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Wendy Craig
Wendy Craig
Wendy Craig
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Wendy Craig CBE[1] (born Anne Gwendolyn Craig; 20 June 1934)[2] is an English actress who is best known for her appearances in the sitcoms Not in Front of the Children (1967–1970), ...And Mother Makes Three (1971–1973), ...And Mother Makes Five (1974–1976) and Butterflies (1978–1983). She played the role of Matron in the TV series The Royal (2003–2011).

Key Information

Craig was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles for her performance in The Servant (1963) and won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in 1969 for Not in Front of the Children.[3][4]

Early life

[edit]

Anne Gwendolyn Craig was born on 20 June 1934 in Sacriston, County Durham,[2] the daughter of farmer George Craig and his wife Anne (née Lindsay).[5] She attended Durham High School for Girls, initially as a day pupil and later as a boarder, which she revisited in October 2007 to open a new building that had been named after her.[6] She passed the 11+ examination and went to Darlington High School. When she was twelve years old the family moved to Picton, North Yorkshire and she attended nearby Yarm Grammar School.[5] She trained as an actress at the Central School of Speech and Drama,[7] then based in the Royal Albert Hall, London.[8][9]

In 1956, Craig appeared in the West End alongside Robertson Hare in John Dighton's farce Man Alive!.

Career

[edit]

One of her early TV appearances was in an episode of the Danger Man series called "The Gallows Tree" (1961).[10] In the 1960s Craig appeared in British films such as The Servant (1963) and The Nanny (1965) with Bette Davis, but it was her appearances in British sitcoms of the late 1960s/1970s which led to her becoming a household name, usually playing a scatty middle class housewife.[11][12] She went from the BBC's Not in Front of the Children (1967–1970) to ITV's ...And Mother Makes Three (1971–1973), in which she played a single parent, which evolved into its sequel ...And Mother Makes Five (1974–1976).[9] Then came Butterflies (1978–1983), a successful comedy on BBC2.[13]

Craig returned to drama with the series Nanny (1981–1983), a series she created, and wrote some episodes herself as Jonathan Marr,[9] a pseudonym she had used before when writing episodes of ...And Mother Makes Five.[14] Twenty years later, she played Matron in ITV's The Royal (2003–2011)[15] and she also made several appearances in the 2002 adaptation of John Galsworthy's novel The Forsyte Saga. However, she has continued to be associated with comedy, having taken one of the leading roles as Annie in Brighton Belles (1993–1994), the UK's short-lived version of The Golden Girls.[16] She appeared as Reggie's mother in the BBC One comedy Reggie Perrin (2009–2010), an update of the 1970s' series The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin.[17]

In 2012 Craig appeared as a guest in an episode of the cookery series MasterChef, along with many other 1970s sitcom stars.[18] In 2014 she appeared in an episode of the BBC drama Waterloo Road.[19]

In 2016, Craig appeared as Mary Goodman in the BBC detective series Death in Paradise.[20] In 2017 she appeared in the second series of the ITV drama Unforgotten.[11] Also in 2017 she starred as Miss Bat in the first three series of the CBBC programme The Worst Witch.[21] In 2018, she appeared in the ITV soap Emmerdale.[22] In October 2019, she appeared in an episode of Doctors alongside former Butterflies co-star Bruce Montague.[23]

Personal life

[edit]

Craig was married to Jack Bentley, a trombonist, scriptwriter and journalist, from 1955 until his death in 1994.[24] During her marriage with Bentley, she had two sons: Alaster, who was later principal oboist for the Birmingham Royal Ballet Sinfonia[24] and, as the result of an affair with John Mortimer, Ross, an IT consultant.[25][2] In 2004, having heard that the secret was out, Wendy visited Mortimer to reveal formally that their affair had resulted in a son, then 42.[26] She was at the time of the leak appearing in an episode of Midsomer Murders; series star John Nettles later said one of his favourite memories of the series was picking up a copy of The Daily Telegraph on set during that filming with a headline revealing the secret, remarking that "It just seemed so absolutely Midsomer".[27]

Since the 1990s, Craig has lived in Cookham, Berkshire.[28] She was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to drama and charity.[29]

