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{{short description|British actress (1929-1977)}}
{{short description|British actress (1929-1977)}}
{{other people}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name=Barbara Mitchell
|name=Barbara Mitchell
|birth_name = Barbara Joy Mitchell
|birth_name = Barbara Joy Mitchell
|image=
|image= Barbara Mitchell.jpg
|image_size =
|caption=   
|caption=   
|occupation = Actress
|occupation = Actress
|birth_date={{birth date|df=yes|1929|10|4}}
|birth_date={{birth date|df=yes|1929|10|04}}
|birth_place= [[Northampton]], England
|birth_place= [[w:Northampton|Northampton]], England
|death_date= {{death date and age|df=yes|1977|12|9|1929|10|4}}
|death_date= {{death date and age|df=yes|1977|12|09|1929|10|04}}
|death_place= [[Kingston-upon-Thames]], [[Surrey]], England
|death_place= [[w:Kingston-upon-Thames|Kingston-upon-Thames]], [[w:Surrey|Surrey]], England
|years active= 1958–1977
|years active= 1958–1977
|spouse= Rex Graham (1951-1977)
|spouse= {{marriage|Rex Graham|1951|1977}}
| children = 2
| children = 2
}}
}}


'''Barbara Mitchell''' (4 October 1929 – 9 December 1977, Kingston Upon Thames) was an English [[actress]] who became a familiar face on British television in the 1960s and 1970s, best known for her work in many classic [[sitcoms]] of the period.
'''Barbara Mitchell''' (4 October 1929 – 9 December 1977, Kingston Upon Thames) was an English [[w:actress|actress]] who became a familiar face on British television in the 1960s and 1970s, best known for her work in many classic [[w:sitcoms|sitcoms]] of the period.


== Career ==
== Career ==


Mitchell started out as a stage actress, and gained a foothold in television with a number of appearances in popular shows in the 1960s. In 1970, she got her first leading TV role, as Ruth, the daughter of the title character ([[Irene Handl]]) in the gentle comedy ''[[For the Love of Ada]]'', which ran for four series and 27 episodes, followed by a [[Spin-off (media)|spin-off]] film. At the same time, she was appearing periodically as Mrs. Abbott, the absurdly over-protective mother of would-be tough guy Frankie ("Mummy's little soldier"), in ''[[Please Sir!]]'' and its sequel ''[[The Fenn Street Gang]]''. Mitchell's appearances as Mrs. Abbott were sporadic, and fleeting, but were hugely popular and are still remembered with affection.
Mitchell started out as a stage actress, and gained a foothold in television with a number of appearances in popular shows in the 1960s. In 1970, she got her first leading TV role, as Ruth, the daughter of the title character ([[Irene Handl]]) in the gentle comedy ''[[For the Love of Ada]]'', which ran for four series and 27 episodes, followed by a [[w:Spin-off (media)|spin-off]] film. At the same time, she was appearing periodically as Mrs. Abbott, the absurdly over-protective mother of would-be tough guy Frankie ("Mummy's little soldier"), in ''[[Please Sir!]]'' and its sequel ''[[The Fenn Street Gang]]''. Mitchell's appearances as Mrs. Abbott were sporadic, and fleeting, but were hugely popular and are still remembered with affection.


She appeared as Isabel Chintz, a tough [[Australia]]n pop agent, in ''[[Superstar (The Goodies)|Superstar]]'', a 1973 episode of ''[[The Goodies]]''. In ''[[Lizzie Dripping]]'', a [[BBC]] children's programme which ran for two series in 1973 and 1975, Mitchell played Patty Arbuckle, the often harassed mother of Penelope ([[Tina Heath]]),<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0173571/ Lizzie Dripping imdb]</ref> while her longest-running role came in the [[Yorkshire Television]] production ''[[Beryl's Lot]]'', 52 episodes over three series between 1973 and 1977, in which she played Vi Tonks, married to Trevor ([[Tony Caunter]]) and neighbour and friend to the titular Beryl ([[Carmel McSharry]]).<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069560/ Beryl's lot imdb]</ref><ref>[http://www.kingstononline.co.uk/barbara-mitchell-actress/ Biography from kingstononline.co.uk]</ref>
She appeared as Isabel Chintz, a tough [[w:Australia|Australia]]n pop agent, in ''[[Superstar (The Goodies)|Superstar]]'', a 1973 episode of ''[[The Goodies]]''. In ''[[w:Lizzie Dripping|Lizzie Dripping]]'', a [[w:BBC|BBC]] children's programme which ran for two series in 1973 and 1975, Mitchell played Patty Arbuckle, the often harassed mother of Penelope ([[w:Tina Heath|Tina Heath]]),<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0173571/ Lizzie Dripping imdb]</ref> while her longest-running role came in the [[w:Yorkshire Television|Yorkshire Television]] production ''[[Beryl's Lot]]'', 52 episodes over three series between 1973 and 1977, in which she played Vi Tonks, married to Trevor ([[w:Tony Caunter|Tony Caunter]]) and neighbour and friend to the titular Beryl ([[w:Carmel McSharry|Carmel McSharry]]).<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069560/ Beryl's lot imdb]</ref><ref>[http://www.kingstononline.co.uk/barbara-mitchell-actress/ Biography from kingstononline.co.uk]</ref>


