Lesley Joseph

Last updated

Lesley Joseph
Lesley Joseph.png
Joseph in Cardiff, Wales, May 2011
Born
Lesley Diana Joseph

(1945-10-14) 14 October 1945 (age 78)
Occupation(s) Broadcaster, actress
Years active1964–
Television Birds of a Feather
Height5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)
Children2

Lesley Diana Joseph (born 14 October 1945) is an English actress and broadcaster, whose career on stage and screen spans over fifty years. She is best known for playing Dorien Green in the television sitcom Birds of a Feather from 1989 to 1998 and again from 2014 to 2020. Other television credits include Absurd Person Singular (1985) and Night and Day (2001–2003).

Contents

Her stage roles include UK touring productions of Thoroughly Modern Millie (2005), Calendar Girls (2011) and Annie (2015). In 2018, she was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, for the original West End production of Young Frankenstein .

Early life

Joseph was born on 14 October 1945, [1] [2] in Finsbury Park, Haringey, London, England. [3] She grew up in Kingsthorpe, Northampton and attended Northampton School for Girls. [4]

Career

Stage

In May 1973, Joseph appeared in Godspell at the Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth. [5]

Joseph appeared in Cinderella at Theatre Royal, Plymouth in 2008 and the Orchard Theatre in Dartford in 2009, [6] and starred as Myra Wilson in the UK Tour of Hot Flush!. In 2014, Hot Flush! embarked on its third UK tour.

From 4 December 2010 to 22 January 2011, she appeared at The Grand Opera House, Belfast as the Wicked Queen in the pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs .

In the Summer of 2011, Joseph appeared as Chris in the stage show Calendar Girls , based on the film of the same name.

Between 2014 and 2015, she performed at the Theatre Royal Nottingham as the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

In 2015, she appeared as Miss Hannigan in the stage production of Annie at certain venues, sharing the role with Jodie Prenger and Elaine C Smith she was cast as the fairy godmother in Cinderella at the cliffs pavilion (Southend on sea). In 2016/17, she was part of the cast in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth. Joseph then portrayed Frau Blucher in the West End production of Young Frankenstein . [7]

Between 2022 and 2023, Joseph starred in Sister Act: The Musical. [8]

Birds of a Feather

From 1989 to 1998, Joseph played Dorien Green in the BBC One sitcom Birds of a Feather , alongside Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson. [9]

In December 2011, it was confirmed that Joseph would reunite with fellow Birds of a Feather cast members, Quirke and Robson, for a theatre adaptation of the series. The trio toured the United Kingdom from May to July 2012. [10] Following the success of the stage adaption, a new series of Birds of a Feather was commissioned after the rights had been acquired by ITV. The new series began airing on 2 January 2014 for eight episodes. To promote the return of the series, Joseph, Quirke and Robson appeared as guest panellists on Loose Women on 16 January 2014. [11] In March, it was confirmed that a second series had been ordered by ITV which began airing in December. Following this, a third series was commissioned and aired in early 2016, [12] Joseph appeared in three more Christmas specials airing in 2016, 2017 and 2020 respectively, before the show's cancellation was announced in May 2021. [13]

Further TV work

Joseph hosting A Breath of Fresh Air by the Chiltern Shakespeare Society in June 2008. Lesley Joseph Breath of Fresh Air.JPG
Joseph hosting A Breath of Fresh Air by the Chiltern Shakespeare Society in June 2008.

Joseph starred in the ITV soap Night and Day from 2001 to 2003 playing the show's resident bitch, Rachel Culgrin. In 2002, Joseph appeared on a special edition of What Not to Wear , where she was given a makeover by Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine. In 2004, she performed in The Vagina Monologues opposite Linda Robson and Mica Paris. [14]

Since 2009, she has been a regular newspaper reviewer on This Morning . She appeared in the 2014 series Secrets of the Asylum, a two-part series for ITV. In 2015, Joseph took part in ITV's celebrity sheep herding series Flockstars , beginning on 30 July. [15]

In 2014, Joseph appeared with Forrest Dunbar on ITV2's Freshers: A Year On. She makes frequent appearances on Channel 5's Big Brother's Bit on the Side .

