Biggins (25 page)

I had great fun in TV dramas such as
Upstairs Downstairs
.

The first production I ever directed –
The Orchestra
by Jean Anouilh.

Oh Puck! Playing the lovable sprite in
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre – a wonderful venue, but one that is packed with hazards for actors!

My very first panto,
Mother Goose
in Darlington. Once I had been initiated as a pantomime dame, there was no turning back.

Extraordinarily happy times working on
Rentaghost
.

With the tremendous Barbara Windsor in
Guys and Dolls
– she was Miss Adelaide and I was Nathan Detroit.

(©
Andrew Mardell
)

There’s nothing quite like live television! Prime-time success on
Surprise Surprise
– Cilla and I regularly pulled in 15 million viewers. Sadly, she died just before this book went to press.

(©
Rex Features
)

Some of my dearest showbiz pals.

Liza Goddard plays Anne Boleyn to my King Henry VIII.

With the incredibly talented Bonnie Langford.

Neil and I having fun with Cilla.

With legend of stage and screen, Julie Andrews.

I couldn’t believe it when Michael Aspel pulled out his red book on me! I had such fun on
This Is Your Life
.

Those famous Margaret Thatcher photographs. What on earth were we talking about? Dennis? Cecil Parkinson?