The "Comics' Tart"

"The greatest of show business mysteries was how anyone could contemplate doing a comedy show without June Whitfield." - Denis Norden

Such sad news. June Whitfield, a woman who (it seems) was hardly every off our airwaves or screens for seven decades has died at the ripe old age of 93.

The Glums, Hancock's Half Hour, Beggar Thy Neighbour, The News Huddlines, four Carry On films (Nurse, Abroad, Girls and Columbus), the radio adaptation of Miss Marple stories, Terry & June, Last of the Summer Wine, Absolutely Fabulous - she starred in them all. She was a mainstay of "straight (wo)man" roles alongside the likes of Benny Hill, The Goodies, Arthur Askey, Jimmy Edwards, Dick Emery, Frankie Howerd and Julian Clary - for which she referred to herself as "the comics' tart". Not just content with radio and TV, she also appeared in numerous stage shows - we saw her in the ENO production of On the Town in 2007.

If ever there was a woman who deserved the accolade of "national treasure" it was her.

RIP, Dame June Rosemary Whitfield DBE (11th November 1925 – 28th December 2018). We'll miss you.

More June here, here, here and here...