Dandy Nichols | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Daisy Sander 21 May 1907 |
| Died | 6 February 1986 (aged 78) Whitechapel, London, England |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1947–1985 |
| Spouse | Stephen Bagueley Waters (m. 1942;div. 1955) |
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]
Born Daisy Sander in Fulham, London, [3] 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. [4] The latter role she took on in the music video "Goody Two Shoes" by Adam Ant. [5]
Her successes in theatre include the Royal Court Theatre and Broadway productions of Home . [6] [7] Her big screen debut was in Hue and Cry , in 1947, [3] followed with performances in Nicholas Nickleby , [3] 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] [8]
Dandy Nichols's best-known role was Else Garnett in the landmark series Till Death Us Do Part, where she played the long-suffering wife of the character Alf Garnett who was a parody of a working class Tory. [9] 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. [10]
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. [11]
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. [12]
Till Death Us Do Part came to an end in 1975 but was revived in 1981, entitled Till Death... , and again in 1985. [13] 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 . [14]
The series continued after her death, with Alf left on his own. [3]
She appeared in numerous films, which included Carry On Doctor , [3] Ladies Who Do , The Holly and the Ivy , The Vikings , [3] the Beatles' film Help! , [3] 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]
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. [15] 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. [16] [17] [18]
Dandy Nichols was married to the newspaper editor Stephen Bagueley Waters in 1942, [19] but the marriage ended in divorce in 1955. [3]
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. [3]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mrs Honeyman | Episode: A Message for the Rich |
Source: [1]
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