Another
year almost over...
It's been another good one for
Su's Official Website. December
has been particularly fantastic,
it's been a very busy time for Su
and this site. We've only been
visited more than we have this
month once before - when Su
appeared on the Strictly
Christmas Special - Thank
you to everyone who has taken the
time to visit this year.
Wishing
everyone a Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year from Su and Su
Online!
Don't forget you can
catch Su in panto, on TV and
radio this festive season. She is
in Peter Pan at the
Theatre Royal, Nottingham; on TV
in Benidorm's 2010
Christmas Special and Gimme
Gimme Gimme; and on BBC
Radio 2 on Christmas Day in Oh
Yes It Is. See you back here
in early January for a Su news
catch up and our usual updates.
.Nottingham
Post: Peter Pan Cast Members Get
Sapling From Major Oak
Christmas
Eve, 2013
It's
Christmas
Nottingham's panto
stars have been presented with a
sapling from England's oldest
tree - the Major Oak in Sherwood
Forest.
David Hasselhoff, Su Pollard and
Blue Peter presenter Barney
Harwood were all given
two-year-old trees, grown
directly from acorns from the
famous 1,000-year-old Oak.
Robin Hood - who is said to have
hidden from his enemies inside
the tree - handed over the gifts
himself on Monday, December 23.
Su guested on the Andy
Potter Show on BBC Radio
Derby this afternoon.
Su Pollard and Christmas TV
with Sean Kelly: Actress Su
Pollard talks about her panto
role as a magical mermaid and
Sean Kelly looks forward to
Christmas TV.
She chatted about panto, David
Hasselhoff, past Christmases,
Shakespeare, future plans and
more. Su's interview begins at
approximately 20 minutes into the
show and runs for around 17
minutes, including a break for
music. It's available until next
Monday at BBC iPlayer.
.Panthers:
Panto Star Su Pollard's Panthers
Visit - Happy Christmas Everyone!
Monday
23rd December, 2013
Panto superstar Su
Pollard visited the Panthers at
training ahead of Christmas and
did the honours when we asked her
to pass on the club's festive
wishes to all the fans.
You can see her doing just that
on Panthers TV, just click on the
link next to the HI-DE-HO, HO, HO
headline, a tribute to her days
starring as Peggy in the national
television sitcom Hi De Hi.
Su is currently one of the
biggest panto stars in the
country and is alongside The Hoff
- David Hasslehoff and Barney
Haywood from Blue Peter in Peter
Pan at the Theatre Royal in
Nottingham.
• Nottinghamshire
CC: Robin Hood delivers
saplings from the Major Oak to
David Hasselhoff, Su Pollard and
Barney Harwood - .View the
photo here...
• The Stage:
On the radio this Christmas: What
better way for BBC Radio 2
listeners to spend Christmas than
in the company of panto stalwart
Barbara Windsor celebrating that
crazy festive cocktail so unique
to our shores. In Oh Yes It Is on
Christmas Day (R2, December 25,
10pm), Babs sets off on a journey
through the history and
particular charm of panto in the
company of Gyles Brandreth, Su
Pollard, Anita Harris and the
Krankies, all veterans of the
form themselves - Continue
reading...
• Nottingham Post:
Rich Tradition of Panto
Performers: At the Theatre Royal,
David Hasselhoff is joined in
Peter Pan by Su Pollard and Ben
Nickless - Continue
reading...
.Su on
the Radio: Cambridge 105 / Mid
Morning Show
Sunday
22nd December, 2013
Su will guest on the
Mid Morning Show on
Cambridge 105 on Christmas Eve.
The programme is available to
listen to as it airs at the
station's website.
Mid Morning Show:
Cambridge 105: Christmas Eve:
10am - 1pm
Mandy and Nicola team up to bring
you a pre-Christmas treat of
festive fun and jolly music, with
some very special guests dropping
in along the way. Nicola will
guide you through the tips and
turkeys of this year's Christmas
TV; Hi De Hi star Su Pollard
remembers her family Christmases;
and there'll be another chance to
hear author PD James talking
about her Bonnet blockbuster,
Death Comes to Pemberley. And
Mandy will be unpicking her
Christmas jumper and shortening
her onesie. It's a show not to
miss!
.Su
Newsy Bits & Pieces!
Sunday
22nd December, 2013
• Nottinghamian
Celebration Ale: Su's
shield, by Castlerock Brewery, in
celebration of the recent
"Su Pollard" ale. View
a larger version of the photo here...
• Su Photos:
A great gallery of Su photos,
from various recent events and
appearances, is available to
browse at Contact Music - View here...
• Glade Hill School:
Su Pollard Visit to School: We
were all very excited today to
receive a visit from Su Pollard
who is appearing in Panto at the
Theatre Royal this year. She came
to school to receive a long-lost
award from 1966 that had been
salvaged by the Clayton family.
She attended our school assembly
and was presented with the award
and a bouquet of flowers - Continue
reading...
• Panthers:
Su Visits The Panthers: There was
lots of fun at training today
when panto star and Nottingham
icon Su Pollard popped in to meet
the players at a photo-shoot.
There'll be more on her visit in
the local media and in the
Panthers special magazine which
is out at the sold-out Christmas
game on December 28th - Continue
reading...
