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{{Short description|British actor and comedian (1919–1998)}}
{{Short description|British actor and comedian (1919–1998)}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name            = Betty Marsden
| name            = Betty Marsden
| image          = Betty_Marsden 1969.jpg
| image          = Betty_Marsden.jpg
| imagesize      =
| imagesize      =
| caption        = In ''Carry On Camping'' (1969)
| caption        =  
| birth_name      = Betty Marsden
| birth_name      = Betty Marsden
| birth_date      = 24 February 1919
| birth_date      = {{Birth date|1919|02|24|df=y}}
| birth_place    = [[West Derby]], [[Liverpool]], England
| birth_place    = [[w:West Derby|West Derby]], [[w:Liverpool|Liverpool]], England
| death_date      = {{death date and age|1998|7|18|1919|02|24|df=yes}}
| death_date      = {{death date and age|1998|07|18|1919|02|24|df=yes}}
| death_place    = [[Northwood, London]], England
| death_place    = [[w:Northwood, London|Northwood]], England
| othername      =
| occupation      = actress
| occupation      = actress
| years_active    = 1937–1994
| years_active    = 1937–1994
| spouse          = James Wilson Muggoch<br>(1962–1975)
| spouse          = {{Marriage|James Wilson Muggoch|1962|1975}}
| domesticpartner =
| website        =
}}
}}
'''Betty Marsden''' (24 February 1919 – 18 July 1998) was an English comedy actress. She is particularly remembered as a cast member of the radio series ''[[Beyond Our Ken]]'' and ''[[Round the Horne]]''. Marsden also appeared in two [[Carry On (franchise)|Carry On films]], ''[[Carry On Regardless]]'' (1961) and ''[[Carry On Camping]]'' (1969).
'''Betty Marsden''' (24 February 1919 – 18 July 1998) was an English comedy actress. She is particularly remembered as a cast member of the radio series ''[[Beyond Our Ken]]'' and ''[[Round the Horne]]''. Marsden also appeared in two [[Carry On (franchise)|Carry On films]], ''[[Carry On Regardless]]'' (1961) and ''[[Carry On Camping]]'' (1969).


