare (1972 film)|Burke & Hare]]'' || Mrs. Hare ||
|-
|1972 || ''[[Nearest and Dearest (1972 film)|Nearest and Dearest]]'' || Rhoda Rowbottom ||
|-
|1973 || ''[[Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width (film)|Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width]]'' || Mrs. Finch ||
|-
|1973 || ''[[Steptoe and Son Ride Again]]'' || Freda - Lennie's Wife ||
|-
|1973 || ''[[Frankenstein: The True Story]]'' || Hospital Matron ||
|-
|1974 || ''[[Man About the House (film)|Man About the House]]'' || [[Mildred Roper]] ||
|-
|1980 || ''[[George and Mildred (film)|George and Mildred]]'' || Mildred Roper ||
|}

=== Television ===
{| class= "wikitable"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
|1962 || ''[[Brothers in Law (TV series)|Brothers in Law]]'' || Mrs. Trench || Episode: "Separation Order"
|-
|1962 || ''[[Armchair Theatre]]'' || Cissy || Episode: "The Fishing Match"
|-
|1962 || ''[[Z Cars]]'' || Clara Smales || Episode: "Full Remission"
|-
|1962 || ''[[Benny Hill]]'' || Bella || Episode: "Cry of Innocence"
|-
|1963 || ''Corrigan Blake'' || Abigail || Episode: "The Removal Men"
|-
|1962 || ''[[Benny Hill]]'' || Elvira Crudd || Episode: "Mr. Apollo"
|-
|1963 || ''[[Z Cars]]'' || Mrs. Gilroy || Episode: "The Main Chance"
|-
|1963 || ''[[Steptoe and Son]]'' || Delilah || Episode: "The Bath"
|-
|1963 || rowspan=2|''[[Comedy Playhouse]]'' || Mrs. Wilson || Episode: "Impasse"
|-
|1963 || Rita || Episode: "A Clerical Error"
|-
|1964 || ''[[The Wednesday Play]]'' || Rosalind Arnold || Episode: "The Confidence Course"
|-
|1964 || ''[[ITV Play of the Week]]'' || The Woman || Episode: "I Can Walk Where I Like Can't I?"
|-
|1964 || ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'' || Mrs. Gates || Episode: "Child Hunt"
|-
|1964 || ''[[ITV Play of the Week]]'' || Jane Willows || Episode: "A Tricycle Made for Two"
|-
|1964 || ''Story Parade'' || Ruth Cowley || Episode: "A Travelling Woman"
|-
|1964 || ''[[ITV Play of the Week]]'' || Vera Maine || Episode: "Gina"
|-
|1964 || ''Diary of a Young Man'' || Mrs. Baggerdagger || Episode: "Money"
|-
|1964 || ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'' || Mabel Davies || Episode: "The Night Man"
|-
|1964 || ''[[Redcap (TV series)|Redcap]]'' || Magda || Episode: "A Town Called Love"
|-
|1965 || ''[[Frankie Howerd]]'' || Drunk Woman || Episode: #1.6
|-
|1965 || ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'' || Landlady || Episode: "Forsaking All Others"
|-
|1965 || ''[[Theatre 625]]'' || Jane Matthews || Episode: "Try for White"
|-
|1965 || ''[[Cluff]]'' || Flo Darby || Episode: "The Convict"
|-
|1965 || ''The Wednesday Thriller'' || Mrs. Seam || Episode: "The Babysitter"
|-
|1965 || ''Six of the Best'' || Doris || Episode: "Charlie's Place"
|-
|1965 || ''[[Steptoe and Son]]'' || Avis || Episode: "A Box in Town"
|-
|1965 || ''[[Theatre 625]]'' || Miss Binnington || Episode: "Portraits from the North: The Nutter"
|-
|1966 || ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'' || Joyce Watson || Episode: "You Can't Buy a Miracle"
|-
|1966 || ''[[No Hiding Place]]'' || Hilda Myers || Episode: "Ask Me If I Killed Her"
|-
|1966 || '' [[The Saint (TV series)|The Saint]]'' || Jovanka Milanova || Episode: "The Russian Prisoner"
|-
|1966–1967 || ''[[The Wednesday Play]]'' || Miriam Green || 3 episodes
|-