.Nottingham
Post: Su Pollard Makes A Song
& Dance Over Visit To Give
Panthers A Lift
Saturday
21st December, 2013
Actress Su Pollard
swapped treading the boards for
skating on ice as she met the
Nottingham Panthers for a
training session.
The former Hi-De-Hi! star flew
into action with the ice hockey
players at the National Ice
Centre.
Su, who is playing Mimi the
Mermaid at the Theatre Royal in
Peter Pan, alongside David
Hasselhoff as Captain Hook, had a
brief try at goaltending and
chatted with the team. She also
wished the grand slam-winning
team luck for their next home
match, against Sheffield Steelers
on December 28. And the players
swept her off her feet and lifted
her up for a photo opportunity.
Su,
backstage at the Theatre Royal,
Nottingham this week with Ben and
Luke. Both went to see Peter
Pan and enjoyed it so much
they are going again. (Thanks to
Ben for the photos)
.Su
Newsy Bits & Pieces!
Saturday
21st December, 2013
• BBC
News: The great British
pantomime is still packing in the
crowds: As usual in Nottingham, a
pantomime battle is raging this
Christmas. Just down the road
from the Playhouse is the
1,200-seat Theatre Royal, run by
Nottingham City Council. It has a
big American TV star as the main
attraction: David Hasselhoff...
He's joined by the bubbly
Nottingham-born star, Su Pollard,
from another affectionately
remembered TV show, Hi-de-Hi! - Continue
reading...
• #100TheatreWomen:
Today we honour Panto Goddess Su
Pollard #100theatrewomen always
giving 100%,treats to follow - View here...
• Su & Her Award:
Su Pollard receiving the drama
trophy she received in 1966 -
then lost for 30 years. #goSu!
#hidehi - View here...
• Views From A Bum:
Peter Panto: Every time I go to
see a version of Peter Pan, I am
struck by how it’s
invariably a mixed bag of a
thing: neither a pure pantomime
nor a ‘straight’ (for
want of a better term) play... Su
Pollard, playing to a home crowd,
is good value as magical mermaid
Mimi, essentially playing the
dame’s role. It’s a
pity she doesn’t get a range
of outlandish outfits to show off
but her off-colour jokes are
aimed squarely at the older
members of the audience are very
funny - Continue
reading...
.Su
Online News Archive:
October/November 2013
Saturday
21st December, 2013
Su news for
October and November 2013 has now
been archived. Visit our News
Archive here.
.BBC
News: Su Pollard Reunited With
Nottingham Acting Award
Wednesday
18th December, 2013
Former Hi De Hi!
star Su Pollard has been reunited
with an acting trophy she first
won in Nottingham in 1966.
The actor, who was born in the
city, was presented with the
award 47 years ago but it was
lost and spent the last 30 years
languishing in an office
cupboard.
Ms Pollard visited Glade Hill
Primary School in Bestwood Park
where she was presented with the
award again.
.Nottingham
Post: Su Pollard Drops Into
Nottingham School To Pick Up
Drama Award
Wednesday
18th December, 2013
Panto star Su
Pollard dropped in to a
Nottingham school on Tuesday to
pick up a drama award - which she
originally won as a 17-year-old.
Su, who is currently starring in
the Theatre Royal's production of
Peter Pan as Mimi the Mermaid,
collected her award at Glade Hill
Primary School in Bestwood Park.
She received the impressive Jack
Levin Annual Drama Award for the
Best Individual Performance when
she was learning her craft at
Nottingham’s Arts Theatre.
She subsequently lent the award
to an exhibition and never saw it
again. More than 30 years later,
the 18-inch statuette was
discovered heading for the skip
at the offices belonging to the
now-dissolved Nottingham
Association of Youth Clubs. Su
said she was surprised to learn
of its existence.
"I lent it to an exhibition
and I was due to get it back but
I never saw it again. I blame the
council!" she joked.
His Baywatch beaches are far
removed from Nottingham but David
Hasselhoff adapts seamlessly in
Peter Pan, this year’s
Theatre Royal pantomime.
... Nottingham’s own Su
Pollard from the 1980s sitcom
Hi-de-Hi, but with more than 30
pantos behind her – albeit
only one at the Theatre Royal
– she is well versed in
entertaining the youngsters.
Gimme
Gimme Gimme: GOLD: Monday 30th
December: 11pm
Gimme Gimme Gimme: GOLD: New
Year's Eve: 1.30am Singing in the Drain.
Series 3, episode 5. Kathy Burke
in the in-your-face comedy with
the hapless flatmates with every
personality flaw going. Linda
finally realises her ambition to
become a model. Starring: Kathy
Burke, James Dreyfus, Brian
Bovell, Beth Goddard, Su Pollard
and Jonathan Harvey. Also airing
on GOLD +1.
• Visit Su
Online's dedicated Gimme
page at our Television section, here.
.Hi-de-Hi!
The Complete Collection: Winner!
Wednesday
18th December, 2013
Congratulations
to Keith Lovell, who is the
winner of our recent Hi-de-Hi!
DVD competition. The correct
answer was that this website was
launched in 2000. Prize is on its
way Keith, and thanks to everyone
else who entered.
