Su was in great form, enthusing as only she can about a host of subjects to the four interviewers seated around her; Kaye Adams, Colleen Nolan, Jane McDonald, and Kym Marsh (ex Hear'Say).

Main anchor, Kaye introduced Su this: "Our next guest is a national treasure...".

There then followed the classic clip of Su, as Peggy, finally achieving Yellowcoat status!

Su talked about, of course, Hi-De-Hi!: "We had such fantastic fun doing that. Everyone thinks I'm Gladys..."

She also spoke of her "trademarks"; her hair, and the spectacles. In particular recalling being told, at 14, that she would have to wear glasses.

And even found time for a quick stand-up to show off that colourful outfit in full.

The appearance was rounded off with talk about Su's latest project, The Vagina Monologues: "We're in Cambridge next week. It's a lovely show, and it's not too far to go. You can travel from Kings Cross or Liverpool Street!", much to the amusement of the audience.

Cambridge Arts Theatre
Start Date: Monday 26th Sep 2005 
End Date: Saturday 1st Oct 2005 
Monday – Thursday - 7.45pm 
Friday - 6pm and 9pm 
Saturday - 5pm and 8pm

Tickets Prices - £10/£20/£24/£26 

All tickets are subject to a £1 booking fee.
Telephone: 01223 578926
e-mail: rhamond@cambridgeartstheatre.com

Please click on the logo to visit the Cambridge Arts Theatre's website.

Don't forget that Su will be in Bradford at the end of October for more Vagina Monologues. Please see our earlier NEWS update (September 14th) for all the information on this.

Working with Bill Oddie, Devon Wildlife Trust has gathered over 150 celebrity autographed doodles from the likes of Phil Collins, Kate Winslet, Katie Melua, Su Pollard and Michael Palin. 

The autographed doodles will be auctioned on ebay between Monday 17 October and Friday 16 December 2005. Watch this space to view the doodles and ebay sales schedule. 

Some of the best doodles are on display at a free exhibition at Exeter's Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery from Sat 17 September until Sat 10 December.

Money raised from the auction will help Devon Wildlife Trust’s vital work on the river Dart. The Dart Catchment Project aims to safeguard the river’s future, its wildlife and people from its source high up on Dartmoor to its journey’s end at Dartmouth.

Doodle Bugs!: Online auction of celebrity dragonfly doodles: October to December 2005
http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/index.php?section=champions:celebrity

The trials and tribulations of the staff at Hatley railway station, who are all wondering if Dr Beeching will close them down....

This release features all 10 episodes from the second series.

Episode Listing:
1. No Milk For The Minister
2. Father's Day
3. The Gravy Train
4. The Van
5. Lucky Strike
6. Love Is A Very Splendid Thing
7. Action Stations
8. A Bowl In The Hand
9. A Pregnant Pause
10. Ton Up

And it seems the A Team's Mr T is top of the list for both Geordies with Gary Coleman, Su Pollard, Christopher Biggins also deemed worthy of some jungle torture.

But the pair admit they haven't got a clue who will actually make it onto the show.

"We write a list every now and again but it gets torn up and put in the bin and they book in some proper people," explained Dec.

"We don't know who is on this year. They really do keep it from us."

And the pair wished past contestants Jordan and Peter Andre well in their new marriage. "Everyone was saying, 'Is it geniune, is it real' and we really hoped it was because they made a really sweet couple on the show."

[News Source: www.itn.co.uk - 23rd September 2005]

Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho! It's off to Rhyl we go! Panto season may still be some months away but an early taste of the festive mood was provided at a publicity launch for the Pavilion Theatre's Christmas special Snow White was held last week. 

This year's cast includes the outrageous Su Pollard, best known for her role as Peggy in the BBC comedy Hi de Hi, Rhyl's very own Rebecca Trehearn, winner of S4C's equivalent to Pop Idol, Waw Ffactor, Family Fortunes presenter Andy Collins and veteran TV tough guy Shaun Curry. 

Sprightly Su kicked off proceedings with a traditional "Hi de Hi" chant and the fun was underway. 

