253 stories by "Richard Anthony Baker"
The Morecambe and Wise BBC Television shows, dozens of which were produced by John Ammonds, are now regarded as leading examples of the golden age of television " especially the Christmas sp…
An accident at the G Live theatre venue at Guildford in Surrey claimed the lives of Trevor Grills, a member of Fisherman's Friends, a ten-man singing group, and their manager Paul McMullen. …
Although inevitably overshadowed by her husband, the master farceur Brian Rix, the actor Elspet Gray carved a notable career for herself, especially on television. A defining moment in the l…
In spite of being expelled from RADA for reasons that were never made public, the ruggedly handsome actor Peter Gilmore went on to star in the BBC television drama series The Onedin Line (19…
The former Chairman of Granada Television, Sir Denis Forman, who oversaw the lavish dramas, Brideshead Revisited and The Jewel in the Crown, has died at the age of 95. He also commissioned C…
BBC Television's fondly remembered sitcom The Good Life (1975-1978), which boasted a brilliant cast comprised of the always warm, endearing and eternally optimistic Richard Briers, together …
When skiffle was at the height of its craze in the late 1950s, Chas McDevitt scored an enormous hit on both sides of the Atlantic with Freight Train, an American folk song he recorded with...
Actor Elspet Gray, the wife of Brian Rix, who was the king of farce in the West End for many years, has died at the age of 83. She met Rix, now Lord Rix, at...
As one of the founders of Scottish Opera, Peter Ebert oversaw some ambitious productions, including Wagner's Ring Cycle and all five hours of The Trojans by Berlioz with a cast led by Janet …
One of Britain's best-loved actors, Richard Briers, has died at the age of 79. His agent, Christopher Farrar, said he passed away peacefully at his home in London yesterday (February 17). Fa…
One of the most talented light entertainment producers in BBC Television, John Ammonds, has died from the effects of a stroke, his family announced this morning. He was 88. During the 1960s …
Of all the girl singing groups, the Andrews Sisters were the most famous " LaVerne, Maxene and the youngest, Patty. Although their biggest fans were the American soldiers whose morale they b…
During the 1940s and 1950s, Joyce Golding was one of Britain's most successful variety acts. She sang and told jokes, but specialised in impersonating a wide range of stars, even including t…
Although he appeared alongside three Doctor Who actors " Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker " the role with which Bernard Horsfall will be chiefly associated is that of the local d…
He was panned by the critics, but loved by audiences. The American movie industry admired him, chiefly for working to schedule and bringing films in either to or below budget. But the Britis…
Of all the colourful characters in the London jazz world, none was more luminous than Jim Godbolt. The two adjectives his friends regularly used to describe him were 'cantankerous' and 'curm…
As a superb theatre administrator, Alexander Schouvaloff was the first curator of the popular and much-missed Theatre Museum in Covent Garden, which covered the history of the performing art…
The hard-edged satirical musical Oh What a Lovely War (1963), originated by Charles Chilton, helped to change public attitudes to armed conflicts. The deference shown towards the generals wh…
After escaping persecution by the Nazis in her native Austria, Stella Mann founded one of Britain's best-known dance schools. Over the years, hundreds of dancers have perfected their skil…
The Montreux Jazz Festival, one of the most famous in the world, attended each July by about 200,000 people, was founded by Claude Nobs. When he launched it in 1967, it was devoted purely to…
When film producer Cubby Broccoli was searching for an actor to replace Sean Connery for Live and Let Die (1973), the handsome and charismatic Jon Finch was offered the role of James Bond, b…
The film director, Michael Winner, has died at the age of 77. In a statement, his wife, Geraldine, said: “Michael was a wonderful man — brilliant, funny and generous. A light has…
Stella Mann, who established one of Britain's best-known professional dance schools, has died at the age of 100. After escaping Nazi persecution in her native Austria, she arrived in London …
The role of the casting director is often overlooked when the success of a production is celebrated. But throughout the television and film industries, the talents of Emma Style were widely …
Even before he began his career as the manager of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Stephen Gray was regarded as an expert talent spotter. When he was helping to run the Chelsea Op…