==Early life==
==Early life==
Marsden was born in [[West Derby]], [[Liverpool]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.findmypast.co.uk/results/world-records/england-and-wales-births-1837-2006?firstname=betty&lastname=marsden&eventyear=1919&eventyear_offset=0&county=lancashire|title=Search Results for England & Wales Births 1837-2006 - findmypast.co.uk|website=Search.findmypast.co.uk|access-date=26 October 2018}}</ref> and grew up in near poverty in [[Somerset]]. Her music teacher recognised her talent at the age of six, and became her guardian.<ref name="Stevens">{{cite book |last= Stevens |first= Christopher |title= Born Brilliant: The Life of Kenneth Williams |publisher= John Murray |year= 2010 |isbn = 978-1-84854-195-5 |page=370 }}</ref> She attended the [[Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts]] and during World War II she entertained the troops as a member of [[Entertainments National Service Association|ENSA]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Best of Round The Horne |last=Took |first=Barry |author-link=Barry Took |year=1989 |publisher=Equation |isbn=1-85336-162-3 }}</ref> It was at this time that she met and married her husband, Dr Jimmy Wilson Muggoch, an army doctor from Edinburgh.<ref name=BBC>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/135786.stm|title=BBC News - ENTERTAINMENT - Comic actress Betty Marsden dies|website=News.bbc.co.uk|access-date=26 October 2018}}</ref>
Marsden was born in [[w:West Derby|West Derby]], [[w:Liverpool|Liverpool]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.findmypast.co.uk/results/world-records/england-and-wales-births-1837-2006?firstname=betty&lastname=marsden&eventyear=1919&eventyear_offset=0&county=lancashire|title=Search Results for England & Wales Births 1837-2006 - findmypast.co.uk|website=Search.findmypast.co.uk|access-date=26 October 2018}}</ref> and grew up in near poverty in [[w:Somerset|Somerset]]. Her music teacher recognised her talent at the age of six, and became her guardian.<ref name="Stevens">{{cite book |last= Stevens |first= Christopher |title= Born Brilliant: The Life of Kenneth Williams |publisher= John Murray |year= 2010 |isbn = 978-1-84854-195-5 |page=370 }}</ref> She attended the [[w:Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts|Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts]] and during World War II she entertained the troops as a member of [[w:Entertainments National Service Association|ENSA]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Best of Round The Horne |last=Took |first=Barry |author-link=Barry Took |year=1989 |publisher=Equation |isbn=1-85336-162-3 }}</ref> It was at this time that she met and married her husband, Dr Jimmy Wilson Muggoch, an army doctor from Edinburgh.<ref name=BBC>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/135786.stm|title=BBC News - ENTERTAINMENT - Comic actress Betty Marsden dies|website=News.bbc.co.uk|access-date=26 October 2018}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
From 1958 to 1968, Marsden was among the cast of the radio series ''[[Beyond Our Ken]]'' and ''[[Round the Horne]]'', where she played most of the female characters. Perhaps her most famous catchphrase was "many, many, many times", delivered in the dry, reedy tones of Bea Clissold, the ancient actress who was renowned for having given pleasure to many, particularly in "The Little Hut" on [[Shaftesbury Avenue]]. This long outlasted the Clissold character and was deployed to much audience appreciation on a few occasions in later series, possibly as an [[ad lib]]. Another was " 'allo, cheeky face!", shouted into the microphone in the less-than-couth London tones of Buttercup Gruntfuttock. Marsden's vocal range was impressive and also included the husky Daphne Whitethigh, the strident stereotypical Aussie tones of the ultra feminist (but conflicted) Judy Coolibar, and the cut-glass received pronunciation of Dame Celia Molestrangler (in a series of loose pastiches of the stilted dialogue in 1930s and 1940s romances and melodramas - for example, ''[[The Astonished Heart]]'' became ''The Hasty Nose'' - partnered with Hugh Paddick's 'ageing juvenile Binkie Huckaback', with the denouement inevitably bringing the lovers crashing back to earth).
From 1958 to 1968, Marsden was among the cast of the radio series ''[[Beyond Our Ken]]'' and ''[[Round the Horne]]'', where she played most of the female characters. Perhaps her most famous catchphrase was "many, many, many times", delivered in the dry, reedy tones of Bea Clissold, the ancient actress who was renowned for having given pleasure to many, particularly in "The Little Hut" on [[w:Shaftesbury Avenue|Shaftesbury Avenue]]. This long outlasted the Clissold character and was deployed to much audience appreciation on a few occasions in later series, possibly as an [[w:ad lib|ad lib]]. Another was " 'allo, cheeky face!", shouted into the microphone in the less-than-couth London tones of Buttercup Gruntfuttock. Marsden's vocal range was impressive and also included the husky Daphne Whitethigh, the strident stereotypical Aussie tones of the ultra feminist (but conflicted) Judy Coolibar, and the cut-glass received pronunciation of Dame Celia Molestrangler (in a series of loose pastiches of the stilted dialogue in 1930s and 1940s romances and melodramas - for example, ''[[w:The Astonished Heart|The Astonished Heart]]'' became ''The Hasty Nose'' - partnered with Hugh Paddick's 'ageing juvenile Binkie Huckaback', with the denouement inevitably bringing the lovers crashing back to earth).


In 1958, Marsden played the role of the Fairy Godmother, in the production of [[Rodgers and Hammerstein]]'s ''Cinderella'' at the [[London Coliseum]] with [[Tommy Steele]], [[Kenneth Williams]], Yana and [[Jimmy Edwards]].
In 1958, Marsden played the role of the Fairy Godmother, in the production of [[w:Rodgers and Hammerstein|Rodgers and Hammerstein]]'s ''Cinderella'' at the [[w:London Coliseum|London Coliseum]] with [[w:Tommy Steele|Tommy Steele]], [[Kenneth Williams]], Yana and [[Jimmy Edwards]].
   
   
She escaped the wrath of the critical community in London when her role of Aunt Dahlia was removed from [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]'s flop musical ''[[By Jeeves|Jeeves]]'' (1975) before opening night.<ref>Andrew Lloyd Webber: His Life and Works – Walsh, Michael (1989, revised and expanded, 1997),P.85, Abrams: New York</ref>
She escaped the wrath of the critical community in London when her role of Aunt Dahlia was removed from [[w:Andrew Lloyd Webber|Andrew Lloyd Webber]]'s flop musical ''[[w:By Jeeves|Jeeves]]'' (1975) before opening night.<ref>Andrew Lloyd Webber: His Life and Works – Walsh, Michael (1989, revised and expanded, 1997),P.85, Abrams: New York</ref>


Her two [[Carry On films]] were ''[[Carry On Regardless]]'' in 1961 (playing [[Mata Hari]]), and ''[[Carry On Camping]]'' in 1969 (playing [[Terry Scott]]'s wife, Harriet, with a braying laugh and jolly bossiness).<ref name="Stevens"/>
Her two [[Carry On films]] were ''[[Carry On Regardless]]'' in 1961 (playing [[w:Mata Hari|Mata Hari]]), and ''[[Carry On Camping]]'' in 1969 (playing [[Terry Scott]]'s wife, Harriet, with a braying laugh and jolly bossiness).<ref name="Stevens"/>