She is also fondly remembered in a series of late 1960s / early 1970s UK commercials for dish washing product [[Fairy Liquid]], where she played blonde beehived Madge the employer of a beauty salon who for some reason encouraged customers to dip their fingers into a small bowl of the aforesaid substance to demonstrate how kind it was to hands.
She is also fondly remembered in a series of late 1960s / early 1970s UK commercials for dish washing product [[w:Fairy Liquid|Fairy Liquid]], where she played blonde beehived Madge the employer of a beauty salon who for some reason encouraged customers to dip their fingers into a small bowl of the aforesaid substance to demonstrate how kind it was to hands.


== Personal life and death ==
== Personal life and death ==


She was married to actor Rex Graham, (1924 - 1991), (a former [[Ghurka]]).
She was married to actor Rex Graham, (1924 - 1991), (a former [[w:Ghurka|Ghurka]]).


She had two children, Melannie, (to whom [[Peggy Mount]] was Godmother), and Jeremy.
She had two children, Melannie, (to whom [[Peggy Mount]] was Godmother), and Jeremy.


They lived in Crescent Road, [[Kingston-upon-Thames]].
They lived in Crescent Road, [[w:Kingston-upon-Thames|Kingston-upon-Thames]].


Mitchell died of [[breast cancer]] on 9 December 1977, aged 48.
Mitchell died of [[w:breast cancer|breast cancer]] on 9 December 1977, aged 48.


== Appearances ==
== Appearances ==
'''Films'''
'''Films'''
*1960: ''[[Inn for Trouble]]'' - Hetty Prout
*1960: ''[[w:Inn for Trouble|Inn for Trouble]]'' - Hetty Prout
*1963: ''[[Ladies Who Do]]'' - Rose
*1963: ''[[Ladies Who Do]]'' - Rose
*1971: ''[[Please Sir! (film)|Please Sir!]]'' - Mrs. Abbott
*1971: ''[[Please Sir! (film)|Please Sir!]]'' - Mrs. Abbott
*1972: ''[[For the Love of Ada (film)|For the Love of Ada]]'' - Ruth Pollitt
*1972: ''[[For the Love of Ada (film)|For the Love of Ada]]'' - Ruth Pollitt
*1976: ''[[The Twelve Tasks of Asterix]]'' - (English version, voice)
*1976: ''[[w:The Twelve Tasks of Asterix|The Twelve Tasks of Asterix]]'' - (English version, voice)
*1977: ''[[What's Up Nurse!]]''<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0593141/#actress1950 Barbara Mitchell at imdb.com]</ref> - Neighbour (final film role)
*1977: ''[[What's Up Nurse!]]''<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0593141/#actress1950 Barbara Mitchell at imdb.com]</ref> - Neighbour (final film role)


