fbpx
Wikipedia

Dandy Nichols

April 29, 2023

Dandy Nichols (born Daisy Sander; 21 May 1907 – 6 February 1986) was an English actress best known for her role as Else Garnett, the long-suffering wife of the character Alf Garnett who was a parody of a working class Tory, in the BBC sitcom Till Death Us Do Part.[1][2]

Dandy Nichols
Born
Daisy Sander

(1907-05-21)21 May 1907
Fulham, London, England
Died6 February 1986(1986-02-06) (aged 78)
Whitechapel, London, England
OccupationActress
Years active1947–1985
Spouse
Stephen Bagueley Waters
​
​
(m. 1942; div. 1955)​

Early life and career

Born Daisy Sander in Fulham, London, she started her working life as a secretary in a London factory. Twelve years later, after drama, diction and fencing classes, she was spotted in a charity show by a producer, who offered her a job in his repertory theatre company in Cambridge. During her early career on stage she acted under the name Barbara Nichols but later changed it to Dandy, her childhood nickname.[2]

When the Second World War broke out, she returned to office work but later undertook a six-week tour with ENSA. When the war was over, she returned to the theatre and also began appearing in films: usually comedies and almost invariably as a maid or charlady.[3] The latter role she took on in the music video "Goody Two Shoes" by Adam Ant.[4]

Her successes in theatre include the Royal Court Theatre and Broadway productions of Home.[5][6] Her big screen debut was in Hue and Cry, in 1947, followed with performances in Nicholas Nickleby, The Fallen Idol, The Winslow Boy, The History of Mr Polly, Scott of the Antarctic, Mother Riley Meets the Vampire and Dickens' The Pickwick Papers.[2][7]

Till Death Us Do Part

Dandy Nichols's best-known role was Else Garnett in the landmark series Till Death Us Do Part.[8] The part was originally played in the pilot episode for the series (as part of the BBC's Comedy Playhouse) by future EastEnders actress Gretchen Franklin.[2] However, when it was commissioned as a series, Franklin was unable to break her contract for a West End play and Nichols was cast.[9]

Dandy's role seemed, at first, almost negligible: spending the best part of one early episode reading the telephone book as Alf embarked on another of his tirades. However, Else proved to be a perfect foil for Alf, and could put him down effortlessly with a withering look or cutting remark.[2] Perhaps her finest hour – in an episode shown by the BBC in tribute to Dandy in 1986 – was when, in 1974, Else took a leaf out of Prime Minister Edward Heath's book and went on a "three-day week", forcing Alf to fend for and feed himself on her days off.[10]

In the original scripts, Alf was to refer to his wife as a "silly cow". This was firmly vetoed by BBC Head of Comedy Frank Muir, who thought this was inappropriate. Nichols said that it was "a lot of silly fuss about a silly moo" which was overheard by script writer Johnny Speight and became the series' most enduring catchphrase.[11]

In Sickness and in Health

Till Death Us Do Part came to an end in 1975 but was revived in 1981, entitled Till Death..., and again in 1985.[12] Dandy agreed to appear, but had been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and had to use a wheelchair.[2] Her illnesses were written into the scripts, and the series was appropriately renamed In Sickness and in Health.[13]

The series continued after her death, with Alf left on his own.

Film career

She appeared in numerous films, which included Carry On Doctor, Ladies Who Do, The Holly and the Ivy, The Vikings, the Beatles' film Help!, Georgy Girl, Doctor in Clover, The Birthday Party, The Bed Sitting Room, O Lucky Man!, Confessions of a Window Cleaner and Britannia Hospital amongst others.[1]

Later years

After her role in Till Death Do Us Part, Nichols found work in television, notably playing opposite Alastair Sim in William Trevor's production of The Generals Day.[14] She made appearances in Flint, The Tea Ladies and Bergerac.[1][2] On stage, she appeared in Ben Travers's comedy Plunder, as well as playing alongside Sir Ralph Richardson and Sir John Gielgud in David Storey's Home, in both London and on Broadway.[15][16][17]

Personal life

Dandy Nichols was married to the newspaper editor Stephen Bagueley Waters in 1942,[18] but the marriage ended in divorce in 1955 due to his adultery. Nichols was an atheist for most of her life.[citation needed]

Her poor health led to a fall in her flat and she died three days later of pneumonia and heart disease on 6 February 1986 aged 78 at the London Hospital, Whitechapel.

