Paula Wilcox

Paula Wilcox
Born (1949-12-13) 13 December 1949
Manchester, England
OccupationActress
Years active1969–present
Spouses
  • Derek Seaton
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1970; died 1979)​
  • Nelson "Skip" Riddle
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1991)​

Paula Wilcox (born 13 December 1949) is an English actress.[1] She played Chrissy Plummer in the ITV sitcom Man About the House from 1973 to 1976,[2] and also had roles in TV shows such as The Lovers, Miss Jones and Son, The Queen’s Nose, The Smoking Room, Emmerdale, Mount Pleasant, Boomers, Upstart Crow and Girlfriends. From 2020 to 2023, Wilcox appeared as Elaine Jones in Coronation Street.

Early life

Wilcox was born in Manchester[3] on 13 December 1949 to Joseph and Mary Wilcox.

Career

Wilcox joined the National Youth Theatre aged seventeen. Her early television appearances included a headline role in one episode of the series Hadleigh in 1969. She was then offered her first leading television role in The Lovers, a Granada sitcom produced for the ITV network, largely written by Jack Rosenthal and co-starring Richard Beckinsale. There were two series of The Lovers, plus a feature film.[4] She appeared in an episode of The Benny Hill Show (Thames) broadcast on 23 February 1972.[5]

Wilcox was cast in one of the lead roles of Man About the House (Thames, 1973–1976) as Chrissy Plummer, who was regularly in a flirtatious battle of wits with her male flatmate Robin, played by Richard O'Sullivan. The series ran for six series and the main cast also featured in the spin-off feature film. Her follow-up role was as the eponymous single mother in Miss Jones and Son (1977–1978).[6][2]

In 1991, Wilcox returned to situation comedy as Ros West in a Yorkshire Television sitcom called Fiddlers Three opposite Peter Davison, before playing the character of Ivy Sandford in the pilot of Frank Skinner's Blue Heaven on Channel 4 in 1992; the show then went on to become a series. She appeared in several series of The Queen’s Nose (1995–2001),[7] and also played small roles in the films The Higher Mortals (1993) and the Woody Allen movie Scoop (2006).[8]

She was cast as Lilian in the BBC Three sitcom The Smoking Room which ran from 2004 to 2005.[9]

On 27 October 2006, Wilcox appeared in the Only Fools and Horses spin-off The Green Green Grass as Marlene's sister. She has also played another character in the Only Fools and Horses universe, appearing in two episodes of Rock and Chips, playing Edward “Grandad” Trotter's estranged wife Violet. In 2007, Wilcox joined the cast of Emmerdale as Hilary Potts, mother of the vicar's wife, Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy).[10]

In 2008, Wilcox portrayed Bette Davis in a play, Whatever Happened to the Cotton Dress Girl?.[11] In 2010, she portrayed a mother of a gay son in the play Canary.[12]

In November that year, Wilcox took the leading role as a Liverpudlian private eye in Following from the Front, a BBC radio play first broadcast in November 2010 and again in January 2015 [13]

Wilcox played Pauline Johnson in the Sky One sitcom series Mount Pleasant from 2011 to 2017.[14]

In addition to her other work, Wilcox has made guest appearances in programmes such as Footballers' Wives, Holby City and Down to Earth.[8][15][16]

From 2014 to 2016, she had a starring role in the comedy series Boomers.[17] In 2015, she had a role in an episode of Still Open All Hours.[8][18]

In 2017, Wilcox filmed series 3 of Upstart Crow,[19] the Shakespearean sitcom starring David Mitchell and penned by Ben Elton.

That year, Wilcox filmed the last episode of Mount Pleasant after seven years.[20]

Wilcox's theatre credits include Chris Hannan's play What Shadows[21] about Enoch Powell's famous "Rivers of Blood" speech on immigration. This was performed at the Birmingham Rep, Edinburgh Lyceum and the Park Theatre, London in 2016 and 2017.[22][23]

Other theatrical work by Wilcox includes Great Expectations (Vaudeville Theatre);[24] Canary (Liverpool Everyman / Hampstead Theatre);[25] Dreams of Violence (Soho Theatre)[26] and La Cage aux Folles (Playhouse Theatre).[27]

Wilcox has also performed radio and voiceover work, and read the audiobook[28] Three Things About Elsie[29] written by Joanna Cannon.

Wilcox appeared in Coronation Street from 2020 to 2023, playing the role of Elaine Jones, a former abuse victim and first wife of Geoff Metcalfe (Ian Bartholomew) and mother of established character Tim Metcalfe (Joe Duttine). She previously appeared in Coronation Street in 1969 as Ray Langton's sister Janice.

