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Mollie Sugden
Mollie Sugden as Mrs Slocombe.jpg
Sugden as Mrs Slocombe
Born
Mary Isobel Sugden

(1922-07-21)21 July 1922
Died 1 July 2009(2009-07-01) (aged 86)
Guildford, Surrey, England
Resting place Golders Green Crematorium, London, England
Alma mater Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Occupation Actress
Years active 1950s–2003
Spouse(s)
William Moore
(m. 1958; died 2000)
Children 2

Mary Isobel Sugden (21 July 1922 – 1 July 2009), known professionally as Mollie Sugden was an English actress. She was best known for being an original cast member in the British sitcom Are You Being Served? (1972–1985) as senior saleswoman Mrs. Slocombe and appeared reprising the character in the AYBS spin-off Grace & Favour (1992–1993).

She is also well known for playing Nellie Harvey in Coronation Street (1965–1976), Mrs Hutchinson in The Liver Birds (1971–1996), Ida Willis in That's My Boy (1981–1986) and Nora Powers in My Husband and I (1987–1988).

Early life

Sugden was born on 21 July 1922 in Keighley, West Riding of Yorkshire. When she was 4 years old, she heard a woman reading a poem at a village concert making people laugh. The following Christmas, after being asked if she could "do anything", Sugden read this poem and everyone fell about laughing. She later remarked that their response made her "realise how wonderful it was to make people laugh". Shortly after she left school, World War II broke out, and Sugden worked in a munitions factory in Keighley making shells for the Royal Navy. She was later made redundant, and attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

Early career

When Sugden graduated from the Guildhall School of Drama, she worked in repertory for eight years with a company that included Eric Sykes and Roy Dotrice. She also had work in radio and made her television debut in a live half-hour comedy show. Sugden's other appearances before Are You Being Served? included parts in The Benny Hill Show, Just Jimmy (with Jimmy Clitheroe), Z-Cars, Up Pompeii!, The Goodies, Steptoe and Son and five episodes of Jackanory in 1968.

Television

Sugden's first regular sitcom role was as Mrs Crispin in the sitcom Hugh and I (1962–1967). This was written by John T. Chapman, and when he became involved with The Liver Birds series, he suggested Sugden for the role of Sandra's mother, Mrs Hutchinson. She appeared in the bulk of the run, from 1971 to 1979.

In 1972, she starred in the Show 'Six Days of Justice', in the episode 'A Private Nuisance' .

In 1973, she appeared in Son of the Bride.

Meanwhile, she was cast in a role which brought her international fame: Mrs Slocombe, a department store saleswoman with a socially superior attitude, a repertoire of double entendres, and a penchant for bouffant, pastel-coloured coiffures, in the long-running Are You Being Served? (1972–1985). In 1978, when it was thought that Are You Being Served? was over, she was the lead star in Come Back Mrs. Noah, a sitcom that is regarded by some as one of the worst ever made. From 1965 to 1976, she intermittently played Nellie Harvey, the landlady of The Laughing Donkey pub, in Coronation Street. In this she often appeared opposite Annie Walker, landlady of the Rovers Return. In 1986, she had a 23-week stint on That's Life!

Sugden also played main roles in other sitcoms, including That's My Boy (1981–1986) and My Husband and I (1987–1988), both for ITV. In an unsuccessful revival of The Liver Birds (1996), Sugden reprised her role as Mrs Hutchinson, despite being on steroids at the time owing to her suffering from polymyalgia.

She played opposite her husband, William Moore (1916–2000), in several series, including two episodes of The Liver Birds and again in My Husband and I, on both occasions as a married couple. They married on 29 March 1958, having met while in repertory theatre in Swansea, and had twin sons born in October 1963, Robin and Simon. She has 5 grandchildren.

Radio

Sugden appeared alongside Deryck Guyler in two series of the sitcom Home to Roost on BBC Radio 4 in 1974 and 1975. She also played Mrs Fox in the radio version of Dad's Army from 1975 to 1976.

Later years and death

Seven years after the end of Are You Being Served?, five members of the original cast – including Sugden – came together to appear in Grace & Favour, where the staff of Grace Brothers are left an old manor house in the country, which they try to run as a hotel. It ran for two series, until 1993. Other appearances at this time included Just William and Oliver's Travels. In 2003, Sugden appeared in an episode of The Bill and also appeared (as herself) in an episode of the comedy sketch show Little Britain.

In 2002, a tribute programme called Celebrating Mollie Sugden: An Are You Being Served? Special, aired on American PBS stations featuring several members of the cast of Are You Being Served?