On 22 August 2016, it was announced that Joseph would take part in the fourteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing . [16] She was partnered with Anton du Beke. In their first week, the couple scored 23 points for their waltz to "What'll I Do", in week two, 26 for their cha-cha-cha to "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps", in week three, 27 for their quickstep for "A Couple of Swells" from Easter Parade and in week four, 31 for their Charleston to "Won't You Charleston with Me?" from The Boy Friend . The couple left the series in week five, after scoring 24 for their tango to "Whatever Lola Wants". [17]

She was one of the four competitors who appeared in the special Christmas edition of The Great British Sewing Bee that was transmitted on New Year's Eve 2020 on BBC 1. Her fellow competitors in the programme were Sabrina Grant, Sally Phillips and The Vivienne. [18]

In 2022, Joseph won the seventh series of Celebrity Coach Trip alongside her Birds of a Feather co-star Linda Robson. [19]

Radio

Joseph began presenting a radio show in 2008 on BBC London 94.9 with Christopher Biggins, airing every Sunday between 9 am to 12 noon. Biggins left the show after a few months, however Joseph has continued to host. She also stood in for Vanessa Feltz on her weekday morning talk show whilst Feltz was on holiday. [20]

Personal life

Joseph is Jewish. [21] She has two children.

Joseph's mother, Rebecca Mundy (née Maccoby) was born in May 1912 and died in March 2016, aged 103. [22]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1969The Bastard KingCatherine of BraganzaSupporting role
1974Another Mother Makes FiveGypsy womanSupporting role
1975 Sadie, It's Cold Outside Cashier1 episode
1979 The Knowledge ValSupporting role
1980 Minder Maureen1 episode
1981RootsMelanie Goldblatt1 episode
1983 Number 10 Rose RosenburgRecurring role
1985Summer SeasonMrs KingRecurring role
Absurd Person Singular Lottie PotterTV film
1987First SightPippaMain role
1988Lea GirlsShop assistantRecurring role
1989 Ruth Rendell Mysteries Rose Farriner's neighbourMain role
1989–1998, 2014–2020 Birds of a Feather Dorien GreenMain role
1992 Celebrity Squares HerselfContestant
Celebrity Fifteen to One HerselfContestant
1995RumbleMa PecsSupporting role
1996 Spywatch Miss MillingtonMain role
1998MacbethWitchTV film
2001–2003 Night and Day Rachel CulgrinRegular role
2003 Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes HerselfContestant
2005Lost DogsMaria-Carmen ToddSupporting role
2006 The Secret of Eel Island Green BerylSupporting role
2006–2009, 2014 Loose Women HerselfGuest panellist
2007Kings of 70s RomanceHerselfNarrator
Ready Steady Cook HerselfContestant
2008The Greatest Christmas ComedyHerselfInterviewee
The Slammer Erica, the criticRecurring role
Comedy ClassicsHerselfInterviewee
2009 Scoop Receptionist/Mrs GreenRecurring role
2009–2014 This Morning HerselfNewspaper reviewer
2009, 2011 Celebrity Come Dine with Me HerselfContestant
2009 Cash in the Celebrity Attic HerselfContestant
2010 Let's Dance for Comic Relief HerselfParticipant
Celebrity Eggheads HerselfParticipant
2011 Little Crackers Wardrobe mistress1 episode ('My First Brassiere')
2012–2021 Pointless Celebrities HerselfRegular participant
2014Secrets from the AsylumHerselfContributor
All Star Family Fortunes HerselfParticipant
You Saw Them Here First HerselfContributor
Celebrity Antiques Road Trip HerselfContributor
Freshers: A Year OnHerselfContributor
2014–2016 Big Brother's Bit on the Side HerselfContributor
2014, 2021 The Chase: Celebrity Special HerselfContestant
2015 Flockstars HerselfParticipant
Mel and Sue HerselfGuest
Celebrity Benchmark HerselfParticipant
2016 Strictly Come Dancing HerselfParticipant
2017Celebrity 5 Go MotorhomingHerselfParticipant
2019 Pilgrimage: Road to Rome HerselfParticipant
2022 Celebrity Coach Trip HerselfWinner

