Elizabeth Benson

Acting
1926-01-01
Bolton, Lancashire, England, UK

Biography

Elizabeth Benson was born in 1926 in Bolton, Lancashire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Adam Adamant Lives! (1966), Fawlty Towers (1975) and Menace (1970). She was previously married to Douglas Argent.

Known For & Full Filmography27 Titles

#1Only Fools and Horses

Drama Series - 1981, 16 episodes as Lady Ridgemere

8.1 / 10
Comedy

Only Fools and Horses.... Is a British sitcom created and written by John Sullivan. Seven series were originally transmitted on BBC One from 1981 to 1991, with sixteen sporadic Christmas specials aired until 2003. In working-class Peckham in south-east London, ambitious market trader Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter and his younger half-brother Rodney, explore their highs and lows in life, in particular their attempts to get rich. Initially not an immediate hit and receiving little promotion early on, it later achieved consistently high ratings, and the 1996 episode "Time on Our Hands" (originally billed as the series finale) holds the record for the biggest UK audience for a sitcom episode, attracting 24.3 million viewers. The series bears a significant influence on British culture, contributing several words and phrases to the English language.

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#2Compact

Drama Series - 1962, 16 episodes as Reporter

5.0 / 10
DramaSoap

Compact was a British television soap opera shown by the BBC between 1962 and 1965. The series was created by Hazel Adair and Peter Ling, who together went on to devise Crossroads. In contrast to the kitchen sink realism of Coronation Street, Compact was a distinctly middle-class serial, set in the more "sophisticated" arena of magazine publishing. An early "avarice" soap, it took the viewer into the business workplace, and aligned the professional lives of the characters with more personal storylines. The show was scheduled for broadcast on Tuesdays and Thursdays, thus avoiding a clash with ITV's Coronation Street on Mondays and Wednesdays. When Compact began, the editor was a woman, Joanne Minster, yet it was not long before she was replaced by Ian Harmon, the son of the magazine's owner. Despite being largely criticised by reviewers, Compact was popular with the general public, and in 1964 a regular omnibus edition was introduced, broadcast on Sundays. Morris Barry, a some-time actor and BBC director – he directed several Doctor Who stories in the 1960s – took over as producer and was given a brief to spice the series up in view of the criticism it had received from the national press. But the BBC, never comfortable with the concept of soap opera, quietly dropped the series in 1965.

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#3No Hiding Place

Drama Series - 1959, 16 episodes as Miss Pringle

4.8 / 10
CrimeDrama

No Hiding Place is a British television series that was produced at Wembley Studios by Associated-Rediffusion for the ITV network between 16 September 1959 and 22 June 1967. It was the sequel to the series Murder Bag and Crime Sheet, all starring Raymond Francis as Detective Superintendent, later Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Lockhart.

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#4London's Burning

Drama Series - 1986, 16 episodes as Mrs. Hart

7.7 / 10
Drama

London's Burning is a British television drama programme produced by London Weekend Television for the ITV network that focused on the lives of members of the London Fire Brigade, principally those of the Blue Watch at a fictional fire station called Blackwall.

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#5Fawlty Towers

Drama Series - 1975, 16 episodes as Mrs. White

8.3 / 10
Comedy

Owner Basil Fawlty, his wife Sybil, a chambermaid Polly, and Spanish waiter Manuel attempt to run their hotel amidst farcical situations and an array of demanding guests.

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#6Fawlty Towers

Drama Series - 1975, 16 episodes as Mrs. Heath

8.3 / 10
Comedy

Owner Basil Fawlty, his wife Sybil, a chambermaid Polly, and Spanish waiter Manuel attempt to run their hotel amidst farcical situations and an array of demanding guests.

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#7Dixon of Dock Green

Drama Series - 1955, 16 episodes as Edie Walters

6.0 / 10
Drama

Dixon of Dock Green was a BBC television series following the activities of police officers at a fictional Metropolitan Police station in the East End of London from 1955 to 1976. Some episodes were later remade as a BBC radio series in 2005 and 2006.

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#8Dixon of Dock Green

Drama Series - 1955, 16 episodes as Mrs. Morrison

6.0 / 10
Drama

Dixon of Dock Green was a BBC television series following the activities of police officers at a fictional Metropolitan Police station in the East End of London from 1955 to 1976. Some episodes were later remade as a BBC radio series in 2005 and 2006.

