Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox person

Dame June Rosemary Whitfield (11 November 1925 – 29 December 2018)Template:Efn was an English radio, television and film actress.

Whitfield's big break was a lead in the radio comedy Take It from Here, which aired on the BBC Light Programme in 1953. Television roles soon followed, including appearances with Tony Hancock throughout his television career. In 1966, Whitfield played the leading role in the television sitcom Beggar My Neighbour, which ran for three series. She also appeared in four Carry On films: Carry On Nurse (1959), Carry On Abroad (1972), Carry On Girls (1973) and Carry On Columbus (1992).

In 1968, Whitfield and Terry Scott began a long television partnership, which peaked with roles as husband and wife in Happy Ever After (1974–1979) and Terry and June (1979–1987). From 1992 to 2016, Whitfield played Edina Monsoon's mother in Jennifer Saunders' Absolutely Fabulous. She played a regular character in Last of the Summer Wine (2005–2010) and a recurring character in The Green Green Grass (2007–2009).

From 1993 to 2001, Whitfield played Miss Marple in the radio dramatisation of all twelve of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple novels on BBC Radio 4.<ref name="EpiList">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Early lifeEdit

June Rosemary Whitfield was born at 44 Mount Ephraim Lane in Streatham, London, in 1925, to John Herbert Whitfield and his wife Bertha Georgina née Flett.<ref name="Museum">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Her father was the managing director of a company called Dictograph Telephones that had been founded by his father in Yorkshire, and both of her parents were keen amateur actors.<ref name=fabulous>Template:Cite book</ref> She made her first stage appearance, aged three, after her mother enrolled her at Robinson's Dance Studio.<ref name="Express">Template:Cite news</ref> Whitfield attended Streatham Hill High School, before being evacuated during the Second World War to Bognor Regis, where she attended St Michael's School, and then to Penzance in Cornwall. She moved with her parents to Huddersfield, where she learned shorthand and typing. She continued to study secretarial skills at Pitman's College, Brixton Hill.<ref name=andJune>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1944, Whitfield graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art with a diploma.<ref name="Museum"/>

CareerEdit

Early careerEdit

Whitfield began her career in the 1940s working with Wilfred Pickles, and worked on stage in the West End and the regions.

In 1951, she had her first credited television role in The Passing Show and joined the London cast of the musical South Pacific.

Her big break came in 1953 when she replaced Joy Nichols in the successful Frank Muir and Denis Norden radio comedy Take It from Here, co-starring Jimmy Edwards and Dick Bentley. In the portion of the show known as "The Glums" she played Eth, fiancée of the dim Ron Glum (played by Bentley).<ref name="Museum"/> During the next fifteen years Whitfield had many supporting roles on television, including in Dixon of Dock Green, Arthur's Treasured Volumes, The Arthur Askey Show, Faces of Jim, The Benny Hill Show, Steptoe and Son and Frankie Howerd. She played the nurse in the opening scene of "The Blood Donor" (Hancock, 1961). Whitfield's daughter Suzy Aitchison would play the same role in the 2009 re-recording with Paul Merton portraying Tony Hancock.

In 1959, she appeared in Carry On Nurse, the first of her four appearances in the Carry On film series.<ref name="Museum" />

1960s to 1980sEdit

Whitfield gained her first starring role in the sitcom Beggar My Neighbour (1966),<ref name="Museum" /> playing Rose Garvey. The year after Beggar My Neighbour finished in 1968, she appeared on Scott On... for six years until 1974.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This started a working relationship with Terry Scott that lasted until 1987. During Scott On... she also appeared in The Best Things in Life, The Goodies, The Dick Emery Show, Bless This House and The Pallisers. She appeared in the spin-off film of Bless This House (1972), with Scott as her husband, and Carry On Abroad (also 1972), followed by an appearance in Carry On Girls (1973).<ref name="Museum" />