.Peter
Pan 2013: 'Derbyshire Times'
Review
Tuesday
17th December, 2013
More praise for Su,
David, Barney and the Peter
Pan cast and crew, in this
latest review, from the Derbyshire
Times.
Review: The Hoff captains
a tight ship in Peter Pan at
Nottingham Theatre Royal
Panto superstars don’t come
much bigger than David Hasselhoff
- the most watched TV star on the
planet, according to the Guinness
Book of World Records. He’s
so big that the role which he
plays in Peter Pan has been
rebranded Captain Hoff The Hook
for the festive season’s
spectacular at Nottingham Theatre
Royal.
... This is the best panto the
Theatre Royal has seen for years.
Hi-de-Hi’s Su Pollard is a
real catch as Mimi the magical
Mermaid with a fabulous singing
voice and a haul of cod-awful
fish puns. Blue Peter’s
Barney Harwood is an engaging and
athletic Peter Pan, his megawatt
smile lights up the stage and his
forward rolls and back-flip high
above the stage on a wire are
breath-taking.
A huge crocodile on stage, David
Hasselhof playing Captain Hook
and Su Pollard looking like Lady
GaGa's mother can only mean one
thing: its pantomime time!
The Nottingham production of
Peter Pan is colourful and
entertaining. CBBC presenter
Barney Harwood plays a likeable
Peter Pan as he flies across the
stage many times throughout the
production. Su Pollard makes a
dramatic entrance via a huge
mirrorball. It is not a new
trick, Joan Collins made the same
entrance a few years ago when she
appeared in pantomime in
Birmingham, though it still looks
impressive.
Pollard, dressed in turquoise as
a mermaid with a swishy tail
sings a song entitled I'm
Fabulous. She seems a natural
choice for the part.
• Benidorm:
Don't forget that the 2010
Christmas Special episode of Benidorm,
guest starring Su, airs again
this year, Christmas Eve and
Boxing Day, on ITV4.
• Leicestershire's
Christmas Pantos -
what's on where: Time for
sing-a-longs and silly outfits,
The Theatre Royal
Nottingham’s big pantomime
definitely has the wow factor.
Peter Pan should be quaking in
his pixie boots because Hoff the
Hook is coming to get him. The
dashing, if cringe-worthy, David
Hasselhoff joins children’s
telly favourite Barney Harwood
and Su “Hi-de-Hi“
Pollard for seasonal silliness,
in this swashbuckling pantomime
adventure. The croc is ticking,
so don’t delay. Hook your
panto tickets today. Peter Pan
– The Theatre Royal,
Nottingham. Until January 12.
Tickets on 0115 989 5555 or at:
www.trch.co.uk.
• Gemini PR &
Marketing: Su Pollard
Unveils Christmas Windows: With
Panto season upon us (oh yes it
is!), you may have spotted the
odd celeb wandering around town,
well as luck would have it when
we were doing the photocall to
unveil the Nottingham BID’s
festive window on Long Row, who
should walk past but Nottingham
legend Su Pollard! - Continue
reading...
.Su on
the Radio: Oh Yes It Is - Barbara
Windsor on Panto
Sunday
15th December, 2013
Oh
Yes It Is - Barbara Windsor on
Panto: BBC Radio 2: Christmas
Day: 10pm
Former EastEnders and Carry On
star Barbara Windsor sets off on
a mission to investigate the
history of the uniquely British
institution of the pantomime.
Historian and broadcaster Gyles
Brandreth joins her as she
examines its origins in the 18th
and 19th centuries, and she
explores the role of the dame
with veteran performer Nigel
Ellacott. She also chats to panto
favourites Stanley Baxter, the
Krankies, Su Pollard, Stu Francis
and Anita Harris.
• View further details on
this programme at the Radio Times.
.BBC
East Midlands: Su/David
Hasselhoff Interview
Sunday
15th December, 2013
David
Hasselhoff and Su interviewed
backstage by Ann Davies for East
Midlands Today.
.Peter
Pan 2013: New Official Trailer
Friday
13th December, 2013
It's the
fantastic new trailer for Peter
Pan: The Theatre Royal
Nottingham's pantomime has become
an unmissable family tradition
and this year the Swashbuckling
Adventures of Peter Pan features
a stellar line-up with
international star David
Hasselhoff and children's TV
favourite Barney Harwood. We are
especially delighted to welcome
Su Pollard, one of the country's
best-loved stars of stage and
screen, to the Theatre Royal and
her home city this Christmas.
Peter Pan guarantees
a treasure-chest of comedy and
seasonal silliness along with
stunning flying sequences. You're
guaranteed to be hooked by this
charming pantomime adventure
which has enthralled audiences
for decades and is the perfect
festive treat for all the family.
Tickets are selling fast - book
your tickets today and enjoy
spectacular pantomime at its
best! Tickets range from £15 to
£29.50 and available online at
www.trch.co.uk or by calling the
Box Office on 0115 989 5555.
.Su on
the Radio: BBC 6Music & BBC
Radio Nottingham
Friday
13th December, 2013
Two new Su radio
interviews from yesterday and
this morning are now available to
listen to at 'BBC iPlayer'.
