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I was watching the cow creamer episode today, and it always cracks me up when I see actress Vivian Pickles as Aunt Dahlia, because to me she will ever and always be Harold's mother (from Harold And Maude). I expected to hear a Cat Stevens score usurp the Anne Dudley music whenever she was onscreen. <g>

I know this has been mentioned before, numerous times, but I agree: the use of different actors in so many of the crucial supporting roles is a bit jarring. There were *four* Aunt Dahlias. And to use Francesca Folan as Madeleine, and then later as Florence was a bit of a shock (especially seeing first season years after seeing 3rd and 4th seasons).

Does anyone else have favorites? I definitely prefer Richard Garnett's Gussie, Elizabeth Morton's Madeleine, and Fiona Gillies' Florence. I like both of the actresses who played Aunt Agatha, and all but the first portrayal of Aunt Dahlia (Harold's mother notwithstanding).

Ah well, as long as we got Fry and Laurie, I'm not complaining.

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I know this has been mentioned before, numerous times, but I agree: the use of different actors in so many of the crucial supporting roles is a bit jarring.

I totally agree. In fact, I completely lost track of them all. I'm afraid replacing Bingo Little was just a step too far for me - and I have no idea even who played the part, except that he was blond and cute. Sigh.

May I first say that I love your LJ moniker. :-) I'm always in awe of people who come up with cute and clever names for their email/LJ.

Having primarily seen the 3rd and 4th series/seasons on Masterpiece Theatre/PBS (and my VHS tapes of them), I'm much more accustomed to the later Bingo, but he's always seemed rather sly and unkind and a bit weaselly to me, whereas my one glimpse of the earlier (blond) Bingo gave me a much nicer impression of the character.

May I first say that I love your LJ moniker. :-) I'm always in awe of people who come up with cute and clever names for their email/LJ.

Thanks. I stole it from my favourite episode of The West Wing, 'Opposition Research'.

And yes, blond Bingo was quite sweet and innocent in his little way. Bless him.

Michael Siberry was blond Bingo, and I prefer him, too. (I think he went on to play King Arthur in Spamalot.) Pip Torrens was the second Bingo, and he never sighed "She's a tender goddess" with as much rapture as Siberry did.

Pip Torrens was the second Bingo, and he never sighed "She's a tender goddess" with as much rapture as Siberry did.

I think you've hit the nail on the head. Torrens' performance always seemed to make Bingo a bit of a cad, whereas Siberry's was full of genuine infatuation.

He did go and play King Arthur, it was very disconcerting! I was reading through the program before it started, saw his picture, and jumped so badly I scared my sister. When she asked what was wrong I was like, "HOLY SHIT THAT'S BINGO!"

That was pretty much my reaction when I saw a commercial for it: "Wait ... what?! Was that BINGO?!"

I loved the first Bingo very much, and also the first Gussie. Who is the redheaded actress who played Aunt Dahlia? I'm too lazy to look it up, but she's the one I liked best.

As for Pauline Stoker, I liked the one who wore Bertie's heliotrope pyjamas. I thought she did a fun portrayal, full of piss and vinegar, as my grandma would have said.

I've only ever seen the Pauline Stoker in the heliotrope pajamas, and I liked her a lot. Full of piss and vinegar is exactly the description for her. :-)

I think the redheaded Aunt Dahlia is from the 1st season/series two-parter, right? The one with Bertie on the bike in the rain. According to the cast list, that's Brenda Bruce. She was actually my least favorite, but maybe that's only because she's decidedly not in Bertram's corner for much of that episode. :-) (Poor Bertie.) My favorite Aunt Dahlia is the one in the painting-theft episode (Comrade Bingo), even though she doesn't fit the book description one whit.

I'm definitely thinking the first Bingo will be my fave, too, after seeing the episode where he's enamored with Honoria. The first Gussie (Richard Garnett)is absolutely more appealing than the second (Richard Braine), especially after they'd used Braine to play the loathsome Steggles.

I'm with storyfan. Bingo 1 and Gussie 1. And the original Wooster Twins.

