Amanda Abbington The TV That Made Me

TV, the magic box of delights.

As kids, it showed us a million different worlds

all from our living room.

-This takes me right back.

-That's so embarrassing!

I am genuinely shocked.

'Each day, I'm going to journey through the wonderful world of telly

'with one of our favourite celebrities.'

It's just so silly!

Ah! I love it.

Is it Mr Benn?

-SHE SINGS

-Shut it!

'As they select the iconic TV moments...'

Oh, hello!

'..that tell us the stories of their lives.'

-Oh, my gosh!

-Cheers.

'Some will make you laugh.'

Agh!

-Oh, no!

-'Some will surprise.'

-TOY SQUEAKS

-Oh!

-'Many will inspire.'

-Ooh!

Look at this. Why wouldn't you want to watch this?

'And others will move us.'

Seeing that there made a huge impact on me.

You're not having my kid!

Got a handkerchief?

So, come watch with us as we rewind to the classic telly that shaped

those wide-eyed youngsters into the much-loved stars they are today.

Welcome to The TV That Made Me.

My guest today is one of Britain's most gifted actors.

Ladies and gentlemen,

please welcome the hugely talented Amanda Abbington.

-Hello! Hello.

-Hi.

-How are you?

-Very well.

-Good.

-All the better for seeing you.

-And you.

-Welcome to my humble abode.

-It's lovely.

Star of stage, screen and Sherlock,

Amanda has starred in some of the most iconic shows

over the last few years, including Mr Selfridge and crime drama Cuffs.

The TV that made her includes an old-school classic comedy.

-Better than that...

-..a sun-drenched guilty pleasure.

Yeah, you imagine things. Why do you accuse me all the time?

And a terrifying post-apocalyptic series.

-So, are you excited about today?

-Yeah.

-Looking back?

-Yes, I am!

-Yeah?

-Yes, I'm really excited.

-Was telly a big thing in your life growing up?

-Huge.

-Because I'm an only child so I didn't have anyone to play with.

-Aw!

-AUDIENCE:

-Ah!

So they just stuck you in front of the telly, did they?

Yeah, my mum did! She kind of did a bit.

But that's because she had to get on and do her work.

But that was then, that was '70s and '80s.

That was sort of the thing you did.

You either went out and played in the summer holidays

with your friends but you were mainly kind of...

You just sort of stayed at home

and you didn't have the internet or anything, so the telly was...

-And there was four channels.

-I know, blimey. Do you remember that?

My children don't understand that. They can't fathom that at all.

-Yeah, and that we had to get up and change channels.

-Yeah!

-Yeah.

-Yeah, it was a big thing in those days.

Yeah, you just didn't bother in the end.

-You'd end up World Of Sport for four hours.

-Yeah, yeah.

So today is a celebration of some of your favourite TV classic moments.

We're going to look back on that but first up, let's rewind the clock

and have a look at a very young Amanda.

Born in 1974, Amanda was raised by her parents

Patsy and John in Hertfordshire.

Her love for performing was evident from an early age

when Amanda was a promising dancer.

But she decided to pursue a career in acting.

Which has seen her start in shows like After You've Gone

with Nicholas Lyndhurst...

..and of course, as Mary Watson in Sherlock,

where she starred with her real-life partner Martin Freeman.

-So, was it a happy childhood?

-Yes, it was.

My mum and dad were brilliant.

We lived with my nanny and grandad as well when I was growing up

-so there was five of us in the house.

-Oh, really?

-So, it was...

And I was very close to all of them.

Because I was the only one, I was really not spoilt

-but there was a lot of love and it was nice.

-Yeah.

And then they got a little cottage, my mum and dad and so we moved out.

-But I remember being very close to my grandparents growing up.

-Yes.

Which was lovely, it was lovely having them around.

I mean, I don't know whether my dad was too enamoured about living

with his in-laws, I don't know. But, yeah, it was...

I loved it, it was great.

It is great to have you here.

Let's start with your very first TV memory. Here it is.

The Flumps. SHE GASPS

They were the best, I used to watch this all the time.

'The 1970s stop motion series The Flumps

'told the adventures of a family of lovable furry creatures.'

Look at Grandpa! Look at him garden!

-Look at Pootle and Posie.

-Ah.

-IN A NASAL VOICE:

-Pootle used to talk like Pootle,

because she used to have a cold in her nose.

She used to talk like that, that's why I loved her.

"What is she talking about?" asked Perkin.

"She's got secrets under her hat," said Pootle.

-IN A NASAL VOICE:

-See? She's got

secrets under her hat.

I remember one where she had a cloud or a balloon or something.

-IN A NASAL VOICE:

-And she used to carry it and she got really sad.

I loved it, I loved it.

It was so much fun. Oh, my gosh, this is taking...

That's a really good impression there.

-I can tell what you've done as a kid.

-Yes, all I did.

-I told you, only child.

-Yeah, with your Pootle impressions.

