Josephine Tewson facts for kids

Josephine Ann Tewson (born 26 February 1931 – died 18 August 2022) was a talented English actress. She was most famous for her roles in popular British TV comedy shows. You might know her as Edna Hawkins (also called "Mrs H") in Shelley. She also played Elizabeth "Liz" Warden in Keeping Up Appearances from 1990 to 1995. Later, she was Miss Davenport in Last of the Summer Wine from 2003 to 2010.

Early Life and Education

Josephine Tewson was born in Hampstead, London, England, on 26 February 1931. Her father, William, was a professional musician. He played the double bass in the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Her mother, Kate, was a nurse. Kate's father, Haydn Morley, was a famous football player. He was the captain for Sheffield Wednesday in the 1890 FA Cup Final.

After finishing grammar school, Josephine studied acting. She went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. This is a very well-known drama school. She graduated from there in 1952.

Starting Her Acting Career

Josephine Tewson often performed in comedy sketches. She worked with famous comedians like Ronnie Corbett and Ronnie Barker. These sketches were part of TV shows like David Frost on Sunday and Hark at Barker (1969). She also appeared in a BBC Radio Comedy show called Mostly Monkhouse with David Jason.

She had small roles in other TV shows too. These included Z-Cars (1963–69) and The Charlie Drake Show (1968). Josephine played Edna Hawkins, or "Mrs H," in the first six seasons of the British comedy show Shelley (1979–82). Later, she played Jane Travers in Clarence (1988). This was Ronnie Barker's last TV role before he retired.

Josephine also worked with John Inman in Odd Man Out (1977). This comedy show was about two adult half-siblings who met for the first time. Some people thought Josephine was John Inman's cousin. However, she said in interviews that this was not true. In 1984, she appeared in a children's film called Gabrielle and the Doodleman. She played two characters: Mrs. Briggs, who was Gabrielle's father's housekeeper, and the Fairy Godmother.

Josephine Tewson became very well-known in England for her role as Elizabeth Warden. Elizabeth was the neighbor and friend of Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances. Hyacinth was a character who always tried to seem very fancy and important. Josephine appeared in almost every episode of the show's five seasons. Her character, Elizabeth, was a great contrast to "Mrs Bucket."

Later Acting Roles

Josephine Tewson regularly appeared as Miss Davenport in Last of the Summer Wine (2003–2010). This show was also written by Roy Clarke, who wrote Keeping Up Appearances. She also appeared in two episodes of a documentary series called Comedy Connections. In these episodes, she talked about her work on Keeping Up Appearances (2004) and with The Two Ronnies (2005). In 2009, she played Iris in a radio play called Leaves in Autumn. This play was written by Susan Casanove and produced by the Wireless Theatre Company.

She also made guest appearances in other TV shows. She was in an episode of Heartbeat called "Closing The Book" (2002). She played a competition judge, Samantha Johnstone, in the mystery show Midsomer Murders ("Judgement Day", 2000). Josephine was also in two episodes of Doctors. In one, she played Audrey Wilson, a character who had trouble controlling the urge to take things ("Now You See It...", 2009). In another, she played Marjorie Page, a woman in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease ("The Bespectacled Bounder", 2012).

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Josephine Tewson was in a TV advert for Sugar Puffs cereal. She played a school teacher in the "I Want My Honey" advert. In 1997, she played a nanny in a 30-second commercial for Nabisco Fruit Newtons in the United States.

In 2012, Josephine Tewson started her own one-woman show. It was called Still Keeping Up Appearances?. She toured with this show all over the UK until early 2019.

Personal Life and Death

Josephine Tewson was married to actor Leonard Rossiter from 1958 until they divorced in 1961. She later married Henry Newman in 1972. Henry passed away in 1980.

Josephine Tewson died on 18 August 2022. She was 91 years old. She passed away at Denville Hall, which is a retirement home in London for actors.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre Roles

Radio