Last Laugh In Vegas: ITV:
Sunday 21st June: 11.15pm Episode One. Comedians Cannon
and Ball, Bernie Clifton, Kenny Lynch and
Mick Miller, join forces with musicians
Bobby Crush, Jess Conrad, Anita Harris
and actress Su Pollard to stage their
dream gig in Nevada. For two weeks
they'll live together, explore the city
and rehearse with Las Vegas producer
Frank Marino, preparing for the biggest
performance of their lives in one of the
area's most iconic theatres.
14.06.2020:
Rare Su Photos: Oh! Mr Porter
A
couple of rare photos of Su were included
in an article at www.therealchrissparkle.com
recently. These are from the Oh! Mr
Porter theatre programme from the
Mermaid Theatre in 1977.
To celebrate the Dowager Mrs C’s
56th birthday, we saw this delightful
revue of Cole Porter songs at the quaint
Mermaid Theatre; what Side by Side by
Sondheim did for me regarding Sondheim,
this did the same regarding Porter, and I
still like to discover old Cole Porter
classics. Mother’s favourite Porter
song, Miss Otis Regrets, was given a
moving rendition by Richard Denning; also
in the cast were Jacqueline Clarke (still
giving great performances today), a young
Su Pollard (ditto), Tudor Davies, Don
Fellows, Graham James, Eleanor McCready,
Kenneth Nelson, Jeanette Ranger and Una
Stubbs. A charming and extremely
entertaining show.
07.05.2020:
London Theatre Reviews: Until The
Curtains Rise
West
End creatives and beloved celebrity
favourites are rallying behind a
fundraising initiative for the UK theatre
community embattled by the COVID-19
epidemic to keep theatre alive Until the
Curtains Rise.
Theatre closures as a result of the
COVID-19 epidemic have left actors,
directors, producers, writers, composers,
designers, stage technicians and theatre
administration in dire financial and
emotional circumstances, with their
future in limbo.
Today, Until The Curtains Rise launches a
silent auction and crowdfunding
initiative, inviting members of the
public to bid on ‘rewards’
donated by stars and creatives.
Donors include Dame Helen Mirren, Miranda
Hart, Michael Ball, Christopher Biggins,
Arlene Phillips, Danielle de Niese, Jodie
Pregner, Bertie Carvel, Lauren Ward,
Hannah Waddingham, Su Pollard, Harriet
Thorpe, Lesley Joseph, Julie Atherton,
Emma Kingston, Jason Carr, Chris Hopkins,
Grace Taylor, Linda John-Pierre, Guy
Hore, Kaisa Hammarlund, Simon Lipkin,
Michael Vinsen, Natalie Moore-Williams,
Jason Denton, Charlotte Vaughn, Adam
Robert Lewis, Dominic Hodson, Reece
Kerridge and the actor service We
Audition.
30.04.2020:
Su on the Radio: BBCR2 Friday Night Is
Music Night
Friday
Night Is Music Night:
BBC Radio 2: Sunday 10th May: 7pm Forces Sweethearts. Friday Night
is Music Night salutes the Forces
Sweethearts of the Second World War on
the occasion of Dame Vera Lynn's 100th
birthday.
This week we have been celebrating the
100th birthday of the East Ham girl whose
name became synonymous with the phrase
"Forces Sweetheart" - Dame Vera
Lynn.
Tonight Friday Night is Music Night
salutes Vera and the other Forces
Sweethearts - including Anne Shelton,
Marlene Dietrich, Doris Day and the
Andrews Sisters.
The BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by
Richard Balcombe perform Bridge on the
River Kwai (Malcolm Arnold); the Spitfire
Prelude and Fugue (William Walton) and
the Dambusters March (Eric Coates). Our
singing guests are Mary Carewe, Lucy
Williamson, the Puppini Sisters and
making a guest appearance and recalling
memories of Gracie Fields - Su Pollard.
The presenter is Ken Bruce. Concert
recorded 17th January 2017 at the Mermaid
Theatre in London.
Pay a visit to The
Official Su Pollard Instagram. A
highly entertaining look through Su's
eclectic and highly varied career, with
many photos and video clips. Great fun!
30.04.2020:
Chocolate Bar Wars / Blackpool Big Night
Out
Su popped up on a couple of
shows this past week - Chocolate Bar
Wars: Britain's Favourite aired on
Channel 5 on Sunday and is currently
available to watch on Ch5 Catch
Up My5.
There was also a repeat airing of Blackpool
Big Night Out on BBC2, which is
available to watch again at BBC iPlayer.