-There was just 13 episodes ever made.

-Is that all? Really?

So they must have kept repeating them, yeah.

Mother Flump knew that Pootle and Perkin

were up to something.

"What are you two arguing about?"

-Look at Mum.

-I love Mum's headscarf.

Isn't it brilliant, though? And look, they've got apples.

-Little apples.

-A lot of attention to detail.

-Yeah, there really was.

They're doing a little jigsaw puzzle there, aren't they?

You see, I always thought Pootle was a girl.

But maybe I was wrong, maybe he's just a very young boy.

Bulgelling.

'Pootle was indeed a boy and also the youngest of the Flump family.

'The focus was often on him as he got up to all kinds of mischief.'

"Oh, Pootle. You're always guessing words mixed up.

"You mean bulging and full up."

"That's what I said."

-Bit like me, I was always getting it wrong.

-Really? What, as a child?

Yeah, I always used to get things wrong.

Can't think of anything off...

But you do a great Pootle impression. Any other impressions?

They may well come out during the course of the show.

They may well come out during...? HE CHUCKLES

I used to, I think I used to really annoy my mum and dad

because I used to do lots of different voices

and accents and people.

But you were just learning your craft, wasn't you, really?

-Yeah, looking back, that's probably what it was.

-Yeah.

I did used to do a lot of performing in front of them as well.

I'd make a makeshift stage and sort of tell jokes.

It must have driven them nuts. They probably hated it now, looking back.

-So, it was always in you to perform?

-I think so, I think so.

-I loved it from the word go, I think.

-Yeah.

And it was always something I enjoyed doing.

I was never frightened of it, you know?

I think because I was bullied as well as a kid, I think that

that kind of, the humour became like a defence

and I wanted to make people like me.

So, I'd make people laugh and that's maybe what I...

-That fuelled it as well, I guess.

-Yes.

-So, who would you watch this with? Your grandad?

-Um...

No, I probably watched it with my mum.

She'd come and watch it with me.

Because it was all...

We didn't have kids programmes throughout the whole day,

so it would be on, I think there'd be some in the morning.

Maybe, possibly in the summer holidays.

But kids programmes would start about three

and finish about half five with Blue Peter.

-Or Grange Hill or something like that.

-Yeah.

So, and again, when I tell my kids that, they go, "That's ridiculous."

And you say, "No, because there was only a finite

"amount of time for kids programmes."

So, tell me about your sitting room growing up. What was that like?

Well, when we moved out of my grandparents house,

we got a little terraced cottage

and so, you'd walk in the front door and you'd come into the front room

and there'd be like a sofa here and a sofa here and then an open fire.

And then a big sash window and then the telly was in the corner.

And then at Christmas, we'd have the Christmas tree

right in front of the window. But...

-Yeah, it was a really cosy little cottage. It was lovely.

-Yeah.

And I used to sit, my dad bought this Chesterfield.

They were the big thing then and I used to sit on it

and just get buried in it and watch all my programmes and it was lovely.

Under a blanket. It was really nice.

Now, we've seen the shows that you love

-but this next one is your grandparents' choice.

-OK.

-SHE CHUCKLES

-Ah!

Last Of The Summer Wine.

This was the world's

longest-running sitcom.

It ran for 37 years.

37 years!

'This gentle comedy followed the adventures of three elderly friends

'as they caused havoc in the Yorkshire countryside.'

-These three were fantastic.

-Yeah.

-Look at Compo. He looks a bit like Pootle from The Flumps.

-Yeah!

-You see, there's a link.

-There's a little theme going through.

There's a little link with his woolly hat on.

-Oh!

-Peril. There's peril now.

She used to really upset me, the way she spoke to those three.

Oh, look at that!

She liked it all, really. She loved the attention, really.

She pretended she didn't, but she did.

SHE LAUGHS No!

It's brilliant. It's brilliant.

Serves you right, you daft lot!

-I love it, I love it. Gorgeous.

-Yeah. It brings back happy memories.

-It really does.

-And who would you watch this with?

-My nanny and grandad.

-Oh, right.

-And I'd be on the sofa again.

-And my nanny used to eat pomegranates a lot.

-Right.

So, she cut me half a pomegranate and she picked them out with a pin

-for me and I'd sit and watch...

-Ah.

Yeah, it was a real, that's a real kind of memory I have with her.

You know, because she was quite a big lady as well.

You know, she was cuddly, she was a cuddly woman. She was...

I just loved her and the smell of her and that really reminds me

of her and I was very, very close to my nanna, really close to her.

How old would you have been?

-I can't, I must have been about six or seven.

-Oh, really young?

I mean, you know, and I just...

Yeah, she was just, she was a real role model for me as well.

-Oh, really?

-Because she went through...

She had a lot of tough times, my nanna.

She went terrible, like a tough upbringing. And...

And she was so strong, she was such a strong woman and loyal

and loving and her and my grandad had this fantastic relationship.

