.BBC
Christmas Schedules Confirmed:
'Strictly' For Christmas Day!
Wednesday
30th November, 2011
Television
The full BBC
Christmas television schedules
were confirmed today and, as
expected, the Strictly Come
Dancing Christmas Special
will air on Christmas Day,
sandwiched between Doctor Who
and Eastenders, at 8pm.
The festive special will also be
repeated on BBC1 on Boxing Day at
2pm.
Strictly Come Dancing
Christmas Special : BBC1 -
Christmas Day : 8.00pm
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas
Special : BBC1 - Boxing Day :
2.00pm
Introduced by Sir Bruce Forsyth
and Tess Daly. The celebrity
dancers are Charlie Brooks, Barry
McGuigan, Simon Webbe, Debra
Stephenson and Su Pollard.
The full Christmas
evening BBC1 schedule is as
follows:
6.30pm: The Gruffalo's Child
7.00pm: Doctor Who: The Doctor,
The Widow & The Wardrobe
8.00pm: Strictly Come Dancing
Christmas Special
9.00pm: EastEnders
10.00pm: Absolutely Fabulous
.Classic
'Hi-de-Hi!' on BBC2 This
Christmas
Wednesday
30th November, 2011
• Thanks to Gregor
Dickson
Television
A classic episode of
Hi-de-Hi! will air on
BBC2 this Christmas. 'Peggy's Big
Chance' from the second series of
the sitcom, which first aired on
BBC1 around Christmas 1981, will
be shown on 27th December.
Hi-de-Hi! : BBC2 - Tue
27th December : 7.00pm Peggy's Big Chance.
Peggy's burning ambition to be a
Yellowcoat may at last be
realised when she is asked to
take part in the latest pool
wheeze.
.Sun FM:
Listen Again To Su's Interview
Wednesday
30th November, 2011
Radio
Interview
There's another
opportunity to listen to Sun FM's
recent interview with Su. Listen here.
The sun is due to come out
tonight as the Empire Theatre
lays on a stage production of
'Annie'.
The classic musical is here in
Sunderland until the 3rd of
December with Hi-de-Hi! favourite
Su Pollard playing the role of
Miss Hannigan.
The TV Gimme, Gimme Gimme star's
been getting excited about being
back on Wearside ahead of her
stage appearance this evening.
Sun FM caught up with Su as
'Annie' marks 35 years on the
stage.
.For
Better Or For Worse: Episode
Seven @ BBC iPlayer
Wednesday
30th November, 2011
Radio
Episode seven of the
first series of For Better or
For Worse is now at BBC iPlayer. It will be
available until early next
Wednesday.
The eighth, and final episode of
the first series, airs next
Tuesday and early Wednesday.
For Better Or For Worse :
BBC Radio 4 Extra - Tuesday 6th
December : 5.00pm
For Better Or For Worse : BBC
Radio 4 Extra - Wednesday 7th
December : 5.00am Series One, Episode Eight.
Iris is proper poorly - but not
quite as poorly as Wilf thinks
she is. Stars Gorden Kaye and Su
Pollard. From April 1993.
.Annie
Tour 2011: Empire Theatre,
Sunderland
Tuesday
29th November, 2011
Theatre
Annie, Miss
Hannigan, Daddy Warbucks, Grace,
Danny, indeed all of the Annie
entourage are in the North East
of England this week. The showopens this evening at the,
historic, Sunderland Empire. The
auditorium is one of the few
remaining in the UK to have four
tiers and is one of the North
East's largest theatres.
There will be matinees on
Wednesday and Saturday. View
further information about the
Sunderland Empire, book tickets
online and browse show times and
location details at the theatre's
website, here.
Tuesday 29th November -
Saturday 3rd December •
Empire Theatre, Sunderland
www.sunderlandempire.org.uk/ [ Box
Office: 0844 871 3022 ]
Sunderland Empire, 4-5 High
Street West, Sunderland, Tyne
& Wear SR1 3EX
.Journal
Live: Preview: Annie at
Sunderland Empire
Tuesday
29th November, 2011
Press
Clips
To warm the cockles
of your heart as the chill factor
sets in, Annie returns to
Sunderland tomorrow for a
five-night run.
The heart-warming rags-to-riches
musical, about an 11-year-old
orphan’s quest to track down
her real parents, is a family
favourite, packed with such
sing-along tracks as It’s A
Hard Knock Life, Easy Street and,
of course, Tomorrow.
Here, the ever cheerful Su
Pollard – star of TV’s
Hi-De-Hi and Gimme Gimme Gimme
– once more adopts the scowl
and scheming nature of Miss
Hannigan who runs the New York
orphanage where Annie is
abandoned.
• Read the full article, at
'Journal Live' website, here.
.Annie
2011: 'Best Kept Secrets' Review
Tuesday
29th November, 2011
Theatre
Review
The Grand
Theatre, Blackpool
by Paul & Lucy
What better panacea for the
‘political turmoil’ we
currently face with the Eurozone
in meltdown and much of the world
in revolt and, ironically, as
quoted in the programme, similar
to what was happening in 1930s
America, than a musical show with
the ‘feel-good factor’
and happy, positive songs?