17.04.2020:
Yorkshire Post: Su Pollard Interview
Su
Pollard on her new stage show and happy
memories of Hi-de-Hi!
Before the coronavirus pandemic
struck, Su Pollard was often popping down
to her local charity shops.
Not for a good rummage around or to spot
a potential bargain, but to drop things
off.
It was part of her mission to declutter
her home. “There are so many things
around all of us,” says Su, the
actress who shot to fame when she played
the irrepressible and eternally
optimistic Peggy, the chalet-maid of
Hi-de-Hi!, and the slightly bewildered
Ivy Stokes in You Rang, M’Lord?
“Am I alone in looking around my
place and thinking ‘when did I last
use that?’ One of the most recent
things was a nice enough decanter that
had sat on the sideboard for heaven knows
how long. I looked at it and I thought
‘when was the last time that
actually had anything in it? When was it
used? Is it really doing anything?’
So it went. And I hope that it finds a
good home, and that someone gets pleasure
from it.”
• Continue reading at the Yorkshire
Post.
See forthcoming Harpy dates here.
It's incredible
that, in its 40th anniversary year, Hi-de-Hi!
is still entertaining audiences almost
every day - multiple times - on
television.
Today
The Society Entertainer: Series
4, episode 4 airs on Gold at 9.40am,
1.40pm and 7pm (as well as Gold +1 at
10.40am, 2.40pm and 8pm).
As if that isn't enough, The Perils
of Peggy: Series 9, episode 3 airs
on Drama at 6pm (and 7pm on Drama +1).
Don't forget that Su and
Ruth Madoc, who celebrated her 77th
birthday just yesterday, also pop up on
Really at 6pm in a repeat of Celebrity
Antiques Road Trip. Have a very
Happy Hi-de-Hi! Friday.
16.04.2020:
Su on TV: Celebrity Antiques Road Trip
Su
Pollard: ‘I’m not a workaholic
– I’m a work enthusiast!’
Bubbling with cheery optimism and wit, Su
Pollard is the ideal person to interview
if your spirits are low.
In fact, it’s hard to interrupt her
seemingly endless supply of humorous
anecdotes from her 50-year career –
ranging from a close encounter with a
horse, tap dancing with Princess Diana,
and kissing Theresa May’s husband.
One of our best-known comedic actresses
– known for the likes of holiday
camp worker Peggy in Hi-de-Hi! in the
Eighties, which turned her into a
household name – Pollard is full of
tales
The main purpose of our interview,
however, is her latest role as Birdie, an
extreme hoarder, in stage show, Harpy
(the UK tour has been postponed due to
the pandemic). It’s one the few
‘straight’ parts she’s
ever undertaken.
“Over the years, people have put me
in a box labelled ‘comedy’
– largely because of Hi-de-Hi!
– but I don’t mind that at
all,” reflects Nottingham-born
Pollard, 70.
“It’s a kind of compliment in a
way, because it means they’ve
enjoyed whatever they’ve seen and so
you’re in their psyche. It’s an
affectionate way of being
‘boxed’.
• Continue reading at Talk Talk.
NB: This interview has been syndicated to
numerous other online and print
publications over the past few weeks.
09.04.2020:
News & Star - Su Pollard Interview
Actress
Su Pollard speaks out about isolation
ahead of visit to Cumbria
Much-loved actress Su Pollard is coming
to The Old Laundry Theatre in Bowness on
April 16.
Sue, well known for her roles as Peggy in
80s sitcom Hi-De-Hi! and Ivy the maid in
You Rang M’Lord?, is reprising her
role in the production ‘Harpy’.
Harpy is by award-winning playwright
Philip Meeks (Kiss Me Honey, Honey!;
Murder, Margaret and Me). It following
Su’s successful Edinburgh Fringe
debut in 2018 in the role.
The one-woman show presents a grittier
side to the Pollard of TV fame, in a
heart wrenching exploration of mental
illness and loneliness among the elderly.
• Continue reading at the News &
Star.
NB: The April 16th date mentioned here is
cancelled. New Harpy
dates
are being recheduled.
09.04.2020:
Hi-de-Hi! 40th Anniversary
This year is the 40th
Anniversary of Hi-de-Hi! - the
Pilot Epsiode aired on 1st January 1980 -
and over at Su's Instagram a plethora of
content is available to view.
28.03.2020:
Celebrity Murder Mystery - Episode One
Caps
A selection of screen caps
from last night's, hugely entertaining,
first episode of Celebrity Murder
Mystery. Click to zoom for larger
caps. Tune into Channel 5 tonight for the
second, concluding, episode, Celebrity
Murder Mystery: Killer Revealed.