Television roles

Year Title Role
1966 to 1975
1981
1985		 Till Death Us Do Part
Till Death...
In Sickness and in Health		 Else Garnett
1971 The Trouble With You, Lilian Madge
1981 The Bagthorpe Saga Mrs Forsdyke
1983 Bergerac S2E1

A Message for the Rich

Mrs Honeyman

Partial filmography

Source:[19]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Dandy Nichols". Bfi.org.uk.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Nichols, Dandy (1907-1986)". Screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  3. ^ McFarlane, Brian (16 May 2016). The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition. Oxford University Press. p. 557. ISBN 9781526111975.
  4. ^ Ant, Adam (4 September 2008). Stand and Deliver: My Autobiography. Pan Macmillan. p. 195. ISBN 9780330464574.
  5. ^ "Production of Home - Theatricalia". Theatricalia.com. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Home – Broadway Play – Original". IBDb.com. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Dandy Nichols - Movies and Filmography - AllMovie". AllMovie. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  8. ^ "Dandy Nichols - Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  9. ^ "Gretchen Franklin". Telegraph.co.uk. 12 July 2005.
  10. ^ "Else's Three Day Week (1974)". Bfi.org.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  11. ^ Condon, Paul (15 February 2018). 1001 TV Series: You Must Watch Before You Die. Octopus. ISBN 9781788400466.
  12. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Speight, Johnny (1920-1998) Biography". Screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  13. ^ Pickering, David. . Museum.tv. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  14. ^ "The General's Day (1972)". Bfi.org.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  15. ^ "Production of Plunder - Theatricalia". Theatricalia.com. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  16. ^ "Royal Court Theatre recordings at the British Library - English and Drama blog". Britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk.
  17. ^ "Dandy Nichols – Broadway Cast & Staff". IBDb.com.
  18. ^ "Stephen Bagueley Waters". Biographies.net. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  19. ^ "Dandy Nichols".