But at least they kept Tuppy. ^^

I agree. I'm also glad they kept Tuppy, and Spode.

I was sad when they replaced Aunt Agatha, especially after 3 series of the first one. Agatha 1 was much more frightening!

A real holy terror.

Yes, no one else could have been Spode. Or Tuppy.

Spoderific and Tuppylicious.

They are Spoderific and Tuppylicious! XD

They couldn't have cast any one else after Spode- he is too present and predominant a force. Tuppy I just think is too loveable to change :)

Definitely glad they had the same actor for Spode. And Tuppy.

Bingo 1 and Gussie 1 seems to be the consensus. :-) And understandably so. Gussie 1 is so much more cute-in-a-nerdy-sort-of-way. Gussie 2, regrettably, isn't even cute-in-an-ugly-sort-of-way, as some fellows are. And, as I said elsewhere re: Bingo2, a bit weaselly and unlikable.

Oh, definitely, the original Claude and Eustace. The second pair were just ghastly (although it wasn't until recently that I saw the first set to compare).

Ah, yes, Tuppy! So nice that they were able to get the same actor for that role throughout.

Apparently, he's a buddy of Fry and Laurie. He was on the last ep of Boffle.

That was a geek moment for me, lemme tell ya. XD

What is this Boffle of which you speak? :-)

Geek moments are the best -- it's great to have places where we can share them and (usually, she said sheepishly) be understood.

A Bit of Fry and Laurie. Sketch show the boys did pre-Jeeves. Tis awesome.

Swear to God, they slash themselves. XD

Thank you! I looked it up and found it, thanks to you. That'll be next on my list to watch. (And, God, I love the Internet--have a question? The answer is usually on the 'net, just a few keystrokes away.)

Swear to God, they slash themselves. XD

Oh. My. That sounds intriguing, to say the least. Many thanks for the rec. I'd seen a few eps on a VHS tape I bought on a whim a couple of decades ago (because I'd loved Fry and Laurie in Blackadder), but they've pretty much wafted out of the ol' memory.

Dude, YouTube. Look up Major Donaldson. You will love me forever.

Hah, I loved Blackadder Goes Forth. (Darling/Blackadder OTP!) Bushy Mustache and Gorgeous Georgina. I have to rewind that opening every time just to see Hugh order Eyes Right. So freaking cute!!!!

I never saw much of Blackadder Goes Forth(clearly, I'll need to rectify that)except for the first viewing on A&E.

I will totally go to YouTube and find Major Donaldson. I suspect I will forever be in your debt. :-)

Thank you for the 411. You rock!

I just love sharing my interests.

And sexy British actors are a legitimate interest.

And sexy British actors are a legitimate interest.

Nothing could be more legitimate.

And *thank you* for sharing (meant in the totally *not*-sarcastic, genuine sort of way).

You mustn't forget 'My Dear Boy', either.

Writing that down....

Gotcha! Thank you very much!

I adore hyssop, don't you?

Ah. Boffle. The Internet is a wonderful thing; I looked it up. :-)

I've only ever seen the one VHS tape that I have of A Bit Of Fry and Laurie, and that was years ago. I'll have to dig it up and watch it again at some point.

some of the supporting actors played the same character so differently they might as well have been different characters, sort of a Dr. Whoish situation. I made this joke before in this community but I think it bears repeating, towards the later eps I half expected Bertie to go, "Oh, sorry, I didn't recognize you for a second, old thing, someone keeps changing the actors!"
And the reason Tuppy didn't change is because that actor (I forget his name) happens to be a friend of Hugh and Stephen's.

Interesting bit o' trivia there re: the actor who played Tuppy. :-)

towards the later eps I half expected Bertie to go, "Oh, sorry, I didn't recognize you for a second, old thing, someone keeps changing the actors!"

LOL Oh, that's priceless!

I completely agree that the potrayals seemed to vary widely (which is probably why we all have our favorites).

Was Elizabeth Morton the squeaky Madeliene in the third and fourth series? I do agree she was perfect for the role because she was so fecking annoying.