She used to make me laugh.

Like, my mum and dad bought her once a bottle of Pimm's.

Big bottle of Pimm's.

And she was in the kitchen cooking Sunday dinner and we hadn't

heard from her in a bit and she was getting louder and louder singing.

And then the next thing I know,

we've walked out into the kitchen and the Pimm's bottle is empty.

And she's at the top of the garden with my grandad doing a waltz,

and she's absolutely hammered.

Because she didn't think you needed to dilute Pimm's.

So she's been drinking it neat, cooking...

And she still made the best roast dinner.

She was a wonderful woman and I do miss her, she's great.

-She was wonderful.

-Ah.

And so, that really does remind me of both my nanny and my grandad.

-Ah.

-It was great. Lovely, yeah.

-Lovely?

-Hmm. Just really...

-You're filling up, aren't you?

-I am a bit, yeah, because she's...

-Shall we move on?

-Yeah, because she's just...

-Yeah.

She was amazing. And my mum takes after her, so...

There's this line of very strong women in my family

that are so stoic and...

brilliant.

Last Of The Summer Wine is the longest-running sitcom in the world.

But there are a few other shows that give it

a run for its money in the longevity stakes. Oh, yes.

Including medical drama Casualty,

which is still going strong today.

When it first started in 1986,

all medical scenes were filmed on a

Wednesday at BBC television Centre,

which was also the same day that

the Top Of The Pops was recorded,

our longest-running music show.

The very first episode was transmitted live

from a converted church in Manchester in 1964.

And it continued to broadcast as a weekly chart show until 2006.

Although impressive,

that doesn't match up to the

huge 62-year run of Panorama,

which takes the crown for the longest-running

current affairs show.

First broadcast in November 1953, reporters have included

Robin Day, Richard Dimbleby

and his son David,

who presented his first Panorama

21 years to the day after the show began.

-And then we're going to move on now to comfort telly.

-Right.

This is something you would watch

-when you weren't feeling at your best.

-Yeah, OK.

From the heights of Mount Animalympus.

The flame begins its journey

through the four corners of the animal kingdom.

-This is called Animalympics.

-Animalympics.

Made in 1980, this, it was.

This is brilliant, this is, by the way.

This is one of the best films ever made.

'This feature length animation filled with catchy music

'told the tale of animals from all over the world

'taking part in an Olympic contest.

'It was created by Steven Lisberger,

'who would go on to direct the movie Tron two years later.'

Faster, furrier, the model of the competing...

-He sounds like Harry Shearer.

-It was, correct.

-It was Harry Shearer.

-Was it really?

'Comedian Harry Shearer is probably best known

'as the voice of Mr Burns and Ned Flanders in The Simpsons.'

-Other voice actors was Billy Crystal and Gilda Radner.

-Yeah! Wow.

# With you, I can run forever... #

This, it doesn't look much at the moment but it's really good.

This is a really good film!

You're very defensive of it.

I know, because... I don't know why!

I don't know why I'm very defensive of it.

Maybe because, you know, because of what Pixar do now

and everything, you know, there's that... It's so good now.

But actually, it's standing up.

# Together we can run forever... #

It was a really good soundtrack as well.

It was really quite a cool soundtrack.

# Through the wind and rain and morning dew... #

You got the whole film? Because we can all watch it now.

-Yeah.

-I'll order pizza in and we'll just, we'll watch this now.

As a group.

They're running the marathon, basically. They fall in love.

They hate each other at the beginning, these two.

'One of the films animator's was Brad Bird, who has gone on

'to direct Hollywood blockbusters like The Incredibles,

'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

'and Tomorrowland.'

-Why did he hate her?

-Because they were in competition to be first.

-Oh, right. Oh, I see.

-Yeah. But they win because they fall in love.

SHE LAUGHS

They're re crossing the finish line together!

'This rather strange but entertaining mock news broadcast

'parodied TV sport coverage.'

-Is there an explanation for Kit's behaviour?

-I had a good plan.

Keep Mambo track shoes, keep Mambo doll, keep Mambo vitamins.

So, what was comforting about this?

I don't... Actually, I don't...

I loved the music and I loved that love story.

And I just loved all the little,

because there were little kind of vignettes in it.

There were little stories within it.

And it was, it was just fun. It was just lovely.

I used to remember laying on the sofa if I was poorly

and my mum would put it on and I'd have had my vegetable soup.

And I'd lay there and watch it.

It was just knowing that my mum was in the kitchen

and the fire was on and this was on.

-It was just something very comforting about...

-Yeah.

And it was, you know, you're poorly but you feel...

-Comforted.

-Yeah, comforted.

-Yeah, it's comfort viewing.

-Yeah, it really is.

-Yeah, like a little arm around your shoulder.

-It is. Yeah.

Little kiss on my forehead. That's what it is.

-I'm filling up. AUDIENCE:

-Ah!