Whitfield starred alongside Scott in a Comedy Playhouse sitcom pilot called Happy Ever After (1974). A few months later the first full series was broadcast, with a further four series until 1979. Later that year, they appeared together in the first series of Terry and June. The two sitcoms were very similar, the only main differences being a change of surname (from Fletcher to Medford), and a different house and family.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Both had Scott and Whitfield as a suburban middle-class married couple. Terry and June ran for 65 episodes until 1987. Five years later, in 1992, Julian Clary created Terry and Julian, a Channel 4 sitcom which spoofed the title of Terry and June; Whitfield made an appearance in one episode.<ref name="ComedyZone">Template:Cite news</ref> During the eight-year run of Terry and June, Whitfield also appeared in It Ain't Half Hot Mum and Minder.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, Whitfield appeared in a series of television advertisements, created for Birds Eye by advertising art director Vernon Howe, and featuring the concluding voice-over line: "it can make a dishonest woman of you!"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1971, Whitfield and Frankie Howerd recorded a novelty comic version of the song "Je t'aime", previously recorded by Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg, in which she featured as "Mavis".

She was the subject of This Is Your Life on two occasions: in April 1976, when she was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at her home in Wimbledon;Template:Citation needed and in March 1995, when Michael Aspel surprised her at BBC Television Centre.Template:Citation needed

During the 1980s, Whitfield returned to radio comedy. From 1984, she could be heard with Roy Hudd on the satire programme The News Huddlines,<ref name="Museum"/> which finished in 2001. On it she often used impersonations and was known for her impression of the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.<ref name="Museum" /> During the 1980s and 1990s, she made several stage appearances, including in a revival of An Ideal Husband and the pantomime Babes in the Wood.<ref name="Museum" /> In 1985, she sang a duet with Ian Charleson of the Irving Berlin song "You're Just in Love" in A Royal Night of One Hundred Stars.

1990s to 2010sEdit

Having appeared in an episode of French and Saunders in 1988, Whitfield played Mother in Jennifer Saunders' sitcom Absolutely Fabulous from 1992 until 2012. In 2000, she featured with the rest of the Absolutely Fabulous cast in the pilot Mirrorball. From 1993 to 2001, she played Miss Marple in 12 radio adaptations of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple books.<ref name="ComedyZone" /> From 1990, she appeared in films including Carry On Columbus (1992), Jude (1996) and Faeries (1999, as the voice of Mrs Coombs). In 1998, Whitfield played the housekeeper in the London-set episode of Friends "The One with Ross's Wedding, Part Two"<ref name="Screenonline">Template:Cite news</ref> and voiced a character in an episode of the animated comedy series Rex the Runt.

Her autobiography And June Whitfield, written with the help of Christopher Douglas, appeared in 2000.<ref name="maxwell">Template:Cite news</ref> She appeared in The Royal, followed by appearances in Midsomer Murders, Agatha Christie's Marple, New Tricks and Last of the Summer Wine, which she joined in 2005. She had an episode of The South Bank Show devoted to her on 29 July 2007 and, in the same year, appeared in the English National Opera's production of On the Town in London's West End. In November 2007, she appeared in the Only Fools and Horses spin-off The Green Green Grass as the mother of Marlene,<ref>Template:Cite episode</ref> and in 2008 she appeared in an episode of ITV medical drama Harley Street. In 2009, she made a guest appearance in Kingdom and published an updated autobiography, At a Glance ... An Absolutely Fabulous Life, a collection of scrapbook pictures from her life and career.<ref name="fabulous" />

