Mollie Sugden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mollie Sugden
Sugden as Mrs Slocombe
Born	Mary Isobel Sugden (1922-07-21)21 July 1922 Keighley, Yorkshire, England
Died	1 July 2009(2009-07-01) (aged 86) Guildford, Surrey, England
Resting place	Golders Green Crematorium, London, England
Alma mater	Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1950s–2003
Spouse(s)	William Moore ​ ​ (m. 1958; died 2000)​
Children	2

Mary Isobel Sugden (born 21 July 1922 – died 1 July 2009), known as Mollie Sugden, was a famous English actress. She was best known for playing the funny character Mrs. Slocombe in the British TV show Are You Being Served? from 1972 to 1985. She also played Mrs. Slocombe again in the spin-off show Grace & Favour.

Mollie Sugden also had important roles in other popular TV shows. These included Nellie Harvey in Coronation Street, Mrs Hutchinson in The Liver Birds, Ida Willis in That's My Boy, and Nora Powers in My Husband and I.

Early Life and First Steps in Acting

Mollie Sugden was born on 21 July 1922 in Keighley, a town in West Riding of Yorkshire, England. When she was only four years old, she discovered how much she loved making people laugh. She heard a woman read a funny poem at a village concert.

Later, Mollie read the same poem herself and everyone laughed a lot. This made her realize how wonderful it felt to bring joy to others. After finishing school, World War II began. Mollie worked in a factory in Keighley that made shells for the Royal Navy.

After the war, she went to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. This is a famous school for acting and music.

Starting Her Career

After finishing drama school, Mollie Sugden worked in repertory theatre for eight years. This meant she performed in many different plays with the same group of actors. Famous actors like Eric Sykes and Roy Dotrice were also part of her company.

Mollie also worked in radio. Her first time on television was in a live comedy show. Before becoming famous in Are You Being Served?, she appeared in several other TV shows. These included The Benny Hill Show, Z-Cars, Up Pompeii!, The Goodies, and Steptoe and Son. She also read stories on Jackanory five times in 1968.

Television Roles

Mollie Sugden's first regular role in a sitcom was as Mrs Crispin in Hugh and I (1962–1967). The writer of this show, John T. Chapman, later suggested her for the role of Mrs Hutchinson in The Liver Birds. She played this character for many years, from 1971 to 1979.

In 1972, she was in an episode of the show Six Days of Justice. The next year, in 1973, she appeared in Son of the Bride.

Becoming Mrs. Slocombe

In 1972, Mollie Sugden got the role that made her famous around the world: Mrs. Slocombe. This character was a senior saleswoman in a department store in the show Are You Being Served?. Mrs. Slocombe was known for her fancy, often brightly colored hairstyles and her funny sayings. The show was very popular and ran until 1985.

Mollie also played Nellie Harvey in Coronation Street from 1965 to 1976. Nellie was the landlady of The Laughing Donkey pub. She often had scenes with Annie Walker, who ran the Rovers Return.

Mollie Sugden also had main roles in other sitcoms. These included That's My Boy (1981–1986) and My Husband and I (1987–1988).

Family Life

Mollie Sugden often acted alongside her husband, William Moore (1916–2000). They played a married couple in two episodes of The Liver Birds and again in My Husband and I. Mollie and William got married on 29 March 1958. They had met while working in repertory theatre in Swansea. In October 1963, they had twin sons named Robin and Simon. Mollie also had five grandchildren.

Radio Work

Mollie Sugden also worked in radio. She appeared with Deryck Guyler in two series of the sitcom Home to Roost on BBC Radio 4 in 1974 and 1975. She also played Mrs Fox in the radio version of Dad's Army from 1975 to 1976.

Later Years and Passing

Seven years after Are You Being Served? ended, Mollie Sugden and four other original cast members reunited. They starred in Grace & Favour, a show where the department store staff try to run an old country house as a hotel. This show ran for two series until 1993.

Around this time, she also appeared in Just William and Oliver's Travels. In 2003, Mollie Sugden was in an episode of The Bill. She also appeared as herself in an episode of the comedy show Little Britain.

In 2002, a special show called Celebrating Mollie Sugden: An Are You Being Served? Special was shown on American PBS stations. It featured many cast members from Are You Being Served?.

Mollie Sugden passed away on 1 July 2009, at the age of 86. She was cremated. Her last public appearance was at the funeral of her Are You Being Served? co-star Wendy Richard a few months before her own passing.

Filmography

Film

Television