Hylda Baker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hylda Baker
Baker in 1966
Born	Hilda Baker (1905-02-04)4 February 1905 Farnworth, Lancashire, England
Died	1 May 1986(1986-05-01) (aged 81) Epsom, Surrey, England
Occupation	Music hall performer, comedienne, actress
Years active	1914–1978

Hylda Baker (February 4, 1905 – May 1, 1986) was a well-known English comedian, actress, and performer. She was born and grew up in Farnworth, Lancashire. Many people remember her best for playing Nellie Pledge in the TV show Nearest and Dearest (1968–1973). She also had a role in the 1960 film Saturday Night and Sunday Morning.

Early Life and Stage Career

Hylda Baker was born in Farnworth, Lancashire. She was the first of seven children in her family. Her father, Harold Baker, was a painter and also worked as a comedian in music halls. Music halls were like variety shows with singing, dancing, and comedy acts.

Hylda started performing at just ten years old. Her first show was at the Opera House in Tunbridge Wells. She then traveled around, performing as a single act. She would sing, dance, and do impressions of other people. By the time she was 14, she was writing, producing, and starring in her own shows.

Her stage act often featured a chatty lady from the North of England. This character had a quiet, grumpy friend named "Big Cynthia." Big Cynthia was almost always played by a man dressed in women's clothes. Hylda's act was famous for using funny mistakes with words, called malapropisms. She also had popular phrases, known as catchphrases, that became part of her public image. Two of her most famous catchphrases were "She knows, y'know!" and "It's quarter past... I must get a little hand put on this watch."

Film and Television Roles

Hylda Baker became famous across the country in 1955. This happened after she appeared on the BBC television show The Good Old Days. This success led to her own TV series called Be Soon in 1957. The show's name came from another one of her popular catchphrases.

She also had a supporting role in the TV comedy Our House in 1960. Later, she starred in her own comedy show, The Best of Friends, in 1963.

Hylda also acted in several films. These included Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960) and Up the Junction (1968). She also appeared in the musical film Oliver! (1968). She even had a main role in a comedy film called She Knows Y'Know (1962). This film was named after her famous catchphrase.

Her most well-known role was Nellie Pledge in the TV comedy series Nearest and Dearest (1968–73). In the show, she played Nellie, who ran a small family business called Pledge's Purer Pickles with her brother, Eli. Eli was played by comedian Jimmy Jewel. Their characters had a funny love-hate relationship and often argued. While they bickered on screen, Hylda sometimes had trouble remembering her lines. Her co-star, Madge Hindle, would often help her by whispering the next line. A film version of Nearest and Dearest was made in 1972.

After Nearest and Dearest, Hylda played a similar character in another TV comedy series, Not On Your Nellie (1974–75). In this show, she played Nellie Pickersgill, who moved from the North to London to manage her father's pub. This series did not last long. Hylda's television acting career ended around this time.

In 1978, Hylda Baker teamed up with comedian Arthur Mullard. They recorded a funny version of the song "You're the One That I Want" from the movie Grease. Hylda was 73 and Arthur was 68 at the time. They dressed up like the characters from Grease and appeared on the BBC show Top of the Pops. Their song reached number 22 on the UK music charts. They also recorded an album of pop songs together.

Her last TV appearance was in a documentary about comedians in 1978.

Personal Life

Hylda Baker enjoyed a lively social life. She dressed in fancy furs and kept monkeys as pets.

In 1961, Hylda was involved in a car accident in London. She had some injuries, including a broken toe.

Later in her life, in her 70s, Hylda developed a memory condition. In 1981, she moved to Brinsworth House, a retirement home for performers. In 1984, she moved to a special care home in Epsom, Surrey. She passed away there two years later, at the age of 81, due to a chest infection.

Legacy

Actress Jean Fergusson wrote a book about Hylda Baker's life. She also created and starred in a tribute show called She Knows Y' Know! in 1997. This show won an award for Best Entertainment in 1998.

Another comedian, Victoria Wood, described Hylda Baker's comedy as having a special "Northern" style.

Alison Steadman played Hylda Baker in a play called Our Hylda. It was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017.

Filmography

Archives

• You can find papers about Hylda Baker's life and career at Lancashire Archives. The reference number is DDX 1683.