Her other film roles included, ''[[Ramsbottom Rides Again]]'' (1956), ''[[The Big Day (1960 film)|The Big Day]]'' (1960), ''[[The Boys (1962 British film)|The Boys]]'' (1962), ''[[The Wild Affair]]'' (1964), ''[[The Leather Boys]]'' (1964), ''[[The Best House in London]]'' (1969), and ''[[Eyewitness (1970 film)|Eyewitness]]'' (1970). She later played Hermione in the 1982 British film ''[[Britannia Hospital]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083694/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast|title=Britannia Hospital (1982) : Full Cast & Crew|publisher=IMDb|access-date=2015-11-18}}</ref> Violet Manning in [[Peter Yates]]' 1983 film version of ''[[The Dresser (1983 film)|The Dresser]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085461/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_16|title=The Dresser (1983)|publisher=IMDb|access-date=2015-11-18}}</ref> Princess Troubetskaya in the 1986 TV movie ''[[Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna]]'', and Mrs. Barnacle in the 1987 film version of ''[[Little Dorrit (1987 film)|Little Dorrit]]''.
Her other film roles included, ''[[Ramsbottom Rides Again]]'' (1956), ''[[w:The Big Day (1960 film)|The Big Day]]'' (1960), ''[[w:The Boys (1962 British film)|The Boys]]'' (1962), ''[[The Wild Affair]]'' (1964), ''[[w:The Leather Boys|The Leather Boys]]'' (1964), ''[[The Best House in London]]'' (1969), and ''[[w:Eyewitness (1970 film)|Eyewitness]]'' (1970). She later played Hermione in the 1982 British film ''[[Britannia Hospital]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083694/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast|title=Britannia Hospital (1982) : Full Cast & Crew|publisher=IMDb|access-date=2015-11-18}}</ref> Violet Manning in [[w:Peter Yates|Peter Yates]]' 1983 film version of ''[[w:The Dresser (1983 film)|The Dresser]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085461/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_16|title=The Dresser (1983)|publisher=IMDb|access-date=2015-11-18}}</ref> Princess Troubetskaya in the 1986 TV movie ''[[w:Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna|Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna]]'', and Mrs. Barnacle in the 1987 film version of ''[[w:Little Dorrit (1987 film)|Little Dorrit]]''.


Her theâtre roles included Mrs. Prentice in [[Joe Orton]]'s ''[[What the Butler Saw (play)|What the Butler Saw]]'' at the [[Royal Court Theatre]] in 1975, and Mrs. Hardcastle in [[Oliver Goldsmith]]'s ''[[She Stoops to Conquer]]'' at the [[Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith]], in 1982.
Her theatre roles included Mrs. Prentice in [[w:Joe Orton|Joe Orton]]'s ''[[w:What the Butler Saw (play)|What the Butler Saw]]'' at the [[w:Royal Court Theatre|Royal Court Theatre]] in 1975, and Mrs. Hardcastle in [[w:Oliver Goldsmith|Oliver Goldsmith]]'s ''[[w:She Stoops to Conquer|She Stoops to Conquer]]'' at the [[w:Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith|Lyric Theatre]], in 1982.


Her many television appearances included a role in ''[[Inspector Morse (TV series)|Inspector Morse]]'' (1990) & ''[[The Bill]]'', (Series 5).
Her many television appearances included a role in ''[[w:Inspector Morse (TV series)|Inspector Morse]]'' (1990) & ''[[w:The Bill|The Bill]]'', (Series 5).


==Death==
==Death==
Prior to her death, Marsden had been suffering from heart problems and pneumonia. She was believed to be recovering, but died suddenly while socialising with friends in the bar of [[Denville Hall]], a retirement home for actors, in [[Northwood, London|Northwood]] in London.<ref name=BBC/>
Prior to her death, Marsden had been suffering from heart problems and pneumonia. She was believed to be recovering, but died suddenly while socialising with friends in the bar of [[w:Denville Hall|Denville Hall]], a retirement home for actors, in [[w:Northwood, London|Northwood]] in London.<ref name=BBC/>


==References==
==References==
Line 46: Line 41:


==External links==
==External links==
*[https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba2edd543 Betty Marsden] at the [[British Film Institute]]
*{{BFI|4ce2ba2edd543|Betty Marsden}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0550429|name=Betty Marsden}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0550429|name=Betty Marsden}}
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/135786.stm Betty Marsden's Obituary] on the BBC News web site.
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/135786.stm Betty Marsden's Obituary] on the BBC News web site.
{{Authority control}}


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[[Category:20th-century English actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century English actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century British comedians]]
[[Category:20th-century British comedians]]
[[Category:Denville Hall resident]]