"We hope this will be the biggest and best panto North Wales has ever seen," said the Nottingham-born actress. "Snow White has something for everyone, it's such a colourful and bright production." 

Denbighshire County Council chairman Cllr John Smith and cabinet lead member for Promoting Denbighshire Cllr Sue Roberts were among dignitaries present and Pavilion manager Gareth Owen also gave a speech. The Visitor then caught up with three of the main players. 

Whatever Su goes on to achieve in her acting career, it is fair to say she will always be best remembered as the scatty but loveable Peggy Ollerernshaw in the 1980s comedy Hi de Hi. 

But the bubbly all-rounder, who will be 56 in November, is made for panto with her energy and infectious personality. 

"I'm thrilled to bits to be performing in Rhyl," she said. "I was in panto in Llandudno two years ago and it was fantastic. Welsh audiences are so welcoming, they really join in and don't judge you like they would down south. I love Snow White and don't mind getting booed as the Wicked Queen, you soon get used to it." 

Having been an actress on stage and screen, a singer and even made fitness videos, Su was asked if there is anything else she would like to try her hand at. 

"Pole dancing!," was the typically wacky reply. "I've tried it before and it didn't quite work out, but it's good exercise. Maybe I'd like to be a Bond girl, but I can't see me emerging from under the sea - a garden pond maybe!" 

Hi-De-Hi! : Tuesday 27th September - UKTV Drama : 9.40am
Hi-De-Hi! : Tuesday 27th September - UKTV Drama : 3.45pm
Let Them Eat Cake. Series 8, episode 4. Classic laughs from the creators of 'Dad's Army' in the sitcom that takes you back to the British holiday camps of the 1950s. Ted and Spike re-enact the French Revolution... in the pool. Shades of Monty Python? Starring: Paul Shane, Ruth Madoc, Jeffrey Holland, Su Pollard, and David Griffin.

Hi-De-Hi! : Thursday 29th September - UKTV Drama : 9.40am
Hi-De-Hi! : Thursday 29th September - UKTV Drama : 3.40pm
The Winds Of Change. Series 8, episode 6. The very last episode of Jimmy Perry's nostalgic holiday-camp sitcom, where the sun always shines on the happy campers. Well, except when it pours. Peggy finally becomes a yellowcoat - but Alec Foster arrives with some bad news. Starring: Paul Shane, Ruth Madoc, Su Pollard, and Jeffrey Holland.

She was born at Nottingham in the United Kingdom. After performing in several West End musicals, she was noticed by BBC producers and chosen to star in a new sitcom Two Up, Two Down with Paul Nicholas.

The sitcom was not a success, but it led to her being cast as 'Peggy Ollerenshaw' in Hi De Hi!. The show was a hit and Pollard became familiar face to families across the United Kingdom.

In 1988 David Croft and Jimmy Perry, the writers of Hi De Hi!, chose Pollard to star in their new sitcom You Rang M'Lord?. The show was a moderate success. In the 1990's Su starred in another Croft sitcom Oh, Doctor Beeching!. The show was cancelled by the BBC after only 19 episodes. Critics joked that it had received a "Beeching axe".

Also in 1988, Su won the much-coveted "Rear Of The Year" award. Other winners have included Felicity Kendall and Anneka Rice.

Su also voiced two characters of two animated children's television programmes produced for the BBC: the title character of Penny Crayon and 'Noisy', of the Little Robots.

In recent years she has been in several plays and musicals such as Annie and The Pirates of Penzance.

In addition to acting, Pollard has also had a singing career. In 1986, she reached number 2 in the UK singles chart with the song "Starting Together". It is her only Top 40 entry to date.

[Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Su_Pollard]

Also for 2006: The Bressingham May event will be dubbed as a Perry & Croft Day, and talks are underway to reunite as many Hi-De-Hi! cast members as possible, as well as including as many Dad's Army favourites as they can.

Thanks to Michael (at The Su Pollard Shrine) for the info.

