Cheryl Georgette Hall (23 July 1950 – 9 August 2026) was an English actress. She was best known for playing Shirley Johnson in the British sitcom Citizen Smith (1977–1979) and had a recurring role as Sadie in The Bill (1984–1988).
Early life and education Hall was born in Whitechapel, East London on 23 July 1950, to mother Lilian (née Coles), a civil servant, and father George, a woodworker and trader, and grew up in Bethnal Green. She attended Coborn School for Girls. Hall trained at the Corona Theatre School.
Career One of her first television appearances was in 1971 when she played Eileen, a clippie, in the On the Buses episode "The Epidemic".
Hall also appeared in Dear Mother...Love Albert playing Rodney Bewes' screen girlfriend. She appeared in the Doctor Who story Carnival of Monsters (1973) as Shirna. Two years previously, Hall had been in the final shortlist of three actresses for the part of the Doctor's companion Jo Grant, alongside eventual winner Katy Manning and Gabrielle Drake, with Jenny McCracken fourth in the list. Producer Barry Letts remembered Hall and McCracken and cast them both in Carnival of Monsters, which Letts also directed.
She played Linda, Sid Abbott's secretary in Bless This House starring Sid James. Hall appeared in an episode of Sykes (1972) and also played an inmate in one episode of Within These Walls (1974) and was David Jason's love interest in the ITV sitcom Lucky Feller (1976). She was girlfriend of her then real-life husband Robert Lindsay in the show Citizen Smith (1977). She also had a small role in EastEnders. Her film appearances included the Avarice segment of The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (1971), the farce comedy No Sex Please, We're British (1973) and the all-star pop comedy Three for All (1975).
In the 1980s, Hall had a recurring role as Sadie in the police drama series The Bill and had a guest role in EastEnders. She maintained a steady television career into the 2000s, and appeared in a 2011 documentary recounting her time appearing in Doctor Who.
Hall was the Labour Party parliamentary candidate for Canterbury at the 1997 general election. She also served as a member of Kent County Council, holding the position of Leader of the Labour group for a period.
Personal life and death Hall was in a relationship with actor and singer Robin Askwith from 1970 to 1973.Robin Askwith The Confessions of Robin Askwith (Ebury Press) 1999 () From 1974 to 1980, she was married to her Citizen Smith co-star Robert Lindsay.Danny Birchall. Citizen Smith (1977–1980), screenonline.org.uk. Accessed 24 June 2023. From 1985 to 1989, she was married to Robert Potter, with whom she had two sons.
Hall died on 9 August 2026, aged 76.
Selected filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1970 Deep End Red Hat Girl 1971 Villain Judy To Catch a Spy Clarke's Girlfriend uncredited The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins Vanessa segment "Avarice"1972 Rentadick Maxine 1973 The Love Ban Pregnant Girl The 14 Reena No Sex Please, We're British Daphne Martin 1974 Who Killed Lamb? Amy Television film 1975 Three for All Pet
Television +YearTitleRoleNotes1968–1971You and the WorldRene6 episodes1969SceneMargeEpisode: "Two-Way Traffic"Special BranchBlonde GirlEpisode: "Exit a Diplomat"1970SmithMiss Fanny5 episodesArmchair TheatreJulieEpisode: "A Room in Town"Comedy PlayhouseAudreyEpisode: "Mind Your Own Business"1971Sykes and a Big, Big ShowVariousEpisode: "Britain's First Moon Shot"Armchair TheatreWaitressEpisode: "Brown Skin Gal, Stay Home and Mind Bay-Bee"On the Buses EileenEpisode: "The Epidemic"The Rivals of Sherlock HolmesMillieEpisode: "The Affairs of the Tortoise"The Fenn Street Gang Brenda GreyEpisode: "Who Was That Lady?"1972CallanGladysEpisode: "The Richmond File: Do You Recognise the Woman?"Albert! Doreen Bissel3 episodesVillainsShirley CoombsEpisode: "His Dad Named Him After the General"KateBrendaEpisode: "People Depend on You"SykesDeirdreEpisode: "Stranger"Public EyeBeryl TaylorEpisode: "Mrs. Podmore's Cat"Love StoryDilysEpisode: "Once Upon A Time..."1973Doctor WhoShirnaSerial: Carnival of MonstersZ-CarsMaureen PriceEpisode: "Care"Love StoryPamEpisode: "A Great Big Crack in Heaven"Black and BlueCarolEpisode: "Soap Opera in Stockwell"Oranges and LemonsBrendaEpisode: "Brenda"Love StoryTerriEpisode: "The String-Tying Machine"1974Crown Court Doreen TringEpisode: "The Dogs" (3 parts)Bless This HouseLinda2 episodesWithin These WallsMagda SelbyEpisode: "The Group"Bedtime StoriesLindaEpisode: "The Water Maiden"1975The SweeneyJennyEpisode: "Contact Breaker"Crown Court Jane BarnesEpisode: "The Also Ran" (3 parts)Comedy PlayhouseAvrilEpisode: "Captive Audience"Whodunnit?JennyEpisode: "Pop Goes the Weasel"Ten from the TwentiesPeach GreyEpisode: "Her Wedding Morn"AngelsClare TrumanEpisode: "On the Mat"RoomsSandraEpisode: "Nellie" (2 parts)1976Lucky FellerKathleen Peake13 episodesDixon of Dock GreenRita BattyEpisode: "Everybody's Business"Softly, Softly: Task ForceMinerva MyersEpisode: "The Trojan Horse"1977SurvivorsMavis2 episodesRoomsShirley Tomlin7 episodesGet Some In!MelodyEpisode: "Cards"1977–1979Citizen SmithShirley Johnson15 episodes1979Danger UXBJeanEpisode: "Digging Out"A Moment in TimeDoll2 episodes1981Tales of the UnexpectedIrene RankinEpisode: "Never Speak Ill of the Dead"The Gentle TouchBonusEpisode: "Knife"1982In Loving MemoryVera VenablesEpisode: "The Actress and the Undertaker"1984DramaramaMrs. JacksonEpisode: "Dodger, Bonzo and the Rest"1984–1988The Bill Sadie 13 episodes1985Dodger, Bonzo and the RestMrs. Jackson6 episodes1988EastEnders Christine8 episodesA Gentleman's ClubMrs. JeavonsEpisode: "The Actor"1989PoirotMollyEpisode: "Four and Twenty Blackbirds"1991The ChiefNancy BonnerEpisode: #2.5The Men's RoomMavis McDonaldAll 5 episodes1992As Time Goes By Waitress2 episodesLondon's BurningJan SmithEpisode #3.5Inspector Morse LauraEpisode: "Absolute Conviction"The BillMrs. HarveyEpisode: "Hands Up"1993Mrs. MackintoshEpisode: "Consequences"1994Grange Hill Mrs. CatesbyEpisode #17.2Woof!Mrs. TullyEpisode: "Get Me to the Church"1995CasualtyJane TurnerEpisode: "Stiching the Surface"The Last EnglishmanBarmaidTV filmWycliffeMrs. LingEpisode: "Four and Twenty Black Birds"1996The BillJean BriggsEpisode: "Second Sense"1997Patty HudsonEpisode: "Just Looking"1998Janice RichardsEpisode: "A People Person"BramwellVonnie2 episodes1999–2000Silent Witness Sheryl Marsh3 episodes2001RehabAdam's MumTV film2002Waking the DeadValerie TrueloveEpisode: "Deathwatch - Part 2"2003William and MaryAlisonEpisode #1.12007The BillPauline SmithEpisode: "Killer on the Run"
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