Su guested on Steve Lamacq's show
on 'BBC 6Music' yesterday, in his
"Good Day, Bad Day"
feature. She talks panto (Su
estimates she has now appeared in
36!), Mimi the Mermaid, outfits,
her first single bought and
favourite music. Su also chose
her Good Day ('My Sharona' by The
Knack) and Bad Day ('Wake Me Up
Before You Go Go' by Wham!)
songs.
• Su's interview begins at
approximately 51 minutes into the
show and lasts for around eight
minutes. It's available to listen
to at BBC iPlayer for the next six
days.
Su also guested on Andy
Whittaker's 'BBC Radio
Nottingham' show this morning,
chatting about Peter Pan,
being back in Nottingham, working
with The Hoff and more
• Su's interview begins at
approximately 42 minutes into the
show. She pops up again at around
2hr 55ms in with some extra chat
included. The programme is
available to listen to at BBC iPlayer for the next seven
days.
.Peter
Pan 2013: 'Nottingham Live'
Review
Friday
13th December, 2013
It's the 10th, yes
10th!, glowing review for Peter
Pan at the Theatre Royal,
Nottingham. This one from Nottingham
Live.
The Hoff might well be the star
attraction, and his introduction
around half hour into the show is
deemed worthy of a prize fighter
like introduction and see’s
him carried in upon a chair
emblazoned with his iconic
nickname, however he is not the
only big name treading the board
at the theatre’s biggest
panto to date.
Local legend, and first lady of
Nottingham, Su Pollard is back in
her home town and clearly loving
every minute of her role as Mimi
the Mermaid, which see’s her
throwing out the double
entendre’s much to the
delight of the older
member’s of the crowd, as
well as engaging the audience in
a “Hi-di-hi” welcome.
Su is guesting this
morning on BBC Radio Nottingham's
Andy Whittaker Show,
airing between 6am and 9am. The
programme can be listened to live
online at the BBC
Nottingham website. It will also be
available at BBC iPlayer after
airing. We will bring you a link
to that later today.
BBC Radio
Nottingham: Andy Whittaker
Friday 13th December: 6am
Your latest news, sport, travel
and weather and featuring our
special Christmas film.
.Nottingham
Post: BID's Gift-Themed Windows
Aim To Help Inspire Festive
Shoppers
Friday
13th December, 2013
Shoppers can win a
range of clothes, toys and gifts
featured in two Christmas-themed
window displays designed to
showcase the range of goods
available in Nottingham stores.
Hi-De-Hi star Su Pollard unveiled
the festive displays at empty
shops in Long Row and in the
Victoria Centre.
The two shop windows have been
transformed as part of a joint
initiative between Nottingham
Business Improvement District
(BID) and Nottingham City
Council, to provide inspiration
to shoppers and direct them to
where the products can be bought.
A great review for Peter
Pan, by Jared Wilson for Leftlion, who says "All
in all, this is a Christmas
triumph for the Theatre
Royal".
Panto season is well upon us;
that time when the hardcore
thespians avoid the theatre for
the month and, in their place,
families pile in to have a gander
at “him off the
telleh”... This year Theatre
Royal has pulled out all the
stops to bring us the most
star-studded seasonal cast the
city has seen in living memory.
The main draw is Baywatch and
Knight Rider veteran David
Hasslehoff. He plays Captain
Hook, a role he has now fulfilled
for four years running in
Manchester (2012), Bristol (2011)
and London (2010) - so he ought
to be pretty polished at it by
now.
... Cast alongside him are local
legend Su Pollard (who, for me,
stole the show as the Magical
Mermaid with more double
entendres than you average Carry
On movie) and CBBC stalwart
Barney Harwood as Peter Pan.
There are plenty of local
references in the script too,
with mentions for The Turf
Tavern, The Market Bar and
various other ‘Proper
Nottingham’ stereotypes.
• Read the full review at Leftlion. For anyone who
missed it previously, Leftlion
also have a fab interview
with Su at their website.
.Su on
Christmas TV: Benidorm Christmas
Special
Thursday
12th December, 2013
The 2010 Benidorm
Christmas Special, in which Su
has a guest role as herself!, is
repeated on Christmas Eve and
Boxing Day this year.
Benidorm: ITV4: Christmas
Eve: 10.00pm
Benidorm: ITV4: Boxing Day:
1.00am Christmas Special. It is
Christmas on the Costa Blanca and
the Garveys are staying with Mel
and Madge in their luxury hilltop
villa - but will Mel make it back
from a business trip in time for
Christmas dinner? Noreen finds a
travel companion, but he may not
be all he seems. There is
confusion at the Solana when
Donald and Jacqueline check in
with a group of close personal
friends - including king of the
swingers Marvin. Madge is left in
charge of the Christmas
Spectacular at the Benidorm
Palace but when star of the show
Su Pollard takes an unexpected
detour via a Spanish nudist camp
it looks as if the event will be
left without its big finale. Can
Donald and Jacqueline's famous
friend save the day? (Also airing
on ITV4 +1 and HD)
.Peter
Pan 2013: Opening Night VIP
Reception
Thursday
12th December, 2013
• Thanks to Mark
Whitney
• Castle
Rock Brewery: Su sups
her ale: Su Pollard, the magical
mermaid in ‘Peter Pan’
at the Theatre Royal, has laid
down her wand and taken off her
tiara to pull the first pint of
her own Nottinghamian Celebration
Ale. The tasting session and
launch party was at the
city’s Vat and Fiddle pub - Continue
reading...