Whitfield appeared in the Doctor Who two-part episode, "The End of Time", that aired over Christmas 2009Template:SndNew Year 2010.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 29 December 2009, she was the subject of an entire evening's tribute programming on BBC Two.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2010, Whitfield was signed for a short appearance on ITV soap opera Coronation Street. Her character, May, appeared at the funeral of Blanche Hunt and explained to Blanche's daughter, Deirdre, how her mother had died.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2011, she played Margaret Rutherford in the BBC Radio 4 play A Monstrous Vitality, a radio adaption by Andy Merriman of his biography of Rutherford, A Dreadnought with Good Manners.<ref>"A Monstrous Vitality reviewed" 30 May 2010, BBC Radio 4 web site</ref> She reprised her role of Mother in two episodes of Absolutely Fabulous at Christmas 2011Template:SndNew Year 2012, and for an Olympic special on 23 July 2012.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2013, Whitfield became the inaugural recipient of the Aardman Slapstick Comedy Legend Award,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> a recognition of her lifetime's contribution to the world of comedy. In 2014, she made a second appearance in Midsomer Murders, and appeared in Jonathan Creek. From 2014 to 2016 she appeared in the sitcom Boomers as the mother of Stephanie Beacham's character. In 2015, she played Granny Wallon in a BBC One adaptation of Laurie Lee's novel Cider with Rosie.

In May 2015, Whitfield made a guest appearance in the BBC soap EastEnders as a nun called Sister Ruth<ref name="EastEnders">Template:Cite news</ref> and returned to the show in January 2016 to complete a storyline.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In October 2015, it was confirmed that she would reprise her role of Mother in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie which was released in July 2016.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She made a guest appearance as God in the Sky 1 series You, Me and the Apocalypse, which was broadcast in November 2015.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Honours and awardsEdit

In 1982, Whitfield was made a Freeman of the City of London.<ref name="Museum" />

Whitfield was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1985 Birthday Honours,<ref name="Express" /> Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1998 Birthday Honours,<ref name="Screenonline" /> and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to drama and entertainment.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>

In 1994, Whitfield was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the British Comedy Awards.<ref name="Museum" />

Personal lifeEdit

In 1955, she married Timothy John Aitchison, who was working as a surveyor. The couple had a daughter, Suzy Aitchison, who became an actress.<ref name="Museum" /><ref name=fabulous /> Timothy Aitchison died in 2001.<ref name="ComedyZone"/>

Despite her success, Whitfield never wanted a lead role, stating that she lacked the drive and confidence. She attributed the premature deaths of several comedians to "the responsibility, the stress and strain" of carrying their shows. In her autobiography, she described her own life as "full of love, affection and laughter, of gigs, gags and a couple of gongs".<ref name="BBC Obituary" />

In December 2017, Whitfield said that she was living in a care home.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

DeathEdit

She died in London on 29 December 2018, aged 93.<ref name="BBC funeral" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Her funeral was held at All Hallows Church in Tillington, near Petworth in West Sussex, on 18 January 2019, attended by many of her co-stars and personal friends.<ref name="BBC funeral">Template:Cite news</ref>

Fellow Absolutely Fabulous actress Jennifer Saunders paid tribute to the "extraordinary grace" of Whitfield and said she would "hugely" miss her "dear friend". Julia Sawalha described her as a "great source of inspiration". Actress Jane Horrocks said her former co-star was a "wonderful lady", who was "versatile, funny and generous".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

RadioEdit

Miss MarpleEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Whitfield played Miss Marple in 12 BBC Radio 4 adaptations of novels by Agatha Christie. She reprised the role in 2015, starring in three adaptations of Miss Marple short stories (Tape-Measure Murder, The Case of the Perfect Maid, and Sanctuary).<ref>BBC Radio 4 Extra Episode Guide: Miss Marple BBC Radio 4 Extra Episode Guide, 28 December 2018</ref>

OtherEdit

FilmographyEdit

FilmEdit

Year Title Role Notes
1950 The 20 Questions Murder Mystery Lady speaking in queue (uncredited)
1953 Love from Judy citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