28.03.2020:
Su Recalls James & Ivy
Su
was interviewed by the Daily Star this
week, and reminisced about the Perry and
Croft sitcom that almost happened in the
1990s. James & Ivy would
have been her fourth series working with
the talented duo:
Now Su has revealed a fourth sitcom was
planned. It was called James &
Ivy and would be a spin-off to the Upstairs,
Downstairs sitcom You Rang,
M'Lord? starring her as Ivy Teasdale
and pal James Twelvetrees. However, at
the 11th hour, TV bosses pulled the plug
and it never saw the light of day.
Both episodes of Celebrity
Murder Mystery air on Channel 5,
Channel 5 +1, and will be available
post-airing on Catch Up - My5 and
5Select.
27.03.2020:
What's On TV: Celebrity Murder Mystery
TV
tonight: Our highlights for Friday 27th
March - Su Pollard checks in for
a murder-mystery weekend
Agatha Christie fans eat your heart out
as six celebrities are plunged into a
whodunnit when they book in for a
murder-mystery weekend. The two-parter
sees Su Pollard, Keith Duffy, Angela
Rippon, Sheila Ferguson, John Sergeant
and Rev Richard Coles step back into to
the 1920s to unmask a killer after
someone is shot in suspicious
circumstances. Each celeb assumes a
classic crime-melodrama persona, while
also interacting with a cast of
characters, including the lord of the
manor and a village doctor. As the body
count rises, clues help the celebs
unravel the mystery, while we also learn
some historical facts. It makes for a
bonkers mix of a reality show, Poirot and
a Back in Time series!
Some good news! The Harpy
tour dates are now being rescheduled.
Click below for which ones are available
to book now and those coming soon. More
will be added as they become available
and tickets previously booked remain
valid.
Hi-de-Hi!: GOLD: Saturday 28th
March: 8.20am No Dogs Allowed. Series 1
Episode 6. Jeffrey is left with a large
dog to look after. All pets being banned
from Maplin’s he has to break in and
try to keep it secretly in his chalet.
Hi-de-Hi!: GOLD: Saturday 28th
March: 9am
Hi-de-Hi!: GOLD: Sunday 29th March:
7.30am Eruptions. Series 4. Episode 3.
Joe Maplin installs a model volcano in
the ballroom which erupts during
Ted’s act. Ted is not prepared to
tolerate such interuptions so in the dead
of night he leads an expedition to
sabotage it.
23.03.2020:
Celebrity Murder Mystery - Press: Su
Turns Sleuth!
Su
Pollard books in for a weekend break with
a twist
Celebrity Murder Mystery
Friday, 9pm. Channel 5
Fans of Poirot, eat your heart out, as
six celebrities are plunged into their
own whodunnit when they book in for a
murder mystery weekend at a country
mansion.
In this two-parter, Su Pollard, Keith
Duffy, Angela Rippon, John Seargeant,
Sheila Ferguson and Rev Richard Coles to
the 1920s to unmask a 'killer'.
"We all got invited to this lovely
posh house, but one by one people seemed
to be "killed off", says former
Hi-de-Hi! star Su. "We had to work
together to find the "killer" -
it was proper good fun!"
Each celeb assumes a classic, murder
mystery persona while interacting with a
cast of whodunnit characters - from a
batty old aunt to a shifty village
doctor. As the body count rises, the
sleuths are given a series of clues to
help them unravel the mystery.
"We took it all so seriously,"
laughs Su. "We had an incident room,
where we put all the clues together and
that's what we hope the audience at home
will do too. It is really ambiguous,
though. You think you've worked it out,
but then you go, 'I was totally wrong
about that.'"
Squeaky Clean:
Britain's Favourite Cleaning Product:
Ch5: Sun 22nd Mar: 6pm
Light-hearted countdown revealing the
British public's cleaning product of
choice. From sponges to sprays, which
go-to housekeeping item will come out
shining?
20.03.2020:
John Hannam Podcast - Su Interview
Su's recent podcast
interview with John Hannam is available
to listen to via the player below. A
great chat with Su discussing her career,
Harpy, Southsea and much more.
19.03.2020:
Su Online's Su Pollard Career CV
A new addition to the
website, our Su Pollard
Career Archive.
It's essentially a list, but a long and
very comprehensive and interesting list.
Happy reading...
19.03.2020:
Su on TV: Celebrity Murder Mystery
Celebrity
Murder Mystery: Channel 5:
Friday 27th March: 9pm Episode One.Well-known faces Su
Pollard, Sheila Ferguson, the Rev Richard
Coles, Keith Duffy, Angela Rippon and
John Sergeant travel back in time to the
1920s for the ultimate murder mystery
weekend. The participants have just four
days, relying on their wits and the best
forensic techniques the era has to offer.