That's still one of my favourite films.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-Do you think it's stood the test of time?

-Looks like, well, looks like it has, hasn't it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-See, I want to watch that again now.

-So what about your kids?

Would you introduce them to this? Do you think they'd enjoy?

Yeah, I don't think they'd be particularly interested in that.

Em, no. Joe probably wouldn't because he's...

Martin's introducing him to Bond at the moment, James Bond.

But they might like that.

They might do. I'm going to have to get hold of a copy of that now.

-Well, now it is time for your next choice.

-Ooh!

Let's see what your must-see TV was back in the day.

SHE GASPS

-Oh, my God!

-S.W.A.L.K.

-Sealed With A Loving Kiss.

-Yes.

'Broadcast on Channel 4 in the early

'80s, S.W.A.L.K told of the trials

'and tribulations of teenager Amanda.'

I loved this.

And it was just all about growing up.

-But there was only ever six episodes.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-This is 1982.

-This was brilliant.

And she liked him.

I had a crush on her, she was my first crush.

-I think he turned out to be a bit of a wrong 'un.

-Oh, really?

-I think so.

This iconic show stood out from other programmes of its time,

thanks to its unusual use of on-screen photo stories

and an agony aunt played perfectly by Prunella Scales.

They're not all creeps, are they?

You've cracked it there, love.

He's made the first move. It's up to you to make the next one, right?

But she had an older sister. And her older sister was quite glamorous.

And got all the boys and she didn't

and they kind of have this real love/hate relationship.

But I don't ever remember it being only six episodes, that's insane.

Because it just seemed to go on and on for me.

Oh, mate, that's so brilliant.

-She pulls off the role of embarrassed teenager?

-Absolutely.

She was amazing. I used to, I loved, I loved her.

I loved her, I'd just be like that.

And I'd wait every week for the next episode.

That's brilliant because I haven't seen that since I was younger.

-Really? '82.

-God! Yes, so I was...

-I wasn't that old, I wasn't that old.

-You was a baby.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-But just, I wanted to be her.

-What made that so exciting for you?

-To want to be her.

-I just thought she was really cool.

And I just thought...

I just, I just liked her and I wanted to be like that.

And I was hoping that when I got to her age, that's what I'd be like.

I'd be this kind of...

You know, everything is kind of, "Oh, it's all terrible

"but I'm getting through it," kind of thing. Yeah, that's so weird.

And I'd forgot that Prunella Scales was in it.

Yes, she played, like, the thoughts in her head, her agony aunt.

Yeah. That's fantastic, I'm so pleased I've seen that.

Did you used to read Girl magazine?

-You know, with those photo stories in.

-I did. I used to read Girl.

-Hmm.

-Which was amazing. And Jackie.

-Ah, Jackie.

-But I...

I think I probably wasn't allowed to read that

when I started reading because it was a little bit grown-up.

-Bit racy?

-Yeah.

-Which one would be racy out of that? What, Jackie or both?

-Jackie.

Girl wasn't so much.

Girl, there was a cartoon strip in Girl magazine

that I followed every week and it was about these two ballerinas.

And one was good and one was evil

and it was about their fight to get this leading role.

And again, I'd be waiting until it came out,

I think it came out every Tuesday.

And I'd be down the newsagents with my mum and reading it

and stuff, it was great. Yeah.

So, when you was watching S.W.A.L.K, was you...?

Did you have your acting ambition then?

No, I wanted to be a dancer then.

So, I trained, I started doing ballet when I was about five

and that's what I wanted to be. And then it...

It became clear very quickly that I was not going to be a ballet dancer.

Because I just couldn't do it and I didn't have the discipline

and I just, I wasn't, I wasn't very good, you know?

And then a drama teacher, when I went to drama...

Because I did go to dance school for a year and then the drama teacher

said, "You know, I don't think you're going to

"pull it off as a dancer.

"But you show promise as an actress and I think you should pursue that."

And that's what made me become an actress.

-So, at what age would that have been?

-When I was about 16, 17.

I knew then, that it was never going to happen.

And I was quite pleased because it's hard work.

-Acting is a lot easier than dancing.

-Really?

Yeah, because you don't have to keep training, you know.

You don't have to train every day to be an actor.

That's kind of in there usually, it's a natural thing.

You know, but dancing, you have to work your muscles and you

have to keep supple and you have to keep it all in there.

It's different.

-So, are you pleased it went off?

-Very, very.

-Because my career would be over now.

-Hmm.

You know, as a dancer, I probably wouldn't be...

Unless you're somebody like Darcey Bussell

who's an incredible ballerina,

-your time is limited as a dancer.

-Hmm.

Whereas acting, you know, you can do it till you're 100.

-Well, I'm very pleased that you moved into acting.

-Thank you.

Now it's time to move onto your TV fear.

SHE LAUGHS NERVOUSLY

-Let's take a look.

-All right.

Would you like the paper?

