Wendy Richard

From sexpot in 'Are You Being Served' to downtrodden drudge in 'Eastenders' you may be forgiven for thinking that Wendy Richard has come down in the world. But underneath that much maligned cardigan of Pauline Fowler beats the heart of a woman who has been through the mill somewhat.
In her book, 'Wendy Richard … No S', Ms Richard details the long and varied route her career has taken to this point where she is a national icon for housewives everywhere. From her early days as a pop idol at 15 (singing (?) with Mike Sarne in the seminal Come Outside and re-recorded with Mike Berry in 1986 ) through a stint in the Carry On films, many TV appearances and finally to her long running participation in series like Are You Being Served?, Dad's Army and Eastenders, Wendy Richard has carved a niche for her idiosyncratic style in the British (and worldwide) viewing public's affections.
Rumour has it that Wendy was discovered working as a secretary in Robert Stigwood's office when she was chosen to work with Mike Sarne on the aforementioned Come Outside. But, as she is supposed to have been only 15 at the time (1962) it seems a little far fetched that she was working in an office. However, whatever the truth, she did end up being part of that particular pop sensation and her career was kick started. Rumour also has it that she had a small part in the Beatles film, Help! in 1965. Unfortunately her participation in this particular piece of pop history ended up on the cutting room floor. In her autobiography Wendy dates this as happening at the age of 20, which makes her birth date as 1945. Somewhat at odds with the officially quoted date of 1946, 1947 or 1948 (depending on what source you read)
A graduate of the prestigious Italia Conti Stage Academy after a formal education at the Royal Masonic School for Girls (her father died when she was 11 and, a mason, entitled his daughter to free education), the young Wendy was in demand for TV work after having worked with Sammy Davis Jnr as background glamour with a young Mandy Rice Davies. Several films (including 3 Carry On's) and many TV appearances later she finally got her big break with the part of Miss Brahms in what was supposed to be a one-off called Are You Being Served?
Wendy had served her sit-com apprenticeship in virtually every comedy series on TV with regular appearances in Dad's Army, Dick Emery, Fenn Street Gang, Please Sir, Hugh and I, The Likely Lads, On The Buses and Up Pompeii! These were alongside 'straight' acting roles in shows like Danger Man, The Newcomers (her first soap), No Hiding Place and Z Cars.
From Are You being Served? it was no surprise to find she was to be a lynchpin of the new soap Eastenders in 1985. Despite her continuing role in Walford, Wendy still finds time for panto and radio work as well as numerous appearances fund raising for charity.
Originally born in Middlesborough, Teeside (surprisingly enough) Wendy Richard long ago decided she wouldn't conform with a 'BBC accent' and her adopted working class screech has stood her in good professional stead. With 3 much publicised marriages behind her and a successful battle against breast cancer it looks like the 55 (or 54, 53, 52) year old actress will be entertaining us for another 40 years.

'Wendy Richard … No S' is published by Simon & Shuster
First publised on Gay UK Net
© Paul Towers 28/11/2000