Loose Women : ITV1 - Thursday 22nd September : 1.30pm

Kaye Adams, Terri Dwyer and Denise Welch are joined by soul singer Mica Paris and comedy icon Su Pollard who joins the cast of Vagina Monologues.

Starring: Alison Newman, Su Pollard and Josie D'Arby at the Alhambra Theatre, Bradford.

‘Eve Ensler’s GLORIOUS show is WARM ,OPEN EXCITING, ENCHANTING and HILARIOUSLY funny! See it even if you haven’t got one’ Sunday Times 

Based on author Eve Ensler's 'Vagina Interviews' conducted with women from all around the world, this hilariously witty and moving collection of tales gives voice to a chorus of lusty, outrageous, poignant, brave and thoroughly human stories.

A staggering number of the world's most famous and talented women, from Kate Winslet and Whoopi Goldberg to Sophie Dahl and Jerry Hall have chosen to take part in the show in New York, Los Angeles and London. If you missed out last time, make sure you book to avoid disappointment, if you saw it last time then come and see a new cast perform this hilarious girls night out! 

24th - 29th October 2005
Mon - Thurs: 7.30pm
Fri & Sat: 5.30pm, 8.30pm

Box Office: 01274 432000

Alhambra Theatre
Morley Street
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD7 1AJ

Email: Administration@bradford-theatres.co.uk
For further information logon to: www.vaginamonologues.co.uk/

Hi-De-Hi! : Friday 16th September - UKTV Drama : 9.40am
Hi-De-Hi! : Friday 16th September - UKTV Drama : 3.40pm
Off With The Motley. Series 5, episode 4. Fifties nostalgia and comedy from the team that went on to do the 'Upstairs, Downstairs' pastiche, 'You Rang, My Lord?'. Poor Peggy's promotion means she is missing out on all the fun. Starring: Ruth Madoc, Su Pollard, Paul Shane, and Jeffrey Holland.

Hi-De-Hi! : Monday 19th September - UKTV Drama : 9.40am
Hi-De-Hi! : Monday 19th September - UKTV Drama : 3.40pm
Hey Diddle Diddle, Who's on The Fiddle?. Series 5, episode 5. Sitcom about a holiday camp. Peggy finds a personal letter from Joe Maplin to Clive Dempster which causes everybody to believe that the squadron leader has been sent to the camp as a mole. Starring: David Croft, Jeffrey Holland, Ruth Madoc, Jimmy Perry, Su Pollard, and Paul Shane.

Hi-De-Hi! : Tuesday 20th September - UKTV Drama : 9.40am
Hi-De-Hi! : Tuesday 20th September - UKTV Drama : 3.40pm
Raffles. Series 5, episode 6. Nostalgic fun in the 1950s holiday camp staffed by eccentrics. Ted decides to raffle Clive's car and swap it for a clapped-out old banger before delivering it to the lucky winner. Starring: Ruth Madoc, Paul Shane, Jeffrey Holland, Su Pollard, and David Croft.

Hi-De-Hi! : Thursday 22nd September - UKTV Drama : 9.45am
Tell It to The Marines. Series 8, episode 1. Peggy's piano playing leads Ted to take desperate measures. Nostalgic laughs with everyone's favourite holiday camp entertainers. Starring: Kenneth Connor, Paul Shane, Ruth Madoc, Su Pollard, and Jeffrey Holland.

Loose Women : ITV1 - Thursday 22nd September : 1.30pm
Kaye Adams, Terri Dwyer and Denise Welch are joined by soul singer Mica Paris and comedy icon Su Pollard who joins the cast of Vagina Monologues.

The Autumn 2005 DD brochure features Oh Doctor Beeching - Series 2 on its cover, revealing the first glimpse of the DVD artwork, with Paul Shane, Su, and Jeffrey Holland pictured.

"Welcome to Hatley Station, a quiet little holt on a sleepy branch line. Life is good - but everything's about to change - because Doctor Beeching has just recommended the closure of thousands of rural railway stations. Co-created by David Croft (Dad's Army) and Richard Spendlove, this hugely popular BBC comedy series stars a wealth of familiar comic faces including Hi-De-Hi's Paul Shane, Su Pollard, Jeffrey Holland and Stephen Lewis.