On the day the announcement that
Su Pollard will join the line up
for the Strictly come Dancing
Christmas Special when the show
ends its current run, Su gave a
superb performance as Miss
Hannigan who runs the orphanage,
a role that she has made her own
over the past decade or so of
touring with the show.
• Read the full review, at
'Best Kept Secrets' website, here.
.Lancashire
One: Su Backs Foster Parents
Saturday
26th November, 2011
Press
Clips
Su Pollard is
backing Blackpool Council's bid
to recruit more foster carers and
adoptive parents.
Blockbuster musical 'Annie'
arrived at Blackpool's Grand
Theatre this week and its star,
actress Su Pollard, took time out
to back Blackpool Council's drive
to recruit more foster carers and
adoptive parents.
The actress, who plays the
scheming Miss Hannigan in the
popular musical, met local super
foster carer Sue Mansell, who has
fostered 27 children in recent
years.
Su said she was overwhelmed by
the support Sue Mansell had
offered, saying: "I'm not
saying it's not hard, but can you
imagine the joy and pleasure of
giving somebody a chance in life.
I think even fostering one child
is a heck of a commitment and Sue
has done it 27 times over. I'm
sure you get a lot more back than
you put in."
• Read the full article, at
the 'Lancashire One' website, here.
.UnrealityTV:
Christmas TV Preview Part 2:
Entertainment
Saturday
26th November, 2011
Press
Clips
Strictly
Come Dancing (BBC1)
Fast becoming an annual tradition
as something that can be slotted
in between Doctor Who and
Eastenders for the second year in
a row the Strictly special will
welcome stars who may not have
the time and patience to
participate in a full series of
the show. Last year we had quite
a big line-up including a cabinet
minister in Vince Cable, a soap
legend in June Brown plus John
Barrowman and Fearne Britton but
I feel this year’s parade of
stars isn’t particularly
going to match that. Saying that
I was particularly excited by the
inclusion of one name in
particular that being sitcom
legend Su Pollard a woman who has
shied away from reality TV but
I’m assuming doesn’t
mind it if it’s a one-off
plus she is being paired with
Anton which will surely mean a
big comedy number.
• Read the full
article, at the 'UnrealityTV'
website, here.
.BBC
Blogs: Christmas Line-Up Revealed
+ Other Press
Friday
25th November, 2011
Press
Clips
Deck the hall with
glitterballs, the line-up for our
sparkly Strictly Christmas
special has been revealed...
Here's what our excitable
celebrities had to say...
Su:
"Strictly Come Dancing is
strictly must-see Christmas Day
television. I'm hoping to wow the
judges and the viewers with my
utter exuberance and
prowess!"
The
Telegraph: BBC announce
new line-up for Strictly Come
Dancing Christmas Special; On The Box: Strictly..
Christmas Special Line-Up
Announced; This is
Jersey: Strictly says
Hi-de-hi to Pollard; Daily Mail: Downton Abbey
and Strictly Come Dancing go
head-to-head on Christmas Day;
The Mirror: Christmas TV
Preview.
.At Home
With Su: In The 90s
Friday
25th November, 2011
Press
Archive
We've revised and
re-added our 'At Home With
Su" feature. This was really
popular in the past so, for newer
visitors to Su Online, here it is
again.
I thought you might like to
take a peek at where I lay my
hat! That isn't too often these
days, what with extensive
touring, my forthcoming panto,
Dick Whittington, and various TV
committments. But this is where I
call home...
I live in Islington, I'd always
wanted to live here and bought
the place 17 years ago, just
before it became fashionable and
all the yuppies moved in. I had
to decide the same day if I
wanted to buy it or not all those
years ago, so it was a quick
decision. It cost Ł90,000.
.BBC
News: Su Pollard To Star in
Strictly Christmas Show
Thursday
24th November, 2011
Press
Clips
Actress Su Pollard
will make her Strictly Come
Dancing debut in the show's
Christmas special.
The 62-year-old will dance with
Anton Du Beke, who partnered
Nancy Dell'Olio in this year's
series.
Pollard is best known for her
role in 1980s sitcom Hi-De-Hi!,
where she played a chamber maid
with aspirations to become a
holiday camp entertainer.
• Read the full report, at
the 'BBC News' website, here.
.Strictly
Come Dancing Christmas 2011: More
Press Reports
Thursday
24th November, 2011
Press
Clips
Zoe Ball announced
the celebrity line-up for the
Christmas show on last night's Strictly
- It Takes Two on BBC2.
Here is a selection of further
press reports on Strictly
Come Dancing's 2011
Christmas Special.
Metro: Su Pollard,
Charlie Brooks and Simon Webbe
for Strictly Christmas special;
London
Evening Standard/This is London: Strictly Come
Dancing's Anton Du Beke will
dance with Su Pollard; TV Newsroom: Strictly Come
Dancing: Christmas line-up
announced; Showbiz
411: Strictly Come
Dancing announces Christmas
celebrity line-up - View a
video report at 'You Tube' here.