'The Day Of The Triffids was an adaptation

'of John Wyndham's cult novel.

'Telling the terrifying tale of the world's battle to survive

'the petrifying man-eating

'Triffid plants.'

Any idea of what it is?

No, no, not really. It's blown in from somewhere, I suppose.

Either that or a foreign import of some sort I know not what of.

No, it's none of that. You wait.

Come on, Bill. Have a look inside. Come on.

-Don't look inside it.

-Don't look inside.

-Don't look inside it.

-Eugh!

-Come on now, Bill. That's nature.

-It's good, isn't it? That, for the time.

-Yeah.

I shall take care of you, old chap.

-It starts shaking.

-SHE GASPS

'Mysterious, intelligent and utterly terrifying triffids

'could kill a grown man with their sting.'

'We were beginning to learn about the tri-feds,

'or triffids as they came to be called.'

-Terrified me.

-Really?

It terrified the bejesus out of me, that did.

-Did it?

-Yeah, because I thought it could happen. I always thought

-things like that would actually happen, so I thought...

-A vivid sort of imagination.

-Terrible,

my imagination. Yeah, incredibly vivid imagination. Yeah, yeah.

I remember reading something once about a black hole and thinking, "Well, that's how I'm going to die.

-"I'm going to be hit."

-Fall into a black hole?

-Yeah.

Or a meteorite will hit me or...you know?

And so I thought, well, it's perfectly possible

-that triffids could come and destroy the planet.

-Hmm.

-And...

Yeah, that used to frighten the life out of me

and I remember having dreams about it.

About sort of it bearing down on me, over me.

And then I'd wake up screaming.

But then I think I read the book when I was about 12 or 13

and then that frightened me as well because of just the imagery in that.

I remember there was a chapter of the streets deserted

and there was this triffid walking up the road.

And that stayed in my head for a long time.

But I'm terrible, I am terrible. I can't...

When Martin's away, I can't think about or watch anything to do

with any kind of horror or thriller or Crimewatch or anything.

I just have to watch Friends or The Office, the American Office.

That's all I can do. Because anything else, I'm like,

"well, no, that's going to happen to me. La, la!"

-I'm awful.

-So...really?

-Yeah, that's horrible.

But you don't see it, "Oh, that's a prop,

-"there's a man crouched underneath."

-No, and I'm an actor!

So I know how it works.

But it's the idea that, you know, "You know, it could work.

"Somebody could splice. You could splice two plants together."

I see it, yeah.

-Sounds feasible.

-Stranger things have happened.

-Yeah.

-I'm just humouring you now.

-I know.

I know, I realise as I'm saying it, I sound insane.

But, yeah, that's childhood fear right there.

And well, it's time to move onto something else now.

-This is your guilty pleasure.

-Oh, God.

It's Eldorado! AUDIENCE LAUGHS

'Brought to life by EastEnders co-creators Tony Holland

'and Julia Smith, Eldorado focused on a group of expats

'living in Spain.'

-I loved it. I loved it.

-Yeah.

-I just used to watch it all the time.

-You were probably the only one.

-I think I may well have been.

-It lasted a year.

-Was it that long?

-Yeah, it got one year.

And they had 156 episodes.

God, that's... That's 156 episodes too many, isn't it?

-Well, not for you, though.

-Not for me.

No, I could watch that again and again.

Ah, you're back?

Oh, don't tell me you're angry

because I wasn't here when you got back.

They're having a competition to see who can wear

the brightest, most hideous shirt.

Pretty, was she...?

'The show was filmed on location

'at a £2 million purpose-built set near Malaga.'

I bought you something.

-What's this?

-My purse.

-I don't understand.

-When I left this morning, there was 20 mil in there.

-So?

So, it's not there now.

And we all know who's done it, don't we?

And you think I took it?

Well, unless it sprouted wings and flew out the window.

Look, why don't you just ask?

Go on, act like the wind. Act!

-It's no good a man should have to ask a woman for money.

-Oh!

But it's all right if you just take it, is that it?

-It's good, isn't it?

-It's good.

-You see, you're watching.

-I know, I enjoyed it.

-I loved it, I absolutely loved it.

I think my mum sort of hated me for loving it.

Because she couldn't stand it.

Who were your favourite characters, then?

I liked Bunny, Bunny because he talked like Bunny.

And then there was a girl called Pilar in it

who was this Spanish girl and who was very beautiful.

Who was the guy who was the real kind of playboy?

Who used to drive the sports car?

-That was Marcus Tandy.

-Him!

I liked him because he was ruthless.

Yeah. I wish it was still on.

-I really wish it was still on.

-Because it was so bad?

-Hmm, yeah.

-Interesting.

-I do, I love it. But you know, you kind of...

It's like, you know.

So you think it was unfair that it was axed after a year?

I can understand why it was axed.

I can completely understand why they got rid of it.

But you know, I didn't want them to because I could sit

-and watch that all day.