External links

April 29, 2023
dandy, nichols, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2011, learn. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Dandy Nichols news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message Dandy Nichols born Daisy Sander 21 May 1907 6 February 1986 was an English actress best known for her role as Else Garnett the long suffering wife of the character Alf Garnett who was a parody of a working class Tory in the BBC sitcom Till Death Us Do Part 1 2 Dandy NicholsBornDaisy Sander 1907 05 21 21 May 1907Fulham London EnglandDied6 February 1986 1986 02 06 aged 78 Whitechapel London EnglandOccupationActressYears active1947 1985SpouseStephen Bagueley Waters m 1942 div 1955 wbr Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Till Death Us Do Part 3 In Sickness and in Health 4 Film career 5 Later years 6 Personal life 7 Television roles 8 Partial filmography 9 References 10 External linksEarly life and career EditBorn Daisy Sander in Fulham London she started her working life as a secretary in a London factory Twelve years later after drama diction and fencing classes she was spotted in a charity show by a producer who offered her a job in his repertory theatre company in Cambridge During her early career on stage she acted under the name Barbara Nichols but later changed it to Dandy her childhood nickname 2 When the Second World War broke out she returned to office work but later undertook a six week tour with ENSA When the war was over she returned to the theatre and also began appearing in films usually comedies and almost invariably as a maid or charlady 3 The latter role she took on in the music video Goody Two Shoes by Adam Ant 4 Her successes in theatre include the Royal Court Theatre and Broadway productions of Home 5 6 Her big screen debut was in Hue and Cry in 1947 followed with performances in Nicholas Nickleby The Fallen Idol The Winslow Boy The History of Mr Polly Scott of the Antarctic Mother Riley Meets the Vampire and Dickens The Pickwick Papers 2 7 Till Death Us Do Part EditDandy Nichols s best known role was Else Garnett in the landmark series Till Death Us Do Part 8 The part was originally played in the pilot episode for the series as part of the BBC s Comedy Playhouse by future EastEnders actress Gretchen Franklin 2 However when it was commissioned as a series Franklin was unable to break her contract for a West End play and Nichols was cast 9 Dandy s role seemed at first almost negligible spending the best part of one early episode reading the telephone book as Alf embarked on another of his tirades However Else proved to be a perfect foil for Alf and could put him down effortlessly with a withering look or cutting remark 2 Perhaps her finest hour in an episode shown by the BBC in tribute to Dandy in 1986 was when in 1974 Else took a leaf out of Prime Minister Edward Heath s book and went on a three day week forcing Alf to fend for and feed himself on her days off 10 In the original scripts Alf was to refer to his wife as a silly cow This was firmly vetoed by BBC Head of Comedy Frank Muir who thought this was inappropriate Nichols said that it was a lot of silly fuss about a silly moo which was overheard by script writer Johnny Speight and became the series most enduring catchphrase 11 In Sickness and in Health EditTill Death Us Do Part came to an end in 1975 but was revived in 1981 entitled Till Death and again in 1985 12 Dandy agreed to appear but had been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and had to use a wheelchair 2 Her illnesses were written into the scripts and the series was appropriately renamed In Sickness and in Health 13 The series continued after her death with Alf left on his own Film career EditShe appeared in numerous films which included Carry On Doctor Ladies Who Do The Holly and the Ivy The Vikings the Beatles film Help Georgy Girl Doctor in Clover The Birthday Party The Bed Sitting Room O Lucky Man Confessions of a Window Cleaner and Britannia Hospital amongst others 1 Later years EditAfter her role in Till Death Do Us Part Nichols found work in television notably playing opposite Alastair Sim in William Trevor s production of The Generals Day 14 She made appearances in Flint The Tea Ladies and Bergerac 1 2 On stage she appeared in Ben Travers s comedy Plunder as well as playing alongside Sir Ralph Richardson and Sir John Gielgud in David Storey s Home in both London and on Broadway 15 16 17 Personal life EditDandy Nichols was married to the newspaper editor Stephen Bagueley Waters in 1942 18 but the marriage ended in divorce in 1955 due to his adultery Nichols was an atheist for most of her life citation needed Her poor health led to a fall in her flat and she died three days later of pneumonia and heart disease