She lived for some years in Port St Mary on the Isle of Man, but later returned to live in England.

Sugden died on 1 July 2009, at the age of 86, within the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, Surrey, of unspecified heart failure and was cremated. Her final public appearance was at the funeral of her Are You Being Served? co-star Wendy Richard four months previously.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1977 Are You Being Served? Mrs. Slocombe Actor
1989 The BFG Mary Voice
1991 The Princess and the Goblin Looti Voice; Final film role

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1959 The Way of an Angel Angel's Wife TV film
1962 Suspense Belle Episode: "Killer in the Band"
1962–1966 Hugh and I Ethel Crispin 33 episodes
1962 Benny Hill Woman Tenant Episode: "The Time Bicycle"
1964 First Night Mrs. Phillips Episode: "Maggie"
1964 Festival Isabelle's Mother Episode: "Ring Round the Moon"
1964–1968 Just Jimmy Mum 9 episodes
1965–1976 Coronation Street Nellie Harvey 23 episodes
1965 Steptoe and Son Melanie's Mother Episode: "And Afterwards At..."
1967 Armchair Theatre District Nurse Episode: "I Am Osango"
1967 Z-Cars Vera 2 episodes
1968 Harry Worth Audrey Bellamy Episode: "Only Four Can Play"
1969–1970 Oh Brother! Various 2 episodes
1969 The Very Merry Widow and How Mrs. White Episode: "How Are You Feeling?"
1970 The Six Wives of Henry VIII Lotte Episode: "Anne of Cleves"
1970 As Good Cooks Go WRAC Sergeant Episode: "Battle of the Bulge"
1970 Up Pompeii! Flavia Episode: "The Love Potion"
1970 Turkey Time Mrs. Pike TV film
1970 Dirty Work Mona Flower TV film
1970 The Goodies Minister for Trade and Domestic Affairs Episode: "Caught in the Act"
1971–1996 The Liver Birds Mrs. Hutchinson 49 episodes
1971 Doctor at Large Mrs. Mollett 2 episodes
1971 For the Love of Ada Nellie Pollitt 2 episodes
1971 Please Sir! Alice Larch Episode: "What's a Class Between Friends?"
1972 Mandog Mrs. Morris 2 episodes
1972 Comedy Playhouse Lady Wright Episode: "Born Every Minute"
1972 Steptoe and Son Auntie Minnie Episode: "Oh, What a Beautiful Mourning"
1972 Six Days of Justice Mrs. Dunne Episode: "A Private Nuisance"
1972 Doctor in Charge Mrs. Waring 3 episodes
1972 Emma Mrs. Goddard 2 episodes
1972–1985 Are You Being Served? Mrs. Slocombe All 69 episodes
1972 A Class by Himself Lesley Charles Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Lunch?"
1972 My Wife Next Door George's Mother Episode: "Total Separation"
1972 The Fenn Street Gang Mrs. Greer Episode: "The Lady with the Lamp"
1973 Son of the Bride Mum All 6 episodes
1973 Billy Liar Mrs. Bottomley Episode: "Billy and the Party Spirit"
1974 Love Thy Neighbour Sister Martin Episode: "The Antenatal Clinic"
1974 Holiday with Strings Doris TV film
1974 Men of Affairs Mum Episode: "Silver Threads"
1975 Three Comedies of Marriage Mother Episode: "Bobby Bluesocks"
1975 The Virtuoso Lady Gimcrack TV film
1976 The Dick Emery Show Blackpool Woman Episode: #15.8
1977–1978 Come Back Mrs. Noah Mrs. Gertrude Noah All 6 episodes
1978 The Talking Parcel Hortense the Flying Train Voice; TV film
1979 The Tea Ladies Char Lady TV pilot
1981–1986 That's My Boy Ida Willis All 37 episodes
1986–1988 Tickle on the Tum Bessie Bagwash 9 episodes
1987–1988 My Husband and I Nora Powers All 15 episodes
1991 Cluedo Mrs. White 6 episodes
1992–1993 Grace & Favour Mrs. Slocombe All 12 episodes
1995 Oliver's Travels Mrs. Robson Episode: "Why Did We Eat the Frogs?"
1995 Just William Great Aunt Florence Episode: "Boys Will Be Boys"
1996 Dennis the Menace Vilhemina Slop Bucket Voice; Episode: "Special Agent Dennis"
1996 Romuald the Reindeer Knitting Teacher Voice; Episode: "Knitting Patterns"
2001 Revolver Mother Episode: #1.0
2003 The Bill Lally Episode: "Professional Image"
2003 Little Britain Mollie Sugden Series 1, Episode 8
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