.Huffington
Post UK: Su Pollard Signs Up For
A Dance With Anton Du Beke
Thursday
24th November, 2011
Press
Clips
'Strictly
Come Dancing' Christmas Special:
Su Pollard Signs Up For A Dance
With Anton Du Beke
Strictly Come Dancing star Anton
Du Beke will say Hi-de-hi to a
new dance partner in the show's
Christmas special.
The dancer, who was paired with
Nancy Dell'Olio in this year's
series, will dance with actress
Su Pollard in the show.
• Read the full report, at
the 'Huffington Post UK' website,
here.
.Annie
2011: 'Blackpool Gazette' Review:
Much To Enjoy In Family Favourite
Thursday
24th November, 2011
Theatre
Review
The Grand
Theatre, Blackpool
by The Gazette
A packed house got “spiffed
up” in their glad rags for
an all American night at The
Grand Theatre.
Su Pollard led the cast as Annie
hit the stage and played for
laughs as the gin-soaked
orphanage governess Miss
Hannigan.
She belted out Easy Street in her
unmistakable tones and created
easy comedy with her man-hungry,
bandy legged ways. As an
alcoholic, washed-up glamour
queen in the wrong career,
she’s the villain you
can’t help but like.
• Read the full review, at
'The Blackpool Gazette' website, here.
.Su for
Strictly Come Dancing Christmas
Special 2011
Wednesday
23rd November, 2011
Television
It's going
to be a Su-tastic
Christmas on BBC One! We can
confirm that Su will be one of
the celebrities appearing on the Strictly
Come Dancing Christmas Special
2011. Su will be dancing with
Anton Du Beke, in one of the
festive season's most popular
television programmes. No date or
time has been announced as yet
but Strictly is likely
to air on Christmas Day.
.Strictly
Come Dancing Christmas 2011:
Initial Press Reports
Wednesday
23rd November, 2011
Press
Clips
Unsurprisingly, the
BBC's reveal late last night of
the Strictly Come Dancing
Christmas Special line up
has been reported... everywhere!
As well as 'The Press
Association' and 'Digital Spy'
(see below), here is a select few
other articles covering the
announcement.
The Sun: Su Pollard
Steps On To Strictly; The Express: Strictly
Unveils Cracking Line-Up For
Christmas; Unreality TV: Barry
McGuigan, Su Pollard, Simon
Webbe, Debra Stephenson &
Charlie Brooks for Strictly Come
Dancing Christmas special; Belfast
Telegraph: Festive
Strictly To Star Su Pollard.
Expect much more
over the next few weeks!
.The
Press Association: Festive
Strictly To Star Su Pollard
Wednesday
23rd November, 2011
Press
Clips
Strictly Come
Dancing star Anton Du Beke will
say Hi-de-Hi to a new dance
partner in the show's Christmas
special.
The dancer, who was paired with
Nancy Dell'Olio in this year's
series, will dance with actress
Su Pollard in the show.
• Read the full press
release, at the 'Press
Association' website, here.
.Digital
Spy: Charlie Brooks, Simon Webbe,
Su Pollard for Christmas
'Strictly'
Wednesday
23rd November, 2011
Press
Clips
Strictly Come
Dancing's Christmas lineup has
been revealed.
EastEnders actress Charlie
Brooks, who plays Janine Butcher
in the Albert Square soap, is to
partner Vincent Simone, while
Hi-De-Hi star Su Pollard will
pair up with professional dancer
Anton Du Beke.
Pollard said: "Strictly Come
Dancing is strictly must-see
Christmas Day television. I'm
hoping to wow the judges and the
viewers with my utter exuberance
and prowess!"
Debra Stephenson, formerly of Bad
Girls, will take to the floor
with Ian Waite, while Blue's
Simon Webbe teams up with Katya
Virshilas, and former boxer Barry
McGuigan joins Erin Boag.
Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly host
the festive special, which is
expected to air on Christmas Day
on BBC One.
• Read the full article, at
the 'Digital Spy' website, here.
.Annie @
Christmas: Cambridge Corn
Exchange: A True Christmas
Classic!
Wednesday
23rd November, 2011
Theatre
It's
beginning to look a lot like... Annie
at Christmas!
Is everyone getting prepared? The
Cambridge Corn Exchange is
gearing up for a very busy
festive season, playing host to Annie
and Su over Christmas.
We will be bringing you lots more
information on Annie @
Christmas 2011 in December.
NB: For those
who have been enquiring: There is
no panto for Su this year, she
will be appearing in Annie
at Cambridge Corn Exchange.
Please visit the above link for
details.
.Benidorm
Christmas Special: Airing on TV
One in New Zealand
Wednesday
23rd November, 2011
Television
The 2010 Benidorm
Christmas Special, in which Su
guested, is airing in New Zealand
at the beginning of December.
Benidorm : TV One - Thu
1st Dec : 9.30pm
It's Christmas on the Costa
Blanca and where better to spend
it than in Benidorm with some of
The Solana's best loved regulars
and some very special guests!