Stage

YearTitleRoleLocation
1964 A Midsummer Night's Dream HermiaAbington Park Museum, Northampton
1968A Midsummer Night's DreamTitania Royal Shakespeare Company
1973 Godspell SoniaPavilion Theatre, Bournemouth
1981Piaf Edith Piaf Belgrade Theatre
1988Exclusive YarnsPippaNew Wimbledon Theatre
1991–1992 Cinderella Wicked Stepmother Richmond Theatre
1992–1993CinderellaWicked Stepmother Theatre Royal , Bath
1993–1994 Dick Whittington Fairy Godmother Birmingham Hippodrome
1994–1995Dick WhittingtonAlice Fitzwarren Mayflower Theatre
1995The MiserFrosineUK Tour
1995–1996Dick WhittingtonFairy GodmotherNew Victoria, Woking
1996–1997Dick WhittingtonAlice Fitzwarren Theatre Royal, Plymouth
1997–1998Dick WhittingtonFairy Godmother Wimbledon Theatre
1998–1999Dick WhittingtonFairy Godmother Theatre Royal, Nottingham
2000–2001Dick WhittingtonFairy Godmother Theatre Royal, Newcastle
2002–2003Snow White and the Seven DwarfsWicked Queen Theatre Royal, Brighton
2003Office SuiteMiss Prothero Royal Shakespeare Company
2003Singular WomenMiss CohenKings Head Theatre
2003–2004Snow White and the Seven DwarfsWicked Queen Richmond Theatre
2004–2005Snow White and the Seven DwarfsWicked Queen Theatre Royal, Newcastle
2005 Thoroughly Modern Millie Mrs MeersUK Tour
2005–2006Snow White and the Seven DwarfsWicked QueenBradford Alhambra
2006 The Vagina Monologues VariousUK Tour
2006–2007Snow White and the Seven DwarfsWicked QueenWolverhampton Grand
2007–2008Snow White and the Seven DwarfsWicked QueenNew Theatre, Cardiff
2008–2009CinderellaFairy Godmother Theatre Royal, Plymouth
2009–2010CinderellaFairy GodmotherOrchard Theatre, Dartford
2010–2011Snow White and the Seven DwarfsWicked QueenGrand Theatre, Belfast
2011Calendar GirlsChrisUK Tour
2011–2012CinderellaFairy GodmotherWycombe Swan, High Wycombe
2012 Birds of a Feather Dorien GreenUK Tour
2012–2013Robinson CrusoeEnchantress of the Ocean Birmingham Hippodrome
2013–2014Robinson CrusoeEnchantress of the Ocean Mayflower Theatre
2014Hot Flush!Myra WilsonUK Tour
2014–2015Snow White and the Seven DwarfsWicked Queen Theatre Royal, Nottingham
2015 Annie Miss HanniganUK Tour
2015–2016CinderellaFairy GodmotherCliffs Pavilion, Southend
2016–2017Snow White and the Seven DwarfsWicked Queen Theatre Royal, Plymouth
2017–2018 Young Frankenstein Frau Blucher Theatre Royal, Newcastle Garrick Theatre
2018–2019CinderellaFairy GodmotherChurchill Theatre, Bromley
2019–2020Snow White and the Seven DwarfsWicked Queen Birmingham Hippodrome
2020–2021 Sleeping Beauty Carabosse Mayflower Theatre
2021–2022Snow White and the Seven DwarfsWicked Queen Bristol Hippodrome
2022Sister Act: The MusicalSister Mary LazarusUK Tour
2022–2023Snow White and the Seven DwarfsWicked QueenMilton Keynes Theatre [23]
2023Sister Act: The MusicalMother SuperiorUK Tour
2024 The Addams Family Grandma Addams London Palladium

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanessa Feltz</span> British broadcaster

Vanessa Jane Feltz is an English television personality, broadcaster, and journalist. She has appeared on various television shows, including Vanessa (1994–1998), The Big Breakfast (1996–1998), The Vanessa Show (1999), Celebrity Big Brother (2001), The Wright Stuff (2003–2005), This Morning (2006–present), and Strictly Come Dancing (2013).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Su Pollard</span> English actress and singer (born 1949)

Susan Georgina "Su" Pollard is an English actress and singer. Her career has spanned over 45 years; she is most famous for her role in the sitcom Hi-de-Hi! She also appeared in You Rang, M'Lord? and Oh, Doctor Beeching!