Selected filmography

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Wendy Craig

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Wendy Craig (born Anne Gwendolyn Craig; 20 June 1934) is an English actress renowned for her extensive career in British television, theatre, and film, particularly her portrayals of quirky, middle-class mothers in popular sitcoms of the and . Born in , , to farmer parents George and Anne Craig, she developed an early passion for acting at age three, leading her to train at the Central School of Speech and Drama following . Her professional debut came with the Repertory Company, followed by her West End breakthrough in 1955's Mr. Kettle and Mr. Moon. Craig's film career gained momentum in the 1960s with supporting roles in Joseph Losey's The Servant (1963), earning a BAFTA nomination for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles, and (1965) opposite . She later appeared in family comedies like One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975). On television, she achieved stardom in domestic sitcoms, beginning with the BBC's Not in Front of the Children (1967–1970) as Irene Inman, a role that won her the BAFTA TV Award for in 1969. This was followed by ITV series such as (1971–1973) and its sequel And Mother Makes Five (1974–1975), where she played harried widow Joan Edwards. Her most iconic role came in the BBC's (1978–1982) as Ria Parkinson, a dissatisfied in a stagnant marriage, cementing her status as a staple and earning her Variety Club of Great Britain awards for BBC TV Personality (1969) and ITV TV Personality (1973), as well as consecutive Funniest Woman on TV honors (1972–1974). Craig also created and starred in the period sitcom (1981–1983), playing a 1930s . Later television work included the long-running role of Matron in (2003–2011) and voice acting in audio dramas. Throughout her career, Craig maintained a strong stage presence, performing in productions like Noël Coward's Relative Values (1973) and revivals of Hay Fever, and continued working into her later years, including appearances in 2024 documentaries such as Wendy Craig Remembers... Butterflies, receiving a CBE in 2020 for services to drama and entertainment.

Early life

Childhood and upbringing

Anne Gwendolyn Craig was born on 20 June 1934 in , a small village in , . She was the daughter of George Craig, a , and his wife Anne (née Lindsay). The family initially resided in the area, where her father's occupation tied them to the rural and agricultural life of the region despite its mining heritage. As a young child, Craig's family relocated first to Darlington and later to a farm in Picton near Yarm, providing a more distinctly rural environment with expansive views of the Cleveland Hills. This move immersed her in farm life, where her parents managed daily operations amid the North Yorkshire countryside, fostering a close-knit family dynamic centered on hard work and the rhythms of nature. The relocations reflected her father's evolving pursuits in farming before the family eventually shifted to haulage contracting. Craig's early interest in performance emerged at age six during her appearance in a school play, The Cock, the Mouse and the Little Red Hen, an experience that sparked her enduring passion for acting. This childhood moment in the local school setting laid the foundation for her creative inclinations, shaped by the supportive yet modest family environment.

Education and training

Craig began her education at Durham High School for Girls at age five. She attended Darlington High School for Girls after passing her 11-plus examination at age 11 in 1945. When she was twelve, her family relocated to Picton, North Yorkshire, where she continued her secondary education at Yarm Grammar School. Following the completion of her schooling around 1951, Craig pursued formal acting training at the Central School of Speech and Drama in , enrolling at the age of seventeen. The institution, now known as the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, provided her with comprehensive instruction in dramatic arts during the early 1950s. Prior to her formal training, Craig gained early practical experience with the Darlington Repertory Theatre while still at school, which helped nurture her interest in performance. This involvement marked an important step in her development as an actress before she fully committed to professional studies in .

Career

Theatre work

Wendy Craig began her professional theatre career in the 1950s with the Repertory Company, where she gained early experience in a variety of roles across regional stages. Her transition to more prominent work came swiftly, with a West End debut in 1955 playing the role of Monica Twigg in J.B. Priestley's Mr. Kettle and Mrs. Moon at the . The following year, she appeared in John Dighton's farce Man Alive! at the , opposite and , showcasing her comedic timing in a lively ensemble production that ran for several months. Throughout the 1960s, Craig established herself in notable West End productions, demonstrating versatility in both dramatic and humorous parts. In 1959, she portrayed Lilly Frost in J.P. Donleavy's adaptation of at the Fortune Theatre, sharing the stage with in a that explored bohemian life in post-war . By 1965, she took on the role of Fanny in David Mercer's Ride a Cock Horse at the , performing alongside and Sian Phillips in a provocative drama about marital infidelity and social tensions. These roles marked her growing reputation for handling complex characters amid the era's evolving theatrical landscape, blending sharp wit with emotional depth. Craig's affinity for classical theatre became evident in her association with the Royal Shakespeare Company, where she had a sustained involvement starting in the late 1970s. In 1981, she originated the role of Eleanor in Peter Nichols' at the as part of an RSC season, earning praise for her portrayal of a woman navigating infidelity and self-discovery in a modern riff on marital strife. Later, in 2000, she delivered a memorable performance as Mrs. Malaprop in Richard Brinsley Sheridan's at the Swan Theatre in , bringing fresh comedic flair to the character's malapropisms during a transfer to the . Her RSC tenure highlighted her range, from contemporary dramas to , solidifying her status as a versatile stage actress through the 1970s and beyond.