In this one-off festive special,
it's Christmas and Benidorm
regulars the Garveys ( Steve
Pemberton, League of Gentlemen,
Siobhan Finneran, Downton Abbey,
and Oliver Stokes) are spending
it with family, Mel and Madge
Harvey, in their luxury hilltop
villa.
• View further info on this,
at the 'TV Throng' website, here.
.Radio
Wave: Hi De Hi Su Turns Evil!
Wednesday
23rd November, 2011
Radio
Interview
It's another radio
interview with Su. This one from
'Radio Wave 965'.
Top Musical Annie opens
at the Grand Theatre in Blackpool
tonight.
The award-winning story about an
11 year old orphan determined to
find her real parents has won no
less than 9 Tony awards including
Best Musical.
Actress and Comedian Su Pollard
plays alcholic ophanage matron
Miss Hannigan. She's been
chatting to Andy Mitchell about
her return to Blackpool.
• Listen to the interview,
at the 'Radio Wave 965' website, here.
.For
Better Or For Worse: Episode Six
@ BBC iPlayer
Wednesday
23rd November, 2011
Radio
Episode six of the
first series of For Better or
For Worse is now at BBC iPlayer. It will be
available until early next
Wednesday.
The seventh episode airs next
Tuesday and early Wednesday.
For Better Or For Worse :
BBC Radio 4 Extra - Tuesday 29th
November : 5.00pm
For Better Or For Worse : BBC
Radio 4 Extra - Wednesday 30th
November : 5.00am Series One, Episode Seven.
A day trip to France brings
buried memories to the surface
for Bernard. Stars Su Pollard and
Gorden Kaye. From March 1993.
.Su
Online News Archive: September
2011
Wednesday
23rd November, 2011
Site
News
Su news for
September 2011 has now been
archived. Visit our News Archive here.
.Annie
Tour 2011: The Grand Theatre,
Blackpool
Tuesday
22nd November, 2011
Theatre
The Annie
cast and crew are by the seaside
once again this week. They are
playing the magnificent Grand
Theatre in Blackpool. The first
show is this evening and Su can't
wait to be performing for
Blackpool audiences again.
There will be matinees on
Wednesday and Saturday. View
further information about The
Grand Theatre, Blackpool, book
tickets online and browse show
times and location details at the
theatre's website, here.
Tuesday 22nd - Saturday
26th November • The Grand
Theatre, Blackpool
www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/ [ Box
Office: 01253 290190 ]
The Grand Theatre, 33 Church
Street, Blackpool, Lancashire FY1
1HT
.Heart:
Su Pollard Interview
Sunday
20th November, 2011
Radio
Interview
Su guested
on the 'Heart 103' Breakfast
Show
recently. They took her for lunch
and chatted Lady Gaga, Hi-de-Hi!,
Annie
and more.
Kev and Ros went for Lunch with
Su Pollard ahead of her
performance as Annie at The Corn
Exchange.
Find out why she thinks you
should come to the show and why
Kev and Ros thought she was so
nice.
• Listen to the interview,
at the 'Heart 103' website, here.
.Peterborough
Today: Win Tickets: Annie At The
Cambridge Corn Exchange
Sunday
20th November, 2011
Theatre
Win a family ticket
to see Annie at the
Cambridge Corn Exchange plus a
pre-show dinner at a top hotel
restaurant this Christmas.
Visit the 'Peterborough Today'
website, here, for full details.
Competition closes on Monday 28th
November and can be entered by
post or email.
.Scunthorpe
Telegraph: Su Says Hi-de-Hi To
Region Again
Friday
18th November, 2011
Interview
A new
interview with Su, from the
'Scunthorpe Telegraph'.
Hi-de-Hi star Su Pollard will be
showcasing her darker side when
the cast of the nation's
favourite musical Annie rolls
into town.
Orphans will be warming the
hearts of theatre lovers in
Scunthorpe when Annie the Musical
is performed at the Baths Hall,
Scunthorpe, from Tuesday,
December 4 until Sunday, December
11.
Under the dictatorship of Miss
Hannigan, played by television
star Su, the storyline follows
Annie's heart-warming journey
from rags to riches.
Speaking about returning to
Scunthorpe, Su said: "I'm
looking forward to coming to this
venue. There's lots of different
things lined up for the season
and I'm looking forward to seeing
my friends from the past and
present. I've been to Scunthorpe
before, not to work, but I have
always visited and gone on day
trips from Sutton-on-Sea."
• Read the full interview,
at the 'This is Scunthorpe'
website, here.
.The
Stage: Annie’s Pedigree Chum
Danny Is Best In Show
Friday
18th November, 2011
Press
Clips
He has never missed
a performance, been hailed as a
“joy to work with” by
his current co-star Su Pollard
and is expected to set a world
record next week for his 50
years-plus in showbusiness.
Danny the Dog who has been
playing the role of Sandy in the
musical Annie for a decade. Fifty
dog years, that is. For Danny is
a soft-coated wheaten terrier and
the star of the touring
production of Annie.