<i>Birds of a Feather</i> (TV series) British television sitcom

Birds of a Feather is a British sitcom originally broadcast on BBC One from 16 October 1989 to 24 December 1998, then revived on ITV from 2 January 2014 to 24 December 2020. The series stars Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson, with Lesley Joseph. It was created by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, who also wrote many of the episodes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claire Sweeney</span> English actress, singer and television personality (born 1971)

Claire Jane Sweeney is an English actress, singer, and television personality. Known for her portrayal of Lindsey Corkhill on Channel 4's Brookside (1991–2003), she also played Roxie Hart in Chicago and starred in touring productions of Guys and Dolls (2006), Tell Me on a Sunday (2011), Legally Blonde (2011), and Educating Rita (2012). She was a panellist on ITV's Loose Women between 2003 and 2005, and presented 60 Minute Makeover from 2004 to 2006. Her debut album, Claire, reached number 15 on the UK Albums Chart in 2002. Sweeney has portrayed Cassie Plummer on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street since 2023. Her other credits include Candy Cabs (2011), Scarborough (2019), and The Good Ship Murder (2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Woodyatt</span> English actor

Adam Brinley Woodyatt is an English actor. He is known for his role as Ian Beale in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, a role he has portrayed since the show's inception in 1985.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wendi Peters</span> English actress

Wendi Louise Peters is an English actress. Peters began her acting career in theatre, with appearances in various productions including The Scarlet Pimpernel (1991), Guys and Dolls (1991), Into the Woods (1992), Bedroom Farce (1996) and Noises Off (1997). Then from 2003 to 2007, she portrayed Cilla Battersby-Brown in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.

Pauline Perpetua Sheen is an English actress. She began her career with roles on various television series, before fronting her own comedy sketch show, Pauline's Quirkes, in 1976. She later starred as Vicky Smith on the BBC drama series Angels (1982–1983), and achieved fame with her portrayal of Sharon Theodopolopodous on the long-running sitcom Birds of a Feather, for which she won a British Comedy Award and was nominated on three occasions for a National Television Award. In 1997, she was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress for her role in the BBC miniseries The Sculptress. Between 2010 and 2012, Quirke played Hazel Rhodes on the ITV soap opera Emmerdale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Biggins</span> British actor

Christopher Biggins is an English actor and television presenter.

Joseph Adam Swash is an English actor and television presenter, best known for his role of Mickey Miller in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders and various presenting roles with ITV2. He won the eighth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2008 and the twelfth series of Dancing on Ice in 2020.

Paul Danan is an English actor who played Sol Patrick in the UK teen soap opera Hollyoaks between 1997 and 2001. In 2005, Danan appeared as a contestant on the first series of ITV's Celebrity Love Island, and returned for the second series in 2006.

Linda Patricia Mary Robson Dunford is an English actress and television presenter. She is best known for playing Tracey Stubbs in the sitcom Birds of a Feather and her appearances as a weekly panellist on the ITV series Loose Women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antony Cotton</span> English actor

Antony Cotton is an English actor and comedian, known for portraying the role of Sean Tully in Coronation Street, as well as portraying Alexander Perry in the original Queer as Folk series. In 2007, Cotton hosted his own talk show titled That Antony Cotton Show, which was cancelled after one series. In March 2013, he won Let's Dance for Comic Relief.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaun Williamson</span> English actor, singer, media personality and occasional presenter

Shaun Williamson is an English actor best known as Barry Evans in EastEnders and as a satirical version of himself in the BBC/HBO sitcom Extras, 'Barry off EastEnders'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarlett Alice Johnson</span> English actress

Scarlett Alice Johnson is an English actress, producer and drama teacher. She is best known for her roles as Vicki Fowler in the BBC soap opera EastEnders and Laura Derbyshire in the BBC Three sitcom Pramface.

