AFTER THE MANOR...
MARJORY: Angela Thorne
★IT may have ended 40 years ago but To The Manor Born remains one of the best loved comedies in TV history.
In 1979, the last episode of the first series was watched by 23.95million people and the finale of the third series in 1981 had ratings of 17.8m.
★
Here, we look at what its stars got up to when Grantleigh closed its doors…
PENELOPE KEITH
She made Margo Leadbetter a household name in The Good Life and was perfectly cast as upper-class Audrey fforbes-hamilton.
When the series ended, Penelope bagged lead roles in six other sitcoms including Sweet Sixteen, Moving, Executive Stress and No Job For A Lady.
Now 81 she still dabbles in acting work and lives with her husband Rodney Timpson in Surrey.
PETER BOWLES
The 84-year-old is best known for his role as Richard Devere.
But he found fame in Only When I Laugh, The Bounder and Executive Stress. The English star featured in many films including Live Now, Pay Later, The Informers and Eyewitness.
In 2016, he returned to the small screen when he played the Duke of Wellington in the award-winning ITV series Victoria. He now lives a quiet life with his wife Susan Bennett.
ANGELA THORNE
Marjory Frobisher was “Aud’s” best friend and “an absolute brick”. She was also easy-going and a shoulder to cry on for her confident and snobbish pal.
Angela reprised her role for both the Manor Born 10-episode radio series in 1997 and the one-off 2007 Christmas special on television.
After To the Manor Born, she also played the eponymous character in the ITV sitcom Farrington Of The FO.
She also had a lead role in another sitcom, Three Up, Two Down.
Elsewhere, she appeared in an episode of Midsomer Murders and Foyle’s War. In 1967, Angela married the actor Peter Penry-jones. Their sons Rupert and Laurence both followed them into acting. Peter, who appeared in Colditz and Howard’s Way, died of bowel cancer in 2009.
GERALD SIM He played the sarcastic
and insensitive Rector of Grantleigh. The actor, born in Liverpool, made more than 100 film and TV appearances in his lifetime. Gerald was the younger brother of the actress Sheila Sim and brother-in-law of the actor/ director Richard Attenborough.
He also appeared in smaller roles in shows and films such as The L-shaped Room, A Bridge Too Far, The New Avengers and Edward & Mrs. Simpson.
He was married to the British actress Deidre Benner but passed away in December 2014 agedf 89.
JOHN RUDLING
Loyal but slow moving Brabinger was Audrey’s butler.
Before making his move to the small screen, John worked in repertory as an accomplished actor and director until film and television work came his way. While appearing in To The
Manor Born, he suffered a heart attack and was absent for several shows. He died in 1983, two years after the show ended, from respiratory complications.
DAPHNE HEARD
The Plymouth-born actress was Richard’s pushy mother, Maria Polouvicka.
Mrs Poo, as she quickly became known, was always there to remind her son of his humble roots. Daphne was a character actress on stage and screen and had TV roles in Goodbye Gemini, Jude The Obscure and The Triple Echo. She died in 1983 aged 78.
MICHAEL BILTON
He was best known for his role as Ned in To The Manor Born.
Michael had a strong comedic bent and featured in other sitcoms including Keeping Up Appearances, One Foot In The Grave and Grace And Favour.
His final role was that of Basil Makepeace in the BBC sitcom Waiting For God in 1990, when was already 71.
Michael was married and divorced twice, first to Sally West from 1944 and later to actress Valerie Newbold, from 1953 until 1967.
24m fans watched show at its most