On Tuesday (November 22), Danny
will celebrate ten years to the
day that he first took to the
stage (as Sandy) in the
production - a feat that looks
set to earn him a place in the
Guinness World Records, with the
title of Most Performances by a
Dog in a Theatrical Production.
Danny has worked on the stage for
62 dog years and appeared in
around 1,365 productions of Chris
Moreno’s production of
Annie.
• Read the full article
about the wonderful Danny, at
'The Stage' website, here.
.Sunderland
Echo: A Presence On, And Off The
Stage
Wednesday
16th November, 2011
Interview
Another
interview with Su from last week,
this one from the 'Sunderland
Echo'. It includes a great photo
of Su.
Fabulously eccentric and a
talented actress to boot, Su
Pollard is an unforgettable
addition to any show. Katy
Wheeler met up with the star of
stage and screen at the
Sunderland Empire to talk cat wee,
orphans and witchetty grubs.
There's no missing Su Pollard in
a room.
Dressed in pink and black-striped
tights and more accessories than
you can shake a stick at, Su was
as gloriously unique as I’d
hoped she’d be when I met up
with her at the Sunderland
Empire.
She was there to promote her role
as Miss Hannigan in Annie when
the show comes to High Street
West theatre at the end of this
month.
I was eager to meet the voice
behind one of my all- time
favourite TV characters –
Penny Crayon.
It’s one of many roles
Su’s made her own in a
career that has spanned the
decades, from her umpteen stage
roles to iconic TV characters
such as Peggy in Hi-De-Hi and Ivy
Teasdale in You Rang,
M’Lord.
• Read the full interview,
at the 'Sunderland Echo' website,
here.
.Newswire:
TV Star Su Pollard Says
Hi-De-Derry-Hi As Annie Comes To
Town
Wednesday
16th November, 2011
Interview
An interview
with Su, published last week by
'Newswire'.
It’ll be Hi-De-Derry-Hi next
week as TV comedy star Su Pollard
comes to town to star in family
favourite Annie at the Millennium
Forum.
Newswire caught up with
Su Pollard as she rehearsed for
the Derry show.
Nottingham born Su has been an
actress, writer and comedienne
for over 40 years, enjoying great
success in theatre, television
and music. She began her career
at the tender age of 11.
"I started my career at 11
years old in the amateurs,”
she says. “I was appearing
in the Desert Song, I played
Susan. Then I managed to get hold
of a copy of The Stage newspaper,
and I saw an advert for people to
appear in the Desert Song. So I
thought, I must go and do that,
so I duly went up to London, and
just so happened to get a part. I
was in the chorus though, I was
very, very disappointed and
disheartened because I thought I
should be getting a part, I had
all the parts in the amateurs!
But I suppose I had to start
somewhere."
• Read the full interview,
at the 'Newswire' website, here.
.Annie
Christmas 2011 @ The Cambridge
Corn Exchange
Wednesday
16th November, 2011
Theatre
Su
promoting the Annie
Christmas Show, taking place at
The Cambridge Corn Exchange this
festive season. Watch the short
clip at 'You Tube' by clicking
below.
.For
Better Or For Worse: Episode Five
@ BBC iPlayer
Wednesday
16th November, 2011
Radio
Episode five of the
first series of For Better or
For Worse is now at BBC iPlayer. It will be
available until early next
Wednesday.
The sixth episode airs next
Tuesday and early Wednesday.
For Better Or For Worse :
BBC Radio 4 Extra - Tuesday 22nd
November : 5.00pm
For Better Or For Worse : BBC
Radio 4 Extra - Wednesday 23rd
November : 5.00am Series One, Episode Six.
Iris dreams of hearing Pavarotti
in concert, so Bernard tries to
get tickets. Stars Gorden Kaye
and Su Pollard. From March 1993.
.Suite101:
Oh Doctor Beeching!: A British
Comedy Classic
Wednesday
16th November, 2011
Television
'Suite101' have a
great new article, with
contributions from Jeffrey
Holland, on the Croft &
Spendlove sitcome Oh Doctor
Beeching! They even have the
good taste to use one of Su
Online's ODB! images
from the early days of our site.
Suite 101 gets the
lowdown on the third installment
in the hat-trick of sitcoms in
which Jeffrey Holland played a
starring role.
Though not as instantly memorable
as Hi De Hi! and You Rang
M'Lord?, Oh Doctor Beeching! -
the last situation comedy to bear
the name 'David Croft' - still
had its moments. Sadly, this
criminally-underrated programme
was an unfortunate casualty of
the changing times and was
inexplicably axed by the BBC in
1997 after only two series.
David Croft's long-time writing
partner, Jimmy Perry, opted not
to participate in this period
comedy set at a British railway
station in the early 1960s at the
time of the infamous
"Beeching Axe". Writer,
broadcaster and former railway
worker, Richard Spendlove, who
had originally brought the idea
to David Croft, was instead
brought on board as co-writer.
• Read the full article, at
the 'Suite101' website, here.
