麻豆约拍

Barbara Windsor celebrates the colourful life of Beryl Reid, OBE, a uniquely gifted comedienne, powerful dramatic actress, bon viveur and a national treasure, whose career spanned 60 years.

As an ambitious youngster, Beryl landed a summer show in Bridlington and made a very brief appearance in the 1940 George Formby film Spare a Copper. A breakthrough came with the radio series Educating Archie (1952-56), in which memorable comic creations included the posh schoolgirl Monica and the Brummie teddy girl Marlene, with her outrageous earrings.

Beryl worked her way up from supporting roles and by the 60s, as new ideas about "straight acting" were emerging, she appeared in radio, theatre and television productions including Twelfth Night, The Merry Wives of Windsor and The Rivals. The Killing of Sister George toured the provinces to dismal houses but opened in London as an overnight success before transferring to New York and the big screen in 1968, with Beryl in the title role. One of her finest stage and screen roles was in Joe Orton's Entertaining Mr Sloane as the louche Kath.

Beryl also starred in musicals, her own TV series, and made numerous appearances on chat shows and panel games. Later television roles included The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole and Smiley's People, for which she won the BAFTA for Best Actress. It emerged that Beryl was dyslexic but she worked very hard to learn lines and built every character, from the shoes up!

Eventually, the need to slow down forced Beryl to withdraw to her home of many years, the delightful "Honeypot Cottage" on the Thames (a location for this programme). When she finally left it was for hospital where she passed away in 1996. Her ashes are scattered in the grounds.

The programme includes fond memories from friends including Sian Phillips, Dame Eileen Atkins, Maureen Lipman, Nicky Henson, Amanda Waring and Paul Strike... and there's a wealth of Beryl Reid to enjoy from the archives.