-Oh.

As viewers, we lap up shows about Brits abroad.

Like the comedy drama Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.

From Dusseldorf to Thailand,

we watched a bunch of builders

embark on new adventures in the sun.

Back in the '80s, it was

Tenko that had us hooked.

This drama followed

the harrowing ordeal

experienced by a group of expats

living in Singapore.

As Japanese prisoners of war

in the 1940s.

The series took its name

from the Japanese word tenko,

which means roll call.

A lighter-hearted look at Brits

abroad was One Foot In The Algarve.

We watched Victor

and Margaret Meldrew

leave the chaos of home life behind

and jet off to Portugal

for a relaxing holiday,

which of course turned out

to be anything but.

"I don't believe it!"

OK, it's time to look at someone that gave you belly laughs

when you were a teenager.

Here is your comedy hero.

'The brilliant Carry On Doctor

'was the 15th in the series

'of 31 hilarious Carry On films.'

Hello, Kenneth.

-It's Hattie Jacques.

-Oh, look at her!

-I thought you'd be surprised.

-Matron!

'In this movie, the glorious Hattie Jacques,

'skilfully played the battle-axe matron

'who harboured unrequited love for Dr Tinkle,

'played by Kenneth Williams.'

She is just brilliant.

What is so brilliant about Hattie Jacques, then?

Well, her and Joan Sims

for me were just...

They were naturally very funny

and they were good actresses.

And they kind of held their own

in these Carry On films, they really did.

Because they were, you know,

up against Kenneth Williams and Sid James.

And I'd like to have a drink with you some time.

No, now, Kenneth. I'm in the mood.

And don't keep calling me matron,

naughty boy. It's Livinia.

-I think she's misread the situation here.

-Yes!

Yes, it's weird that, isn't it? I wonder why that...

But they were just brilliant actresses. Just funny and...

But also, because it's all rooted in vulnerability

and it's all rooted in truth

and that's why they're both so good because...

-You know, they're very natural actresses and that's...

-Yeah.

But they managed to still be heightened and big.

You know, it's great.

We've wasted so many years. This is our moment.

'Hattie pulled off playing strict straight characters magnificently.'

You don't understand.

'So it was no surprise she was

'cast as a no-nonsense matron

'in five Carry On movies.'

Just keep myself fit and strong.

You may not realise it but I was once a weak man.

Once a week's enough for any man.

SHE LAUGHS

-Brilliant. I love her.

-Lovely.

-I loved her in those films.

-I really like the Carry On films.

-Do you?

-Yeah, I do, I do.

Because they were a part of my growing up as well.

And I love them and we've been watching them

recently with the kids, actually.

-We've been showing the kids them.

-Oh, really?

-They love them.

They do, yeah. There's one of...

There's one with Hattie Jacques, I can't remember the name of it

but when they go to the Hotel that's not been finished...

-IN AN ITALIAN ACCENT:

-She's all like this.

And she's like, she's hitting and doing all this.

-And it's, she's just brilliant.

-Carry On Abroad, that was.

-Yeah.

And she comes out of the kitchen with a big ladle and she's...

Oh, I love her, I love her. And Joan Sims as well, again.

She's, she's somebody that I remember from a very early age

watching them both and going,

"I'd like to do something like what they are doing."

Hmm. Oh, really?

Yeah, and then as I got older, it was

Julie Walters and Victoria Wood.

And then French and Saunders.

You know, they were my four kind of benchmark women of who I...

-And all really strong women, really.

-Yeah.

-Would you like to do more comedy?

-Yes.

Yeah, I'd like to try again and do some comedy.

I haven't done any for a couple of years

-and I'd like to maybe do some more soon.

-Hmm.

I love it. I think it's much harder to make people laugh

than it is to make people cry, I think.

Do you think that's why comedians or comediennes don't get

-the praise that they deserve?

-Absolutely.

Because they make it look easy.

But that's like with actors as well, you know.

Brilliant actors make it look so easy.

You know, when you see somebody, when you see an actor

and they're really working it, it's like, well...

"OK, calm down."

But when somebody is being naturally effortless,

you take that for granted a little bit.

You just think, "Oh, they can do it, that's fine."

And it's the same with comedians, I think.

When you watch people doing stand-up and they're just,

they're just knocking it out the park and just making you howl.

Yeah.

-It's just beautiful. But it's a...

-It's an art.

It is an art, it is an art.

I could never do stand-up comedy because I'd, A, be terrified

and B, I wouldn't be very good at it. I need a script.

Um, it's terrifying, it terrifies me.

-So I have so much respect for stand-up comedians.

-Mm-hm.

It's, I think it's an incredibly difficult thing to do.

-Thank you.

-But it is, it's fine.

AUDIENCE LAUGHS

Your next choice is your biggest influence

and you couldn't have picked a more well-liked and respected actor.

# A Fine Romance with no kisses... #

'Dame Judi Dench is a mega-famous film star.

