Isabel Mary Sugden (21 July 19221 July 2009), known professionally as Mollie Sugden, was an English actress and comedienne. 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 reprising the character in the spin-off Grace & Favour (1992–1993).
Aside from Are You Being Served?, Sugden was also notable for her roles as Mrs Hutchinson in The Liver Birds and as Nellie Harvey, a rival landlady to Annie Walker (Doris Speed), in Coronation Street.
Early life Sugden was born on 21 July 1922 in Keighley, West Riding of Yorkshire, the younger child of Mary (née Shackleton; 1882–1962) and Willie Sugden (1876–1952);General Register Office birth index she had an elder brother, John (1907–1970).
Sugden began performing at four years old, when at a family Christmas party she repeated a poem that she had learnt from a woman at a village concert; her family's positive reaction made her realise "how wonderful it was to make people laugh. After leaving school Sugden worked in a munitions factory, making shells for the British Royal Navy during World War II. Once the war was over and she was released from the factory Sugden attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.
Early career When Sugden graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and 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 1973, she appeared in Son of the Bride.
Meanwhile, aged 50 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, 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 as treatment for 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 had five grandchildren.General Register Office – Index of Births registered in October, November, December 1963
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?
Sugden died on 1 July 2009, age 86, at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, Surrey of unspecified heart failure and was cremated. Her final public appearance had been at the funeral of her Are You Being Served? co-star Wendy Richard nearly four months earlier.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1977 Are You Being Served? Mrs. Slocombe 1989 The BFG Mary Voice1991 The Princess and the Goblin Looti Voice; final film role
Television Year Title Role Notes1959 The Way of an Angel Angel's Wife TV film1962 Suspense Belle Episode: "Killer in the Band"1962–1966 Hugh and I Ethel Crispin 33 episodes1962 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 episodes1965; 1972–1974; 1976 Coronation Street Nellie Harvey 23 episodes1965 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 episodes1969 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 film1970 Dirty Work Mona Flower TV film1970 The Goodies Minister for Trade and Domestic Affairs Episode: "Caught in the Act"1971–1979; 1996 The Liver Birds Mrs. Hutchinson 49 episodes1971 Doctor at Large Mrs. Mollett 2 episodes1971 For the Love of Ada Nellie Pollitt 2 episodes1971 Please Sir! Alice Larch Episode: "What's a Class Between Friends?"1972 Mandog Mrs. Morris 2 episodes1972 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 episodes1972 Emma Mrs. Goddard 2 episodes1972–1985 Are You Being Served? Mrs. Slocombe 69 episodes1972 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 6 episodes1973 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 film1974 Men of Affairs Mum Episode: "Silver Threads"1975 Three Comedies of Marriage Mother Episode: "Bobby Bluesocks"1975 The Virtuoso Lady Gimcrack TV film1976 The Dick Emery Show Blackpool Woman Episode: #15.81977–1978 Come Back Mrs. Noah Mrs. Gertrude Noah 6 episodes1978 The Talking Parcel Hortense the Flying Train Voice; TV film1979 The Tea Ladies Char Lady TV pilot1981–1986 That's My Boy Ida Willis 37 episodes1986–1988 Tickle on the Tum Bessie Bagwash 9 episodes1987–1988 My Husband and I Nora Powers 15 episodes1991 Cluedo Mrs. White 6 episodes1992–1993 Grace & Favour (Are You Being Served, Again?) Mrs. Slocombe 12 episodes1995 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: #1.02003 The Bill Lally Episode: "Professional Image"2003 Little Britain Mollie Sugden Series 1, Episode 8
References
External links
interview British Entertainment History Project