.Blackpool
Gazette: Sensational Su's Grand
Date
Tuesday
15th November, 2011
Interview
A great new
interview with Su, published
today by 'The Blackpool Gazette'.
She talks about her love for the
seaside town, her career, past,
present and future, and, of
course, Annie.
Talk about being
sensational in your 60s!
Actress Su Pollard will be
appearing at The Grand Theatre
here in Blackpool in just over a
week for her last stint
in Annie. The 2011 tour will be
Su’s final outings as the
dastardly Miss Hannigan – a
role she has truly made her own
over the last decade.
And the 62-year-old – best
known for her portrayal of
colourful chalet maid Peggy
Ollerenshaw in the hit TV series
Hi De Hi! – is really
looking forward to coming back to
the resort, where she has many
happy memories.
Su, who celebrated her 62nd
birthday earlier this week, said:
"I absolutely love
Blackpool. It holds a great place
in my heart. I have great
memories from performing in
Blackpool over the years and many
fab nights out.
"When we started Hi De Hi!
The Holiday Musical, we played in
Bournemouth and then in Blackpool
and it was fantastic."
• Read the full interview,
at the 'Blackpool Gazette'
website, here.
.Annie
Tour 2011: Millennium Forum,
Londonderry
Monday
14th November, 2011
Theatre
Su has found her sea
legs once again and is en route
to Northern Ireland for a week of
Annie performances at
the fantastic Millennium Forum
Theatre & Conference Centre
in Londonderry. Please note that
for the Wednesday and Friday
matinees showtime is 11am.
There will be matinees on
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
View further information about
the the Palace Theatre,
Manchester, book tickets online
and browse show times and
location details at the theatre's
website, here.
.The
Cambridge Corn Exchange: Just
Confirmed - A Special Signed
Performance
Monday
14th November, 2011
Press
Clips
Just
confirmed - a special signed
performance of Annie this
Christmas
The Cambridge Corn Exchange is
pleased to announce a special
interpreted performance of their
2011 Christmas Show: Annie. The
performance, on 28 December 2011
at 7pm, will include
"live" British Sign
Language signing for the deaf and
hard-of-hearing.
Annie is one of the best-loved
and most heartwarming musicals of
all time, and this production,
starring Su Pollard, will be a
perfect Christmas treat for the
whole family to enjoy.
.MEN
Media: ATG Launches Theatre
Loyalty Cards
Monday
14th November, 2011
Press
Clips
While Su was in
Manchester last week she helped
launch a new UK theatre
membership scheme.
Ambassador Theatre Group –
owners of the Palace Theatre and
Opera House – is behind the
loyalty club providing benefits
including priority tickets and
special offers. Stuart
Dornford-May, general manager of
the Palace Theatre, Manchester,
unveiled the new ATG card with
actress Su Pollard.
• Read the full report, at
the 'MEN Media' website, here.
.Annie
2011: 'What's on Stage' Review
Friday
11th November, 2011
Theatre
Review
Palace
Theatre, Manchester
by Helen Jones
Victoria Sian Lewis as Annie is
superb; she sings beautifully and
gives the role the right amount
of spunk so that although you
feel sorry for the little orphan,
you also admire her too. David
McAlister is a tender-hearted
Oliver Warbucks and Simone
Craddock an elegant Grace
Farrell.
Su Pollard is a delight to watch
as the drunken harridan Miss
Hannigan, and with her kooky
comedy style makes the role very
much her own. The show has a very
strong ensemble cast and some
sparkling performances - notably
Ashley Knight as Drake the
butler.
• Read the full review, at
the 'What's on Stage' website, here.
.Annie
2011: 'Manchester's Finest'
Review
Friday
11th November, 2011
Theatre
Review
Palace
Theatre, Manchester
by Manchester's Finest
Su Pollard of
‘Hi-de-Hi’
‘fame’ couldn’t be
better as the bitter spinster who
runs the orphanage. Although what
happened to the ‘e’ on
the end of her name? Maybe she
donated it to Trafford’s
Chill Factore (Chill Factor?
Chill Factory? What’s it
called?!). And the young actress
playing Annie was great. Her
delivery of so many lines and
lyrics was amazing. When I was
11, I still believed in the tooth
fairy. I would have said Santa
but my nanna shattered the
illusion when I was 5 by
“assuming I knew”
– although at least I had a
grandmother. Now back to orphan
Annie…
• Read the full review, at
the 'Manchester's Finest'
website, here.
.For
Better Or For Worse: Episode Four
@ BBC iPlayer
Friday
11th November, 2011
Radio
Episode four of the
first series of For Better or
For Worse is now at BBC iPlayer. It will be
available until early next
Wednesday.
The fifth episode airs next
Tuesday and early Wednesday.
For Better Or For Worse :
BBC Radio 4 Extra - Tuesday 15th
November : 5.00pm
For Better Or For Worse : BBC
Radio 4 Extra - Wednesday 16th
November : 5.00am Series One, Episode Five.
When Bernard is called into work
on a Sunday, fiancee Iris is not
impressed. Stars Su Pollard and
Gorden Kaye. From March 1993.