Television career

Wendy Craig's television career began in the late 1950s with minor roles, including her debut in the 1957 play The Cruelty Man, marking the start of her transition from to screen. By the mid-1960s, she had established herself in episodic dramas and , building comedic timing honed from her background. Her breakthrough came in 1967 with the lead role of scatterbrained housewife Jennifer Corner in the sitcom Not in Front of the Children, which aired until 1970 and spanned 40 episodes across four series. The series depicted the domestic chaos of the Corner family, earning Craig widespread recognition for her portrayal of a well-meaning but flustered mother, and it became a staple of British family comedy exported internationally. Craig continued her sitcom success on ITV with ...And Mother Makes Three (1971–1973), where she played widowed Sally Harrison raising two sons amid everyday mishaps, running for 22 episodes. The show's popularity led to the sequel ...And Mother Makes Five (1974–1976), in which her character remarries, now managing a blended family of five; the combined series solidified her as a leading figure in 1970s domestic humour, totalling over 40 episodes. In the late 1970s, Craig returned to the for (1978–1982), starring as Parkinson, a suburban in a stagnant who fantasises about greater fulfilment while baking and daydreaming. Written by , the series received critical acclaim for its subtle exploration of midlife dissatisfaction, achieving the highest audience appreciation index among sitcoms and resonating culturally as a poignant commentary on women's roles in middle-class Britain. Beyond these iconic roles, Craig appeared in other notable 1980s series, including the lead as professional nanny Barbara Gray in the ITV drama Nanny (1981–1983), which followed her adventures caring for affluent families over three series. She created and wrote several episodes of the series under the pseudonym Jonathan Marr. She also took on comedic parts in Laura and Disorder (1989–1990), co-writing and playing the lead role of Laura Kingsley, a divorced returning to the after living in . and in the 1993 ITV sitcom , a remake of where she portrayed one of four retirees. Guest spots in dramas such as and anthology programmes further showcased her versatility through the , extending her television presence into recurring character work.

Film appearances

Wendy Craig's film appearances, while selective compared to her extensive television output, showcased her versatility across genres, from psychological dramas to comedies, often in supporting roles that highlighted her nuanced portrayals of everyday women under pressure. Her breakthrough in cinema came with the role of Susan, the poised fiancée ensnared in class inversion and manipulation, in Joseph Losey's acclaimed The Servant (1963), adapted by from Robin Maugham's novella. This performance earned her a BAFTA nomination for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles, marking an early critical success that contrasted with her later comedic television image. In the mid-1960s, Craig continued exploring dramatic territory with her turn as Virginia Fane, the anxious wife in the Hammer Films production (1965), directed by Seth Holt and starring as the enigmatic nanny. Her character's unraveling amid familial suspicion and gothic tension underscored Craig's skill in conveying quiet emotional depth. Transitioning to lighter fare, she played the opportunistic Mrs. Tow-Wouse in Tony Richardson's bawdy period comedy (1977), a loose of Henry Fielding's featuring in the title role. Craig's post-1980s cinema work remained sparse, limited primarily to a brief appearance as the no-nonsense Nanny in Ray Cooney's ensemble farce Run for Your Wife (2012), which reunited her with sitcom contemporaries like Geoffrey Palmer. Overall, these film roles—from the introspective dramas of her early career to the ensemble comedies later on—complemented her television persona as the harried, relatable housewife by affording opportunities to demonstrate dramatic range and timing in high-profile British productions.

