Deddie Davies

Deddie Davies:

† Mar 2 1938 – Dec 21 2016

Veteran Welsh character actress, of the type to be cast in the role of the tearful spinster, timid housekeeper, prim postmistress or faithful nurse. She was pretty ubiquitous during the '70s and '80s, but still pops up occasionally, for example in the Ruth Jones comedy, 'Stella'.

Her best known roles were in that perennial family favourite 'The Railway Children' (1970) and the rather less well loved 'The Amazing Mr Blunden' (1972), and since then films have been few and far between. You probably missed the Richard E Grant luvvie-com 'Food Of Love' (1997) - and Martin Freeman in 'Swinging With The Finkels' (2008) - and the star-studded, Michael Palin-scripted misfire 'Consuming Passions' (1988). 

As Mrs Perks in 'The Railway Children' (1970)

In 'The Hosptial', an episode of  'Some Mothers do 'Ave 'Em' 

On television, she was picked up for some prestigious and popular drama series, such as 'Clochemerle', 'The Forsyte Saga', 'The Pickwick Papers', 'Vanity Fair' and 'The Mayor of Casterbridge' - and TV movies like 'The Canterville Ghost'. At the same time, her nervy and birdlike characters were much in demand for prosaic comedies like 'The Rag Trade', 'My Husband and I', 'My Old Man', 'Some Mothers...' etc. Better things were in store with a post-'80s spurt that included 'Jeeves & Wooster', 'Waiting For God' and a sprinkling of cosy crime favourites via Agatha Christie to Midsomer. Not forgetting some bravura sniffling as Brenda Blethyn's mother in 'Chance In A Million'.  

Following on from the good vibes of 'The Railway Children', she has been a stalwart of kids' TV for many years. Keep an eye out for her among the eye-ache inducing video effects of 'The Phoenix and the Carpet', plus 'Just William', 'Grange Hill' and more recently 'Woof!' and 'Bernard's Watch'. 

Edit, Jan 2017: Sorry to report that Deddie Davies passed away on Dec 21 last year. 

Deddie Davies-imdb

Diane Langton

Diane Langton:

† May 31 1947 – Jan 15 2025
A successful belter of stage musicals who has made a few forays into TV and movie roles since the early '70s. She was in a few moderately saucy movies during the depressing drizzly decline of the old school British cinema industry: 'Confessions of a Pop Performer' (1975), 'Carry On England' (1976), and one slightly surprisingly example of its renewal, 'The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover' (1989).

With Linda Regan (right) as the Climax Sisters in
'Confessions of a Pop Performer' (1975)  

As Private Easy in 'Carry On England' (1976)

 On the small screen, she's been in the 'Carry On Laughing' TV spin-off, as a sort of ersatz Barbara Windsor, 'Only Fools and Horses' as Del's old flame June, and in the revival of 'The Rag Trade' in the '70s. She's also had some regular drama roles, in 'Heartbeat', 'EastEnders' and 'Hollyoaks', for instance. 

As Ruby Rowan in 'Heartbeat'

Diane Langton-imdb

Toni Palmer

Toni Palmer: 

The epitome of the familiar-unknown actress, having played dozens of variations on the chirpy working class housewife, busybody and woman-in-the-street. Originally a dancer, she first came into the public eye in TV's 'The Rag Trade' in the early '60s, and had a long run in the dismal motel soap ...'Crossroads'. Other roles in TV included 'Russ Abbott's Madhouse', 'Minder', 'The Sweeney', 'The Bill', and 'Within These Walls', and period pieces like 'The Duchess Of Duke Street' and 'Foyle's War'. 

At the Old Bailey with Peter (Mr Rycott) Childs 
in an episode of 'Rumpole of the Bailey' 

Her film career highlights stretch from 'Personal Services', 'The French Lieutenant's Woman' and 'Sir Henry at Rawlinson End', to our old favourite 'Smashing Time'. Oooh, get her!

Toni Palmer - imdb profile