Su hopes that each and every one of you are enjoying your Summer and also THANKS everyone who has said hello while she has been out and about over the past few months.

"Here's to the remainder of the year being as fab as the past eight months have been. Luv to you all, Su x x x"

Further updates and information on these projects will be made available here as and when they are finalised.

Hi-De-Hi! : Thursday 1st September - UKTV Drama : 9.40am
Hi-De-Hi! : Thursday 1st September - UKTV Drama : 3.40pm
Maplin Intercontinental. Series 3, episode 11. Laughs in the 1950s-set holiday camp sitcom from the creators of 'Dad's Army'. It's time for the annual Yellowcoat competition, with a Caribbean dream holiday as first prize. Starring: Simon Cadell, Ruth Madoc, Paul Shane, Jeffrey Holland, and Su Pollard.

Hi-De-Hi! : Friday 2nd September - UKTV Drama : 9.40am
Hi-De-Hi! : Friday 2nd September - UKTV Drama : 3.40pm
All Change. Series 3, episode 12. A laughter-packed break at Maplin's holiday camp, home of the yellowcoats, funnyman Ted Bovis and housemaid Peggy, otherwise known as Su Pollard. And at least we don't have to eat the food. Chaos reigns when Joe Maplin demotes Gladys and appoints a new supervisor. Starring: Simon Cadell, Ruth Madoc, Jeffrey Holland, Paul Shane, and Su Pollard.

Hi-De-Hi! : Tuesday 6th September - UKTV Drama : 9.40am
Hi-De-Hi! : Tuesday 6th September - UKTV Drama : 3.40pm
Save Our Heritage. Series 4, episode 2. Holiday-camp humour with the Yellowcoats and other eccentric entertainments staff at Maplin's. Joe Maplin orders Jeffrey to assist in the demolition of a cottage which stands in the way of his expansion plans. Starring: Simon Cadell, Ruth Madoc, Paul Shane, Jeffrey Holland, Su Pollard, and Felix Bowness.

Hi-De-Hi! : Wednesday 7th September - UKTV Drama : 9.40am
Hi-De-Hi! : Wednesday 7th September - UKTV Drama : 3.40pm
Empty Saddles. Series 4, episode 3. Classic holiday camp sitcom. Fred Quilley thinks more oats is the answer when his horses start getting tired, but Joe Maplin thinks the knacker's yard is a better solution. Peggy, Ted and all the staff decide to rally round to protect Fred and his nags. Starring: Felix Bowness, Ruth Madoc, Paul Shane, Jeffrey Holland, and Su Pollard.

‘ding ding’ – Alf Stokes thought it was another cup of tea which was being rang for, but no, something to boost staff morale – news has it that You Rang, M’Lord? series 1 DVD is to be released in January 2006.

Mrs. Lipton is going to set to work on getting a TV and DVD player for the kitchen, mind you, a warning not to chop and watch at the same time has been announced!

Pre-release orders at the discounted price of £12.79 (retail price: £15.99) can be made from now, and will be posted to you on the release date.

Orders selected at random by Ivy will receive a copy signed by a member of the cast. 

‘ding ding’ – “a cup of tea sir, certainly!”

N.B. Release date and price are subject to change. 

Hi-de-Hi Series 1 and 2 DVD and Series 3 and 4 DVD are available from Joe Maplin’s office at Ted Bovis’ cut price rate of £19.99 per box set (retail price: £24.99).

Lucky orders drawn from Ted’s tombola will receive a copy signed by a member of the cast. 

To place an order, please send a cheque made payable to BBC Worldwide to the address below, or e-mail your credit card number and the expiry date to: carolyn.bartholomew@bbc.co.uk. Further details are available from Spike who is currently patrolling the camp in his funny hedgehog outfit.

