Nails by Charlotte

The Witchfinder follows Gideon Bannister, played by Tim Key, an ambitious but hopelessly inept witchfinder who sees a major trial as an opportunity to improve his career. His biggest problem is getting his suspect there, with Thomasine Gooch, played by Daisy May Cooper, proving anything but an obedient prisoner.

Set in East Anglia during the 1640s, the six-part comedy follows the pair as they travel through an England caught up in civil war and accusations of witchcraft. Thomasine has little patience for Gideon’s authority, while his growing frustration makes their journey an entertaining battle of personalities.

Written and directed by Neil and Rob Gibbons, the series also features Jessica Hynes and Reece Shearsmith. The Witchfinder combines historical settings with absurd situations and character-driven comedy, making the unlikely journey of Gideon and Thomasine the heart of the story.

Dame Maggie Smith made Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, one of the most memorable characters in Downton Abbey. Fiercely protective of her family’s reputation, Violet was never afraid to bend the truth slightly when she believed it was necessary to protect the Crawleys and their future.

Julian Fellowes’s drama follows the Crawley family and their servants as inheritance problems, war and changing social attitudes transform life at the Yorkshire estate. Violet’s sharpest exchanges were often with Isobel Crawley, played by Dame Penelope Wilton, whose more modern outlook regularly challenged her traditional views. Their disagreements became one of the series’ most enjoyable relationships, with rivalry gradually developing into genuine friendship.

Violet’s determination, intelligence and wonderfully dry sense of humour made her one of the defining figures of Downton Abbey. Maggie Smith brought enormous presence to the role, delivering every cutting remark and raised eyebrow with impeccable timing and helping make the Dowager Countess an enduring television favourite.

A year after her death, Dame Patricia Routledge remains one of the most memorable faces in British television. For millions, she will always be Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances, with her candlelight suppers, white slimline telephone and unforgettable cries of “Richard!” turning the character into a sitcom classic.

But Routledge’s career stretched far beyond Hyacinth. She brought comedy and drama to roles including Kitty in Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV, Irene Ruddock in Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads and amateur detective Hetty Wainthropp. She also enjoyed a remarkable stage career, winning a Tony Award on Broadway and later an Olivier Award.

Away from performing, Routledge was equally generous, supporting health, education, disability, poverty relief, young people and the arts through her charitable work. She also backed organisations including Kidney Research UK, the Royal Voluntary Service and Age UK Wirral, often giving quietly without seeking attention. Patricia Routledge died peacefully in her sleep on 3 October 2025, aged 96, leaving behind a remarkable body of work and many cherished television memories.

Ade Edmondson has spent decades making audiences laugh, but his interests extend far beyond comedy. Best known for The Young Ones and Bottom alongside the late Rik Mayall, he has also enjoyed acting, music, farming, cooking and spending time outdoors.

His interest in birdwatching began during the first Covid lockdown while he was creating a vegetable patch at his Devon home. Ade realised he knew very little about the birds around him, so his friend Samuel West helped introduce him to the hobby. Their friendship eventually led to Sam & Ade Go Birding, with the pair travelling around Britain to discover different species and explore the countryside.

The series proved popular enough to return for a second run in 2026, with Ade now firmly embracing birdwatching. His varied interests seem to reflect his wider belief that life should contain more than simply working, with time for nature, music, creativity, family and other passions. From alternative comedy to wildlife, Ade Edmondson has certainly built a remarkably varied life beyond the characters that first made him famous.

Just Good Friends gave us Penny Warrender and Vince Pinner, played by Jan Francis and Paul Nicholas, in one of John Sullivan’s most memorable sitcoms. Vince had left Penny at the altar, so when they met again in a pub five years later, friendship seemed like an unlikely choice. Yet they decided to try, creating plenty of awkward moments, old feelings and disagreements along the way.

The series ran for three series between 1983 and 1986, followed by a Christmas special exploring how Penny and Vince first met. Francis and Nicholas made the relationship feel convincing because their characters could argue one minute and seem to understand each other perfectly the next. The chemistry helped the sitcom win the BAFTA for Comedy Series in 1987.

Both actors continued working after the programme ended. Francis appeared in Stay Lucky, Bad Girls, Casualty and later Unforgotten, while Nicholas remained active on television and stage, including EastEnders and the stage production of Fawlty Towers. More than four decades later, Penny and Vince remain a much-loved sitcom pairing.