on 6 February 1986 aged 78 at the London Hospital Whitechapel Television roles EditYear Title Role1966 to 197519811985 Till Death Us Do Part Till Death In Sickness and in Health Else Garnett1971 The Trouble With You Lilian Madge1981 The Bagthorpe Saga Mrs Forsdyke1983 Bergerac S2E1 A Message for the Rich Mrs HoneymanPartial filmography EditSource 19 Hue and Cry 1947 Bit Part uncredited The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby 1947 Mantalini s Employee uncredited The Winslow Boy 1948 Miss Hawkins uncredited The Fallen Idol 1948 Mrs Patterson Woman Hater 1948 Mrs Burrell Here Come the Huggetts 1948 Aunt Edie Hopkins Scott of the Antarctic 1948 Caroline The History of Mr Polly 1949 Mrs Johnson Now Barabbas 1949 Bit Part Don t Ever Leave Me 1949 Mrs Marshall Your Witness 1950 Waitress Tony Draws a Horse 1950 Mrs Smith Dance Hall 1950 Mrs Crabtree The Clouded Yellow 1950 Ernie s Mother on Train uncredited White Corridors 1951 Char High Treason 1951 Woman Scrubbing Porch Step uncredited Women of Twilight 1952 Third Landlady uncredited The Happy Family 1952 Ada Emergency Call 1952 Barmaid Mother Riley Meets the Vampire 1952 Mrs Mott The Pickwick Papers 1952 Lady at Ball uncredited The Holly and the Ivy 1952 Neighbour Street Corner 1953 Mrs Furness Neighbour uncredited Meet Mr Lucifer 1953 Mrs Clarke The Wedding of Lilli Marlene 1953 Mrs Harris uncredited Adventure in the Hopfields 1954 Mrs Harris Time Is My Enemy 1954 Mrs Budd Charwoman The Crowded Day 1954 Charwoman Mad About Men 1954 Nurse Carey s Landlady uncredited The Glass Cage 1955 Woman with Child uncredited Where There s a Will 1955 Maud Hodge The Deep Blue Sea 1955 Mrs Elton A Time to Kill 1955 Waitress uncredited Lost 1956 Mrs Gamble uncredited Not So Dusty 1956 Mrs Clark Nobby s wife The Feminine Touch 1956 The Ward Maid Yield to the Night 1956 Mrs Price Tiger in the Smoke 1956 Stall Attendant uncredited Town on Trial 1957 Mrs Wilson uncredited Doctor at Large 1957 Lady in Outpatients Dept Carry On Sergeant 1958 uncredited The Strange World of Planet X 1958 Mrs Tucker The Vikings 1958 Bridget A Cry from the Streets 1958 Mrs Jenks uncredited Crooks Anonymous 1962 Mrs Cundall Don t Talk to Strange Men 1962 Molly Ladies Who Do 1963 Mrs Merryweather Act of Murder 1964 Maud Peterson The Leather Boys 1964 Mrs Stanley The Knack and How to Get It 1965 Tom s Landlady and off screen voice The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders 1965 Orphanage Superintendent Rotten to the Core 1965 Woman in Cemetery uncredited Help 1965 Neighbour uncredited The Early Bird 1965 Woman Flooded by Milk Doctor in Clover 1966 Patient with Kidney Stones Georgy Girl 1966 Hospital Nurse How I Won the War 1967 First Old Lady Carry On Doctor 1967 Mrs Roper The Birthday Party 1968 Meg Bowles Till Death Us Do Part 1969 Else Garnett The Bed Sitting Room 1969 Mrs Ethel Shroake First Love 1970 Princess Zasekina The Alf Garnett Saga 1972 Else Garnett O Lucky Man 1973 Tea Lady Neighbour Confessions of a Window Cleaner 1974 Mrs Lea Three for All 1975 Henrietta Britannia Hospital 1982 Florrie The Plague Dogs 1982 Phyllis voice References Edit a b c Dandy Nichols Bfi org uk a b c d e f g Nichols Dandy 1907 1986 Screenonline org uk Retrieved 26 September 2012 McFarlane Brian 16 May 2016 The Encyclopedia of British Film Fourth edition Oxford University Press p 557 ISBN 9781526111975 Ant Adam 4 September 2008 Stand and Deliver My Autobiography Pan Macmillan p 195 ISBN 9780330464574 Production of Home Theatricalia Theatricalia com Retrieved 23 October 2018 Home Broadway Play Original IBDb com Retrieved 23 October 2018 Dandy Nichols Movies and Filmography AllMovie AllMovie Retrieved 23 October 2018 Dandy Nichols Biography Movie Highlights and Photos AllMovie AllMovie Gretchen Franklin Telegraph co uk 12 July 2005 Else s Three Day Week 1974 Bfi org uk Retrieved 23 October 2018 Condon Paul 15 February 2018 1001 TV Series You Must Watch Before You Die Octopus ISBN 9781788400466 BFI Screenonline Speight Johnny 1920 1998 Biography Screenonline org uk Retrieved 23 October 2018 Pickering David NICHOLS DANDY British Actor Museum tv Archived from the original on 5 September 2012 Retrieved 26 September 2012 The General s Day 1972 Bfi org uk Retrieved 23 October 2018 Production of Plunder Theatricalia Theatricalia com Retrieved 23 October 2018 Royal Court Theatre recordings at the British Library English and Drama blog Britishlibrary typepad co uk Dandy Nichols Broadway Cast amp Staff IBDb com Stephen Bagueley Waters Biographies net Retrieved 23 October 2018 Dandy Nichols External links EditDandy Nichols at IMDb Dandy Nichols at the BFI s Screenonline Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dandy Nichols amp oldid 1142728079, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.