• Portsmouth News:
My Weekend: Christopher Marlowe:
Which celeb would you most like
to spend a weekend with? Su
Pollard because she is so full of
energy. I think she’d be a
lot of fun - Read the full
interview here...
• The Breeze:
What's On: There's a half page
article on Peter Pan in
the Christmas Issue of 'The
Breeze'. See it on Page 4 - View here...
.Annie
2014: Su Pollard Gives Advice on
Auditions
Thursday
12th December, 2013
Su chats to
'The Edge' about Annie,
in a new interview clip. Watch
online at You Tube.
.Country
Images: Steve Orme Interviews Su
Pollard
Tuesday
10th December, 2013
Su is pictured on
the cover of the December 2013
issue of Country
Images magazine. She is
also the cover star of the
"Leisure Month' section of
the publication. Steve Orme
interviews Su in the magazine.
Su will be playing Mimi the
Magical Mermaid in Peter Pan
which also stars American
superstar David Hasselhoff. He
may not realise what he's let
himself in for.
At the mention of the name Su
Pollard, you might think
immediately of scatter-brained
chalet maid Peggy Ollerenshaw
from Hi-de-Hi or a wacky actress
with big glasses and outrageous
clothes.
But the Nottingham-born
entertainer is far more than
that, as her 40 years as an
actor, singer, writer and cabaret
artist attest,
While many people who have
reached the age of 64 are
thinking about retirement, Su is
looking forward to being in panto
at the Theatre Royal in
Nottingham over Christmas before
touring to New Zealand in the
musical Annie and hitting the
road with a new solo show next
Autumn.
• The magazine
is available to read online, at Issuu, and also features
a great retro panto promo image
of Su starring in a previous
production at Nottingham's
Theatre Royal.
.Peter
Pan 2013: 'The Stage' Review
Tuesday
10th December, 2013
Another Peter
Pan review, the eighth we
have posted, and it's by The Stage.
It’s one big and very noisy
party at the Theatre Royal, with
just a nod in the direction of JM
Barrie...
... David Hasselhoff has a
strong, commanding presence as a
sonorous Hook, with plenty of
Baywatch references and a good
line in hauteur and disdain, and
Su Pollard is the wacky and
eccentric Mimi the Mermaid. She
gives it her all and is visibly
delighted to be playing in her
home town. There’s nothing
other-worldly but something quite
touching sometimes about Barney
Harwood’s likeable Pan, a
very flesh-and-blood lad.
• BBC
Radio Nottingham: Su and
Barney Harwood were interviewed
on Jo Davies show on Saturday.
Talking all things Peter Pan,
The Hoff and Nottingham. The
interviews begin at approximately
12 minutes into the prgoramme and
run for around 11 minutes. The
show is available at 'BBC
iPlayer' until the 15th December
- Listen
here...
• Nottingham Post:
How the newspaper reviewed Peter
Pan in their print edition -
View here...
• BBC
East Midlands: David
Hasselhoff and Su interviewed
backstage by Ann Davies for East
Midlands Today - View the
photo...
• Nottingham Post:
12 Days of Christmas - Day Eight:
A family panto ticket and after
show meal to be won - See today's
newspaper for details - View here...
• Twitter:
Praise-a-plenty for Peter Pan,
with lots of tweets - View just
some at the Theatre Royal's feed here...
• Peter Pan
Art: A fantastic time
lapse of a cartoon being created
of the Peter Pan main
cast at You Tube - View here...
• Panto Info:
All the details you need, direct
from the Theatre Royal,
Nottingham, is available by
clicking below.
• A
Glittering Entrance: Did
you know Su arrives onstage in a
giant glitter ball? View it
here... (Thanks to Mark)
.Peter
Pan 2013: 'It's Much More' Review
Tuesday
10th December, 2013
The Hoff is in town,
starring in Peter Pan Pantomime
at the Theatre Royal in
Nottingham... I have to admit
that I was more excited than my
Son who was accompanying me.
... The performance was good,
with stars that included Barney
Harwood (Children’s
presenter), the FABULOUS Su
Pollard ( Hi de Hi fame) and the
giant pirate David Hasselhoff.
.Nottingham
Post: Su Honoured With An Ale
Named After Her
Tuesday
10th December, 2013
Su has had a real
ale named after her, as reported
yesterday by the Nottingham
Post.
Nottingham legend and
actress Su Pollard honoured with
an ale named after her
Nottingham royalty and screen
actress Su Pollard has been
celebrated this week with a real
ale named in her honour.
The Hi-De-Hi star joined staff at
the Vat and Fiddle pub in
Queen’s Bridge Road for the
newest in their
“Nottinghamian” range
of ales, made in praise of local
legends. The “Su
Pollard” was brought to life
by Castle Rock Brewery as the
lady herself takes to the stage
at the Theatre Royal this
Christmas for Peter Pan, playing
Mimi the Mermaid.