As the story begins, the celebs are
invited to the reading of the Baroness
Grafton's will. Surrounded by the late
woman's loved ones, it's clear that some
are happier with their lot than others.
Inevitably, it's not long before the
bodies start to stack up. Director: Tom
Stark Holland. Starring: Su Pollard,
Sheila Ferguson, Richard Coles, Keith
Duffy, Angela Rippon, John Sergeant.
Celebrity Murder Mystery: Channel
5: Saturday 28th March: 9pm Episode Two. A Killer Revealed.
Celebrity sleuths Su Pollard, Keith
Duffy, Angela Rippon, John Sergeant,
Richard Coles and Sheila Ferguson have
just hours left to identify the killer,
but are no closer to agreeing on an
answer. As well as solving a mystery,
they also have to get to grips with the
art of flower arranging, cleaning a house
using 1920s methods, and enjoying an
absinthe-fuelled Charleston party.
Director: Tom Stark Holland. Starring: Su
Pollard, Keith Duffy, Angela Rippon, John
Sergeant, Richard Coles, Sheila Ferguson.
18.03.2020:
*IMPORTANT UPDATE* Harpy Tour Postponed!
Following the recent
announcement by the government regarding
the Coronavirus / COVID-19 situation,
theatres in the UK have closed, or are
closing, until further notice. Sadly this
means the remainder of the Harpy
Tour dates are postponed for now - This
website will provide further info as and
when it becomes available. Please also
check theatre websites for information.
17.03.2020:
Harpy in Bury St Edmunds/Hi-de-Hi! In
Conversation
*Important Information*
Sadly tomorrow's performance of Harpy
at the Theatre
Royal,
Bury St Edmunds and Sunday's In
Conversation With - Hi-de-Hi!
40th Anniversary event at the Museum Of
Comedy in
London have both been cancelled.
The venues have closed due to government
advice with regards to the ongoing
Coronavirus situation. Apologies to
everyone with tickets for both events.
Please see the venue's websites, by
clicking below, for further information.
17.03.2020:
Su Pollard - Career Archive
Coming Soon to Su Online -
Su's Official Career CV. This is a
long-awaited addition to the website - A
comprehensive page listing as many of
Su's television and theatre roles and
appearances as possible, as well as music
and writing credits...
16.03.2020:
The Sunday Post - Su Interview
National
treasure Su Pollard is Harpy and she
knows it in new one woman play
National treasure Su Pollard has
always stood out from the crowd. With her
flamboyant dress sense, big glasses and
even bigger personality, the actress
became a household name in the ’80s
thanks to her role in comedy, Hi-de-Hi.
All of that just makes her latest role,
as a lonely, forgotten hoarder dealing
with myriad mental health issues, more
powerful.
Su, now 70, first performed one-woman
play Harpy, which was written for her, at
the Edinburgh Fringe.
She’s back in Scotland this week as
part of a nationwide tour and hopes the
show will lead the audience to reflect on
many of the issues the story touches
upon.
“My character, Birdy, is a hoarder,
which is a symptom of her problem,”
Su explained.
A great photo from the
filming of Celebrity Murder Mystery,
which airs on Friday 27th and Saturday
28th March at 9pm each night. Su is
pictured with Keith Duffy and Miranda
Godfrey, who provided the photo.
14.03.2020:
Harpy Review - The News, Portsmouth
Harpy
at the Kings Theatre, Southsea REVIEW: 'A
strong script and a very strong
performance'
For most of us over a certain age Su
Pollard is Peggy, the scatty chambermaid
who aspires to be a yellowcoat in the
long running holiday camp sit-com
Hi-De-Hi.
... Su’s performance throughout is
sympathetic and convincing and while 90
minutes as the sole character would be
admirable enough, this goes way beyond an
impressive monologue.
One scene as Birdie approaches breakdown
is particularly spellbinding and the
combination of a strong script and a very
strong performance make this an
intriguing insight into the fine line
between eccentricity and mental illness.
• Continue reading at The News.
(Review by Martin Cox)
14.03.2020:
Celebrity Murder Mystery on Channel 5
Dates and times have been
confirmed for Channel 5's Celebrity
Murder Mystery, in which Su appears
along with Angela Rippon, John Seargent,
Keith Duffy, Sheila Feguson and Rev.
Richard Coles.
The opening day of Su's Harpy
tour is here! Beginning this afternoon at
the King's Theatre, Portsmouth. Best
Wishes to Su for a great next few months
travelling the UK. Click below for all
dates of the tour and links to buy
tickets.