All statements issued by Joe Maplin about future releases will be sent to Mailing List members by Yellowcoat Bartholomew, so please don’t send individual enquiries or Peggy will come after you with her mop!

Best wishes, and I'll see you by the Olympic-sized swimming pool for the ‘Who Can Put the Most Spaghetti Down Their Trousers' competition – if wet, in the ballroom!

Oh Doctor Beeching! - Series 2 DVD:
Attention ladies and gentlemen, this is a public announcement from the BBC loudspeaker: 

As well as being able to buy an unbelievable train ticket offer which allows you to get to sunny Bristol for less than a pound, on that day you can also buy Oh Doctor Beeching DVD series 2 – so put it in your diaries, the day to remember is 24th October 2005.

However, staff that own a whistle are allowed to accept pre-release orders at the discounted price of £13.59 (retail price: £16.99) from now which will be processed and dispatched on the release day.

Orders selected at random will receive a copy signed by a member of the cast. 

It’s all go at the station today. 

Above information courtesy of the Official BBC Perry & Croft Mailing List. Please note that release dates and prices are subject to change. Thanks to Carolyn Bartholomew. To sign up to the Mailing List simply send an email to Carolyn: carolyn.bartholomew@bbc.co.uk requesting to be added.

The Perry & Croft Mailing List will keep everyone informed and updated on any developments concerning this, much anticipated, release:

To join the said mailing list is very simple. All that's required is that you send an email to Carolyn: carolyn.bartholomew@bbc.co.uk requesting to be added to the Perry & Croft Mailing List.

NB: The campaign we started a couple of years ago is now defunct, as the Universal contact address is invalid. That page will be modified or removed as soon as possible. Apologies to anyone who has recently tried to contact Universal.

The episode in question was 'The Partridge Season' from series one, which, incidentally, aired just this week on UKTV Drama.

Hi-De-Hi! : Friday 12th August - UKTV Drama : 9.40am
Hi-De-Hi! : Friday 12th August - UKTV Drama : 3.40pm
Lift Up Your Minds. Series 2, episode 3. Brilliant comedy from the team behind 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum' creators Perry and Croft, whose programmes you can always spot when the cast are shown after the immortal words 'You have been watching' at the end. Ex-university professor Jeffrey Fairbrother decides to give the campers a recital of classical music on gramophone records. Starring: Simon Cadell, Paul Shane, Ruth Madoc, Su Pollard, Jeffrey Holland, Felix Bowness

Hi-De-Hi! : Sunday 14th August - UKTV Drama : 5.05pm
Desire in The Mickey Mouse Grotto. Series 1, episode 1. Hello, campers! Classic laughs in the very first series from the mind of Dad's Army creators Jimmy Perry and David Croft, set in a bygone age of British holiday camps and knobbly knees contests. The runner-up in the Holiday Princess competition is seen entering a staff chalet late at night. Outrageous! Look out for a young Gillian Taylforth, otherwise known as Kathy Beale. Starring: Simon Cadell, Paul Shane, Ruth Madoc, Su Pollard, Jeffrey Holland, Felix Bowness.

Hi-De-Hi! : Sunday 14th August - UKTV Drama : 5.45pm
The Beauty Queen Affair. Series 1, episode 2. More fun with the yellowcoats (and wannabe yellowcoats - poor Peggy!) at Maplin's Holiday Camp. Jeoffrey the entertainments manager is faced with a bribe, while steps are taken to stop the camp host from celebrating his birthday every two weeks in order to get presents from the guests.Starring: Paul Shane, Ruth Madoc, Jeffrey Holland, Su Pollard, Felix Bowness.

Hi-De-Hi! : Monday 15th August - UKTV Drama : 9.40am
Hi-De-Hi! : Monday 15th August - UKTV Drama : 3.40pm
On With The Motley. Series 2, episode 4. Ted Bovis attempts to teach his apprentice Spike the rules of comedy once more ("Reality, Spike! Where's your reality?") in the vintage holiday camp sitcom. Ted gets his big chance when he is booked to do a cabaret spot at a posh golf club dinner. But will his material suit the crowd? Starring: Simon Cadell, Paul Shane, Ruth Madoc, Su Pollard, Jeffrey Holland, Leslie Dwyer.