Later projects

In the 2000s, Wendy Craig continued her television work with recurring and guest roles that showcased her versatility in dramatic and comedic formats. She portrayed in the ITV medical drama from 2003 to 2011, a role that spanned multiple seasons and highlighted her ability to embody authoritative yet compassionate figures in period settings. She also made a guest appearance as Mrs. Mott in the BBC mystery series in the 2003 episode "The Tailor's Dummy," contributing to the show's blend of puzzle-solving and supernatural elements. Additionally, in 2013, she appeared in the episode "Endless Night" of . Craig's involvement in the 2009–2010 BBC revival of saw her playing Marion, the mother of the protagonist's wife, in a modern update of the classic , where her performance added warmth and humor to family dynamics. Entering the , she shifted toward , lending her distinctive tones to audio productions. Notably, she voiced multiple characters in ' audio dramas, including roles in The Third Doctor Adventures (2015), The Diary of River Song (2015), The First Doctor Adventures (2020, as Queen Elizabeth I), and The Ninth Doctor Adventures (2021), expanding her legacy into storytelling. She also narrated several audiobooks during this period, bringing her expressive delivery to literary works across genres. From the 2020s, Craig's projects increasingly focused on reflective and nostalgic content, celebrating her iconic 1970s sitcom roles. In 2023, she appeared as herself in the documentary Britain's Favourite 70s Sitcoms, discussing the cultural impact of classic British comedies. This was followed in 2024 by her participation in Comedy Classics: Bread, Butterflies & The Liver Birds, a tribute to writer Carla Lane's sitcoms, where she shared insights into the era's television landscape. That same year, BBC Four aired Wendy Craig Remembers… Butterflies, a 15-minute special in which she reminisced about her experiences on the beloved series Butterflies, including collaborations with Lane and co-stars like Geoffrey Palmer. At age 91 in 2025, Craig has maintained a selective presence through such memoir-style contributions, underscoring her enduring connection to British comedic heritage without indications of new scripted roles.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Wendy Craig married Jack Bentley, a trombonist, scriptwriter, and , in 1955 at St. Columba's Church in . The couple shared a close partnership, with Bentley providing support for Craig's acting career while pursuing his own work in music and writing. Their first son, Alastair Bentley, was born in 1957 and later became a principal oboist with the Birmingham Royal Ballet Sinfonia, following a path in the industry influenced by his parents' professions. A second son, Ross Bentley, arrived in ; although the result of an extramarital affair, he was raised by Craig and Bentley as their own, with Bentley embracing him fully within the family. Ross also entered the field of , co-writing the 1980s BBC comedy series Laura and Disorder alongside his father, in which Craig starred as the lead. The family dynamic offered mutual encouragement, as Craig balanced her rising television commitments with home life, occasionally pausing professional opportunities to prioritize her children. Jack Bentley died of on 22 April 1994, after nearly 40 years of marriage, leaving Craig to continue her career with the enduring support of her sons and extended family.

Health and residences

Wendy Craig has resided in , , since the 1990s, where she moved to a Victorian cottage approximately a decade prior to 2018 after selling her previous family home in the area. Her children live nearby, providing family support in her later years. In her later years, Craig has remained active publicly despite advancing age, with no major health disclosures reported beyond typical age-related concerns as of November 2025. At 91, she continues to engage in advocacy efforts, notably as an ambassador for the Royal Osteoporosis Society, where she has promoted early diagnosis of the to reduce fractures and enhance independence. Her involvement stems from a commitment to bone health awareness, highlighted in public messages as recently as August 2025. Craig's philanthropy includes long-standing support for various causes, such as serving as a vice president for The Leprosy Mission, where she has advocated for legacy giving to aid those affected by the disease. She previously held the role of president at Elizabeth House, a Maidenhead-based care home, for over 25 years until stepping down in 2014. Her charitable work contributed to her appointment as Commander of the in 2020 for services to drama and charity.

Awards and honours

Official honours

In the 2020 New Year Honours, Wendy Craig was appointed Commander of the (CBE) for services to drama and charity. She received the honour from Queen Elizabeth II at an ceremony held at on 3 March 2020.

Industry recognition

Craig received early industry acclaim for her film debut, earning a for the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles in 1964 for her supporting role as Susan in The Servant, directed by . Her breakthrough in television came with the 1967 BBC sitcom Not in Front of the Children, where she portrayed the scatterbrained housewife Jennifer Corner; for this performance, she won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress in 1969, recognizing her comedic timing and emotional depth in the role. Throughout the 1970s, Craig's popularity surged with sitcoms like (1971–1973) and (1978–1982), leading to multiple viewer-voted honors. She was named BBC TV Personality of the Year by the Variety Club of Great Britain in 1969, reflecting her impact on . In 1973, she received the Variety Club ITV TV Personality of the Year award, honoring her contributions to independent . Craig was also voted Funniest Woman on TV by TV Times readers for three consecutive years from to 1974, underscoring her status as a beloved figure in British light entertainment during that era.

References

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