Born in Derbyshire in 1937, classically-trained actor, Michael Knowles, made quite a name for himself over a 20-year period, appearing in some of the best-loved comedy series ever to grace British television.
After getting a taste of the genre, playing minor roles in Dad's Army and Are You Being Served? (where he also gained experience as a writer), Knowles was given a starring role as Captain Ashwood in It Ain't Half Hot Mum - a situation comedy set in British India and Burma towards the end of the Second World War.
Michael Knowles: It Ain't Half Hot Mum
The above-mentioned programme began in 1974 and lasted until 1981. It was occasionally the subject of controversy, due to a white actor, Michael Bates, playing the role of an Indian, even though Bates had been born and raised in the former British colony and was fluent in Hindi before he was fluent in English.
"It was a marvellous break for me as Jimmy and David wrote the part for me," says Michael Knowles of the fantastic opportunity presented to him. "I had actually worked in Jimmy Perry's rep. company and it was he who encouraged me to pursue the silly-ass persona and introduced me to David.
"I think an awful lot of people had connections or knew someone in the army in India. Jimmy Perry always said that it was their funniest sitcom. It was a joy to work on and you had the tremendous security of knowing you had great scripts."
Michael Knowles: You Rang M'Lord?
Seven years after IAHHM ended, in 1988, after David Croft and Jimmy Perry had enjoyed yet more success with Hi-De-Hi! - a sitcom set in a 1950s holiday camp - Michael Knowles once again found himself integral to the duo's plans for their next project - a take on the whole upstairs/downstairs concept of the British aristocracy and their servants entitled, You Rang M'Lord?.
The show was different to the pair's previous work, in that it included more complicated, more convoluted plot twists, with each episode running for 50 minutes instead of the standard half an hour. Knowles' character, the delightfully eccentric bounder, The Honourable Teddy Meldrum, was renowned for his monocle, flamboyant dress sense and uncontrolable lust for servant girls.
Suite 101: What do you remember about the show and do you have a favourite episode?
"Again, a joy to work on, with a part specially written for me. I had so many great episodes, it would be churlish to pick just one."
Suite 101: Did you base the wonderful Teddy Meldrum on anyone in particular?
"I don't think I based my character on any one specifically. However, I was always a huge fan of Terry Thomas, so something may have rubbed off."
It Ain't Half Hot Mum and You Rang M'Lord?: Forgotten Classics
Suite 101: Why do you think You Rang M’Lord? has rarely been repeated by the BBC, despite the fact that a quick visit to You Tube clearly demonstrates that there is still a huge demand for it?
"I'm never quite sure why YRML? has not been repeated - maybe the 50 minute length of the episodes.Whereas the absence of IAHHM repeats can be put down quite obviously to the entrenched political correctness of the BBC."
Suite 101: You were something of a David Croft regular. Which was your favourite sitcom to work on and which character did you have the most fun playing?
"I was a David Croft (and Jimmy Perry) regular. In fact I think I can claim the record for appearing in more Croft productions than any other actor (don't forget Come Back Mrs. Noah). As to my favourite, I can't really choose between IAHHM or YRML?."
Suite 101: Do you get recognised in the street? If so, what do people say to you?
"Occasionally.They invariably say, 'you haven't changed', which is very flattering or they talk about IAHHM and, ironically, it's usually the Asians (the community the BBC is so keen to protect from being sullied by watching these dreadful programmes) who want to talk about them the most!"
Adrian Peel - Adrian is an English freelance writer and journalist currently living in Mexico. Over the past eight years, he has had articles, features ...
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