Little Robots : Friday 12th August - CBeebies : 7.15am
Little Robots : Friday 12th August - CBeebies : 11.15am
Little Robots : Friday 12th August - CBeebies : 3.15pm
Good Sport Sporty. Stop-frame animation about Tiny and his Little Robot friends. Sporty finishes his chores first, but ends up snowed under when everyone asks him for help finishing theirs.

Little Robots : Monday 15th August - CBeebies : 7.15am
Little Robots : Monday 15th August - CBeebies : 11.15am
Little Robots : Monday 15th August - CBeebies : 3.15pm
Metal Makes Us Special. Stop-frame animation about Tiny and his Little Robot friends. The Robots celebrate what they're made of with a procession of floats.

Little Robots : Tuesday 16th August - CBeebies : 7.15am
Little Robots : Tuesday 16th August - CBeebies : 11.15am
Little Robots : Tuesday 16th August - CBeebies : 3.15pm
Look Out Spotty. Stop-frame animation about Tiny and his Little Robot friends. Spotty becomes obsessed with health and safety concerns.

The long-awaited DVD will be released on 24th September, and will contain all 10 episodes from the second series broadcast in 1997.

These episodes were the last programmes in which Su, Jeffrey Holland and Paul Shane worked for David Croft. By the end of this series the trio had notched up 103 episodes of sit-com together, quite a feat. "Ton Up" was also notable for ending the career of David Croft at the BBC, perhaps the man who has more hit sit-coms under his belt than any other writer.

No Milk For The Minister
Father's Day
The Gravy Train
The Van
Lucky Strike
Love Is A Very Splendid Thing
A Bowl In The Hand
Action Stations
A Pregnant Pause
Ton Up

Stay tuned for more info on this release as and when it becomes available.

Don't forget that Oh Doctor Beeching! - The Complete Series 1 DVD is available from all good retailers.

Hi-De-Hi! : Wednesday 3rd August - UKTV Drama : 9.40am
Hi-De-Hi! : Wednesday 3rd August - UKTV Drama : 3.40pm
The Beauty Queen Affair. Series 1, episode 2. More fun with the yellowcoats (and wannabe yellowcoats - poor Peggy!) at Maplin's Holiday Camp. Jeoffrey the entertainments manager is faced with a bribe, while steps are taken to stop the camp host from celebrating his birthday every two weeks in order to get presents from the guests. Starring: Paul Shane, Ruth Madoc, Jeffrey Holland, Su Pollard, Felix Bowness.

Hi-De-Hi! : Thursday 4th August - UKTV Drama : 9.40am
Hi-De-Hi! : Thursday 4th August - UKTV Drama : 3.40pm
The Partridge Season. Series 1, episode 3. Classic laughs with Ted, Spike and Gladys Pugh at Maplin's Holiday Camp in 1959, the very first series of the long-running sitcom. The Punch and Judy man gets drunk and everyone tries to cover up for him to keep the senior staff from sacking the old fella. Starring: Simon Cadell, Paul Shane, Ruth Madoc, Su Pollard, Jeffrey Holland, Leslie Dwyer.

Hi-De-Hi! : Friday 5th August - UKTV Drama : 9.40am
Hi-De-Hi! : Friday 5th August - UKTV Drama : 3.40pm
The Day of Reckoning. Series 1, episode 4. Will Peggy ever get to be a yellowcoat? And will Gladys ever win the heart of that charming bumbler, Jeffrey? Well, the answers as we know are respectively 'yes' and 'no', but here in the early days of the vintage sitcom, that knowledge was a long way off. Ex-jockey Fred Quilly once took a bribe to fix a race, but failed to keep the horse from winning. Now he's convinced that the betting gang have tracked him down. Starring: Simon Cadell, Paul Shane, Ruth Madoc, Su Pollard, Jeffrey Holland, Felix Bowness.