Nickolas Andrew Halliwell Grace is an English actor known for his roles on television, including Anthony Blanche in the acclaimed ITV adaptation of Brideshead Revisited, and the Sheriff of Nottingham in the 1980s series Robin of Sherwood. Grace also played Dorien Green's husband Marcus Green in the 1990s British comedy series Birds of a Feather.

Nicola Kathleen Stapleton is an English actress. She is best known for her roles in EastEnders as Mandy Salter and Emmerdale as Danielle Hutch. A graduate of the Sylvia Young Theatre School, Stapleton began her career at an early age, appearing in films such as Hansel and Gretel and on television in the children's show Simon and the Witch in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joel Dommett</span> British actor and comedian

Joel Patrick Dommett is an English comedian, television presenter and actor. After beginning his career as an actor, and appearing in various television shows including Casualty and Skins, he embarked on stand-up comedy and television presenting and became known for his television roles in Live in Chelsea (2011–2012) and Impractical Jokers UK (2012–2014).

Samuel James is a British actor, and voice artist best known for playing the role of Garth Stubbs in the ITV sitcom Birds of a Feather since 2014. He has also starred in Casualty and EastEnders.

Ranjit "Ranj" Singh Sangha is a British doctor, television presenter, author and columnist. He is best known as a celebrity dancer on the BBC One dance series Strictly Come Dancing, and co-creating and presenting the CBeebies show Get Well Soon from 2012 to 2015. He has also worked for ITV, on This Morning, as a resident doctor from 2016 to 2021, co-hosting Save Money: Good Health with Sian Williams and winning Cooking with the Stars in 2022.

References

  1. company check ltd. "LESLEY DIANA JOSEPH director information. Free director information". company-director-check.co.uk. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  2. Rubinstein, W.D.; Jolles, M.; Rubinstein, H.L. (2011). The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 491. ISBN   9781403939104 . Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  3. "A 'homecoming' for Lesley Joseph". www.bbc.co.uk. 22 April 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  4. BBC. "A 'homecoming' for Lesley Joseph" . Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  5. "Brighton Theatre Royal - Godspell - 1972 - Jess Conrad 1970s Theatre Show Programme 72 [T02111] : THEATRE MEMORABILIA .co.uk, Theatre Programmes for Sale UK Dealer".
  6. "Page Not Found – 404 Error" . Retrieved 7 January 2017.{{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  7. Cole, Emily (21 April 2017). "Hadley Fraser, Summer Strallen & More to Star in London's Young Frankenstein". Broadway.com. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  8. "Lesley Joseph - Sister Act: The Musical". Sister Act: The Musical. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  9. "Birds of a Feather". BBC . Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  10. "'Birds of A Feather' reunion tour dates announced". Digital Spy . 16 December 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  11. "Birds of a Feather cast takeover Loose Women and reveal they felt "like they've never been away"". Daily Mirror . 16 January 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  12. "Birds of a Feather renewed for series 12". Digital Spy . 12 March 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  13. Seddon, Paul (16 May 2021). "ITV announces Birds of a Feather has been cancelled following Pauline Quirke's exit". Digital Spy . Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  14. "The Vagina Monologues – coming soon". BBC. 11 August 2004. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  15. "Flock Stars: Lesley to fleece 'em in Britain's search for our best shepherd". 27 April 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  16. "Who is Lesley Joseph? Strictly Come Dancing 2016 contestant guide". Radio Times . 6 November 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  17. "Lesley Joseph becomes fifth celebrity to be voted off Strictly Come Dancing". ITV . 23 October 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  18. "The Great British Sewing Bee". BBC . Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  19. "I'm Birds of a Feather stars back together on Celebrity Coach Trip". The List. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  20. "Lesley Joseph Lesley Joseph BBC London 94.9's version of those glossy supplements in your Sunday newspaper!". BBC . Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  21. "How We Met: Maureen Lipman & Lesley Joseph – Profiles – People" . The Independent. 11 July 2009. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  22. Martin, Tricia (7 April 2019). "Lesley Joseph on not feeling her age, and being cheeky to the Pope". mirror.
  23. Norford, Olga, "SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS", Music in Disney's Animated Features, University Press of Mississippi, pp. 56–78, retrieved 8 January 2023