No Sex, Please – We’re British
This production became the longest running comedy in British theatre history on 16th July 1977, when it hit 2,548 performances – beating the previous record holder, THERE’S A GIRL IN MY SOUP, which closed after 2,547. (‘Record-Breaking Sex’, The Stage 7th July 1977, page 28.) Ten years later, the final performance total had risen to 6,761.
The characters of Miss Little and Mr Atkins were dropped after the initial tour dates.
Dennis Ramsden created the role of Mr Needham in April 1971, playing it for two years and then returning to it in January 1980. Ramsden’s initial successor as Mr Needham, Arthur Howard, was himself succeeded by Leo Franklyn, then resumed the role after Franklyn died on 17th September 1975. Hugh Lloyd also had two spells in this role. Other recurring actors included Ian Masters, Helen Christie, Peter Graves, Moyra Fraser, Giles Cole and Neil France.
Cast & Crew
Cast
| Barbara | Vikki Richards |
|---|---|
| Brian Runnicles | Michael Crawford |
| delivery man | David Shaw |
| Eleanor Hunter | Evelyn Laye |
| Frances Hunter | Linda Thorson |
| Leslie Bromhead | Richard Caldicot |
| Miss Little | Jacqueline Lacey |
| Mr Atkins | Alister Cameron |
| Mr Needham | Dennis Ramsden |
| Peter Hunter | Anthony Valentine |
| Superintendent Paul | Gordon Whiting |
| Susan | Janet Mahoney |
| Peter Hunter (replacement 1) | Simon Williams
(started November 1971) |
| Susan (replacement 1) | Melanie Jane
(started 1st November 1971) |
| Frances Hunter (replacement 1) | Carolyn Lyster
(started 1972) |
| Peter Hunter (replacement) | Kenneth Fortescue
(started 1972) |
| Brian Runnicles (replacement 1) | David Jason
(started June 1972) |
| Frances Hunter (replacement 2) | Belinda Carroll
(started June 1972) |
| delivery man (replacement) | Roy Jameson
(started 1973) |
| Frances Hunter (temporary replacement) | Sally Harrison
(1973) |
| Mr Needham (replacement) | Arthur Howard
(started 1973) |
| Susan (replacement) | Sally Harrison
(started 1973) |
| Eleanor Hunter (replacement 1) | Jean Kent
(started 9th April 1973) |
| Brian Runnicles (temporary replacement) | Billy Boyle
(28th May – 16th June 1973) |
| Brian Runnicles (replacement 2) | Derek Royle
(started September 1973) |
| Frances Hunter (replacement 3) | Liza Goddard
(started September 1973) |
| Eleanor Hunter (replacement 2) | Maureen O’Sullivan
(started December 1973) |
| Frances Hunter (replacement 4) | Hilary Pritchard
(started 1974) |
| Peter Hunter (replacement) | Alister Cameron
(started 1974) |
| Susan (replacement 2) | Fiona Curzon
(started 1974) |
| Mr Needham (replacement) | Leo Franklyn
(started 1975) |
| Brian Runnicles (replacement 3) | Andrew Sachs
(started January 1975) |
| Eleanor Hunter (replacement 3) | Doris Hare
(started January 1975) |
| Frances Hunter (replacement 5) | Judy Loe
(started January 1975) |
| Susan (replacement) | Catherine Chase
(started January 1975) |
| delivery man (replacement) | John Atterbury
(started January 1976) |
| Barbara (replacement) | Veronica Pieters
(started 12th January 1976) |
| Brian Runnicles (replacement 4) | Barry McGinn
(started 12th January 1976) |
| delivery man (replacement) | David Masterman
(started 12th January 1976) |
| Frances Hunter (replacement 6) | Bridget Brice
(started 12th January 1976) |
| Leslie Bromhead (replacement 1) | McDonald Hobley
(started 12th January 1976) |
| Peter Hunter (replacement) | Brian Carroll
(started 12th January 1976) |
| Susan (replacement) | Lolly Cockerell
(started 12th January 1976) |
| (replacement) | Eve Davies
(started 10th January 1977) |
| (replacement) | Nova Llewellyn
(started 10th January 1977) |
| (replacement) | Gerald Moon
(started 10th January 1977) |
| (replacement) | Ewan Roberts
(started 10th January 1977) |
| Brian Runnicles (replacement 5) | Ian Masters
(started 10th January 1977) |
| Eleanor Hunter (replacement 4) | Betty Marsden
(started 10th January 1977) |
| Frances Hunter (replacement 7) | Tara Soppet
(started 10th January 1977) |
| Leslie Bromhead (replacement) | Peter Graves
(started 10th January 1977) |
| Peter Hunter (replacement) | Giles Cole
(started 10th January 1977) |
| (replacement) | Philip Trewinnard
(started 16th January 1978) |
| (replacement) | Graham Wyles
(started 16th January 1978) |
| Barbara (replacement) | Venicia Day
(started 16th January 1978) |
| Eleanor Hunter (replacement 5) | Moyra Fraser
(started 16th January 1978) |
| Mr Needham (replacement) | Hugh Lloyd
(started 16th January 1978) |
| Superintendent Paul (replacement) | Alan White
(started 16th January 1978) |
| Susan (replacement) | Malou Cartwright
(started 16th January 1978) |
| Barbara (replacement) | Lucienne Camille
(started 15th January 1979) |
| Brian Runnicles (replacement) | Derek Fowlds
(started 15th January 1979) |
| delivery man (replacement) | Lewis Michael
(started 15th January 1979) |
| Eleanor Hunter (replacement 6) | Helen Christie
(started 15th January 1979) |
| Frances Hunter (replacement) | Virginia Clarke
(started 15th January 1979) |