Hi-De-Hi! : Monday 8th August - UKTV Drama : 9.40am
Hi-De-Hi! : Monday 8th August - UKTV Drama : 3.40pm
Charity Begins at Home. Series 1, episode 5. Laughs a-plenty with the staff at the 1950s British holiday camp, in the days when a wet weekend in Bognor Regis seemed like an exotic getaway. Joe Maplin decrees that every Thursday will be 'sunshine smile day'. The camp host decides to extend this to the campers by compelling a holidaymaker caught without a smile to pay a shilling to the Campers' Amenity Fund.Starring: Simon Cadell, Paul Shane, Ruth Madoc, Su Pollard, Jeffrey Holland, Felix Bowness.

The newspaper is giving away a different British comedy DVD (one classic episode I'd assume) each day for 15 days and it is promised that Hi-De-Hi! will be included. Unfortunately we aren't sure which day this will be.

This from the 'Daily Mail': 15 classic comedies on DVD, absolutely free!

Your chance to build a complete DVD library of the very best British comedy absolutely free. 
The Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday are launching the greatest DVD give-away EVER. 

Fifteen - yes, 15 - of Britain's classic comedies all on DVD and all ABSOLUTELY FREE. 

The DVD promotion launched in the South last week and launches in the North of the country this week. The first DVD in the collection is Only Fools and Horses featuring the incomparable David Jason as Del Boy in classic episode A Losing Streak. 

Then, for the following two weeks, you'll get another classic comedy DVD ABSOLUTELY FREE. 

To build this complete classic comedy collection, make sure you buy the Daily Mail every day during the promotion. In each day's paper, there will be a voucher for you to cut out and take into your local branch of WHSmith* where, in return, you will be given that day's DVD. 

NB: For some reason this offer started, for reader's in the very South of England, last week.

Most enquiries have been regarding Series 5 & 6 of Hi-De-Hi!, and when/if You Rang, M'Lord? will ever be available on DVD.

The very lovely Carolyn, from the BBC now has a mailing list in operation that will alert and update everyone on forthcoming Perry & Croft related releases.

To join the said mailing list is very simple. All that's required is that you send an email to Carolyn: carolyn.bartholomew@bbc.co.uk requesting to be added to the Perry & Croft Mailing List.

Glamour girl Caprice has always been popular with the boys - but this week she's attracting the attention of scores of Sheffield women.

The model-turned-actress had theatregoers rolling in the aisles as one of the stars of The Vagina Monologues at Sheffield's Lyceum Theatre.

The award-winning show, which mixes outrageous belly-laughs with poignant tales of women's triumph and adversity, is making its third appearance in the city.

It's girls' night at the Lyceum...but that doesn't mean the boys can't come along for the ride too! Alright, the hen party atmosphere does mean that some of the gags get laughs they don't really deserve but that's not to say that much of the material isn't extremely funny.

Eve Ensler's long-running celebration of the female body is neither as outrageous nor as controversial as it would like to think it is but its' heart, not to mention the other bit, is in the right place.

Most of the stories, with a mainly American slant and just a few local references thrown into keep the home crowd happy, are light-hearted and the one real shift in emphasis, a harrowing piece of testimony from a Bosnian rape victim, movingly presented by Ellen Thomas, sits uncomfortably, and probably quite deliberately so, alongside the more general 'learn to love your vagina' feel good material.

It comes as no surprise that Su Pollard gets the majority of the laughs - she's the most spontaneous of the trio and brings the house down with a triple orgasm that would even leave Meg Ryan breathless with admiration at the sheer enthusiasm and vigour of it all.

But the evening's most pleasant surprise is supermodel and all-round celebrity Caprice, who demonstrates a lively and engaging stage presence, her almost alien beauty working extremely well in relation to the earthy, bawdy tone of the night.

By the time she's got a full house cheerfully breaking the last taboo and hollering out the 'C' word, you can tell she's enjoying the experience, sending herself up and throwing herself into the audience participation with the sort of abandon that suggests those rumours she might be doing pantomime this Christmas may be true after all!