Was Elizabeth Morton the squeaky Madeliene in the third and fourth series?

She's the one. <g>

I do agree she was perfect for the role because she was so fecking annoying.

She just seemed to be the epitome of the book-Madeleine. I actually found her rather wide-eyed and endearing, but one definitely sees how she could be annoying in equal measure. (Although, I have to say in her favor, Diana Whatshername (2nd season) certainly got the *droopy* aspect of the character down perfectly.)

I'm very much like the rest of the chaps here-- Bingo 1 and Gussie 1. Plus I think the second guy to play Gussie played a really horrible character at the end of one series...I can't remember the name, etc. It was the episode where everyone was betting on the choir boy's race even though they weren't supposed to be. His character caused some problems and I was grumpy about him then being Gussie.

The first Agatha was Mary Wimbush-- I loved her so much. She was also Julia in The Archers until she died, whilst recording at The Mailbox Studios (not Pebblemill like I first thought) :[ I miss her very much. I couldn't take the 2nd Agatha seriously because she also played Mrs Jennings in the '95 Sense and Sensibility. And she was such a lovely silly character.

I like the first Dahlia- she reminds me (facial structure-wise) of a friend I had at school who was also red headed. I guess nostalgia got the better of me, hur hur.

Edited 2009-08-17 19:27 (UTC)

Rupert Steggles is the guy who nobbled Harold the spherical choir boy. ;)

You know, I had had a lightbulb-over-the-head moment while watching Sense & Sensibility recently (OMG *Aunt Agatha*), but had forgotten again until you mentioned it here. Because this actress was the first Agatha I saw, I didn't object to the change so much, but I can see how it would jar if you're thinking of the dear and silly Mrs. Jennings (like me seeing Harold's mother with the Vivian Pickles incarnation of Dahlia, although I did like her portrayal). I very much liked Mary Wimbush in the role of Agatha, as well. I haven't seen The Archers; I'll go look it up. :-)

Feeling comfortable with a certain actor's portrayal is always a personal thing. And being reminded of someone you like almost always makes it a positive reaction.

Richard Braine played the slimy Steggles as well as the second Gussie, to whom I never could warm. And, yes, what a bad case of hiring an actor for a different role in the same show.

That's where I've seen the 2nd Aunt Agatha - S&S! I just couldn't think of it. thanks for saving my sanity.

This is my deep dark secret about how I deal with all the crazy face changing. I think of them as completely different characters. Bertie has a couple friends named Gussie, a couple Bingos, etc. It works for me.

Oh, that's priceless! *g* And considering the repetition of names in the source material (3 Augustus/Gussie/Gus that I know of, a few Rodericks), eminently workable.

Garnett is definetly my favourite Gussie. Whenever I see Braine I think of Steggles, even though that was just one episode.
I also think it interesting that a lot of the actors who are minor characters in Jeeves and Wooster also made appearances in the Granada Sherlock Holmes series with Jeremy Brett; Elizabeth Spriggs, John Woodnutt, etc.
I also prefer Fiona Gillies' Florence, and Siburry's Bingo :)

I *adored* the Granada Sherlock Holmes series. No one else will ever be Holmes for me. Not having seen Jeeves and Wooster at the time, I didn't recognize any of the supporting/guest actors much, but I'm sure I would today. :-) I've watched a few on PBS recently when our station was showing them. What a pleasure!

Fiona Gillies' Florence just has that martinet quality that is a perfect, jarring contrast to her prettiness. You can *just* see Bertie falling for "Flossie, old thing" (and isn't it hilarious when she cuts him dead on that), then seeing what a disaster it would be after Jeeves opens his eyes to Lady Caligula. Francesca Folan's Florence never quite clicked with me after that.

Richard Braine was the first Gussie I saw -- and then recently I saw the Steggles character just after reading the story and thought, ew--they used this guy to play Steggles *and* Gussie? Just *wrong*. And then I saw the earlier Gussie and thought, now that's more like it. Cute, clueless nerdy newt-fancier. You can sort of see how he and Madeleine would fall for one another.

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