.Annie
Tour 2011: Palace Theatre,
Manchester
Tuesday
8th November, 2011
Theatre
Su and the Annie
gang are gearing up for a week of
shows in the wonderful city of
Manchester. Annie opens
at the Palace Theatre this
evening and Su can't wait to see
all you Mancunians again. The
Saturday matinee has already sold
out.
There will be matinees on
Wednesday and Saturday. View
further information about the the
Palace Theatre, Manchester, book
tickets online and browse show
times and location details at the
theatre's website, here.
Tuesday 8th - Saturday
12th November • Palace
Theatre, Manchester www.manchestertheatres.com/palacetheatre.htm/
[ Box Office: 0844
8713018 ]
Palace Theatre, Oxford Street,
Manchester M1 6FT
.Radio
Teesdale: Andrew Harrison Caught
Up With Su Pollard
Tuesday
8th November, 2011
Radio
Interview
Another new radio
interview with Su, this one from
'Radio Teesdale'. Listen here.
Andrew Harrison caught up with Su
Pollard.
From its Broadway beginnings to
the classic film musical, this
heart-warming rags-to-riches
story of Annie’s adventures,
from the New York orphanage to
the luxurious home of Oliver
Warbucks, is a tale that has been
told all over the world for
decades and will continue for
many years to come.
Su Pollard plays Miss Hannigan in
this show which features a cast
of over 40 talented artistes.
Annie has a brilliantly memorable
score including “It’s A
Hard Knock Life”, “Easy
Street” and of course the
legendary “Tomorrow”,
fantastically visual
choreography, and a
side-splittingly funny script it
really is no surprise that Annie
has become one of the best loved
family musicals of all time.
The show runs from 29/11/11 to
3/12/11 at Sunderland Empire.
.Happy
Birthday to Su!
Monday
7th November, 2011
Happy
Birthday
Many
Happy Returns to Su, who is
celebrating her birthday today.
Have a wonderful day Su! X
.Su
Doodle Up For Auction
Monday
7th November, 2011
Auction
A heart doodle drawn
by Su and signed by her too is
being sold in a charity eBay
auction.
The doodle is among over 200
items on sale in the
Cardiomyopathy Association's
auction that ends on Sunday 13th
November. The charity (reg
charity no 803262) provides
information and support to
families affected by the heart
muscle disease.
• View the auction listing
at eBay here or by clicking on
our preview above. View the full
collection of doodles at the
www.cardiomyopathy.org website, here.
(Thanks to Hi-de-Hi.net)
.City
Life: Sun Is Always Out For
Popular Su
Saturday
5th November, 2011
Interview
Audiences are in for
a treat when Su Pollard returns
to the city next week as Miss
Hannigan in the feelgood musical
Annie.
Su says she’s thoroughly
enjoying that fact that
she’s still working after
hitting 60.
“Showbiz keeps you
young,” she insists.
“If it all ended tomorrow
I’d probably end up in
B&Q doing a song and dance
around the Black and Decker
range!”
Hannigan, is the ultimate baddie,
who rules the New York orphanage
with such a rod of iron that
orphan Annie finally escapes.
Su’s been playing the role
on and off over a six- year
period but agreed to do it one
last time on this final tour with
the present production company.
“It’s rare to get a
role that suits you as well as
this. You see, I think Miss
Hannigan is much misunderstood.
• Read the full interview,
at the 'City Life' website, here.
.Express
& Star: Su Pollard Says
Hi-de-Hi To Grand Theatre
Saturday
5th November, 2011
Interview
A new video
interview with Su, from the
'Express & Star'.
She made a name for
herself as the over-excitable
chalet maid in popular TV sitcom
Hi-de-Hi!
And despite the show exiting our
screens more than 20 years ago,
it still holds a special place in
Su Pollard’s heart.
The flamboyant star is back
playing the dastardly Miss
Hannigan in rags-to-riches
theatre extravaganza Annie, which
is running at
Wolverhampton’s Grand
Theatre until Saturday.
• Read the article and watch
Su's interview, at the 'Express
& Star' website, here.
.Spark
Sunderland: Johnny Chats (And
Eats Biscuits) With Su Pollard!
Saturday
5th November, 2011
Radio
Interview
A new radio
interview with Su, from 'Spark
Sunderland'. Listen here.
Ahead of her stint this Winter at
the Sunderland Empire as the
dastardly Miss Hannigan, Jonny
caught up over a plate of
chocolate biscuits with the one
and only Su Pollard – star
of ‘Hi-De-Hi’ and
‘Benidorm’.
.Sunderland
Echo: Bonkers Pollard Comes To
Sunderland Empire
Saturday
5th November, 2011
Press
Clips
Next up I stopped
off at the Sunderland Empire to
chat to Su Pollard.
I put it to her that some people
would have been so stereotyped by
playing Peggy that she would
never be able to do any other
work but she’s done that and
recently stole the show singing
Cilla’s You’re my World
in a 60’s laced show called
Shout.
She’s at the Empire in Annie
in a couple of weeks time and
playing the nasty Miss Hannigan
has given her another string to
her bow.