See a photo from
yesterday's full Harpy rehearsal
here.
Watch Su in rehearsal for Harpyhere.
View the Harpytrailer.
Browse our Harpy at Edinburgh Fringe
feature.
Visit, Harpy producers, SFTW's website.
Scroll down this page for numerous Harpy
interviews and press articles.
On day three of our
International Women's Day 2020 series, we
give you the gift of Su Pollard, actor
and national treasure, best known as
Hi-de-Hi's Peggy, and now starring in
one-woman show Harpy. Jen chats to Su
about mental health, ageing stars,
wedding singers and upsetting passengers
from the mighty Harwich Ferry. And
parrots, obviously.
11.03.2020:
Harpy - Newsy Bits & Pieces!
There's
been a lot of Harpy press over
the last few weeks. Here's another batch:
• Shropshire Star:
Su Pollard shows her grittier side:
Following a successful run at the
Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2018,
actress Su Pollard will reprise her role
in Harpy by award-winning playwright
Philip Meeks as part of an extensive UK
tour this Spring - Continue
reading...
• Lichfield Live:
Actress Su Pollard "thrilled"
to bring show exploring mental health to
the Lichfield Garrick: With a
showbusiness career spanning four
decades, the former Hi-De-Hi and You Rang
M’Lord? star will appear in Harpy in
the city on 2nd May. The production is
embarking on a UK tour after a successful
run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2018 - Continue
reading...
• Muddy Stilettos:
This Month: Theatre - Harpy with Su
Pollard, Kings Theatre, Portsmouth, Thurs
12 – Fri 13: Su Pollard and the
Kings Theatre, in conjunction with Fringe
First award-winner Philip Meeks (Kiss Me
Honey, Honey!, Murder, Margaret and Me)
have come together to stage the very
witty, dark comedy – Harpy - Continue
reading...
• Edinburgh 49:
Interview (with Philip Meeks): Why Harpy?
Harpy is one of the many derogatory terms
about women borrowed from mythology.
I’m sure these terms were originally
used in this way by men and since one of
the themes of the play is that men are
frightened of women, like rich people are
frightened of poor people, I decided it
was a good short sharp title - Continue
reading...
The Harpy tour
opens on Thursday at the King's
Theatre, Portsmouth.
There are three performances at the
venue; a matinee on Thursday at 2pm, and
two evening performances on Thursday and
Friday at 7.30pm.
Click
below for futher information and ticket
booking links.
10.03.2020:
Andy and the Band - Watch at BBC iPlayer
Hi-de-Hi's
Su Pollard: 'I'd rather talk about cakes
than Brexit!'
As she hits the stage in a powerful
solo show, the frenetic star talks about
sexist miners, over-friendly horses
– and what really happened at that
No 10 drinks party
‘I do dress flamboyantly – and
I don’t care what anyone
thinks’ … Su Pollard, who is
touring the play Harpy.
Speaking breathlessly between sips of
tea, Su Pollard is talking about her
stage debut, which took place at the age
of six. She was playing one of the Angel
Gabriel’s sidekicks in a nativity
play and, for some reason, had been made
to stand on a cardboard box. “I was
telling Mary, ‘Fear not! Angel
Gabriel will –’ And then I
disappeared into the box. The teacher
hadn’t made it strong enough.”
Little Su, demonstrating the
professionalism that would come to define
her career, climbed out and finished her
line: “– be coming to give you
a sign.” As the audience howled in
delight, she realised that it was her
destiny to make people laugh. Or at least
so she says, with the advantage of
hindsight. There is something very
Chumbawamba about Pollard: the woman best
known for playing Peggy, the chalet
cleaner in the BBC sitcom Hi-de-Hi!,
keeps getting knocked down, but she gets
up again. She’s so dogged in her
relentless cheerfulness, so unstoppable
once she gets going.
Sitting
opposite me at a hotel in London’s
Covent Garden, Pollard is about to tour
the country in one of the few straight
roles she has taken on since that debut
64 years ago. Fingers crossed, she
won’t be upstaged or injured by the
scenery. But it remains a possibility
since she is playing an extreme hoarder
called Birdie who lives alone in her
flat, surrounded by a lifetime’s
tat, of which more later.
Closer
magazine published a short Su interview
feature in their latest issue (March 3rd
2020).
COMEDY ACTRESS SU POLLARD, 70,
REVEALS HER INNER EMOTIONAL SECRETS
I'M PROUD OF... still
being in showbiz. It's quite hard,
especially for the younger ones trying to
make a career out of it. It is difficult
to do for a long time, but I've managed
it.