Su, who stopped by the pub on
Monday, said the drink tasted a
delight and it had been the first
time she had drunk ale for
decades.
• Continue reading at the Nottingham
Post. View a photo of Su
at the pub here.
.Su
Online News Archive:
August/September 2013
Tuesday
10th December, 2013
Su news for
August and September 2013 has now
been archived. Visit our News
Archive here.
.Peter
Pan 2013: More Reviews
Monday
9th December, 2013
Impact:
Peter Pan @ Theatre Royal: After
one of the most hilarious nights
of my life, I’ve learned two
things. Firstly, you’re
never too old for a pantomime;
and secondly, David Hasselhoff is
bloody fantastic. I will follow
this with some advice though, so
be patient... However, with a
flash and a bang (literally) the
show suddenly picked up as we
arrived in Neverland, with
Nottingham’s very own Su
Pollard as the most fabulous
mermaid I’ve ever seen,
bringing forth the pure cheese we
all secretly love and expect from
a pantomime. It was thanks to
Pollard that our cringingly
perfect good guys loosened up, as
even they couldn’t help
corpsing in her presence - Continue
reading...
Theatre Reviews:
Peter Pan, Theatre Royal: The
story of the "boy that never
grew up" and casting Barney
Harwood as Peter Pan was a stroke
of genius as he still only looks
like a teenager. He has the
energy of a teenager, the looks
and the child like qualities that
go to make an ideal Peter, oh yes
and he has a rather good singing
voice as well. Being an ex Blue
Peter presenter and daredevil, he
was well placed to take on the
flying roles as well.
Nottingham's very own Queen of
the stage, Su Pollard, no
stranger to the Theatre Royal,
played to her local strengths and
Hi De Hi past as she made her
entrance as Mimi the Magic
Mermaid, complete with lots of
fishy jokes and a costume to
rival Lady Gaga - Continue
reading...
.Peter
Pan 2013: 'Nottingham Post'
Review
Monday
9th December, 2013
The Theatre Royal
may have pulled off a coup in
landing international superstar
David Hasselhoff for this
year’s panto, but it was the
lesser-known Ben Nickless who
stole the show. Playing
good-natured pirate Mr Smee, his
sweet-toothed version of the
erotic novel 50 Shades of Grey
was the innuendo-laden highlight
of an entertaining panto.
... and also popular, of course,
was Nottingham’s own Su
Pollard, celebrating 40 years in
showbusiness with her role as
Mimi the Mermaid. The vital
audience participation arrived
with Pollard as she reprised her
most famous TV role of chalet
maid Peggy with a hearty
‘Hi-de-Hi’ just after
arriving on stage in a huge disco
ball.
"Absolutely average,"
she teased as the audience
responded with a subdued
‘Ho-de-Ho’.
While other members of the cast
perhaps needed to let their lines
breathe a little, to allow time
for those all-important hisses
and boos, Pollard’s panto
experience really showed as she
constantly engaged with the
audience, including an inevitable
flirt with an unsuspecting
gentleman near the front...
In David Hasselhoff,
Nottingham’s Theatre Royal
must have secured one of the
biggest names to appear in a
pantomime anywhere this year. But
the former Baywatch actor more
than lives up to his star-billing
as Peter Pan’s nemesis
Captain Hook, in what is a
hilarious, entertaining and
all-round excellent show...
... and Su Pollard a very sparkly
Mimi The Magical Mermaid, who
cracked constant fish-themed
jokes and was very good at
getting the audience involved.
Her songs were some of the best
in the panto to watch and she put
her years of stage experience to
very good use in a very
professional performance.
Two names have been
on Nottingham's lips with bated
breath since the outrageously
fantastical announcement was made
back in June of the showbiz pair
up we could hardly dare to dream
of and to make all our
Christmases come at once,
Hasselhoff And Pollard...
... And it's in this enchanted
faraway land from an immense
glitter ball with a slow reveal
that first emerges Su Pollard to
humongous whooping and applause,
back home in town and on stage
where she belongs, brighter,
better and bluer than ever as
Mimi the Magical Mermaid, giving
it her all with Nottingham
lovingly giving it all right back
at ya.
It’s loud,
it’s bright and it’s
camp. It is Hoff-fully good.
Peter Pan does everything that a
Panto should, and it does it
brilliantly. There’s
something for everyone. Male and
female dancers wore costumes
that’d interest even the
most disengaged parent and the
singing, dancing and often rude
jokes were top-notch. The actors
were rewarded with an almost
non-stop chorus of laughter. They
all clearly enjoyed themselves as
they delved into the world of
improve, joining in with the
ensuing hilarity.
... Notable performances include
the roller-skating Tinkerbell
(Isobel Hathaway), the
overwhelmingly comic Mimi the
Magical Mermaid
(Nottingham’s own Su
Pollard) and Mr Smee (Ben
Nickless) and the charming Barney
Harwood as Peter Pan – an
appropriate role for a man
who’s spent most of his
career on children’s
television.
Monday
9th December, 2013 •
Thanks to Mark Whitney
A couple
more Peter Pan photos,
Su onstage as Mimi the Mermaid
and a Hofftastic invite to the
evening performance on launch
Saturday. Please click below to
view a larger version of Mimi.
