Richard Webber - The Complete A–Z of Everything Carry On

Before the holiday is over, the old Roman mines reveal themselves, swallowing the caravans, just as it’s time to go home.

MEMORIES

‘Some times I would dress the sets and other times just be on the floor as a standby, ready to do whatever was needed. I remember working on Behind and in the scene where Kenneth Williams and Elke Sommer are in a caravan that is leaking, I controlled the drips with the use of intravenous drip feeds, like you have in hospitals. We made little holes in the ceiling of the caravan and had the drips coming through.

‘In another film, I remember having to drop ice-cream down one of the actress’s cleavage. While standing on a lamp stand, hanging over her breasts with a pair of tongs holding a dollop of ice-cream, I waited for Gerald [Thomas] to say: “Action with the cornet”, at which point I dropped it straight down into her breasts. Working on the Carry Ons was certainly great fun.’

WALLY HILL – Standby Chargehand

BIDET, CITIZEN

Played by Peter Butterworth

Seen in Don’t Lose Your Head , Citizen Bidet is the assistant of Citizen Camembert, chief of the secret police. His incompetence drives Camembert mad at times as they set out to stop the Black Fingernail, alias Sir Rodney Ffing, from rescuing the aristocracy from the guillotine.

BIG HEAP

Played by Charles Hawtrey

Chief of a tribe of Indians in Cowboy , Big Heap is an accommodating, well-spoken man who agrees to help Rumpo Kid prevent the new marshal arriving at Stodge City by attacking the stagecoach he’s travelling in. The attack fails, though, when sharpshooter Annie Oakley, who’s also travelling in the coach, puts up strong resistance, shooting several Indians in the process.

BIGGER, FRANCIS

Played by Frankie Howerd

A charlatan spiritualist, Francis Bigger is a firm believer in positive thinking and preaches his message around the country. With his motto, ‘Learn to think the Bigger way’, he tries teaching the power of thinking is the way to health and happiness. Accompanied by his lifeless assistant, Chloe Gibson, he’s telling everyone that nothing will happen to them if they think positive, then falls off a stage and ends up in the Borough County Hospital with a bruised coccyx. When he mishears Dr Tinkle talking to Miss Gibson he thinks he’s only got days to live and deciding to make his loyal assistant happy for the last few days of his life, marries her, only to discover later, to his horror, that his days aren’t numbered at all. Seen in Doctor.

BILIUS

Played by David Davenport

Seen in Cleo, Bilius stands alongside Julius Caesar, acting as his bodyguard. Champion gladiator of Rome, he’s soon ousted from his position by Hengist Pod who’s classed as a hero after inadvertently stumbling across Bilius’s attempts to dispose of the Roman leader.

BILKINGTON RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT

The top secret base in Spying where Professor Stark was developing a secret formula before being blown up while carrying out his duty.

BIND, CHARLIE

Played by Charles Hawtrey

One of the rather green agents who are sent to recover the top secret formula stolen by Milchmann for the detestable Dr Crow in Spying . His codename is Yellow Peril and his agent’s number, 00 – 0.

BINDER, LADY

Played by Elspeth March

Seen in Don’t Lose Your Head, Lady Binder congratulates Sir Rodney Ffing on the charity ball he’s organised at his home, Ffing Hall.

BINN, DR ARTHUR

Played by Kenneth Connor

Binn is the new ship’s doctor on the Happy Wanderer . Seen in Cruising, he joined the vessel from Consolidated Marmalade where he worked as the factory’s medical officer. Falls in love with Flo Castle, one of the passengers, and although his early advances are spurned, finally ties the knot with the blonde, despite his timidity.

BINNEY, NEIL

Camera Operator for Khyber location work on Up The Khyber , and Behind

Born in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, in 1931, Neil Binney followed his parents into the film industry (his father was a projectionist at Pinewood, his mother a wardrobe mistress) by working as a clapperboy on the 1946 Sydney Box-produced The Years Between.

After completing National Service – he served two years as a photographer in the RAF – he joined the London Studios of Technicolor, as assistant cameraman, and stayed ten years. Among the many films he worked on were Hollywood classics such as The Man Who Knew Too Much ; he also spent time working in Italy.

He left Technicolor in the 1960s and turned freelance, clocking up numerous credits as a camera operator, including Billy Liar, This Sporting Life, The Vampire Lovers, On the Buses, Conan the Destroyer, Shanghai Surprise and A Fish Called Wanda. On television he was behind the camera for, among others, Minder and Space Precinct.

Charlie Bind (Charles Hawtrey) dons his cycling gear ( Spying )

His final job was on the 1997 picture, Fierce Creatures , after which he retired from the profession.

BINNING, TANYA

Role: Virginia in Cleo

Born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, in 1946, Tanya Binning was a successful model and television personality by the time she arrived in the UK. Although her early ambition was to be a florist, she was chosen for a part in the controversial 1962 film, Mondo Cane , leading to her rapid rise to top cover-girl for Australian magazines. A handful of other films followed, all produced in New Zealand, including Runaway, Don’t Let It Get You and Funny Things Happen Down Under.

BIRD, HARRY

Played by Roy Hines

In Teacher, Bird is one of the main culprits among the school kids who set out to cause havoc when a school inspector and a child psychiatrist visit Maudlin Street Secondary Modern School. He’s also interviewed by Mr Wakefield when he’s found out of bounds in the school’s storeroom.

BIRD OWNER

Played by Molly Weir

Seen in Regardless, the woman calls Helping Hands when she wants someone to look after her collection of birds. However, a mix-up sees Mike Weston, who was expecting to be working as a bouncer at a strip club, turn up by mistake.

‘BIRDS OF PARADISE, THE’

Played by Laraine Humphrys, Linda Hooks, Penny Irving and Eva Reuber-Staier

The girls entertain the patrons of the Old Cock Inn in Dick. The group is run by Madame Desiree, a Cockney by birth who’s adopted a French accent over the years.

BISHOP

Played by Derek Francis

Shares a train compartment with Terence Philpot in Loving. He can’t believe his ears when Philpot tells his friend, with whom he’s been staying, that his wife makes love beautifully. When he broaches the subject with Philpot, he’s much relieved to hear that Philpot was only thinking of his friend’s best interests because to tell him the truth, that he didn’t enjoy bedding his wife, might offend.

BISHOP, BERNIE

Played by Kenneth Connor

In the fourth round of an eliminating contest, boxer Bernie Bishop breaks his hand. He’s admitted to Haven Hospital in Nurse and faces the prospect of never fighting again. It looks as if his son, Jeremy, will be following in his father’s footsteps, though, because he’s already practising on the family cat.

BISHOP, CHARLES

Set Dresser on Dick and Behind

Charles Bishop, who’s now an art director, has built up a lengthy list of film and television credits. His television work covers productions such as Interpol Calling, The Persuaders! and The Champions, while his film credits include Nearly A Nasty Accident, Mystery Submarine, The Eagle Has Landed, Moonraker, Superman II, Supergirl, Return to Oz and Empire of the Sun.