Happy 74th birthday to Kirsten Cooke, the actress who made Michelle Dubois one of the most memorable characters in 'Allo 'Allo!. After training at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, Cooke appeared in comedy sketches and television programmes before landing the role that would define her career in 1982. Michelle was the determined leader of the French Resistance, constantly arriving at Café René with another complicated plan to help the British airmen escape.

Her famous line, “Listen very carefully, I shall say this only once,” became one of the sitcom’s most recognisable catchphrases, delivered with complete seriousness no matter how ridiculous the plan became. Cooke remained with 'Allo 'Allo! throughout its original run from 1982 to 1992 and also appeared in the successful stage version. She later returned as Michelle for The Return of 'Allo 'Allo! in 2007, while continuing her television work in programmes including Down to Earth, The Upper Hand and ChuckleVision.

For more than four decades, Michelle’s beret, trench coat and wonderfully dramatic announcements have remained instantly recognisable to British comedy fans. Alongside Officer Crabtree’s “Good moaning” and René’s exasperated outbursts, Cooke’s delivery helped make the series a lasting favourite. It is quite an achievement for one sentence to remain so closely associated with an actress after all these years — but Kirsten Cooke certainly made sure everyone listened very carefully.

On the Buses is remembered for Stan Butler, Blakey and its familiar late-1960s sitcom setting, but the relationship between Olive and Arthur Rudge now stands out for very different reasons. Played by Anna Karen and Michael Robbins, the couple were shown living with Stan and his family, with Arthur frequently dismissing Olive and rejecting her attempts to win his affection.

Much of the humour came from their constant arguments and Arthur’s criticism of his wife, reflecting sitcom conventions of the period. Yet Anna Karen brought a noticeable warmth and vulnerability to Olive, making it easy for viewers to sympathise with her rather than simply seeing her as a comic caricature. Looking back today, some of the behaviour presented as harmless domestic comedy can feel considerably harsher.

The programme’s exaggerated characters were never intended to be perfect role models, and the story eventually dealt with the breakdown of Arthur and Olive’s marriage after Michael Robbins left the series. More than fifty years later, their relationship offers an interesting example of how comedy can change meaning as social attitudes and audience expectations evolve.

The Third Man arrived in UK cinemas in September 1949 and quickly established itself as a landmark of British film noir. Joseph Cotten starred as American novelist Holly Martins, who arrives in divided, war-damaged Vienna to investigate the suspicious death of his old friend. Alida Valli played Anna Schmidt, whose connection to the mystery adds another layer of emotional tension.

Directed by Carol Reed, the film became famous for its striking photography, shadowy streets and unusual camera angles. Orson Welles made a legendary appearance as Harry Lime, the mysterious black-market racketeer whose presence dominates the story before leading to the unforgettable sewer chase. Anton Karas's distinctive zither score also became an essential part of the film's identity.

The Third Man won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and a BAFTA, while its reputation has continued to grow over the decades. The film was later named by the BFI as the greatest British film of the 20th century, securing its place as one of the most celebrated achievements in British cinema.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy premiered on BBC Two in September 1979, bringing John le Carré’s intricate world of Cold War espionage to television. Alec Guinness starred as George Smiley, the quiet, highly observant intelligence officer recalled from retirement to investigate a Soviet mole working at the highest levels of British intelligence.

The seven-part adaptation focused on suspicion, interrogation, bureaucracy and betrayal rather than traditional action sequences. Ian Richardson played the ambitious Bill Haydon, while Alexander Knox appeared as Control, with John Irvin directing the atmospheric production.

The series won the BAFTA for Best Drama Serial, while Alec Guinness received the BAFTA for Best Actor for his acclaimed performance. More than four decades later, the 1979 production remains one of the most highly regarded television adaptations of John le Carré’s work and a landmark of British espionage drama.

Miss Marple launched on BBC One in December 1984, with Joan Hickson taking on the role of Agatha Christie’s famous amateur detective. Her quiet, intelligent performance quickly became closely associated with Jane Marple, as the character investigated complicated murders without relying on exaggerated eccentricity.

The BBC adaptation brought Christie’s mysteries to life through beautifully staged period settings, rural locations and feature-length stories filled with secrets, suspicious characters and dangerous crimes. Hickson appeared in 12 mysteries and received multiple BAFTA nominations for her work, while her portrayal earned personal praise from Queen Elizabeth II.

Joan Hickson continued as Miss Marple until the later years of her career, becoming one of the most respected performers to play the character on screen. She died in 1998 aged 92, but her interpretation remains a much-loved part of British television history and Agatha Christie’s enduring legacy.