Latest revision as of 13:21, 15 January 2023

Betty Marsden
Betty Marsden.jpg
Born
Betty Marsden

(1919-02-24)24 February 1919
West Derby, Liverpool, England
Died18 July 1998(1998-07-18) (aged 79)
Northwood, England
Occupationactress
Years active1937–1994
Spouse
James Wilson Muggoch
​
​
(m. 1962⁠–⁠1975)​

Betty Marsden (24 February 1919 – 18 July 1998) was an English comedy actress. She is particularly remembered as a cast member of the radio series Beyond Our Ken and Round the Horne. Marsden also appeared in two Carry On films, Carry On Regardless (1961) and Carry On Camping (1969).

Early life

Marsden was born in West Derby, Liverpool,[1] and grew up in near poverty in Somerset. Her music teacher recognised her talent at the age of six, and became her guardian.[2] She attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts and during World War II she entertained the troops as a member of ENSA.[3] It was at this time that she met and married her husband, Dr Jimmy Wilson Muggoch, an army doctor from Edinburgh.[4]

Career

From 1958 to 1968, Marsden was among the cast of the radio series Beyond Our Ken and Round the Horne, where she played most of the female characters. Perhaps her most famous catchphrase was "many, many, many times", delivered in the dry, reedy tones of Bea Clissold, the ancient actress who was renowned for having given pleasure to many, particularly in "The Little Hut" on Shaftesbury Avenue. This long outlasted the Clissold character and was deployed to much audience appreciation on a few occasions in later series, possibly as an ad lib. Another was " 'allo, cheeky face!", shouted into the microphone in the less-than-couth London tones of Buttercup Gruntfuttock. Marsden's vocal range was impressive and also included the husky Daphne Whitethigh, the strident stereotypical Aussie tones of the ultra feminist (but conflicted) Judy Coolibar, and the cut-glass received pronunciation of Dame Celia Molestrangler (in a series of loose pastiches of the stilted dialogue in 1930s and 1940s romances and melodramas - for example, The Astonished Heart became The Hasty Nose - partnered with Hugh Paddick's 'ageing juvenile Binkie Huckaback', with the denouement inevitably bringing the lovers crashing back to earth).

In 1958, Marsden played the role of the Fairy Godmother, in the production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella at the London Coliseum with Tommy Steele, Kenneth Williams, Yana and Jimmy Edwards.

She escaped the wrath of the critical community in London when her role of Aunt Dahlia was removed from Andrew Lloyd Webber's flop musical Jeeves (1975) before opening night.[5]

Her two Carry On films were Carry On Regardless in 1961 (playing Mata Hari), and Carry On Camping in 1969 (playing Terry Scott's wife, Harriet, with a braying laugh and jolly bossiness).[2]

Her other film roles included, Ramsbottom Rides Again (1956), The Big Day (1960), The Boys (1962), The Wild Affair (1964), The Leather Boys (1964), The Best House in London (1969), and Eyewitness (1970). She later played Hermione in the 1982 British film Britannia Hospital,[6] Violet Manning in Peter Yates' 1983 film version of The Dresser,[7] Princess Troubetskaya in the 1986 TV movie Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna, and Mrs. Barnacle in the 1987 film version of Little Dorrit.

Her theatre roles included Mrs. Prentice in Joe Orton's What the Butler Saw at the Royal Court Theatre in 1975, and Mrs. Hardcastle in Oliver Goldsmith's She Stoops to Conquer at the Lyric Theatre, in 1982.

Her many television appearances included a role in Inspector Morse (1990) & The Bill, (Series 5).

Death

Prior to her death, Marsden had been suffering from heart problems and pneumonia. She was believed to be recovering, but died suddenly while socialising with friends in the bar of Denville Hall, a retirement home for actors, in Northwood in London.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Search Results for England & Wales Births 1837-2006 - findmypast.co.uk". Search.findmypast.co.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b Stevens, Christopher (2010). Born Brilliant: The Life of Kenneth Williams. John Murray. p. 370. ISBN 978-1-84854-195-5.
  3. ^ Took, Barry (1989). The Best of Round The Horne. Equation. ISBN 1-85336-162-3.
  4. ^ a b "BBC News - ENTERTAINMENT - Comic actress Betty Marsden dies". News.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  5. ^ Andrew Lloyd Webber: His Life and Works – Walsh, Michael (1989, revised and expanded, 1997),P.85, Abrams: New York
  6. ^ "Britannia Hospital (1982) : Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
  7. ^ "The Dresser (1983)". IMDb. Retrieved 2015-11-18.

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.thegoonshow.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Betty_Marsden&oldid=30931"