'But back in the '80s, she spent more time on the small screen,

'not just acting but singing beautifully too.'

# ..yesterday's mashed potatoes. #

Such a good cast.

It didn't even have a happy ending.

It wasn't meant to have a happy ending,

that's why it was so romantic.

'Across four series,

'viewers were glued to their screens watching the awkward romance

'and insecurities unfold between Laura, played by Judi Dench,

'and Mike, portrayed by her real-life husband Michael Williams.'

Erm, Barbarella.

-Jane Fonda stepping out of that spacesuit.

-Pfft!

Well, what do you mean "Pfft"?

That's not romance, there wasn't even anybody else there.

There was, when I think about it.

Do you think the fact they were married in real life

-helped them play so well together?

-Yes, yeah, I do. I think it does.

What I loved about it was that it kind of had a little pathos

to it and I think that's what makes television great.

If you have comedy and sadness.

Because, you know, you need your ups and downs in anything,

in drama and comedy.

So it's nice when you have those moments of real...

..sort of sadness or just poignant within a comedy.

I think, because it's just nice to watch

because not everything is hilarious.

-I mean, she's moved gracefully into film, hasn't she?

-Yeah.

Judi, and that's a big step, isn't it?

It's such a different way of working.

Yeah, and she just does it with such ease and grace and I love it.

Dame Judi Dench has delighted audiences of the stage,

small screen and big screen for over 50 years.

After making her stage debut in 1957,

she went on to join the Royal Shakespeare Company

and has gone on to play every leading female Shakespeare role.

But her talents weren't just reserved for the stage.

She's acted on television throughout her career,

starring in hit series such as As Time Goes By and Cranford.

And of course, Dame Judi is a huge hit in Hollywood too,

starring in many critically acclaimed films

including M in James Bond.

Her amazing talent has seen her bag herself an Oscar,

two Golden Globes, seven Olivier Awards,

ten BAFTAs and, let's not forget, a damehood.

Dame Judi Dench, we salute you.

I managed to, I got to meet her and not work with her

but I was on the same stage as her at the Donmar.

They did a thing called The Vote

when the general election was going and she was in it with her daughter.

And...

And I was in the same dressing room as her

and I just managed to talk to her for an hour and she was so...

Oh, God, she was just lovely. She's a wonderful, wonderful woman.

And not only is she a brilliant actress

and one of our very, very best.

But she's a decent, lovely woman as well.

That makes me so happy because I always like it

-when people who are brilliant are nice.

-Yes.

It just makes you go, "Oh, thank God for that. I can still like them."

It makes such a difference. She's very...normal.

She's a normal actress. And it's just lovely. There's...

Because there are some actors that are quite fussy

and quite hysterical and quite chaotic.

-But she's none of those things and she's one of our best.

-Yes.

And the fact that she's one of our best

-and she's still very down-to-earth just makes me very happy.

-Yeah.

And I'm glad she's around and I'm glad she's British

and one of ours, I really am.

She's a joy.

I wanted to bring it now to your career. How did it all come about?

You know, those early days and then sort of going to university.

-Well, no, I went to drama school.

-You went to drama school?

And it was a little one up in Hitchin that nobody knew about

and it was called the Hertfordshire Theatre School.

So you were the only one there?

-Pretty much, there were eight people in my year.

-No? Really?

Eight or nine people in my year, yeah.

There was one boy, one boy and the rest were girls.

I'd left Laine Theatre Arts where I trained as a dancer

and I'd left there in June.

So, over the summer holidays,

I didn't get a chance to audition for other drama schools.

So this was the only one that was accepting people.

So, I got in and went there.

Erm, and I met this wonderful man called John Gardiner who was

the artistic director of the school. And he was...

He was an amazing mentor and teacher.

He was just this fantastic man, he passed away a few years ago.

But he just taught me so much about acting

and how important it is to be a nice person with it, you know.

Don't start believing your own hype

and don't sort of get too big for your boots

and just stay grounded as well as, you know, honing your craft.

And so, he taught me a lot about

not only the technical side of acting but just also

just being a decent person because that's part of being a good actor.

And a performer, you know? You want to be nice.

And...

he taught me that. And so, I'm glad I went there.

It's shut down now, it's completely gone, it's not there any more.

So, while I was there, I got an audition for The Bill.

One of my many, many appearances in The Bill.

And I got the job and then I got an agent from there

and it just sort of went from there, really.

-So, you like comedy?

-I do.

-Sitcom, could you imagine you and your husband Martin?

-Yeah.

-Together in something? Really?

-Yeah.

I mean, we never rule out not doing anything,

we'd do something else together.

-But I think because we're doing Sherlock at the moment...

-Yes.

We don't want to be in everybody's

front rooms all the time, the two of us.

People will go, "Oh, it's them again. That's all we need."

Of your future?

Since Amanda and Martin's

characters first met in 2014,

their story has been central to the

BBC's smart, sassy Sherlock reboot.

