Biographies

For a time, Britain's most controversial comedian, regularly provoking outrage, indignation and a flood of complaints to the BBC's switchboard.

Gerry Anderson created a world of children's characters that stand tall alongside the giants of the literary world. Like Alice, Snow White and Mary Poppins, Anderson's characters are simply timeless in their appeal.

We remember a great broadcaster and iconic figure of who left an indelible mark on the media landscape with his dynamic presence and versatile talent

Best known for his roles in Hi-de-Hi! and To the Manor Born, Ben Aris was another of Britain's unsung heroes - one of those familiar faces who specialised in playing upper class roles, but whose name didn't immediately trip off the tongue

A veteran of the classic British Music-Hall, Askey's trademark brand of quick-fire humour and masterly use of the ad-lib won him generations of fans.

James Aubrey was probably the first true superstar programmer of an American television network and the man behind some of the biggest hits on TV. But a career tainted by allegations of arrogance, 'kickbacks' and bizarre sexual behaviour, earned him the nickname of "The Smiling Cobra"

Where British television had once been staid and predictable Baker and Berman's series helped establish a new formula for fast paced action packed adventures.

Best known as Inspector Wexford in The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, George Baker was the man Ian Fleming wanted to play James Bond.

An iconic English comedienne, Hylda Baker, short in stature and with a rich Lancashire accent, became a star later in life until finally, her career came to a shuddering halt

Called "one of Britain's last great eccentrics", Tom Baker became the quintessential hero to millions of Doctor Who fans in over seventy countries. As he reaches the grand old age of eighty six, his association with the series that bought him adoring fans all round the world shows no sign of dissipating.

Primarily remembered as Mr. Lucas in the hit sitcom 'Are You Being Served?', Trevor Bannister's body of work in both television and theatre was extraordinary.

"Ronnie Barker will be numbered amongst a select band of comedy greats who shaped British comedy in the 20th century."

Television Heaven remembers the actress whose ability to seamlessly transition between comedy and drama, combined with her captivating stage presence, set her apart as a true icon

We pay tribute to a familiar face on British television from the 1950s, who appeared in numerous television series over five decades, but will forever be remembered for his role as C.J. in the hit sitcom 'The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin'

The British character actor who played a number of archetypal Cockney working class roles in films and television and is best remembered in over 150 episodes of The Army Game and 100+ episodes of Bootsie and Snudge, enjoyed a long and successful career

Stanley Baxter's spectacular musical-comedy specials, reminiscent of Hollywood's best extravaganzas, were so flamboyant and proved to be so costly that Baxter was sacked not from just one, but two TV channels, who simply couldn't afford to keep him.

His sheepish good looks and natural charm made him a hit with female audiences, while the male viewers could identify with his cheeky chappie approach to life

With over 300 screen credits to his name, it would be hard to miss the actor John Bennett in any number of roles that he appeared in across a near 50-year period

One of the founding fathers of Independent Television, Sidney Bernstein managed, in a small amount of time, to stamp his indelible imprint on British television to create a multi-million pound empire that thrives today.

Norman Bird was one of the unsung heroes of both the silver and the small screen. Appearing in over 200 productions, he was one of those performers whose work formed the backbone of the British entertainment industry

As Cathy Gale in The Avengers, Honor Blackman not only altered public perception of women in television, she re-characterized the role and kick-started the whole 1960s 'second wave' feminist movement.

Television Heaven remembers the British actor and screenwriter Christopher Blake who enjoyed a prolific career in television, film and theatre before his life was cut tragically short in 2004, at the age of 55 years

Character actor, comedian and voice artist John Bluthal was one of the most recognised faces on British television for decades with over 130 screen credits including Fireball XL5, a memorable Pink Panther movie appearance and two Beatle films

On TV, movies or the theatre he has undoubtedly been regarded as one of Britain’s unsung heroes for too long. Bernard Bresslaw was one of Britain’s foremost actors who entertained us for over forty years.

A talented and versatile actor who had never been out of work throughout his long career, Richard Briers was one of Britain's best loved actors. A true national treasure

A stalwart of the 'Carry On' franchise and a familiar face on television, one of Britain's favourite comedy actors, Peter Butterworth, was instantly recognisable and unquestionably admired. But before becoming an actor Butterworth was a war veteran who was involved in 'The Great Escape'.

Simon Cadell's untimely death at the age of 45 robbed us of a jewel of an actor. Brian Slade, who has written Cadell's authorised biography, takes a look back at a brief, but remarkable career.

A prolific character actor with an extensive radio and stage career to his credit as well as almost 200 screen appearances, Richard Caldicot may not have been a familiar name to many, but his face was easily recognisable. Brian Slade remembers...

Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball were ITV's answer to Morecambe and Wise. But while they never reached the dizzy heights of Eric and Ernie, the boys were a smash hit and viewing figures soared, cementing their place as one of Britain's favourite double-acts

Delighting audiences with her scene-stealing performances in films, television, and theatre, Esma Cannon, with her pixie-like appearance and dotty charm, was one of the most beloved and versatile actresses of her generation