'''Television'''
'''Television'''
*1958-1964: ''[[The Larkins (1958 TV series)|The Larkins]]'' - Hetty Prout
*1958-1964: ''[[The Larkins (1958 TV series)|The Larkins]]'' - Hetty Prout
*1959: ''[[Emergency – Ward 10]]'' - Mrs. Garland
*1959: ''[[w:Emergency – Ward 10|Emergency – Ward 10]]'' - Mrs. Garland
*1960: ''[[The Secret Garden]]'' - Nurse
*1960: ''[[w:The Secret Garden|The Secret Garden]]'' - Nurse
*1963: ''[[Z-Cars]]'' - Mrs. Evans
*1963: ''[[w:Z-Cars|Z-Cars]]'' - Mrs. Evans
*1963: ''Bud'' - Mrs. Chanyne
*1963: ''Bud'' - Mrs. Chanyne
*1965–1966: ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'' - Mrs. Rudd / Amy Ashton
*1965–1966: ''[[w:Dixon of Dock Green|Dixon of Dock Green]]'' - Mrs. Rudd / Amy Ashton
*1966: ''Play of the Week'' - Tessa Lucas
*1966: ''Play of the Week'' - Tessa Lucas
*1969: ''Ours Is a Nice House'' - Stella Barrington
*1969: ''Ours Is a Nice House'' - Stella Barrington
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*1970: ''[[Please Sir!]]'' - Mrs. Abbott
*1970: ''[[Please Sir!]]'' - Mrs. Abbott
*1970–1971: ''[[For the Love of Ada]]'' - Ruth Pollitt
*1970–1971: ''[[For the Love of Ada]]'' - Ruth Pollitt
*1970–1971: ''[[The Doctors (1969 TV series)|The Doctors]]'' - Connie Higson
*1970–1971: ''[[w:The Doctors (1969 TV series)|The Doctors]]'' - Connie Higson
*1971: ''[[Doctor at Large (TV series)|Doctor at Large]]'' - Schoolmistress
*1971: ''[[Doctor at Large (TV series)|Doctor at Large]]'' - Schoolmistress
*1971–1973 ''[[The Fenn Street Gang]]'' - Mrs. Abbott
*1971–1973 ''[[The Fenn Street Gang]]'' - Mrs. Abbott
*1973: ''[[Gordon Peters|The Gordon Peters Show]]'' - Mrs. M
*1973: ''[[w:Gordon Peters|The Gordon Peters Show]]'' - Mrs. M
*1973: ''[[The Goodies (TV series)|The Goodies]]'' - Isabel Chintz
*1973: ''[[The Goodies (TV series)|The Goodies]]'' - Isabel Chintz
*1973–1975: ''[[Lizzie Dripping]]'' - Patty Arbuckle
*1973–1975: ''[[w:Lizzie Dripping|Lizzie Dripping]]'' - Patty Arbuckle
*1973–1977: ''[[Beryl's Lot]]'' - Vi Tonks
*1973–1977: ''[[Beryl's Lot]]'' - Vi Tonks
*1974: ''Funny Ha-Ha'' - Kate Carter
*1974: ''Funny Ha-Ha'' - Kate Carter
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== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.thechestnut.com/lizzie.htm Lizzie Dripping information page]
* [http://www.thechestnut.com/lizzie.htm Lizzie Dripping information page]
{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Barbara}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Barbara}}
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[[Category:English television actresses]]
[[Category:English television actresses]]
[[Category:English film actresses]]
[[Category:English film actresses]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in England]]
[[Category:Deaths from breast cancer]]
[[Category:20th-century English actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century English actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century British businesspeople]]

Latest revision as of 11:29, 22 January 2023

Barbara Mitchell
Barbara Mitchell.jpg
Born
Barbara Joy Mitchell

(1929-10-04)4 October 1929
Northampton, England
Died9 December 1977(1977-12-09) (aged 48)
Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, England
OccupationActress
Years active1958–1977
Spouse
Rex Graham
​
(m. 1951⁠–⁠1977)​
Children2

Barbara Mitchell (4 October 1929 – 9 December 1977, Kingston Upon Thames) was an English actress who became a familiar face on British television in the 1960s and 1970s, best known for her work in many classic sitcoms of the period.

Career

Mitchell started out as a stage actress, and gained a foothold in television with a number of appearances in popular shows in the 1960s. In 1970, she got her first leading TV role, as Ruth, the daughter of the title character (Irene Handl) in the gentle comedy For the Love of Ada, which ran for four series and 27 episodes, followed by a spin-off film. At the same time, she was appearing periodically as Mrs. Abbott, the absurdly over-protective mother of would-be tough guy Frankie ("Mummy's little soldier"), in Please Sir! and its sequel The Fenn Street Gang. Mitchell's appearances as Mrs. Abbott were sporadic, and fleeting, but were hugely popular and are still remembered with affection.

She appeared as Isabel Chintz, a tough Australian pop agent, in Superstar, a 1973 episode of The Goodies. In Lizzie Dripping, a BBC children's programme which ran for two series in 1973 and 1975, Mitchell played Patty Arbuckle, the often harassed mother of Penelope (Tina Heath),[1] while her longest-running role came in the Yorkshire Television production Beryl's Lot, 52 episodes over three series between 1973 and 1977, in which she played Vi Tonks, married to Trevor (Tony Caunter) and neighbour and friend to the titular Beryl (Carmel McSharry).[2][3]

She is also fondly remembered in a series of late 1960s / early 1970s UK commercials for dish washing product Fairy Liquid, where she played blonde beehived Madge the employer of a beauty salon who for some reason encouraged customers to dip their fingers into a small bowl of the aforesaid substance to demonstrate how kind it was to hands.

Personal life and death

She was married to actor Rex Graham, (1924 - 1991), (a former Ghurka).

She had two children, Melannie, (to whom Peggy Mount was Godmother), and Jeremy.

They lived in Crescent Road, Kingston-upon-Thames.

Mitchell died of breast cancer on 9 December 1977, aged 48.

Appearances

Films

Television

References

  1. ^ Lizzie Dripping imdb
  2. ^ Beryl's lot imdb
  3. ^ Biography from kingstononline.co.uk
  4. ^ Barbara Mitchell at imdb.com

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.thegoonshow.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Barbara_Mitchell&oldid=32074"