I'VE LEARNED... people
often just want a bit of kindness. When I
was a little girl, I fell over in the
playground. One of my teachers was so
kind. She gathered me up and took time
out to help and comfort me. That stayed
with me. A kind word goes a long way.
THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I'VE
BEEN GIVEN... is to not
disregard people, but also listen to
yourself - you'll find the right way
forward. It's something my Dad said to
me. He was great - as well as being
supportive and encouraging, he was modern
and forward thinking.
MY BIGGEST FEAR IS...
something happening to me before I want
to go and not being able to do eveything
I want to - there's a few more things
yet! You don't want to fear death, but
you've got to be realistic.
• Su Pollard will be appearing in
the UK tour of Harpy by Philip
Meeks.
09.03.2020:
What's On Stage - Su Interview
Su
Pollard and Harpy: no glitter, no
glasses, hardly any makeup – I'm
very much bare
The Hi-de-Hi! actor stars in a
one-woman touring play about hoarding
this spring
Most famous for her lead in TV's
Hi-De-Hi! in the 1980s, and more recently
on stage in such pantomimes as Snow White
and the Seven Dwarfs (Malvern Theatres,
Waterside Theatre) and Dick Whittington
(Wolverhampton Grand Theatre), Su Pollard
is about to embark on a UK tour with
one-woman show Harpy. The play, written
by Philip Meeks, explores a woman's
struggles with mental health, isolation
and hoarding – it premiered at the
Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2018 and is
now playing around the UK this spring.
We caught up with Pollard ahead of the
tour's opening to talk about the show,
Edinburgh and the move away from her
usual comedic roles:
How are you feeling ahead of the
Harpy tour?
"Luckily I've done a version of it
before at the Edinburgh Festival, but it
must be about two years now that Philip
[Meeks] first thought of it. We worked
together in a panto and he said to me,
'when I come up with the right thing that
I think might be suitable, I'll
definitely send you a script.'
"We've had really good meetings
about it, but equally he's distancing
himself at rehearsal. He doesn't want to
interfere with Abi [Anderson] the
director – he's very good at sharing
the experience after living with the
script for a long time, I've been able to
get inside her character.
"I really believe in the play as
well – that poor woman has had
nobody to help her. Hoarders live in
plain sight and that's why Philip wrote
this. This show is really relevant, but
this time we wanted to have it longer.
He's written another 25 minutes' worth,
it's more thorough and should be a really
entertaining piece. It's ready to
go!"
09.03.2020:
Velvet Mag: Watch the Birdie: It's
(Peggy) Su ...
Best
known for her star-turn as Peggy in the
BAFTA award-winning sitcom Hi-de-Hi!, Su
Pollard is turning her talents to darker
subject matter in the highly-acclaimed
Harpy.
A play commissioned for Su Pollard, Harpy
is a heart wrenching exploration of one
woman’s struggles with mental health
and loneliness, manifesting itself
through extreme hoarding. Neighbours call
Birdie a harridan and a harpy even though
most of them have never even met her.
They regard her obsessive hoarding as
detrimental to the value of their homes
but for Birdie, saving what others regard
as junk allows her to make sense of the
world around her; her possessions are
memories of times past. Shunned by
conventional society, she regards it as
her duty to salvage these tiny histories
that without her would be entirely
forgotten. Ahead of her appearance as
Birdie at Bury’s Theatre Royal this
month, Velvet asks Su about the new play.
How would you describe the show
to someone who hasn’t seen it?
Harpy tells a funny and tragic story
about one woman’s lifelong battle to
find a treasured possession she once
lost. It makes you think about the idea
of mental health and how its dealt
with.Birdie has mental health issues, but
she also has a different way of looking
at things that’s wiser than many of
the characters she encounters.The play
makes you wonder if some people are
diagnosed as suffering from certain
conditions just because they don’t
quite fit in with societies expectations
of normal behaviour.
Su
Pollard has become one of the
nation’s favourites and has enjoyed
a career spanning more than four decades.
On Sat 28 Mar 7.30pm at Cornerstone Arts
Centre, national treasure, Su Pollard
gives a one-woman tour-de-force
performance. Don't miss your chance to
see Su in the razor sharp and bittersweet
dark drama, Harpy.
How would you
describe the show to someone who
hasn’t seen it?
Harpy tells a funny and tragic story
about one woman’s lifelong battle to
find a treasured possession she once
lost. It makes you think about the idea
of mental health and how its dealt with.