Personal life

Wilcox was married to fellow actor Derek Seaton from 1970 until his death in 1979 from a brain haemorrhage aged 35.[30]

In 1991, Wilcox married Nelson "Skip" Riddle, an American businessman and the eldest son of the composer, bandleader and arranger Nelson Riddle.[31]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1973The Lovers!Beryl Battersby
1974Man About the HouseChrissy Plummer
1993The Higher MortalsMiss Bird
1998The Stalker's ApprenticeHeather Walwyn
2006ScoopGarden Party Guest
2007OutlawIrisUncredited role
2012Been Here for DaysRuthShort film
2013Great ExpectationsMiss Havisham
2023Dead Ed(unknown)Short film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1969The Wednesday PlayLindaEpisode: "The Apprentices"
Her Majesty's PleasureJennifer BottomleyEpisode: "All God's Chillun"
Coronation StreetJanice Langton5 episodes
Z-CarsJoanEpisodes: "Lost and Found: Parts 1 & 2"
HadleighLollyEpisode: "Patron of the Arts"
1969, 1970The DustbinmenNaomi2 episodes
1970KateRosemary PhelpsEpisode: "The Love of Two Women"
BiographyHildeEpisode: "I Measured the Skies"
1970–1971The LoversBeryl BattersbySeries 1 & 2; all 13 episodes
1971ITV Sunday Night DramaJulieEpisode: "Turn of the Year: The Girl Upstairs"
On the HouseBeryl BagleyEpisode: "Will the Real Harvey Micklethwaite Please Stand Up?"
The Onedin LineAgnes BascombeEpisode: "Salvage"
1971–1972The Liver BirdsGloria Titlark3 episodes
1972The Benny Hill ShowCarol FoxEpisode: "Show 12"
SceneTrishEpisode: "Quiet Afternoon"
Z-CarsNancy RobertsEpisode: "Public Relations"
Thirty Minutes WorthVarious charactersEpisode: #1.1
1973Full HouseAliceEpisode: #1.12
1973–1976Man About the HouseChrissy PlummerSeries 1–6; all 39 episodes
1977The Cost of LovingThelma BaynesEpisode: "The Human Element"
1977–1978Miss Jones and SonElizabeth JonesSeries 1 & 2; all 12 episodes
1978Play for TodayMiss SelbyEpisode: "The After-Dinner Joke"
1980Peter Cook & Co.Various charactersTelevision film
1981Crown CourtGillian SeymourEpisodes: "Leonora: Parts 1–3"
1984Let's Parlez Franglais(unknown)Episode: #1.6
1985The Bright SideCynthia BrightAll 6 episodes
Mrs. Capper's BirthdayMaureenTelevision film
1988BoonDorothy NorthEpisode: "Topspin"
1991Fiddlers ThreeRos WestAll 14 episodes
1992BrooksideAngela Heery QC4 episodes
1993CasualtyRosalind PaynterEpisode: "Getting Involved"
1994SmokescreenSara BeanMini-series; all 6 episodes
Blue HeavenIvy SandfordAll 6 episodes
1995–2001The Queen's NoseAudrey ParkerSeries 1–5; 24 episodes
1996Life After BirthSylvAll 6 episodes
It Must Be LoveIreneTelevision film
1998The Stalker's ApprenticeMarcus's MotherTelevision film
1999Peak PracticeAmanda BlakeEpisode: "Alone"
2002Footballers' WivesMarguerite Laslett3 episodes
Holby CityHelen JohnsonEpisode: "Touch and Go"
2004MerseybeatSheila O'BrienEpisode: "Distant Vices"
The Afternoon PlayKathy HughesEpisode: "Viva Las Blackpool"
All About MeSheilaEpisode: "The First Mrs. Craddock"
2004–2005The Smoking RoomLillianSeries 1 & 2; all 17 episodes
2005Down to EarthFrank's WifeEpisode: "Trouble 'n' Strife"
Murder in SuburbiaWendy ArcherEpisode: "Estate Agents"
2006DoctorsSelena McKinnon2 episodes
The Green Green GrassPertunia LaneEpisode: "Brothers and Sisters"
2007Blue MurderDr. Pamela HalliwellEpisode: "Desperate Measures"
2007–2008EmmerdaleHilary PottsRegular role; 71 episodes
2007–2010The Large FamilyLinda Large (voice)Series 1 & 2; all 52 episodes. English version
2008A Touch of FrostGloria CollinghamEpisode: "Mind Games"
2010Moving OnGailEpisode: "Rules of the Game"
2010, 2011Rock & ChipsViolet Trotter2 episodes
2011DoctorsSue GillenEpisode: "Spite Club"
2011–2017Mount PleasantPaulineSeries 1–7; 49 episodes
2014Jonathan CreekHazel ProsserEpisode: "The Letters of Septimus Noone"
2014–2016BoomersCarolSeries 1 & 2; all 13 episodes
2015Still Open All HoursLindaEpisode: #1.6
2016–2018Upstart CrowMary ShakespeareSeries 1–3; all 21 episodes
2017–2019Living the Dream MaureenSeries 1 & 2; 9 episodes
2018Moving OnAggieEpisode: "Lost"
GirlfriendsCarole Hardcastle5 episodes
2020GrantchesterDianaSeries 5; 4 episodes
2020–2022TryingSandra RossSeries 1–3; 11 episodes
2020–2023Coronation StreetElaine JonesRegular role; 128 episodes[32]
2023Man About the House: 50 Years of LaughterHerselfTelevision documentary
2024AvoidanceShirleyEpisode: #2.4
The CleanerSueEpisode: "The Committee"
2026The FortuneLinda Blakefield4 episodes