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#9The Duchess of Duke Street

Drama Series - 1976, 16 episodes as Cook

8.0 / 10
Drama

In Victorian London, Louisa Leyton works her way up from servant to renowned cook to proprietress of the upper-class Bentinck Hotel in Duke Street, St James's.

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#10The Agatha Christie Hour

Drama Series - 1982, 16 episodes as Mrs Armitage

6.8 / 10
Action & AdventureMysteryCrime

This ten episode program was based on ten short stories written by Agatha Christie but with wide-ranging themes. Some were romances, some had supernatural themes and a couple were adventures. The common link was that all came from the talented pen of Agatha Christie, all were entertaining and each drama was carefully crafted and well cast with many of Britain's best known actors of the time represented.

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#11Never the Twain

Drama Series - 1981, 16 episodes as Maggie Hobson

7.0 / 10
Comedy

Never the Twain is a British sitcom that ran for eleven series from 7 September 1981 to 9 October 1991. It was created by Johnnie Mortimer, and was the only sitcom he ever created without his usual writing partner, Brian Cooke. Mortimer wrote the entirety of the first two series and four episodes out of six of the eighth, with the rest being mainly written by Vince Powell and John Kane. It starred Windsor Davies and Donald Sinden as rival antique dealers, and also starred Derek Deadman, Zara Nutley, Robin Kermode, Tacy Kneale, Julia Watson, Honor Blackman, Teddy Turner and Maria Charles. The title is taken from the Rudyard Kipling poem; The Ballad of East and West.

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#12Shelley

Drama Series - 1979, 16 episodes as Geraldine

7.7 / 10
Comedy

James Shelley, an educated, sardonic, permanently unemployed "professional freelance layabout," has many battles with authority, the tax-man, his landlady, and his girlfriend Fran.

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#13Rosie

Drama Series - 1977, 16 episodes as Chairperson

6.7 / 10

Rosie is a British situation-comedy television series, written by Roy Clarke that was broadcast between 1977 and 1981. It was filmed and set in Scarborough in North Yorkshire. The central character was PC Penrose, the titular "Rosie", a young and inexperienced police officer, played by Paul Greenwood. For the first series of seven episodes, broadcast in 1975, it was called The Growing Pains of PC Penrose, but it underwent a revamp with a new title, setting and signature tune.

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#14The Liver Birds

Drama Series - 1969, 16 episodes as The Saleslady

6.1 / 10
Comedy

The Liver Birds is a British sitcom set in the city of Liverpool, in the north-west of England, which aired on BBC1 from 1969 to 1978, and again in 1996. It was created by Carla Lane and Myra Taylor. These two Liverpudlian writers had met at a local writers club and decided to pool their talents. Having been invited to London by Michael Mills and asked to write about two young women sharing a flat, Mills brought in sitcom expert Sydney Lotterby to work with the writing team. Lotterby had previously worked with Eric Sykes, Sheila Hancock and on The Likely Lads. Carla Lane in fact wrote most of the episodes, Taylor co-writing only the first two series. The pilot was shown as an episode of Comedy Playhouse, the BBC's breeding ground for sitcoms, in April 1969.

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#15The Liver Birds

Drama Series - 1969, 16 episodes as Lady from Flat 8

6.1 / 10
Comedy

The Liver Birds is a British sitcom set in the city of Liverpool, in the north-west of England, which aired on BBC1 from 1969 to 1978, and again in 1996. It was created by Carla Lane and Myra Taylor. These two Liverpudlian writers had met at a local writers club and decided to pool their talents. Having been invited to London by Michael Mills and asked to write about two young women sharing a flat, Mills brought in sitcom expert Sydney Lotterby to work with the writing team. Lotterby had previously worked with Eric Sykes, Sheila Hancock and on The Likely Lads. Carla Lane in fact wrote most of the episodes, Taylor co-writing only the first two series. The pilot was shown as an episode of Comedy Playhouse, the BBC's breeding ground for sitcoms, in April 1969.