Birdie has mental health issues, but she
also has a different way of looking at
things that’s wiser than many of the
characters she encounters. The play makes
you wonder if some people are diagnosed
as suffering from certain conditions just
because they don’t quite fit in with
societies expectations of normal
behaviour.
Former
Hi-De-Hi! star Su Pollard tackles mental
illness in one-woman play Harpy at the
Kings Theatre, Southsea
For
millions she remains indelibly inked in
the nation’s minds as Peggy, the
scatty but lovable chambermaid who
aspired to be a yellow coat in the
classic sitcom, Hi-De-Hi!
But Su Pollard is reprising
a role that will show many a whole new
side to the much-loved actress.
Following a successful run at the
Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2018, Su is
taking Harpy on a UK tour which is
co-produced by, and starts at the Kings
Theatre in Southsea.
Award-winning playwright Philip Meeks
(Kiss Me Honey, Honey!; Murder, Margaret
and Me), wrote the piece specifically for
the actress.
Few
people in the public eye deserve the
‘national treasure’ moniker
– one woman that most certainly does
is the irrepressible Su Pollard. Star of
legendary 80s sitcom, Hi-De-Hi! the
ever-colourful comic actress has recently
taken a more dramatic turn with her 2018
Fringe debut, Harpy...
Hi Su, how was panto
season? Oh it was marvellous. I
love Wolverhampton; the people there are
so fabulous. They’re very warm and
welcoming, but everything shuts at five
so you couldn’t live there… All
the cast were lovely and everyone was
really delighted with it so all in all, I
think we can say it was a success.
Everything gets put
aside while you're doing it – what
are you catching up on now it’s
over? For a start doing all
these sorts of things this week –
I’ve done half a dozen interviews so
far, then I had to go and speak to
solicitors about some familial things.
You know, it’s just things like that
you don’t actually have enough time
to talk about; you have to wait until
you’re not going on stage. So things
like that and things like getting to know
the house again, and mail! You think,
‘Crikey, how much more mail?’
There is less than a
fortnight until Harpy
opens - at the King's Theatre,
Portsmouth. Visit our new tour page for
dates and ticket links.
29.02.2020:
Harpy - Newsy Bits & Pieces!
•
The Mail: Much-loved
actress Su Pollard is coming to The Old
Laundry Theatre in Bowness on April 16.
Su, well known for her roles as Peggy in
80s sitcom Hi-De-Hi! and Ivy the maid in
You Rang M’Lord?, is reprising her
role in the production ‘Harpy’.
Harpy is by award-winning playwright
Philip Meeks (Kiss Me Honey, Honey!;
Murder, Margaret and Me). It following
Su’s successful Edinburgh Fringe
debut in 2018 in the role - Continue
reading...
• Blackpool Gazette:
Su Pollard returns to Blackpool reprising
her role in production of Harpy: National
treasure and actress Su Pollard is coming
to the Blackpool Grand Theatre this
April, reprising her role in Harpy by
award-winning playwright of Kiss Me
Honey, Honey Philip Meeks - Continue
reading...
• North East Theatre Guide:
National Treasure Su Pollard Comes to
Durham: Following a successful run at the
Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2018,
personality and national treasure Su
Pollard (Hi-De-Hi! and You Rang
M’Lord?, BBC) returns to reprise her
role in Harpy- Continue
reading...
• At The Theatre:
National treasure Su Pollard in a new
light | Harpy, UK Tour – March
– May 2020 - Continue
reading...
• Thanet News: Su
Pollard brings gritty tale of Harpy to
Theatre Royal stage: Following a
successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe
Festival in 2018, personality and
national treasure Su Pollard returns to
reprise her role in Harpy by
award-winning playwright Philip Meeks.
Best known for her star-turn as Peggy in
the BAFTA award-winning sitcom Hi-de-Hi!,
Pollard has had a career in showbusiness
spanning four decades- Continue
reading...
29.02.2020:
Su on TV - Hi-de-Hi! & You Rang,
M'Lord?
Su is one of the cast
members in Channel 5's new three-part Celebrity
Murder Mystery series, with celebs
playing 'whodunit' as they figure which
of them is guilty.
Participants are: Angela Rippon, John
Seargent, Keith Duffy, Sheila Feguson,
Rev. Richard Coles and Su.
09.02.2020:
Museum Of Comedy: Hi-de-Hi! 40th
Anniversary
Robert
Ross Presents Hi-De-Hi: a 40th
anniversary reunion with Su Pollard and
Jeffrey Holland
Hi-De-Hi, David Croft and Jimmy Perry's
spirited love letter to the declining
days of the British holiday camp, was
first broadcast in the January of 1980
and proved an instant success.