.Peter
Pan: Cast Photos
Sunday
8th December, 2013 •
Thanks to Mark Whitney
A couple of
photos of Su, David Hasselhoff,
Barney Harwood and the Peter
Pan cast from Friday, during
final rehearsals. The panto
opened with two shows yesterday
and continues with another two
today, at 1.30pm and 6pm. There
are no performances tomorrow but
there's sure to be some great
reviews. Please click on the
photos to view larger versions.
.Newark
Advertiser: Celebrities Turn Out
For Plenty Of Seasonal Fun
Friday
6th December, 2013
Panto season is well
and truly here with celebrities
dressing up in colourful costumes
and taking to stages in
Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.
A star-studded cast promise to
dazzle audiences at the Theatre
Royal, Nottingham, from Saturday
in Peter Pan.
International star David
Hasselhoff, known as The Hoff,
plays the ultimate baddie,
Captain Hook.
The Hoff, famous for playing
Michael Knight in Knight Rider
and Mitch Buchanan in Baywatch,
said: “I love performing in
pantomime. It’s a fabulous
British tradition and a great
excuse to get the whole family
together and enjoy a wonderful
and entertaining time at the
theatre
.Stuff/Entertainment:
Pollard Says Hi-de-Hi to
Wellington
Friday
6th December, 2013
"Hi-de-hi
Wellington," says British
actor Su Pollard, who will come
to the capital next May to
perform in Annie.
The little red-headed orphan will
appear at the St James Theatre
from May 23 till June 8.
Pollard, who is famous for
playing Peggy in the BBC's
Hi-de-Hi!, will play the
alcohol-soaked Miss Hannigan, the
headmistress of the New York City
Municipal Orphanage where Annie
lives.
She said Miss Hannigan was
misunderstood as a character.
"I love that I get the
chance to show all sides of
her," she said. "People
say that she's just a mean old
bag, but that's just one side of
her. If you look close and listen
to what she's saying she's not
like that at all. She's had a
terrible life. She's ended up
with these rotten, stinkin'
orphans who give her the run
around."
• Experience
Nottingham: On the
second day of Christmas in Notts
we give to you ... Two panto
dames! Panto comes but once a
year (oh yes it does!) and you
will be spoilt for choice in
Nottinghamshire this year. There
are of course more than two panto
dames starring shows across the
county – so if you
can’t decide what to see
then why not see them all? Our
friends at Nottingham’s
Theatre Royal are pleased to
welcome the legend that is David
‘The Hoff’ Hasselhof
who will be Captain Hook in the
fairy tale classic Peter Pan.
Adding some sparkle to the show
will be the Magical Mermaid,
played by Nottingham’s very
own Su Pollard - Continue
reading...
• Hoff Watch:
David in Nottingham: “Your
local legend Su Pollard is really
a pro,” Hasselhoff told the
Post, during a break. “And
I’m a pro. We come from the
old school.” - There's also
an exclusive look at the Peter
Pan stage - Continue
reading...
• Nottingham Post:
"It's all very lovely and
magical" - panto star Barney
Harwood on Peter Pan: For the
parents and grandparents coming
to see Peter Pan – this
year's Theatre Royal panto –
international mega-star David
Hasselhoff or
local-woman-done-good Su Pollard
will be the biggest names on the
bill. But for the younger fans,
there will be another superstar.
For under-12s in Britain, few
people are bigger than Barney
Harwood. The BBC TV star is
possibly the biggest name in
children's television today - Continue
reading...
• Nottingham Post:
The Hoff's right-hook man speaks:
Sharing a stage with David
Hasselhooff won't be a huge thing
for Ben Nickless - he's worked
with big names before - Continue
reading...
.Peter
Pan: Newsy Bits & Pieces!
Tuesday
3rd December, 2013 •
Thanks to Mark Whitney
Rehearsals for Peter
Pan are in full swing in
Nottingham, and the panto opens
this Saturday, 7th December, at
2.30pm at the Theatre Royal. It's
already the most successful
Nottingham has ever known... and
it hasn't even opened yet!
• Nottingham Post:
Hoff to a great start - Theatre
Royal panto is already theatre's
biggest ever!: It's H-official!
This year's Theatre Royal panto
is the biggest so far... and it
hasn't even started yet. Ticket
sales for Peter Pan, which opens
on Saturday, have generated more
than £1 million for the theatre
– and there is little doubt
that David Hasselhoff, the
international star leading the
cast has something to do with
that - Continue
reading...
• Student 365:
Top 10 Pantomimes For Christmas:
2. Baywatch star David Hasselhoff
is appearing in The Theatre
Royal’s production of Peter
Pan in Nottingham as Captain
Hook, which will surely draw in
the audiences. Further to this,
Nottingham has managed to secure
comedian Su Pollard and Barney
Harwood (from CBBC) - Continue
reading...