|1966 || ''[[George and the Dragon (TV series)|George and the Dragon]]'' || Irma || Episode: "Merry Christmas"
|-
|1967 || ''[[Turn Out the Lights (TV series)|Turn Out the Lights]]'' || Monica Nolan || Episode: "A Big Hand for a Little Lady"
|-
|1967 || ''[[Thirty-Minute Theatre]]'' || Agnes || Episode: "Teeth"
|-
|1967 || ''[[The Avengers (TV series)|The Avengers]]'' || Miss Lister || Episode: "Something Nasty In The Nursery"
|-
|1967 || ''[[Market in Honey Lane]]'' || Kay Fowler || Episode: "The Birds and the Business"
|-
|1967 || ''This Way for Murder'' || Mrs. Dyberg || Episode: #1.3
|-
|1967 || ''[[Harry Worth]]'' || Ingrid || Episode: "Four's a Crush"
|-
|1968 || ''[[City '68]]'' || Hilda || Episode: "Love Thy Neighbour"
|-
|1968 || ''[[ITV Playhouse]]'' || Phoebe / Mrs. Bewley || Episode: "Your Name's Not God, It's Edgar"
|-
|1968–1971 || ''[[Me Mammy]]'' || Miss Argyll || All 22 episodes
|-
|1969 || ''[[Armchair Theatre]]'' || Alice || Episode: "Go on... It'll Do You Good"
|-
|1969 || ''[[BBC Play of the Month]]'' || Mademoiselle Motte || Episode: "Maigret at Bay"
|-
|1969 || ''[[ITV Sunday Night Theatre]]'' || Erica Seydoux || Episode: "A Measure of Malice"
|-
|1969 || ''[[W. Somerset Maugham]]'' || Elvira || Episode: "Lord Mountdrago"
|-
|1969 || ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'' || Mrs. Harper || Episode: "Reluctant Witness"
|-
|1970 || ''[[Manhunt (1969 TV series)|Manhunt]]'' || Denise || Episode: "Fare Forward, Voyagers"
|-
|1970 || ''[[The Misfit (TV series)|The Misfit]]'' || Pamela || Episode: "On Reading the Small Print"
|-
|1970 || ''Conceptions of Murder'' || Maria Kurten || Episode: "Peter and Maria"
|-
|1972 || ''[[Jason King (TV series)|Jason King]]'' || Sister Dryker || Episode: "If It's Got to Go - It's Got to Go"
|-
|1972 || ''Tales from the Lazy Acre'' || Mrs. Gaynor || Episode: "The Last Great Pint-Drinking Tournament"
|-
|1972 || ''[[The Fenn Street Gang]]'' || Glenda || Episode: "The Woman for Dennis"
|-
|1973 || ''[[Comedy Playhouse]]'' || Lil Wilson || Episode: "Home from Home"
|-
|1973 || ''[[Seven of One]]'' || Mrs. Scully || Episode: "[[Open All Hours]]"
|-
|1973 || ''[[On the Buses]]'' || Jessie || Episode: "The Allowance"
|-
|1973–1976 || ''[[Man About the House]]'' || [[Mildred Roper]] || All 39 episodes
|-
|1974 || ''[[Comedy Playhouse]]'' || Unknown || Episode: "Bird Alone" (pilot not broadcast)
|-
|1974 || ''[[The Dick Emery Show]]'' || Vicar's Wife || Episode: #13.4
|-
|1976–1979 || ''[[George and Mildred]]'' || Mildred Roper || All 38 episodes
|}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|431626|Yootha Joyce}}
*{{Find a Grave|6305070}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Joyce, Yootha}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:1980 deaths]]
[[Category:People educated at Croydon High School]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]
[[Category:English film actresses]]
[[Category:English television actresses]]
[[Category:Deaths from hepatitis]]
[[Category:People from Wandsworth]]
[[Category:Alcohol-related deaths in England]]
[[Category:Musicians from London]]
[[Category:Actresses from London]]
[[Category:Golders Green Crematorium]]
[[Category:20th-century English actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century English musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century English comedians]]
[[Category:British comedy actresses]]