References

  1. ↑ Bryony Gordon, Bryony Gordon (11 August 2014). "Paula Wilcox: 'These days it's the old ones who are naughty'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 Lawson, Mark (15 August 2023). "'Naughty rather than dirty': 50 years of Man About the House, the sitcom that introduced sex to British TV". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  3. ↑ "Paula Wilcox". Castaway.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  4. ↑ "Paula Wilcox has Great Expectations about playing Miss Havisham at Birmingham's New Alexandra Theatre « Express & Star". Expressandstar.com. 8 October 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  5. ↑ "The Benny Hill Show - Season 3, Episode 3: Show 12". TV.com. 23 July 2007. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  6. ↑ "Miss Jones And Son | Nostalgia Central". 27 June 2014.
  7. ↑ "Paula Wilcox : Actress - Films, episodes and roles on". Digiguide.tv. 13 December 1949. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 "Paula Wilcox". BFI. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021.
  9. ↑ "The Smoking Room". www.bbc.co.uk.
  10. ↑ "Great Expectations for Paula Wilcox in Havisham role". Woking News and Mail. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  11. ↑ Curley, Evelyn (19 June 2008). "Whatever Happened to the Cotton Dress Girl?". The Stage. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  12. ↑ High, Chris (30 April 2010). "Canary". The Stage. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  13. ↑ "Following From In Front, Unofficial Rosie - BBC Radio 4 Extra". BBC.
  14. ↑ Guide, British Comedy (2 March 2011). "Production starts on new Sky comedy drama Mount Pleasant". British Comedy Guide.
  15. ↑ "Holby City". 21 May 2002. p. 90 – via BBC Genome.
  16. ↑ "Down to Earth - S5 - Episode 10: Trouble 'n' Strife". Radio Times.
  17. ↑ Kelly, Steve (15 August 2014). "Who are the stars of Boomers? Veteran stars line up for new BBC comedy". The Mirror. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  18. ↑ "Still Open All Hours - S1 - Episode 6". Radio Times.
  19. ↑ "Upstart Crow Series 3 guest stars announced". British Comedy Guide. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  20. ↑ Warner, Sam (24 February 2017). "Sky1 pulls plug on Mount Pleasant after final special". Digital Spy.
  21. ↑ "Park Theatre (Feast Creative)". www.parktheatre.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  22. ↑ Cavendish, Dominic (2 November 2016). "Enoch Powell play What Shadows is the most provocative theatrical act of the decade - review". The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  23. ↑ Cavendish, Dominic (2 November 2016). "Enoch Powell play What Shadows is the most provocative theatrical act of the decade - review". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  24. ↑ "20 Questions with ... Great Expectations' Paula Wilcox | WhatsOnStage". 28 February 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  25. ↑ Spencer, Charles (25 May 2010). "Canary at the Hampstead Theatre, review". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  26. ↑ Billington, Michael (19 July 2009). "Theatre review: Dreams of Violence | Soho, London". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  27. ↑ "Full cast announced for La Cage Aux Folles". London Theatre Guide. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  28. ↑ "Three Things About Elsie: LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2018 audiobook by Joanna Cannon - Rakuten Kobo". Rakuten Kobo. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  29. ↑ Beckerman, Hannah (14 January 2018). "Three Things About Elsie review – the tricks of memory at an old folks' home". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  30. ↑ IMDB biography page, Derek Seaton
  31. ↑ Gordon, Bryony (11 August 2014). "Paula Wilcox: 'These days it's the old ones who are naughty'". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 August 2017.(registration required)
  32. ↑ "Coronation Street casts Paula Wilcox for new Geoff Metcalfe twist". Digital Spy. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2020.

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