Robin Driscoll

Robin Driscoll:

One of the eminences grises of the British comedy establishment, Robin Driscoll is a key part of the 'Mr Bean' franchise, which he co-writes, but he also turns up on-screen once in a while. He's occasionally seen in 'Bean' episodes, often uncredited, as a  'man in queue', 'patient in waiting room' or 'ticket collector', fulfilling the need for an expert foil for Atkinson's rubbery star turn.

A fare-dodging Mr Bean (Rowan Atkinson) attempts
the nonchalant approach on Robin Driscoll  

You might also remember him as one of 'The Fat Sweaty Coppers' - the piss-take of 'The Bill' on 'The Fast Show', which neatly recalled his rare starring role in the '80s police sitcom 'Mornin' Sarge' in which he played Ted, a fat sweaty copper of the old school. An earlier comedy series with many of the same cast members was the 1984 sci-fi spoof, 'They Came From Somewhere Else'. It's dated now, but behind the student politics, hair gel and clonky 'Comic Strip' satire, there's a lot that points the way towards the comedy of Simon Pegg and Co that was to follow. (You can watch it in all its murky VHS glory here.)      

In 'They Came From Somewhere Else'

In a 'Mornin Sarge' episode from 1989

His TV comedy connections have seen him pop up in a few small roles over the years, such as 'Alas Smith and Jones', 'Colin's Sandwich', 'Murder Most Horrid', 'The Smell of Reeves & Mortimer', and 'Chef', which seems to suggest that he's a fun bloke to have on set as well as a comedic craftsman.     

Robin Driscoll-imdb

Paul Bown

Paul Bown: 

Chirpy sort of actor, with that Stan Laurel-esque flick-switch between his happy face and his sad face. He got a start in acting during the '80s, with connections to comedy theatre bods like Mel Smith and Bob Goody. His first parts were in films: a fairly substantial one in 'Morons from Outer Space' (1985), then 'The Assam Garden (1985) and the unappealing Clive Barker horror 'Underworld' (1985).      

In 'Morons from Outer Space' (1985)

This led to a primetime regular-guy role as Malcolm in the moderately popular '80s sitcom 'Watching' opposite Liza Tarbuck and Emma Wray. He also starred in the nostalgic AA-patrolman comedy 'The Last Salute' which failed entirely to catch on, despite ticking a lot of 'Hi-De-Hi', 'Heartbeat' and 'Darling Buds of May' boxes.

Since then he seems to have tiptoed around the perifery of TV with small roles in drama serials, the usual cop and hospital series and a couple of sitcoms: 'The Green Green Grass' and 'My Family'.

As Colin Cakeworthy in 'The Green Green Grass'

He also appears fleetingly as Brighton & Hove Albion chairman Mike Bamber in 'The Damned United' (2009), who briefly secures the services of Brian Clough. Although he looks like a shoo-in when they come to cast 'The Michael Parkinson Story'.

In 'The Damned United' 2009

 

 And here's a tasty little morsel of '80s nostalgia. Click here.
  
Paul Bown-imdb

Angela Crow

Angela Crow: 

† Dec 15 1935 – Mar 3 2022

Petite veteran actress, familiar from an impressively wide range of television roles. She joined the cast of 'Coronation Street' from 1961-64 as factory girl Doreen Lostock, and went on to appear a remarkable assortment of programmes. There can't be many actors who can say they appeared in 'Hancock's Half Hour' and 'Star Cops'. 

'Coronation Street'

Other TV credits include  'Last of the Summer Wine', 'One Foot In The Grave', 'Between The Two of Us', 'North and South', 'Bleak House', 'Bingo', 'Alas Smith and Jones', 'The Ruth Rendell Mysteries', 'Casualty' and 'Star Cops'. She played Ronnie Birtles's mum in 'Grange Hill', and shows up in such varied fare as 'Doomwatch', and kids comedy 'Potter's Picture Palace'

'There's a Hole in your Dustbin Delilah' 

'Last of the Summer Wine'

Trivia: She apparently played truant from school to make her professional debut on stage in 'Jane Eyre', and is still an authority on the Brontës and a trustee of Haworth parsonage.

Angela Crow - imdb