• Nottingham Post:
With David Hasselhoff as Hook,
Nottingham's Theatre Royal panto
is in for all-action ride: The
Hoff has landed. David
Hasselhoff, the one-man
entertainment industry who shot
to fame with the 1980s
man-and-talking-car TV series
Knight Rider and who consolidated
his empire with 1990s
attractive-people-in-red-bathing-suits
lifeguard drama Baywatch, arrived
in Nottingham yesterday. The man
who once wore a leather jacket
covered in blinking lights while
singing about freedom atop a
newly-opened Berlin Wall, is here
to play Captain Hook opposite Su
Pollard as the Magical Mermaid - Continue
reading...
• Peter Pan 2013:
View all the info you need -
tickets, dates, times - at the
Theatre Royal, Nottingham, website.
.Su on
TV: Little Robots
Tuesday
3rd December, 2013
Little
Robots: CBeebies: Thursday 5th
December: 8.00am Bump in the Night. The
Sparky Twins ask Scary if they
can borrow Flappy to be in their
new show. Scary's not keen but
agrees, only to change his mind
as soon as they have taken her.
The Sparkies, practising their
juggling, accidentally bop Flappy
on the head and she flies off
erratically into the night! They
panic, but with the help of Messy
and a trail of bat shapes across
the Little Robot world, Flappy is
eventually found.
Little Robots: CBeebies:
Thursday 12th December: 8.00am The Odd Couple. Stripy
steps on the Sparkies' rollaplank
and crashes into Noisy's house,
damaging it badly. Tiny offers to
repair it and Stripy suggests
that Noisy stays with him in the
meantime. But the arrangement is
not ideal - Noisy is very noisy
and Stripy doesn't like having
his peace and quiet disturbed.
The Sparkies and Tiny each come
up with a solution - but their
solutions lead to more trouble!
Little
Robots: CBeebies: Thursday 19th
December: 8.00am Good Sport Sporty. The
Little Robots are doing their
Busy Bot jobs and Sporty finishes
first. The others ask him to help
them finish their jobs but soon
it is all out of control because
he cannot keep up. Tiny cannot
believe they have left Sporty to
do everything while they play
Botball and when they find him,
he is malfunctioning. Tiny
repairs him but he does not want
to rest so Tiny suggests that the
Little Robots do Sporty's
exercises while he calls out the
instructions!
.Hi-de-Hi!
The Complete Collection: Win DVD
Box Set
Monday
2nd December, 2013
Those very generous
folk at Playback have given Su
Online a lovely Hi-de-Hi!
The Complete Collection box set
to give away as the prize in a
competition.
The new set, featuring all 57
episodes, was released in
September and is available from Amazon.
Welcome to Maplin's,
Britain's favourite holiday camp,
where the sun-drenched summer
never ends. Here we find our
heroic Yellow Coats involved in
all kinds of jolly japes and
comic capers, in the chalets, in
the Hawaiian Ballroom and all
around the Olympic-sized swimming
pool. So roll up your trousers
and get those knobbly knees out,
it's time for a complete season
of fun and frolics - come on
campers, Hi-De-Hi!
Starring: Paul Shane, Ruth Madoc,
Su Pollard, Jeffrey Holland,
Simon Cadell & David Griffin.
To enter the competition just
answer this question: What year
did this website launch? Email
your answer, titled "Su
Online competition" here. Closes Midnight on
Sunday 15th December. All
entrants who give the correct
answer will have their names put
into a bowl and a random winner
will be chosen, emailed and their
name published on this page. Good
luck and thanks again to
Playback.
.Radio
Live / Jemm Three: Su Interviews
Monday
2nd December, 2013
A couple more radio
interview with Su which have
aired over the last week, here in
the UK and in New Zealand..
• Radio Live:
Su Pollard has played hundreds of
characters in British TV &
theatre but is most loved for her
role of Peggy Ollerenshaw the
Yellowcoat in Hi De Hi. She talks
about the unique nature of the
British sit-com and describes
working closely with one of the
greatest scriptwriting teams
ever, the creators of Dad’s
Army (and Hi De Hi), David Croft
and James Perry - Listen
here...
• Jemm Three:
Sunday Brunch: Su Pollard talks
to JemmThree’s Tim McArthur:
Comedienne, singer and actress Su
Pollard has had a long and well
rounded career on stage and in
television. Pollard hails from
Nottingham and got into
entertainment at the young age of
fourteen. This Christmas,
she’s joined by David
Hasselhoff in Peter Pan: The
Swashbuckling Pantomime Adventure
- Listen
here...
Two new Su radio
interviews from yesterday and
this morning are now available to
listen to at 'BBC iPlayer'.
The 2010 Benidorm
Christmas Special, in which Su
has a guest role as herself!, is
repeated on Christmas Eve and
Boxing Day this year.
Impact:
Peter Pan @ Theatre Royal: After
one of the most hilarious nights
of my life, I’ve learned two
things. Firstly, you’re
never too old for a pantomime;
and secondly, David Hasselhoff is
bloody fantastic. I will follow
this with some advice though, so
be patient... However, with a
flash and a bang (literally) the
show suddenly picked up as we
arrived in Neverland, with
Nottingham’s very own Su
Pollard as the most fabulous
mermaid I’ve ever seen,
bringing forth the pure cheese we
all secretly love and expect from
a pantomime. It was thanks to
Pollard that our cringingly
perfect good guys loosened up, as
even they couldn’t help
corpsing in her presence - 