• Read the full article in
Steve Colman's column, at the
'Sunderland Echo' website, here.
.Su On
TV: ... Sings the Beatles
Saturday
5th November, 2011
Television
...
Sings The Beatles : BBC2 -
Saturday 12th November : 11.10pm
Recorded for the 40th anniversary
of Abbey Road, the Beatles' final
album, a journey through the
classic and curious covers in the
BBC archives. Featuring Sandie
Shaw singing a sassy Day Tripper,
Shirley Bassey belting out
Something, a close-harmony
Carpenters cover of Help!, Joe
Cocker's chart-topping With A
Little Help From My Friends,
Oasis reinventing the Walrus and
a little Lady Madonna from Macca
himself. Plus, a few 'magical'
moments from Candy Flip, the
Korean Kittens and Su Pollard.
.Sun FM
103.4: New Su Interview
Wednesday
2nd November, 2011
Radio
Interview
A new interview with
Su, from 'Sun FM'. Listen here.
Sun FM's been speaking
with a TV comedy actress, who'll
be walking the boards at the
Empire later this month.
Su Pollard came to fame in the
hit TV show Hi-De-Hi and more
recently in Gimme, Gimme, Gimme.
But the eccentric and lively
actress has swapped the box for
the stage, as she prepares to
play Miss Hannigan in the rags to
riches musical Annie. Su tells us
why she loves playing Miss
Hannigan and why she empathises
with the drunken character.
So the sun will come out
tomorrow, well on the 29th at the
Sunderland Empire. The show will
run for a week until the 3rd of
Decmber, as it marks 35 years of
stage performances here on
Wearside.
.Annie
2011: 'Express & Star' Review
Wednesday
2nd November, 2011
Theatre
Review
The Grand
Theatre, Wolverhampton
by Mark Drew
Su Pollard was made for
the role of old soak Miss
Hannigan.
The former Hi-de-Hi star squeezed
every drop of comedy from the
character in a wonderfully
energectic production.
The dangers of working with
children and animals are well
documented but the actress fed
off both and brought many laughs
as she tormented her charges
before her inevitable downfall.
Annie is a timeless tale, and its
backdrop of depression,
unemployment and poverty has a
familiar ring in today’s
economic climate.
• Read the full review, at
the 'Express & Star' website,
here.
.Chester
Chronicle: Su Pollard to star in
Annie at Manchester Palace
Theatre
Wednesday
2nd November, 2011
Press
Clips
Heart-warming
rags-to-riches musical Annie is
returning to Manchester’s
Palace Theatre from November
8-12, starring Su Pollard as Miss
Hannigan.
One of the most successful shows
of all time, this endearing tale
of little orphan Annie is packed
with classic musical numbers,
including It’s a Hard-Knock
Life, Easy Street, You’re
Never Fully Dressed Without a
Smile and iconic anthem Tomorrow.
Annie is a gutsy 11-year-old
orphan who, being left on the
doorsteps of a New York City
orphanage, is determined to find
her real parents. She captures
the heart of billionaire
businessmanŠDaddy Warbucks,
and foils the evil plans of Miss
Hannigan and her devious brother
Rooster.
Star of stage and screen Su
Pollard (Hi-Di-Hi! and You Rang
M’Lord?) reprises her role
as Miss Hannigan and David
McAlister (Hollyoaks, EastEnders
and Brideshead Revisited) makes a
welcome return as Daddy Warbucks.
Telephone 0844 871 3018 or visit
www.palaceandoperahouse.org.uk.
.For
Better Or For Worse: Episode
Three @ BBC iPlayer
Wednesday
2nd November, 2011
Radio
Episode three of the
first series of For Better or
For Worse is now at BBC iPlayer. It will be
available until early next
Wednesday.
The fourth episode airs next
Tuesday and early Wednesday.
For Better Or For Worse :
BBC Radio 4 Extra - Tuesday 8th
November : 5.00pm
For Better Or For Worse : BBC
Radio 4 Extra - Wednesday 9th
November : 5.00am Series One, Episode Four.
A new office arrival causes
friction for sweethearts Bernard
and Iris. Stars Su Pollard and
Gorden Kaye. From March 1993.
.Su
Online News Archive: August 2011
Wednesday
2nd November, 2011
Site
News
Su news
for, a very busy, August 2011 has
now been archived. Visit our News
Archive here.
The full BBC
Christmas television schedules
were confirmed today and, as
expected, the Strictly Come
Dancing Christmas Special
will air on Christmas Day,
sandwiched between Doctor Who
and Eastenders, at 8pm.
The festive special will also be
repeated on BBC1 on Boxing Day at
2pm.
A classic episode of
Hi-de-Hi! will air on
BBC2 this Christmas. 'Peggy's Big
Chance' from the second series of
the sitcom, which first aired on
BBC1 around Christmas 1981, will
be shown on 27th December.
Unsurprisingly, the
BBC's reveal late last night of
the Strictly Come Dancing
Christmas Special line up
has been reported... everywhere!
