Doctors say Hi-de-Hi to Ruth Madoc and Su Pollard
The holiday camp actresses are joined by Paul Harman-Elliott, better known as Paul Chuckle, for a forthcoming storyline.
Ruth Madoc, Paul Harman-Elliott and Su Pollard in the October 8th episode of Doctors, BBC one, 1.45pm
From 1980 until 1988 millions of viewers tuned to BBC One for a regular visit to the Maplins Holiday Camp in Crimpton-On-Sea. The fictional home of 1950s-set sitcom Hi-de-Hi! The series made stars of the cast which included Simon Cadell as entertainment manager Jeffery Fairbrother, Ruth Madoc as seductive head yellow coat Gladys Pugh, Paul Shane as always on the fiddle camp host Ted Bovis and Su Pollard as the over-excited chambermaid Peggy Ollerenshaw; who was forever trying to become a yellow coat.
The series followed the adventures of the staff at the run down holiday destination as their attempts to entertain the campers entertained beeb viewers across 58 episodes, nine series, and even lead to a stage version and cast album. The comedy was created and written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft who had also brought to life Dad’s Army, It Ain’t Half Hot Mum and You Rang M’Lord?
Two of the key actresses from the show – Ruth Madoc and Su Pollard – are being reunited on screen in BBC One daytime soap opera Doctors. Ruth plays Jean Marsh while Su features as Mary Dunlop in an episode to be screened on 8th October. The pair are joined for the plot by ChuckleVision ‘Chuckle Brother’ Paul Harman-Elliott who plays Ronnie Hislop, a man whom has been a little naughty to say the least.
Ruth Madoc as head yellow coat Gladys Pugh and Su Pollard as chambermaid Peggy Ollerenshaw in Hi-de-Hi!
Ruth Madoc as Gladys and Su Pollard as Peggy in a more serious moment from Hi-de-Hi! in the final series.
One of the Doctors regulars from The Mill medical centre visits a sheltered housing unit to see Ronnie whose gallbladder problem is playing up again. Fellow residents Mary and Jean turn up and aren’t best pleased when Sid asks them to come back later. It’s clear that Ronnie is having a fling with both women. As Sid gives Ronnie a painkilling injection he spots a skin tag on Ronnie’s leg but he refuses to let Sid look at it. In the communal area, Sid puts up a poster about the new minor surgery service offered at the Mill. Mary and Jean look very intrigued.
Later on, a minibus full of old people, including Mary, Jean and Ronnie turn up at the Mill with various ailments they want treated at the minor surgery unit. However the poster forgot to mention they needed to pre-book. Mary and Jean start to kick off in reception, and Ronnie can’t understand how they have found out he’s been ‘entertaining’ each of them.
Doctors, weekdays at 1.45pm on BBC One.
