Sheila Bernette (occasionally Burnette; 30 March 1931 – 12 January 2026) was an English actress and singer who appeared in film, television and radio with a career spanning over 50 years.

Early life Bernette was born Sheila Mary Poncini in Marylebone, London on 30 March 1931. She was the daughter of Charles Poncini, a restaurant waiter of Italian descent, and his wife Freda (nee Morris).Variety, November 2022. She attended the Italia Conti Stage Academy from the age of two, specialising in ballet, leaving after five years to concentrate on acting at the Aida Foster Theatre School.

Career Bernette began her television career in 1955. She was popular and appeared as herself from 1968 in multiple UK television shows. Largely appearing in comedy roles, she was a regular sidekick to many stars including Dick Emery and Leslie Crowther. Bernette appeared as herself in many television productions. She is remembered as one of the regular practical jokers in the UK version of Candid Camera. Very petite, Bernette usually wore her hair up to increase her height. A competent singer, she was a regular on variety shows such as the Good Old Days and The Black and White Minstrel Show and appeared on the Royal Variety Performance show of 1970.Radio Times 15 November 1970 In addition to her film and television roles, Bernette was a regular performer at the Players' Theatre in Covent Garden.

In her Royal Variety Performance, she was introduced by Leslie Crowther as a Russian defector, the ballerina "Natalia Nokemova", and performed the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy with Crowther playing ballet cricketer "Freddie Trumanov". Her final film role was in Driving Aphrodite in 2009, playing a pickpocket and shoplifter. Her final television role was in Hotel Trubble, appearing in every episode from 2008 to 2011 as the long-term hotel resident and later cleaner, Mrs. Poshington.

Death Bernette lived in North London. She died on 12 January 2026, at the age of 94.

Filmography

Television Year Title Role Notes 1955 Fabian of the Yard 1960 Arthur's Treasured Volumes Agnes Barrett with Arthur Askey 1961 The Angry Gods Dorcas 1962 Harpers West One Pat Williams 1963 Hancock Canteen lady with Tony Hancock 1963 Walter and Connie Janet 1963–1966 Hugh and I Jimmy's mother with Terry Scott and Hugh Lloyd 1964 Dave's Kingdom 1965 Crowther Takes a Look with Leslie Crowther 1967 Beggar My Neighbour Olive 1967–1969 The Black and White Minstrel Show Regular singer 1968 BBC Show of the Week Herself 1968 Two of a Kind Herself Three episodes; with Morecambe and Wise 1968–1983 The Good Old Days Regular performer 1968 The Morecambe and Wise Show — 1969 The Saturday Crowd Singer All 28 episodes 1970 Sandler and Young's Kraft Music Hall Singer 1970 From a Bird's Eye View Mrs Cake 1970 Crowther's Back in Town with Leslie Crowther 1971 The Leslie Crowther Show Herself 1972 Tarbuck's Luck with Jimmy Tarbuck 1972 The Dick Emery Show — 4 episodes 1973 Shut That Door! with Larry Grayson 1973 Coronation Street Sister Delaney 1974 Candid Camera Female joker 29 episodes 1976 Nobody Does it Like Marti with Marti Caine 1977 The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin Gladys 1978 Cooper, Just Like That Tommy Cooper's stage assistant 1979 Butterflies Keep-fit instructor 1981 The Ballyskillen Opera House Annie O'Kelly 1981 Saturday Night at the Mill Performer 1983 Punchlines! Herself 1987–1990 The Little and Large Show 1992 Virtual Murder Mrs Hall 1992 Uncle Jack Miss Fortune 1995 Agony Again Faygey 2001 The Queen's Nose Gran's sister 2008–2011 Hotel Trubble Mrs. Poshington Series regular; 39 episodes Sources:

Film Year Title Role Notes 1960 Sons and Lovers Polly 1961 Ticket to Paradise Clarice 1967 Daft as a Brush TV movie 1971 The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins Mrs Spencer 1975 Eskimo Nell Casting girl 1975 Three for All Rhoda 1978 What's Up Nurse! Mrs Garrard 1986 Car Trouble 1987 Kin of the Castle TV movie 2009 Driving Aphrodite Dorcas Sources:

Documentaries Year Title Role Notes 1968 A Little of What You Fancy Herself Performer/singer (e.g., "She Was Poor But She Was Honest"); documentary on British Music Hall with revivals at the Players' Theatre 1994 This Is Your Life Herself Episode on Leslie Crowther 2010 Smile... This Was Candid Camera Herself TV special; 50th anniversary celebration of the UK Candid Camera (performer of theme song and featured as original prankster) Sources:

References

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