[ Sheffield Today - 29 June 2005 ]

Although I am not a Vagina virgin, this week's production at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield, still brought a fresh approach to Eve Ensler's long-running show. 

In case of any confusion, I should explain that I'm talking about The Vagina Monologues, which replaced the programmed Kiss Me Kate this week.

Described as the ultimate girls' night out, the audience was largely composed of women anticipating a good time - with a handful of slightly apprehensive-looking men thrown in for good measure.

Eve Ensler's show - first performed by her in the USA in 1996 and since performed and published in more than 25 countries - is a 90-minute collection of soliloquies based on interviews with more than 200 women, including sex workers, college professors and survivors of Bosnian rape camps - all exploring the humour, power, pain, outrage and excitement hidden in vaginas.

The show has been performed in the past by actresses as diverse as Jerry Hall, Miriam Margolyes and Mel B.

The trio taking part at the Lyceum are Su Pollard - and I have to say I was waiting a little nervously for her to shout out "vagi-de-gi" - Ellen Thomas (pictured), who is probably best known for playing the part of Liz in Channel 4's Teachers, and recent Celebrity Big Brother contestant Caprice.

Su Pollard deservedly got the most laughs at the performance I attended, but the joy of the show is how the three performers work together.

Sporting black outfits with red feather boas, they gelled very well together, delivering the monologues—that range from side-splittingly funny to unbearably sad - in their different styles.

Su's performance of a triple orgasm certainly rivalled THAT famous scene in When Harry Met Sally, while you could have heard a pin drop during Ellen Thomas's very moving delivery of the experience of a victim of the Bosnian rape camps.

But the beauty of the show is that the truly harrowing and distressing tales are interspersed with very much lighter moments - complete with audience participation, when we were encouraged to shout out four-letter slang words not usually heard in polite society.

And Caprice, after a somewhat shaky start, proved herself a very able performer, entering into the spirit of the evening with a certain amount of ad- libbing.

Performances of The Vagina Monologues help to support V-Day, which supports projects aimed at ending violence towards women.

So, if it's tears and laughter you are after in a fun and thoughtful trip to the theatre - supporting a good cause - I can thoroughly recommend The Vagina Monologues, which plays until tomorrow. 

[ Rotheram Advertiser - 1st July 2005 ]

Gimme Gimme Gimme : Tuesday 19th July - UKTV Gold : 9.00pm
Gimme Gimme Gimme : Tuesday 19th July - UKTV Gold Plus 1 : 10.00pm
Gimme Gimme Gimme : Wednesday 20th July - UKTV Gold : 0.40am
Singing in The Drain. Series 3, episode 5. Sitcom about two flatmates who have nothing in common apart from their outrageous attitude to life and their taste in men. Linda finally realises her ambition to become a model, while Tom secures an audition for a West-End musical. Starring: Kathy Burke, James Dreyfus, Brian Bovell, Beth Goddard, Su Pollard, and Jonathan Harvey.

Su will be starring alongside Andy Colins, Shaun Curry, and Rebecca Trehearn as Snow White, in Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs this festive season at the Pavilion Theatre in Rhyl, Wales.

Now, we could keep you guessing as to which role Su will take on...

Oh yes we could!!

But we won't! Su will, once again, take on the thoroughly wicked role of the Wicked Queen. 

Su last played the part in Snow White at the Hexagon Theatre in 2003.

This year's panto runs for four weeks...

45 Performances from Thursday 9th December 2005 until Saturday 7th January 2006. 

Family Tickets from £40.00
Groups 10+ 10% off, 40+ 15% off and 80+ 20% off. 

The Pavilion Theatre
Promenade, Rhyl 
Denbighshire. LL18 3AQ

Box Office Telephone Number: 0870 330 0000 
Email: rhyl.pavilion@denbighshire.gov.uk

These were taken at the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield, on Friday (1st July), where Su was appearing in The Vagina Monologues.

Ben and Richard say the show was great and Su was her usual wonderful self.

Many thanks to Ben & Richard for the pictures.