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#16After Henry

Drama Series - 1988, 16 episodes as Valerie Brown

6.7 / 10
Comedy

After Henry is a British sitcom written by Simon Brett, and starring Prunella Scales and Joan Sanderson. Originating as a radio programme on BBC Radio 4 from 1985 to 1989, it was adapted for television by Thames Television. Sarah is the 42-year-old widow of GP Henry France. She lives in an often volatile family situation with her elderly mother Eleanor Prescott, and her daughter, 18-year-old Clare, with both of whom she shares a house. Following Henry's death, the family have to find a way to cope with each other as best they can. The BBC was initially hesitant to produce a series but after three successful runs on BBC Radio 4, it was commissioned for the small screen. The series was surprisingly popular, attracting over 14 million viewers. Four seasons were made, with the last transmitted after the death of Sanderson, who died on 24 May 1992.

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#17Nanny

Drama Series - 1981, 16 episodes as Mrs. Hood

6.7 / 10
Drama

A divorced woman decides to train as a Nanny in 1930s England.

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#18Hugh and I

Drama Series - 1962, 16 episodes as Mother

6.3 / 10

Terry is a youngish bachelor who lives with his mother (Vi Stevens). He's a bit of a dreamer who wants to get rich as quickly and as easily as possible. Terry comes up with one grand "get rich quick" scheme after another, causing endless problems for himself and his friend, Hugh.

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#19Just Good Friends

Drama Series - 1983, 16 episodes as Mrs Beecham

6.6 / 10
Comedy

A bittersweet sitcom about a couple who meet again five years after he jilted her at the altar.

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#20Hold the Dream

Drama Series - 1987, 16 episodes as Hilda

4.4 / 10
Drama

Hold the Dream is a two-part 1987 television serial based on Barbara Taylor Bradford's 1985 novel of the same name, a sequel to the 1984 miniseries A Woman of Substance. Deborah Kerr reprises her role of Emma Harte, with Jenny Seagrove, who played the young Emma, taking the lead role as Paula Fairley. Paula Fairley, now head of the Harte chain of department stores, has taken on the burden of preserving Emma's legacy. However, she suffers dissent within her extended family, in particular from her devious cousin Jonathan Ainsley. In the United Kingdom, the series aired in four one-hour episodes, although it was initially created as two two-hour parts.

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#21The Growing Pains of PC Penrose

Drama Series - 1975, 16 episodes as Mrs Merrit

6.8 / 10
Comedy

Earnest new recruit PC Penrose has left his hometown and joined the force in the Yorkshire town of Slagcaster. He's young and naive but seasoned officer Sergeant Flagg takes him under his wing and shows him the ropes, though his methods can be a little unconventional.

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#22Love for Lydia

Drama Series - 1977, 16 episodes as Secretary

8.0 / 10
Drama

A story of the joy and sorrow of young love that recreates late 1920s and early 1930s England in exquisite detail, tracing heiress Lydia Aspen's evolution from bashful teen to wild jazz-age flapper.

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#23Sense and Sensibility

Drama Series - 1981, 16 episodes as Mrs Wallis

7.1 / 10
Drama

A story of two sisters attempting to find happiness in the tightly structured society of 18th century England. Elinor, disciplined, restrained and very conscious of the manners of the day, represents sense. Outspoken, impetuous, emotional Marianne represents sensibility.

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#24Cover Her Face

Drama Series - 1985, 16 episodes as Doris Proctor

6.7 / 10
CrimeMysteryDrama

Cover Her Face is the debut 1962 crime novel of P. D. James. It details the investigations into the death of a young, ambitious maid, surrounded by a family which has reasons to want her gone – or dead.

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#25Seconds Out

Drama Series - 1981, 16 episodes as Mrs. Denton

5.0 / 10
Comedy

Pete Dodds is a boxer and a bit of a wide boy who messes about in the ring, but has potential. Tony Sprake becomes his manager and Dave Locket his trainer.

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#26Affairs of the Heart

Drama Series - 1985, 16 episodes as Mrs. Thurlow

7.5 / 10
Comedy

Affairs of the Heart is a British sitcom that aired on ITV from 1983 to 1985. Starring Derek Fowlds, it was written by Paul Daneman. It was made for the ITV network by Granada Television. The series followed Peter Bonamy, who, upon being discharged from the hospital following a heart attack, attempts to adopt a brand-new outlook on life. He is determined to prove there is vibrant life after a cardiac event, which leads to comedic struggles as he tries to convince his skeptical family, friends, doctor, and wife of his new philosophy.

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#27Summer Season

Movie - 1976, 2h 15m as Kath Betton

8.8 / 10
TV Movie

Blackpool usually means sun and sand, and a ride on the big dipper; but Ricky and Michelle are working. Dave is hard at work too - getting in on their act.

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