TV movie
1956 The Straker Special tomboy mechanic<ref name="Screenonline"/>
1957 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1959 Carry On Nurse Meg<ref name="inde"/>
Friends and Neighbours citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1966 The Spy with a Cold Nose citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1968 Frankie Howerd Meets the Bee Gees<ref name="ob1"/> TV movie
1971 Do Me a Favour! Mrs Dolly Hadleigh<ref name="comg"/>
The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins Mildred<ref name="comg"/> Comedy montage
1972 Bless This House Vera Baines<ref name="comg"/> Spin-off from TV sitcom Bless This House
Carry On Abroad Evelyn Blunt<ref name="comg"/>
1973 Carry On Girls Augusta Prodworthy / Paula Perkins (voice)<ref name="comg"/>
1974 Romance with a Double Bass citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Comedy short
1976 Not Now, Comrade Janet Rimmington<ref name="comg"/>
1979 The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1984 It's Going to Be Alright Margie Hansen<ref name="comg"/> TV movie
1985 Rupert and the Frog Song citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Animation
1987 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

TV movie
1991 The Craig Ferguson Story citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1992 Carry On Columbus citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1996 Jude Aunt Drusilla<ref name="BBC Obituary">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1999 Faeries citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Animation
2000 The Last of the Blonde Bombshells citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

TV movie
2003 Bob the Builder: The Knights of Can-a-Lot Dot (voice) UK dub; Animation
2007 Bob the Builder: Scrambler to the Rescue UK dub; Animation; TV Movie
2012 Run for Your Wife citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2015 Cider with Rosie Granny Wallon<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> TV movie
2016 Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie Mother<ref name="guar"/> Last film role

TelevisionEdit

Year Title Role Notes
1951 The Passing Show<ref name=trouble>Template:Cite news</ref> chorus member<ref name="Screenonline"/> 1 episode: 1900–1910: The Years of Plenty, aired 16 April 1951
1954–1955 Fast and Loose citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

5 episodes
1955–1958 Before Your Very Eyes citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

6 episodes
1956 The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d<ref name="Screenonline"/> various characters 1 episode
1956–1957 The Tony Hancock Show<ref name="Screenonline"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

11 episodes
1957 Hancock's Half Hour citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

episode: The Alpine Holiday
Yes, It's the Cathode-Ray Tube Show! citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1958 Dixon of Dock Green<ref name="inde">Template:Cite news</ref> Marie 1 episode: The Key of the Nick
My Pal Bob<ref name="atv">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1 episode (#2.6)
On with the Show<ref name="Screenonline"/>
1958–1959 Whack-O! citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2 episodes: #3.1 and #4.5
1959 It's Saturday Night<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> 1 episode (#1.3)
1960 Arthur's Treasured Volumes Enid Brown<ref name=trouble/> 1 episode: A Blow in Anger
1961 Hancock Nurse<ref name="guar">Template:Cite news</ref> episode: The Blood Donor<ref name="inde"/>
Hancock citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

episode: The Succession: Son and Heir<ref name="inde"/>
The Arthur Askey Show Emily Pilbeam<ref name="ob1">Template:Cite news</ref> 6 episodes
1961–1963 The Seven Faces of Jim<ref name="Screenonline"/> various characters, inc. Nettie Winbourne, Prue Abernathy, and Hannah Pengallon 7 episodes
1961–1968 The Benny Hill Show various characters<ref name="atv"/> 4 episodes (#4.3, Knicker's World, #8.2, #8.4)
1962 Christmas Night with the Stars Eth<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> with Jimmy Edwards, episode aired 25 December 1962
Six More Faces of Jim Eth<ref name="guar"/> 6 episodes
The Rag Trade citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Comedy Playhouse citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

(series 1) The Telephone Call
1963 More Faces of Jim various characters<ref name="guar"/>
1964 A Child's Guide to Screenwriting citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Baxter On... citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