Together, they provided one of

the third series' most memorable

and emotional scenes as Dr Watson

is reconciled with his wife

after learning about her secret past.

SHE SOBS

You don't even know my name.

-Is Mary Watson good enough for you?

-Yes.

-Oh, my God, yes.

-Well, it's good enough for me too.

-It is nice working with your other half.

-Yeah.

Because also, you do your job and then you go home

and you kind of dissect the day and it's nice.

Because you've both been at work together

and you both experienced it.

Because Sherlock's not the only time

-you've worked with each other.

-I've done quite a lot

of stuff with Martin.

I've played his wife a few times

and we met on a job.

Um, yeah, we've done...

But Sherlock is the biggest thing we've done together.

So, it's the longest thing we've done together.

And what job did you meet on?

It was a Channel 4 drama called Men Only,

which was quite a controversial two-part drama.

Erm, and I met him on that and I met him on a make-up bus

and I'd been moaning to the make-up artist,

saying, "I'm never going to have a boyfriend.

"I'm going to end up single for the rest of my life."

And she was saying, "Well, there's an actor on here

"that's saying the same thing.

"He said he just wants to meet a decent woman."

And she said, "Oh, he's coming onto the make-up bus now."

He came on and I looked at him and he looked at me and we kind of

had this thunderbolt and I'd never experienced that before.

And he was like, "Hello." And I was like, "Hello."

And then the next day, we were still flirting with each other.

And then we went out for a drink that night

and about two months later, I moved in with him.

And we've been together for 16 years this year.

-That's good going.

-Yeah.

-AUDIENCE APPLAUDS

-Ah! So, yeah.

But it was one of those things where I thought,

-"Oh, you're the one that I'm going to spend the rest of my life with. Excellent."

-Really?

It really did feel like that and he said the same. He said, "Oh, well I've known..."

His words were, "I've stopped looking."

And it was really, it was lovely.

But you know, he still makes me laugh more than anyone else

in the world and he's still my best friend.

-Ah.

-Yeah. It's hard, relationships are hard.

-You've got two children?

Two children.

But you know, being a mum and being an actor,

I want to do both and I want to do both well and sometimes

you have to sacrifice one for a bit and the other for a bit.

How difficult is...?

It's all right, it's worked out, touch wood.

It's worked out OK, you know?

It takes me away sometimes, which I don't like but...

When I'm not there, Martin's there and vice versa.

Is that by sheer fluke, though? I mean...

We kind of engineer it, like, so we can do that.

-But, yeah, generally it's quite fluky.

-Mm-hm.

-Yeah.

So now I'm being a full-time mummy until I start Sherlock again. So...

I wouldn't want it any other way.

-I love it, I love my job and I love being a mum.

-Yeah.

-It's great.

So, what about the TV that you enjoy watching now?

I love The Apprentice. We're big fans of The Apprentice in our house.

We watch that a lot.

-And...good dramas.

-Yeah.

-I love good comedies.

Erm...

Yeah, I just like...

I like quality stuff with really good actors in

and really good comedians.

Well, we make some good stuff.

Oh, we do, we do. We have some good drama and good comedy.

And some great drama.

We should be very proud of what we push out here,

-especially on the Beeb.

-I think we're really good. Yet, I think so.

The Beeb's doing some fantastic stuff at the moment. It's great.

Well, we look forward to all the fantastic stuff

you have ahead of you.

In the future, you've been a wonderful guest.

-Thank you so much for being here.

-Thanks for having me.

So, at this point, my guest gets to choose a theme tune for us

-to play out on.

-Yay!

-Have you had a little think about this?

-Yeah. Yeah.

-Oh, go on.

-Can I say?

-Yeah.

-Do you want a drumroll?

-Go on, then.

-The Wombles.

-AUDIENCE CHEERS

We're going out on The Wombles?

Just the... THEY HUM THE WOMBLES THEME TUNE

# Wombling free! #

-Brilliant, it's a brilliant tune.

-It just takes you back?

Yeah, and also at the end, I remember the credits,

-he'd just be picking stuff up.

-Hmm.

-And I loved him, we loved him.

-We loved you.

-Oh.

-Thank you so much for being on the show.

-Thank you.

Thank you, Amanda.

-Oh, go on, two.

-Yeah!

-Oh! Make it three. Mwah!

SHE LAUGHS So, my thanks to Amanda

and my thanks to you for watching The TV That Made Me.

We'll see you next time. Bye-bye.

THE WOMBLES THEME TUNE PLAYS

-BOTH:

-# Underground, overground wombling free

# The Wombles of Wimbledon Common are we

# Making good use of the things that we find

# Things that the everyday folks leave behind

# Uncle Bulgaria...

-SONG CONTINUES:

-# He can remember the days

# When he wasn't behind the times

# With his map of the world

# Pick up the papers and take 'em to Tobermory. #