In
a unique and exciting Museum of Comedy
event that is bound to sell out very
quickly, we are delighted to be joined by
Su Pollard, who shot to stardom as the
eager-to-please chalet maid Peggy
Ollerenshaw, and Jeffrey Holland, who
spent nearly a decade wearing funny
costumes and falling in to the
Olympic-sized swimming pool as camp comic
Spike Dixon.
As well as fond memories of Hi-De-Hi, Su
and Jeffrey will share tales of You Rang,
M'Lord, the series that reunited them
with the late Paul Shane; as well as Oh,
Doctor Beeching! which, twenty five years
ago, once more cast the trio of comedy
favourites.
Just this last pantomime season Su and
Jeffrey were back on stage together,
starring in Dick Whittington at the
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. The
production was a box office smash.
This intimate and affectionate,
clip-laden chat, chaired by Britain's
comedy historian Robert Ross, promises to
be a show not to be missed!
Su
Pollard: ‘Can’t say
anymore’ Hi-de-Hi star speaks out on
The Masked Singer speculation
Su Pollard has spoken out about The
Masked Singer UK speculation ahead of the
ITV show's semi-final, as the former
Hi-de-Hi! star and Starting Together
hitmaker was quizzed on whether she is
behind one of the masks in an exclusive
interview with Express.co.uk.
Su Pollard, 70, who achieved a UK Number
two hit with her song Starting Together
in 1986, has addressed speculation about
The Masked Singer. Only five contestants,
Duck, Fox, Hedgehog, Octopus and Queen
Bee, are left to be unmasked on the ITV
show, and viewers are busy guessing who
the disguised singers really are.
When quizzed about if she would take part
in The Masked Singer, she divulged:
“No, not really.
“I’m not a great lover of the
format personally, but then again I know
it’s popular and why not?
“People really like that kind of
thing don’t they? I’ve only
ever seen it for about 10 minutes really
so I can’t really make any
comments.”
• Continue reading at The Express.
The final of The Masked Singer
is on ITV next Saturday night.
09.02.2020:
Su on the Radio: BBC Solent
Su
guested on BBC Radio Solent on Wednesday,
chatting to Alan Newman and Lou Hannan
about Hi-De-Hi!
The iconic Su Pollard and The
Blue Planet 2's Dr John Copley
Alun Newman and Lou Hannan. Brighten your
morning with Alun and Lou as they wake
the South with their breakfast show.
Su
Pollard says political correctness is
ruining comedy
'Hi-de-Hi!' legend Su Pollard believes
comedy is being ruined by political
correctness and is convinced some people
just pretend to be offended by jokes so
they have something to post on social
media.
The 70-year-old actress - who played
hapless chalet maid Peggy Ollerenshaw in
the beloved 1980s BBC sitcom set in a
1960s holiday camp - says the fear of
offending killjoys has taken precedent
over making audiences laugh and she
believes that lots of people feign
offence just so they have something to
post on social media.
In an interview with the Daily Star
newspaper, she said: "There's so
many people on the politically-correct
bandwagon now.
"We were used to saying certain
things and it was just water off a duck's
back. If you've grown up saying certain
words then you still have it in your
psyche.
"It's good to be aware of being
offensive, but you have to know where to
draw the line.
"I think nowadays you get people who
are offended but don't really know why.
Or they want to be seen to look offended
so their tweet appears on TV and they
look controversial. I sometimes think:
'What's the matter with you? Get real!'
"
ITV
are repeating Last Laugh In Vegas,
the successful 2018 series in which Su
appeared. Episode One airs next Sunday,
21st June. (Photos © ITV) 
It's incredible
that, in its 40th anniversary year, Hi-de-Hi!
is still entertaining audiences almost
every day - multiple times - on
television. 
Su
was interviewed by the Daily Star this
week, and reminisced about the Perry and
Croft sitcom that almost happened in the
1990s. James & Ivy would
have been her fourth series working with
the talented duo:
Su
Pollard books in for a weekend break with
a twist
Celebrity
Murder Mystery: Channel 5: 
Closer
magazine published a short Su interview
feature in their latest issue (March 3rd
2020).
•
The Mail: Much-loved
actress Su Pollard is coming to The Old
Laundry Theatre in Bowness on April 16.
Su, well known for her roles as Peggy in
80s sitcom Hi-De-Hi! and Ivy the maid in
You Rang M’Lord?, is reprising her
role in the production ‘Harpy’.
Harpy is by award-winning playwright
Philip Meeks (Kiss Me Honey, Honey!;
Murder, Margaret and Me). It following
Su’s successful Edinburgh Fringe
debut in 2018 in the role - 