How to be an Alien (voice)<ref name="comg"/>
The Big Noise Dorothy Tozer<ref name="comg"/>
Steptoe and Son citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1965 Call It What You Like various characters<ref name="comg"/>
Six of the Best DaffodilTemplate:Citation needed
1966 Frankie Howerd Beryl Cuttlebunt<ref name="ob1"/>
Mild and Bitter various characters<ref name="comg"/>
1967 Christmas Night with the Stars citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

episode aired 25 December 1967
1967–1968 Beggar My Neighbour<ref name="Screenonline"/> Rose Garvey
1968 Father, Dear Father Mrs Parsons<ref name="comg"/>
Never a Cross Word<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1968–1974 Scott On... various characters<ref name="comg"/>
1969 According to Dora various characters<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Armchair Theatre Angela<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> What's a Mother For?
The Fossett Saga Millie Goswick<ref name="guar"/>
citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

The Undertakers Housewife<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Comedy short
1969–1970 The Best Things in Life Mabel Pollard<ref name="comg"/>
1969–1974 The Dick Emery Show various characters<ref name="atv"/>
1971 The Goodies citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1972 Tarbuck's LuckTemplate:Citation needed
1973 Bless This House Odette<ref name="comg"/>
Whoops Baghdad Charisma<ref name="comg"/>
The Generation Game (New Year Special) Elizabeth, Vampire's Wife 1 episode, with Jon Pertwee as Vampire
1974 The Morecambe and Wise Show<ref name=trouble/> Muriel
The Pallisers citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1974–1979 Happy Ever After June Fletcher<ref name="comg"/>
1977 The Dick Emery Show Jacqueline Clayton<ref name="atv"/> The Texas Connection
1979 Cannon and Ball The ManageressTemplate:Citation needed
1979–1987 Terry and June June Medford<ref name="comg"/>
1980 citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

It Ain't Half Hot Mum Captain Georgina Tollemache<ref name="comg"/>
The Dick Emery Christmas Show Colette<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> For Whom the Jingle Bells Toll
1981 Mike Yarwood In Persons<ref name="atv"/>
1984 Minder Mrs Murdoch<ref name="atv"/>
Sharing Time April<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
1990 Cluedo citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1992 The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny
Terry and Julian citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1992–2012 Absolutely Fabulous Mother<ref name="guar"/>
1996-2000 Brambly Hedge citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1997 All Rise for Julian Clary citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Common As Muck citation CitationClass=web

}} and {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Family Money citation CitationClass=web

}}, {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web

}}, {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web

}}, and {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Wyrd Sisters Nanny Ogg (voice)<ref name="bfip"/>
The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling (Part 2) citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1998 Friends The Housekeeper<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Rex the Runt Judge Pikelet<ref name="comg"/>
1999 Days Like These Grandma<ref name="bfip"/>Template:Failed verification
2000 Mirrorball citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

The Secret Mrs Birkstead Catherine Cookson mini series
2001–2010 Last of the Summer Wine Nelly / Delphi<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2005 Midsomer Murders citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Midsomer Raspsody
The Royal citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2005–2007 Bob the Builder Dot<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> UK dub
2006 Agatha Christie's Marple Mrs Lancaster<ref name="United Agents" />
2007 New Tricks citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2007–2009 The Green Green Grass Dora<ref name="midhurstandpetworth.co.uk"/>
2008 Harley Street Betty<ref name="midhurstandpetworth.co.uk"/>
2009 Kingdom citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2009–2010 Doctor Who Minnie Hooper<ref name="auto">Template:Cite news</ref> "The End of Time"
2010 Coronation Street citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2011 M.I. High Beryl Bagshot<ref name="United Agents" />
2014 Jonathan Creek citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Midsomer Murders Molly Darnley<ref name="auto"/> The Flying Club
Topsy and Tim citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2 episodes
2014–2016 Boomers citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

2015 You, Me and the Apocalypse God<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2015–2016 EastEnders Sister Ruth<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

BooksEdit

NotesEdit

Template:Notelist

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

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