| Peter Hunter (replacement) | Earl Adair
(started 15th January 1979) |
| Susan (replacement) | Donna Reading
(started 15th January 1979) |
| (replacement) | Jimmy Grant Anderson
(started 1980) |
| Barbara (replacement) | Jan de Miller
(started 14th January 1980) |
| Leslie Bromhead (replacement) | Richard Warner
(started 14th January 1980) |
| Mr Needham (replacement) | Dennis Ramsden
(started 14th January 1980) |
| Susan (replacement) | Lesley Staples
(started 14th January 1980) |
| (replacement) | Jean Heard
(started June 1980) |
| Mr Needham (replacement) | Hugh Lloyd
(started 16th November 1981) |
| Barbara (replacement) | Sonia Smyles
(started January 1982) |
| Brian Runnicles (replacement) | Jonathan Darvill
(started January 1982) |
| delivery man (replacement) | Stephen Gledhill
(started January 1982) |
| Eleanor Hunter (replacement) | Helen Christie
(started January 1982) |
| Frances Hunter (replacement) | Jacki Piper
(started January 1982) |
| Leslie Bromhead (replacement) | Peter Graves
(started January 1982) |
| Mr Needham (replacement) | Robert Dorning
(started January 1982) |
| Peter Hunter (replacement) | Giles Cole
(started January 1982) |
| Superintendent Paul (replacement) | Philip Trewinnard
(started January 1982) |
| Susan (replacement) | Moira Downie
(started January 1982) |
| delivery man (replacement) | Peter Sowerbutts
(started 1983) |
| Eleanor Hunter (replacement) | Moyra Fraser
(started 1983) |
| Frances Hunter (replacement) | Lynne Ross
(started 1983) |
| Leslie Bromhead (replacement) | Derek Bond
(started 1983) |
| Mr Needham (replacement) | Stanley Beard
(started 1983) |
| Peter Hunter (replacement) | Martin Chamberlain
(started 1983) |
| Superintendent Paul (replacement) | Robert Tunstall
(started 1983) |
| Barbara (replacement) | Refinna Carty
(started 23rd January 1984) |
| Brian Runnicles (replacement) | John Grantham
(started 23rd January 1984) |
| delivery man (replacement) | Neil France
(started 23rd January 1984) |
| Eleanor Hunter (replacement) | Heather Chasen
(started 23rd January 1984) |
| Frances Hunter (replacement) | Maggie Ryder
(started 23rd January 1984) |
| Leslie Bromhead (replacement) | Dermot Walsh
(started 23rd January 1984) |
| Peter Hunter (replacement) | Ben Stevens
(started 23rd January 1984) |
| Susan (replacement) | Nikki Critcher
(started 23rd January 1984) |
| (replacement) | Philip Blaine
(started 21st January 1985) |
| (replacement) | Elliott Cooper
(started 21st January 1985) |
| (replacement) | Michael Jenner
(started 21st January 1985) |
| Leslie Bromhead (replacement) | Jeremy Hawk
(started 21st January 1985) |
| Barbara (replacement) | Denise Dubarry
(started 20th January 1986) |
| Brian Runnicles (replacement) | Neil France
(started 20th January 1986) |
| delivery man (replacement) | Donald Cotter
(started 20th January 1986) |
| Eleanor Hunter (replacement) | Rona Anderson
(started 20th January 1986) |
| Frances Hunter (replacement) | Rebekah Thomas
(started 20th January 1986) |
| Leslie Bromhead (replacement) | Anthony Dawes
(started 20th January 1986) |
| Mr Needham (replacement) | Kalman Glass
(started 20th January 1986) |
| Peter Hunter (replacement) | James Aidan
(started 20th January 1986) |
| Superintendent Paul (replacement) | Rory McCallum
(started 20th January 1986) |
| Susan (replacement) | Elaine Waller
(started 20th January 1986) |
| (replacement) | Anthony Radford
(started 1987) |
| (replacement) | John Yeates
(started 1987) |
| Barbara (replacement) | Norma Vee Mahoni
(started 1987) |
| Brian Runnicles (replacement) | Ian Masters
(started 1987) |
| Frances Hunter (replacement) | Wendy Padbury
(started 1987) |
| Leslie Bromhead (replacement) | Charles Stapley
(started 1987) |
| Peter Hunter (replacement) | Timothy Ackroyd
(started 1987) |
| Susan (replacement) | Helen Rochelle
(started 1987) |
Crew | |
| Designer | Hutchinson Scott |
| Director | Allan Davis |
| Lighting | Joe Davis |
| Miss Evelyn Laye’s costumes by (original) | Norman Hartnell |
| Press Representative (original) | Torrington Douglas |
| Production and Stage Manager (original) | David Fleming |
| Wardrobe Mistress (original) | Paula Davies |
| Assistant Stage Manager (original) | Pippa de Gobeo |
| Assistant to Hutchinson Scott (original) | John Duke |
| Deputy Stage Manager (original) | Alister Cameron |
| Ladies’ costumes designed by (original) | Hazel Graeme |
| Personal Assistant to Mr Gale (original) | Lisel Beaumont |
| Production Carpenter (original) | Jack Beaumont |
| Scenery built and painted by | Victor Mara Ltd |
- Added by Michael Hope, last modified by Jared William.
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Photographs
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Photo credits
- No Sex Please We're British Programme, Public domain due to age
- Helen Christie, Public domain due to age
- Peter Graves, Public domain due to age
- No Sex Please We're British Inside Cover, Public domain due to age
Observations
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